Ei, a skin care company based in Kannapolis, is expanding its operations.
The company plans to create 119 jobs and invest $13.2 million during the next three years in Kannapolis.
It will receive a $500,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
Ei now employs more than 200 people in North Carolina to develop and manufacture prescription and over-the-counter animal health and therapeutic skin care products.
The expansion is in connection with a partnership with KeraNetics, a regenerative medicine company that was spun out of research from Wake Forest University.
KeraNetics is trying to turn research and patents from the school’s Institute of Regenerative Medicine into commercial products. The company has announced military contracts to develop wound-healing products. Ei would help bring such products to market.
The average annual salary for the new jobs will be $37,616, slightly above Rowan County’s average annual wage of $36,036.
Mary Cornatzer has worked at The News & Observer for more than 25 years, covering the local music industry, state movie industry and travel. She has been the paper's Business editor since 2000. Contact Mary at 919-829-4755 or