UPS locating distribution center in Onslow County with 98 new jobs

HOLLY RIDGE, N.C. (WITN) - Nearly a hundred jobs are coming to Onslow County thanks to a new UPS distribution center.

The facility will be located in Holly Ridge and will service the southeastern part of North Carolina.

The 98 new jobs is the largest economic development project for Onslow County in 40 years, according to Gov. Roy Cooper. It’s something Holly Ridge Mayor Jeff Wenzel says happened unusually fast.

“We’ve been working on this for 14 months so that’s really a short amount of time for a lot of these types of deals to be made,” Wenzel said. “We’re really thankful.”

“The decision by UPS to expand in eastern North Carolina is a tribute to our growth and our dedicated workforce which includes many veterans in this area,” said Governor Cooper. “As the third-fastest growing state in the nation, global logistics leaders like UPS are eager to build in military communities like Holly Ridge that have the right people and the transportation infrastructure to reach their customers.”

The UPS facility will be built in the Camp Davis Industrial Park with a $12.3 million price tag.

The company says the 98 jobs will include drivers, operations personnel, managers, and support staff. The average yearly wage for the jobs will be $67,657, which Wenzel says is double the salary in Onslow County.

“Full benefits, 401k and everything,” Wenzel said. “The package that they offer is incredible so it’s going to change the lives of many people in the area. We’re excited about that.”

The state is giving UPS a $250,000 performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund. UPS will receive no money upfront and have to meet job creation and investment targets to qualify for payments.

“What a fantastic announcement for our community,” said State Senator Michael Lazzara. “We appreciate the diligent work of our local officials and economic development professionals that helped us prepare and solidify this win for Holly Ridge.”

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