Why We Won
At the High Point municipal building on February 8, 2012, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced that Solstas Lab Partners plans an expansion in High Point where it already employs more than 700. Perdue announced Solstas' plans to increase its workforce by 500 jobs over the next five years. "This is the largest job announcement for High Point in 13 years," cheered the Governor. "And I know why. It's our workers. Our workforce is second to none."
The livability of the region and support from public-private partnerships were cited as two of the reasons for Solstas' choice to locate a large expansion in the Piedmont Triad's city of High Point, N.C. Solstas is co-headquartered in High Point and Roanoke, Va. The company has been growing rapidly since its formation two years ago from a merger of Carilion Labs and Spectrum Laboratory Network. It operates in 10 states, offering lab services for medical providers.
 Solstas' CEO David Weavil spoke after the Governor and commended local, county and state-level public officials for their partnership. "This is a highly livable area. There's no question that the workforce is part of this, as well as the universities," he said. "We've already created 300 jobs here in the last two years, so 500 in five years shouldn't be a problem. The prospects for this company are terrific." He said the prospective jobs will be in the areas of I.T., laboratory tech, science, finance and administration and are expected to pay an average wage of $45,000.
High Point Mayor Becky Smothers also commended the public-private partnerships that brought about the Solstas selection of High Point for this expansion. "This is a great day," she said, "This is the fun part of the job for an elected official."
Recent years have brought positive developments to the biosciences sector for both the Piedmont Triad's education and business communities. Those include the establishment of the BioNetwork and companies which have announced or completed expansions in the Piedmont Triad such as AmeriTox, Medi USA, Teleflex Medical, Targacept, LabCorp., and TransTech Pharma.
Read more about why the Triad is the choice for emerging and life sciences.
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What is the North Carolina BioNetwork?
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The BioNetwork in North Carolina provides much-needed resources to community colleges to improve their capacity to meet the current and future workforce needs of this growing industry. They manage delivery of the specialized training, curriculum and equipment necessary to develop a world-class workforce for the bio-manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing and the life science industry. The network coordinates specialties at several of the community colleges around the state.
The program supports Piedmont's focus on the bio sector over the past decade. As a Merck Public Affairs Manager said in terms of North Carolina, "This area is doing so much in terms of training for biotech and making sure we have a workforce. That was the tipping point that kept us here in the state."
The following are the state-wide BioNetwork Centers, with highlights for those in the Piedmont Triad:
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New Piedmont Triad Marketing Director
We would like to introduce and welcome Matt Harrington, the PT EDC's new director of marketing and client development. Matt looks forward to meeting you through marketing missions, trade shows, and business development. He's here to respond to client inquiries and lead programs for site location consultants and business prospects in key industries. Matt and his wife are looking forward to a return to the Triad to take advantage of our great lifestyle and outdoor fun (plus he's a Wake Forest alum).
You can reach Matt at 336.369.2202 or mharrington@ptpnc.com
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 Keep your eye on North Carolina's Piedmont Triad Region via LinkedIn, Facebook or by following us @ptpNC on Twitter so we can keep you up to date on news, events and important issues to our region and the general business economy. |
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NEW & EXPANDING
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- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. is adding 35 jobs at its manufacturing plant in Winston-Salem. The move is part of the company's strategy to diversify its product mix.
- Piedmont Propulsion Systems LLC, a leader in military, regional airline and general aviation turboprop overhaul and repair, will expand in Forsyth County. The company plans to create 25 jobs and invest more than $1.6 million during the next three years in Winston-Salem.
- CenterPoint Human Services plans to hire about 90 people over the next year as part of its expansion in Winston-Salem. CenterPoint is the state-mandated local management entity that oversees publicly funded services to help people with mental health issues. The new jobs created by the expansion will consist of behavioral health professionals, administrative and technical support personnel.
- Gary George Designs will open a new manufacturing operation in the Triad with plans to hire 30 employees. The New York-based upholstered furniture company will operate its framing and upholstery division in High Point.
- LF USA, a multinational consumer goods export and logistics group has opened an office in Greensboro that will house key functions including accounting and finance, treasury management, transaction services, logistics and customs compliance.
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