Governor Beverly Perdue today announced the creation of 62 jobs and a $60 million investment from a Virginia company which has already built a plant in Ahoskie.
The governor said Enviva LP, which will manufacture wood pellets to export around the world, puts the area's thriving timber and wood services industry in a new arena with its agreement to bring a bio-sustainable manufacturing firm to Northampton County.
The pellets are used as wood fuel.
“They are a really good company,” Perdue said at Garysburg town hall. “The state has done its due diligence and understands the value of this company. They are here to stay.”
Brown, Perdue and Keppler look at a map of the plant location.
The governor said the announcement puts the state's timber industry into the 21st Century. The Ahoskie plant, she said, when it opens in October, will bring 53 jobs and represents a $53 million investment.
“This is important for Northampton County,” Perdue said. “It is important for Eastern North Carolina because a few jobs in Eastern North Carolina is a like is a thousand jobs in other parts of the state like Charlotte..”
Enviva Chairman and CEO John Keppler told the audience he was delighted to locate a manufacturing plant in Northampton County in less than a year from announcing plans to build in Hertford County. “This is going to put Northampton County on the map as the leading exporter of biomass fuel.”
Said Fannie Green, chair of the county's board of commissioners, “We thank you for your investment and the much needed jobs it will bring.”
Perdue shakes hands with Bell.
Although the plant will not be located within the town limits of Garysburg, but in the county's corporate park off Interstate 95, Garysburg Mayor Roy Bell was excited about the news. “Any time you bring jobs to Northampton County it's a win-win. When you put people back to work you put money back into the economy. That's a win-win for us, it being in our fire district.”
Northampton County Economic Development Director Gary Brown said the county has been negotiating with the company since April. “The ancillary benefits are a multitude, to the timber industry and to the region. They're going to be sending in excess of 140 truckloads in and out a day. They're a very strategic company. They like to work within the local community.”
