North Carolina Department of Commerce
301 N. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC 27626
4305 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4305
919-733-7651, 733-8356 fax
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Andy Fisher
Date: October 24, 2001 Phone: 919-733-5082
GOV. EASLEY RECONGIZED THREE FOREIGN-OWNED COMPANIES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO NORTH CAROLINA
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley recognized three foreign-owned North Carolina companies Tuesday with the inaugural Governor’s International Community and Economic Development Award for their commitment to North Carolina’s non-profit community.
The awards, sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Commerce and North Carolina Ports Authority, were given at the third-annual North Carolina Global Connections conference held at the Exploris Museum in Raleigh on October 23 and 24.
Awards were given for three categories: large firms with more than 500 employees, medium-sized firms with 150 to 500 employees and small firms with less than 150 employees.
Those receiving awards include: GKN Automotive for large firms, Clarke American Checks, for medium-sized firms and Eisai for small firms.
“North Carolina is grateful to these corporate citizens that support the needed programs of the non-profit sector,” said Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain. “These firms deserve special recognition because several have had to learn a culture of giving different from their home environments.”
GKN Automotive, a wholly owned subsidiary of GKN PLC, located in Redditch, England, manufactures constant velocity (CV) joints for most US car manufacturers. The company has facilities in Mebane, Roxboro and Sanford and employs 1800 North Carolinians. GKN supports employees’ involvement in local communities including the “Angel Tree,” Habitat for Humanity, Food Pantry and Bread Basket, the March of Dimes, America Red Cross and non-profit organizations.
Clarke American Checks, owned by Novar PLC in the United Kingdom, employs nearly 200 North Carolinians and is located in Charlotte. The firm is a leading specialty printer for U.S. financial institutions and encourages volunteerism through groups such as Room at the Inn, Summit House and Camp Care.
Eisai, whose parent company Eisai Company LTD in Tokyo, Japan, is located in Research Triangle Park and employs 136 North Carolinians. This pharmaceutical company researches, develops and manufactures a variety of medicines including Aricept – for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
###
Michael F. Easley, Governor James T. Fain III, Secretary