Bladen County in North Carolina is set to welcome VectorTex USA, LLC, the U.S. subsidiary of Australian company Vector Technologies, as it prepares to open its first North American manufacturing facility in Elizabethtown. With an investment exceeding $6 million, this move is expected to create 44 new jobs in the area, a welcome development for the local economy.
"VectorTex’s decision to establish U.S. operations in Elizabethtown is great news for Bladen County and for North Carolina" Governor Josh Stein announced. These new jobs are not just numbers, but lifelines for families aiming to thrive in the heart of America's rural landscape. The investment aligns with North Carolina's efforts to position itself as a prime location for business and employment. Bladen County looks forward to the economic vitality and, career opportunities the company promises to bring, as per the Governor's Office.
A key business figure at VectorTex USA, Technical Business Development Manager Callum de Vries, expressed enthusiasm about the establishment of the production and innovation hub. "We’re excited to establish our new manufacturing facility in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. This investment strengthens our ability to serve customers across the United States, shortening supply chains and strengthening our global engineering, quality and production capability," de Vries told the Governor's Office. The facility will encompass a 25,000-square-foot space designed to be in closer proximity to the company’s customer base.
According to the Governor's Office, the average annual salary for the new positions will hover around $48,136, almost paralleling Bladen County's current average salary. Despite such promising figures, the One North Carolina Fund's grant of $120,000 that backs this expansion is contingent on the delivery of these new jobs and other capital investment targets. The grant necessitates a matched investment from local governments, according to requirements outlined by the fund.
The injection of new jobs and capital is seen as a pillar for strengthening rural communities. N.C. Senator Brent Jackson stated, "This is the kind of investment rural North Carolina needs. VectorTex’s decision to bring jobs to Elizabethtown will strengthen our local economy and provide meaningful opportunities for hardworking folks in Bladen County." Likewise, N.C. Representative William D. Brisson welcomed the move, highlighting the positive outcomes expected for families and the local economy at large, as noted by the Governor's Office.
