New Hanover County and city of Wilmington may offer incentives to bring at least 51 jobs.
WILMINGTON -- New Hanover County is considering offering an incentive package to entice National Gypsum to reopen its Sunnyvale Drive plant and hire at least 51 employees, according to a notice from the county.
The package would offer the company, which closed its plant in 2009, cash incentives of $350,000 over five years if the company meets minimum performance metrics of investing $25 million and hiring 51 people at an average salary of at least $57,000.
"The return on the investment (would be) undeniable," said Woody White, chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. "When you assess these opportunities, what it really boils down to is what is the return on investment for the taxpayer. This one is a very positive return, not just in dollars and cents, but in intangible benefits like job creation."
Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. Feb. 19 to consider the county's share of the incentive package.
"If we could bring 50 additional jobs to our community with a salary over $50,000 a year plus benefits, I think it's a win-win for everybody," Commissioner Jonathan Barfield said.
The city of Wilmington is also considering its own package valued at $230,000 over five years with the same benchmarks for investment and job creation, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said.
"It's bringing back manufacturing into the city," Saffo said. "If we have an opportunity to bring this plant back to the city of Wilmington, it would be a great day."
National Gypsum, which made wallboard, closed its Wilmington plant in January 2009 after the real estate crash depressed the housing market, laying off about 60 employees. It operates 17 plants nationwide, including one in Mount Holly, North Carolina.
In 2012, the plant was the site of some filming for "Iron Man 3."
County Manager Chris Coudriet said the company, which retained ownership of its building, would continue to pay its "full local tax burden."
"Jobs and economic development have been, for five-plus years, the county commission's number one priority," Coudriet said. "(The incentive package) meets the priorities of economic development and job growth."
White, who has in the past not supported some incentive packages, said he believed the National Gypsum package would be appropriate to entice the company, which he said is also considering expanding to Florida or New York.
"I'm hopeful that they will decide on our community. I believe we have unique assets in both work force and geography that will benefit their product and we hope that they agree," White said. "For me to support incentive packages, there has to be some active competition taking place."
Reporter Tim Buckland can be reached at 910-343-2217 or Tim.Buckland@StarNewsOnline.com.
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