Source:  PRESS RELEASE, 5/13/11

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that The Roberts Company, a provider of design, fabrication and installation services for the chemical, power, mining and pulp and paper industries, will expand with a new facility in Pitt County.  The company plans to create 29 jobs and invest $3.25 million during the next three years in Winterville.  The project was made possible in part by an $80,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

“The Roberts Company knows firsthand about our top-ranked business climate and skilled workforce, because the company has called North Carolina home for 34 years,” said Gov. Perdue.  “My top priority is creating jobs, and one of the best ways to do that is to fuel growth among the companies that are already here.”

The Roberts Company works around the world for large heavy manufacturers and mining facilities to provide engineering, fabrication, construction and plant-start up services.  The company specializes in fabrication and repair of complex ASME Code steel pressure vessels and heat exchangers.  The Roberts Company has been in Winterville since 1986 and currently employs 460 in North Carolina.  The company continues to grow and plans to open a second facility in Winterville.

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $40,480 plus benefits.  The Pitt County average annual wage is $30,628.

“The Roberts Company has enjoyed the benefits of the excellent workforce available in eastern North Carolina and we are very pleased to be able to expand our operation in Pitt County. This new facility will enhance our fabrication capabilities and allow us to continue our growth and success in serving our customers locally as well as internationally,” says Chris Bailey, president and CEO of The Roberts Company.

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state.  Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.  These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

“Companies look at more than just dollar figures,” said Rep. Marian McLawhorn, who represents Pitt County. “They want educated and trained employees, a transportation system that helps them succeed, good schools for their children and quality of life for their families. They find all of those in North Carolina because of the policies we have pursued.”

North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate.  Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 50,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been created since 2001.  Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, Pitt County, the Town of Winterville, the Pitt County Committee of 100 and North Carolina’s Eastern Region.

For more information about The Roberts Company, including job opportunities, go to www.robertscompany.com.