Image via Wikipedia
Gov. Bev Perdue announced recently that AptarGroup, Inc., a leading global supplier of customized dispensing systems (spray and lotion pumps, dispensing closures, and aerosol valves) for the beauty, personal care, pharmaceutical, household, food and beverage markets, will open its newest manufacturing facility in Lincolnton.
The company plans to create 150 jobs over the next five years with approximately $50 million in capital investments in Lincolnton. The project was made possible in part by a state grant from the Job Development Investment Grant program.
“The fact that corporations continue to bring these kinds of projects to North Carolina proves that our investment in education and job creation is paying off,” Gov. Perdue said. “These are the kinds of jobs that are helping our state steadily climb out of the recession, and we welcome international companies like Aptar that are willing to invest in our state and position North Carolina as a leader in business.”
Aptar provides value-added dispensing systems to global consumer product marketers allowing them to differentiate their products and meet consumers’ need for convenience. The company has approximately 8,600 employees with manufacturing facilities located throughout the world including North America, Europe, Asia and South America.
While individual wages for the 150 jobs will vary by job function, the overall average for the new jobs will be $36,311 a year, not including benefits. The Lincoln County average annual wage is $30,784.
“We are excited about the growth opportunities for our innovative dispensing systems in the food and beverage markets. This additional capacity will enable us to better serve our customers,” said Steve Hagge, executive vice president and chief operating officer of AptarGroup. “One of the key factors in our decision to come to Lincolnton was the availability of a talented workforce. The State of North Carolina, Lincoln County, and the City of Lincolnton have been terrific partners and we look forward to working with them as we grow our business.”
To help facilitate this expansion, the state Economic Investment Committee today voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to Aptar. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.
Under the terms of the JDIG, the company is eligible to receive a grant equal to 60 percent of the state personal income withholding taxes derived from the creation of new jobs for each of the nine years in which the company meets annual performance targets. If Aptar meets the targets called for under the agreement, the JDIG could yield $1 million in maximum benefits for the company.
Other partners that assisted with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, the City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County, the Lincoln Economic Development Authority and the Charlotte Regional Partnership.
Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state continues to work aggressively to create well-paying jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
For more information about Aptar, visit www.aptar.com.
