South Raleigh News

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that Chatsworth Products, Inc. (CPI), a manufacturer of IT equipment, plans to expand its facility in New Bern, Craven County. The expansion will involve an investment of $11 million and is expected to create 45 new jobs.

Governor Stein emphasized the importance of supporting manufacturing operations throughout North Carolina to stimulate economic growth and ensure its benefits are widely distributed. "Chatsworth Products is reinvesting in Craven County because North Carolina is a great home for business and our workforce is the best," he stated.

CPI has been providing infrastructure hardware and equipment solutions for over three decades. As a 100% employee-owned company, CPI focuses on engineering thermal, power, and cable management solutions for data centers as well as enterprise networking and industrial enclosures. The expansion at the New Bern location will increase production capacity and introduce new product lines.

Ted Behrens, CEO of Chatsworth Products, highlighted the company's commitment to customer needs and regional economic growth: "This expansion in New Bern underscores our dedication to meeting customer needs while strengthening our role as a trusted partner in the IT and telecommunications industries."

N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley commented on North Carolina's favorable conditions for business expansion: "In addition to a skilled workforce and talent development system, the intersection of manufacturing excellence and innovative leadership keeps us high on the list as a fast-growing tech hub."

The new positions created by this expansion include machine operators, packers, and warehouse staff. The average annual wage for these positions will be $50,224, surpassing the Craven County average of $48,770. This could lead to an annual payroll impact exceeding $2.2 million for the region.

A performance-based grant of $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will support CPI's expansion efforts. This fund provides financial assistance to local governments to attract economic investment and job creation. Companies must meet specific job creation and capital investment targets before receiving payment.

N.C. Senator Bob Brinson welcomed the new jobs: "Chatsworth’s commitment in Craven County is a testament to our state’s strong economy and well-educated workforce." N.C. Representative Steve Tyson expressed gratitude towards those involved in facilitating CPI's decision: "We’re grateful for the diligent professionals as well as the state, regional and local officials that helped the company with its decision."

Key partners in this project include several state departments, educational institutions like Craven Community College, regional alliances such as NC East Alliance and North Carolina’s Southeast, along with Duke Energy.