The Durham City Council approved a $70,000 incentive grant on Tuesday night to attract a British company considering building a local manufacturing plant, Jim Wise reports on the Bull's Eye blog.
ACW Technology plans to create 155 jobs by the end of 2013 paying an average of $33,000 per year, Durham officials said. The company also is being courted by Wake and Franklin counties, said Durham economic development director Kevin Dick.
Cary officials declined to offer a similar deal to the company last month, confirmed ACW consultant Jeff Benes, who would manage the plant if it came to North Carolina. But the rejection may not have taken Cary out of the running just yet.
"There are many, many factors that come into play when selecting a site," Benes said. "Nothing's been decided yet."
Some Cary council members worried about lowering the town's median salary, which hovers under $47,000 per person. They also were concerned about how quickly the town would see a return on its investment.
ACW is a contract manufacturer for international commercial, aerospace and defense customers. It wants to build a plant close to U.S. suppliers and clients, Durham officials said.
The manufacturer also is considering sites in Maryland and Virginia, but is waiting for states to announce any other matching grants, Benes said.
N.C. Commerce Department spokesman Charles Winkler declined to comment on whether the state is in discussions with ACW.
Franklin County is offering ACW $150,000, which the state could match, Dick said. While Franklin's incentive is bigger, Durham has advantages with its airport, interstate highways and amenities for visiting clients, he added.
Durham chamber vice president Ted Conner said the company would bring Durham "well-paying manufacturing jobs paying a living wage."
Read the full Bull's Eye report here.
