Image via Wikipedia
Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Bluestar Silicones, a fully integrated global silicones manufacturer, will locate a new facility in Mecklenburg County. The company plans to create 125 jobs and invest $19.8 million during the next three years in Charlotte. The project was made possible in part by a $340,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“North Carolina’s reputation for a top-ranked business climate continues to attract high-tech manufacturers like Bluestar,” said Gov. Perdue. “The creation of these high-paying jobs is terrific news for the Charlotte community and underscores the value of the region’s – and the state’s – highly skilled workers.”
Bluestar Silicones provides specialty silicone products to the automotive, paper and packaging, aerospace, personal care, healthcare, tire and rubber, textile coatings, mold making and energy industries. Headquartered in China, Bluestar maintains operations in China, Europe, Latin America and the United States. The company plans to consolidate manufacturing operations in other states into a single facility at the former Virkler Chemical site in Charlotte.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $62,040 plus benefits. The Mecklenburg County average annual wage is $51,584.
“We are excited about this move to Mecklenburg County and appreciate the efforts of North Carolina to make this a win-win for both North Carolina and Bluestar Silicones,” said J. Christopher York, president, Bluestar Silicones North America. “For Bluestar Silicones, this move is an important step in implementing an aggressive growth strategy to become a world leading supplier of silicones in the coming five years.”
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
“Bluestar is an excellent example of a cutting edge company that saw the value of our investments in education and a well-trained workforce,” said Rep. Kelly Alexander, of Charlotte. “The company’s move across the state line also shows the effectiveness of the economic development tools that we have made available to our job recruiters.”
“Today’s companies want a skilled workforce and transportation infrastructure that allow them to make good products and get them to market,” said Sen. Charlie Dannelly, of Charlotte. “That’s what Bluestar found in Mecklenburg thanks to the difficult but wise decisions our state leaders have made to fund education and critical needs, even during challenging economic times.”
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 50,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Employment Security Commission, N.C. Community Colleges, Duke Power, the Charlotte Chamber, Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte.
For more information about Bluestar Silicones, visit www.bluestarsilicones.com.
