Connect with the Catawba County community through our local news and special events.


For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Scott Millar, President
Catawba County Economic Development Corporation
828-267-1564

Scott Millar, Catawba EDC President, addresses a joint meeting of the Newton City Council and the Catawba County Commissioners.  (Photo: Alex Frick, City of Newton)

Newton, NC – Corning Incorporated and its subsidiary, Corning Optical Communications LLC, announced today that they will establish a new optical cable manufacturing facility in Newton, NC in the former General Dynamics building on Prodelin Drive. The company plans to create at least 210 new jobs over the next two years and invest $67 million in this location.

Corning’s expansion in Newton is facilitated in part by an award to the company from North Carolina’s Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program that was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee and announced today. Local incentives were approved today at a joint meeting of the Newton City Council and the Catawba County Board of Commissioners.

“We are pleased to announce this expansion of our world-class optical cable manufacturing footprint in Catawba County,” said Clark S. Kinlin, executive vice president, Corning Optical Communications. “Hickory – and now Newton – are a vital part of Corning’s 46-year history in North Carolina, where we invent, make and sell high-performance fiber optic solutions to global network operators. This expansion would not be possible without the ongoing support of city, county and state government entities that help make our increased investment here a win/win.”

Corning Optical Communications (COC) is a worldwide provider of fiber optic communication solutions for voice, data and video networks. Its 165-year-old parent company, Corning Incorporated [NYSE: GLW], has applied its unparalleled expertise in precision glass, ceramics and optical physics to develop products that have created new industries and transformed people’s lives, including the invention of low-loss optical fiber, which drove a global communications revolution. As a $3 billion segment of Corning Incorporated, COC employs more than 3,000 people across five facilities throughout North Carolina, including two of the world’s largest fiber manufacturing facilities in Midland and Wilmington and two of the world’s largest fiber cabling facilities in Winston-Salem and Hickory.  

“We are excited about this phenomenal regional and state high-tech industry leader bringing new opportunities to the city of Newton,” said Mayor Anne P. Stedman, City of Newton, “Corning’s significant investment in our community will make life better for our current residents and encourage people to move here to take advantage of the wonderful amenities and employers we have in Newton. I would like to thank the team of professionals at the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation for advocating for Newton throughout this process. With their help, we’ve been able to advance strategic economic development efforts that are yielding significant investment. The future looks bright for our city.”

“As Corning’s evolution in Catawba County continues, their needs are providing good, solid, next-generation job opportunities for Catawba County workers,” said Randy Isenhower, Chair of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners.  “Our county is taking the lead in developing a next-generation workforce not just by expanding local jobs, but also by building the foundation for those jobs through the K-64 educational initiative.”

“The Catawba EDC is pleased to work with Corning on their expansion into Newton,” said Dan Timmerman, Chairman of the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation.  “Corning has a long history in Catawba County and as one of our top employers, the commitment they have shown to bringing these new manufacturing jobs to Catawba County is appreciated.”

Corning Optical will hire a variety of workers needed at the new manufacturing operations, including operators, distribution staff, maintenance personnel and other workers. Salaries will vary by position, but the average annual compensation for the company’s new jobs will be $56,963, above the Catawba County average wage of $39,774.

For more information about Corning Optical Communications, including job opportunities, visit www.corning.com.

-30-

 

SEE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE:

Governor Cooper Announces 410-Job Expansion by Corning in Two North Carolina Locations (NC Governor's Office)
Corning to invest $67 million in Newton facility, create 210 jobs (Hickory Daily Record)
Corning plans $67 million investment into Newton, deal will create 210 new jobs (Observer News Enterprise)
More than 200 jobs coming to Catawba County (WHKY)
Corning to add 410 jobs in Catawba, Cabarrus (Charlotte Observer)
Corning to add 410 jobs at two Charlotte-area plants, spend $176 M (Charlotte Business Journal)
Corning to expand NC optical fiber plants (WRAL)
Governor Cooper announces new jobs (WTVD-TV)
Hundreds of jobs coming to Catawba, Cabarrus counties (WBTV) 
Corning to add 410 jobs in NC (News & Observer)
Corning to expand - 200 new jobs in Midland, 210 in Catawba (Independent Tribune)

Comments

  1. Lee B's avatar
    Lee B
    | Permalink
    Do we know what they are intending to produce in this facility?
    1. Leave a Comment