Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Seth Effron
Date: JULY 27, 2006 Phone: 919/733-5612
***CORRECTION***
Note: Please note underlined correction in the first paragraph.
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES 37 JOBS IN LENOIR COUNTY
$100,000 One North Carolina Fund Grant Helps Spatial Integrated Systems Locate in Global TransPark
RALEIGH-Gov. Mike Easley today announced that Spatial Integrated Systems, an information technology firm, will open a facility at the Global TransPark in Lenoir County creating 37 new jobs and investing $700,000 over the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $100,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.
“Spatial Integrated System’s decision to open a facility in North Carolina is excellent news for the hardworking people of Lenoir County,” Easley said. “This only strengthens North Carolina’s reputation as a business-friendly state with a highly-skilled workforce that makes our state an ideal location for businesses to locate and expand.”
Headquartered in Rockville, Md., Spatial Integrated Systems specializes in information technologies, engineering services and software solutions. In the new facility, the company plans to develop the infrastructure for a distributed digital manufacturing network to help develop and manufacture parts for aircraft. It will also set up a computer data center to provide digital hosting services for both commercial and government customers.
The Global TransPark is a combined airport-industrial complex developed by the state in Lenoir County. The new positions will include engineers, research and development personnel, programmers and technicians. While wages will vary by job function, the expected average weekly wage of the new jobs is $1,300 per week not including benefits, which is higher than the Lenoir County average weekly wage of $507, not including benefits.
“Over the last year, Spatial Integrated Systems studied several areas suitable for its expansion. Kinston and Charleston were our leading candidates, based on economic and company growth criteria,” said Dr. Ali Farsaie, the company’s president and CEO who also is an N.C. State University graduate. “When we looked more closely at all the benefits for both the company and its employees, there was a stronger business case for coming to North Carolina.”
The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in industry recruitment and expansion by providing financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. One North Carolina Fund grants require and are contingent upon a local match. Through the use of this Fund, more than 19,000 jobs and $3 billion in investment have been created since 2001.
Other partners who helped make this announcement possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, GTP Authority, GTP Foundation, Golden LEAF Foundation, Lenoir County, Lenoir Community College and Neuse River Development Authority.