Perdue to attend opening of IEM's new RTP headquarters today

Gov. Bev Perdue and Rep. David Price were among the salons in attendance today at the opening of IEM's new Research Triangle Park headquarters.

IEM, a risk management firm that announced in December that it would relocate from Louisiana to RTP, has leased nearly 10,000 square feet in a building that houses the headquarters of chemical manufacturer Reichhold.

IEM had about 45 employees in the Triangle and plans to have 55 by the end of the year. (Available positions are listed on the company's website.)

The move from Louisiana will be complete by September.

The company expects to create 430 local jobs over the next six years. State officials promised the company more than $9 million in tax breaks and grants if it meets its hiring and salary targets.

IEM's growth is being fueled by its work helping government agencies and private companies prepare for and respond to natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other problems.

IEM will expand into additional space as it continues to hire locally and shift its operations from Louisiana. Some of the company's 150 Louisiana employees are relocating to fill the local jobs.