ASHEVILLE — A manufacturer of laboratory equipment is expanding its Asheville plant in a move that the company says will create 104 jobs.
Thermo Fisher Scientific promises to invest nearly $5 million over the next three years at the site, Gov. Bev Perdue's office said today.
The Department of Commerce in Perdue's administration has awarded a $208,000 grant that the company can claim if it fulfills its plans.
Thermo Fisher’s Asheville plant manufactures cold storage equipment, centrifuges and ovens for medical and research laboratories. The expansion will allow for new product lines.
Wages are expected to average $40,811 a year not including benefits. Perdue's office said the average Buncombe County wage is $32,968.
The company employs about 35,000 workers in 40 countries, Perdue's office said, and serves 350,000 customers, mainly in the life sciences and health care markets.
Thomas Loewald, head of Thermo Fisher’s Laboratory Equipment business, said the decision to expand operations at the site followed an extensive strategic review. “Key factors in our decision to make additional investments in North Carolina included our past success in manufacturing world-class products at the facility, the talented workforce we have been able to attract over the years, and the support from the state of North Carolina in providing resources that enable us to further strengthen our workforce by expanding training and skill development,” Loewald said.
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
“During these tough economic times, it’s important to make investments to create jobs and the help businesses grow and expand,” said Sen. Martin Nesbitt. “We welcome these new jobs to Buncombe County.
“Our skilled, and knowledge-based workforce continues to be a major reason top companies choose to expand here and create new jobs,” said Rep. Susan Fisher.
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state will work aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain our workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Other partners who helped make this announcement possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges and Buncombe County.
For more information about Thermo Fisher or job opportunities with the company, go to:
http://www.thermofisher.com/.