NC Governor Cooper Announces Automotive Manufacturing Expansion in Wilson County
Linamar Forgings Carolina (LFC), an automotive manufacturer, will create 31 jobs with an expansion of its existing manufacturing facility in Wilson County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $6.8 million with this project.
“North Carolina continues to grow our leadership in manufacturing with this expansion,” Governor Cooper said. “Linamar Forgings Carolina’s positive experience with our state’s talent, infrastructure and business climate led them to decide to expand in our state.”
LFC is part of the Linamar Seissenschmidt Forgings Group, headquartered in Plettenburg, Germany and owned by Linamar Corporation. LFC manufactures chassis and powertrain products for the automotive industry. With this project, LFC will expand its production to include two additional automotive products, hollow transmission shafts and net shape differential gears. The project will add a new manufacturing process that requires less material and results in lighter automotive parts.
“Linamar is adding state-of-the-art manufacturing processes that bring additional industry expertise to our state,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “We are proud to support this expansion and excited to see the opportunities it will bring to people in Wilson County.”
Salaries for the new jobs will vary by position but will average $49,764 annually. The average salary in Wilson County is $40,490.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. (EDPNC) were instrumental in supporting the company’s expansion decision.
“Lightweighting of automotive components is a key imperative for the future, whether that vehicle be traditionally powered or powered by new electrified systems, where in fact lightweighting is even more critical,” said Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz. “This investment brings important capabilities to us to better serve our customers and meet or exceed their technology needs.”
A performance-based grant of $62,000 over three years from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate LFC’s expansion in Wilson County. The One N.C. Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments, and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
“Linamar Forgings Carolina joins a host of other manufacturers calling Wilson County home due to our talent, business climate and quality of life,” said Senator Angela R. Bryant. “I am proud to welcome LFC’s expansion in our community.”
“I join the Wilson community in welcoming Linamar Forgings Carolina’s expansion here,” said Representative Jean Farmer-Butterfield. “Our talented workforce is ready to fill these jobs and contribute to LFC’s success.”
In addition to North Carolina Commerce and the Economic Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the City of Wilson, Wilson County and the Wilson Economic Development Council.
