CargoLifter Inc., a Garman company, announced last month that it will locate an airship assembly and maintenance facility on a 4,000-acre tract just off Highway 70 a few miles east of New Bern at Cove City. The plant will require up to $120 million in initial investment and create 200-300 new jobs.

"Just a few months ago, I had the opportunity to see the facility CargoLifter is building in Germany, and I was impressed by the sheer magnitude of the facility and the project," Gov. Jim Hunt said Oct. 12 at the announcement ceremony. "That is why it is especially gratifying to know that the company chose North Carolina to house their North American operations, and I welcome their presence and future investment in our state and in our workers."

CargoLifter will manufacture airships measuring over 850 feet in length capable of carrying payloads of up to 160 metric tons at the new industrial park, which sits astride the Craven-Jones county line. Utilizing an on-board crane system which allows the craft to load without landing, the airships will be able to transport heavy or outsize cargo anywhere in the world all in one piece. The ships will travel at a speed of 50-60 mph at an altitude of about 6,000 feet.

The hangar itself will be approximately 30 stories high and the length of four football fields, and will be able to house two airships during manufacturing and maintenance. In addition to the hangar, the 5,800-acre CargoLifter "campus" will house repair and maintenance facilities, administrative offices and a visitor center.

CargoLifter is the North American subsidiary of German-based CargoLifter AG, which is developing a global transportation network using giant airships to transport heavy cargo. The company projects the CargoLifter hangar to be completed in North Carolina in 4-5 years and the first CargoLifter airship in about 5-6 years. Construction of the first CargoLifter CL160 airship in Germany should begin in 2001. Serial production of approximately 50 airships is planned to start in 2004.

CargoLifter will be eligible to receive tax credits under the William S. Lee Quality Jobs and Expansion Act for investment, job creation, and worker training.

German Chemicals Maker Chooses Charlotte: Alberdingk Boley, based in Krefeld, Germany, announced last month that it will locate a $20 million production facility in the Charlotte area that will make environmentally safe chemical binders such as coatings and resins for industrial uses. It will be Alberdingk Boley's first US production facility.

Alberdingk Boley plans to begin production in the new facility by 2002 and expects to hire at least 50 employees. The company selected North Carolina because of its central location in the growing market for acrylate and polyurethane products that substitute solvent-based coatings with water-based technology. Also, Krefeld and Charlotte are sister cities.

Alberdingk Bolay will be eligible to receive investment, job creation and worker training tax credits under the William S. Lee Quality Jobs and Business Expansion Act.

North Carolina is home to more than 160 German-owned companies.

Nashville Breaks Ground on New Business Center: The Town of Nashville has broken ground on a 53,000-square-foot spec building at the Nashville Business Center. Funding for the building comes from the Town of Nashville, Nash County, CP&L and the Nash County Business Development Authority. Expected to be completed by June 1, 2001, the spec building doesn't yet have a tenant. It will be marketed by the Carolinas Gateway Partnership.

Meanwhile, Eagle Assembly Unlimited Inc. announced it will begin operations in Nash County by occupying an existing 17,000-square-foot facility where it will produce register and rotor assemblies for electric power meters. Eagle Assembly will invest up to $5 million in machinery and plant upgrades and hire 60 people, according to Thomas A. Betts Jr., chairman of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership, which assisted in the deal.

Please continue reading other stories in this issue of the newsletter:

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Why is our population up 15% but state workers are up 22%?
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Wachovia is this year's leader in SBA loans
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Timken CEO Tim Timken Jr. is installed as NAM chairman.  Lt. Gov. Wicker to join Smith Helms law firm
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NCBCE has answers about new promotion standards 
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