Auto parts manufacturer FCC announced Monday that it is expanding its operations in Scotland County and creating 66 jobs over the next three years.

The company plans to invest more than $57 million in its facility in Laurinburg, about 100 miles southwest of Raleigh. FCC employs 140 at the site.

The company will receive a $264,000 grand from the One North Carolina Fund if it meets hiring and investment goals. The average annual payroll for the new jobs is expected be more than $1.8 million, or $27,272 per new employee.

FCC North Carolina's parent company is the Japanese company FCC Co. Ltd., which makes ATV clutches, transmissions and other components.

Progress Energy today announced its sixth and biggest solar energy contract to date, a solar farm to be built in Laurinburg, about 100 miles southwest of Raleigh.

The solar farm will generate 2.3 megawatts of electricity, about twice as much power as the biggest solar farm that currently supplies power to Progress Energy and is located near Wilmington.

The Laurinburg project will be built by private developers and will sell power to Progress for 20 years. It's expected to start generating power within six months.