Governor Josh Stein announced on Apr. 2 that Linde Inc., an industrial gases and engineering company, will invest more than $75 million to construct an air separation facility in Garysburg, Northampton County. The project is expected to create 20 new jobs for the area.
The announcement is significant for the local economy as it brings both investment and employment opportunities to Northampton County. The new plant will produce argon, nitrogen, and oxygen for use in sectors such as hospital services, semiconductor manufacturing, battery production, and food preservation.
“I am pleased to welcome Linde to Northampton County,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Not only is North Carolina centrally located on the East Coast with the strong transportation infrastructure that manufacturers and distributors need, but, more importantly, it’s also home to the talented North Carolinians who helped secure our ranking as the top state for workforce development.”
Todd Lawson, Vice President of Linde’s East Region division said: “Linde is committed to serving the needs of our customers and to grow in the U.S. We chose this location based on its proximity to customers and the support of Northampton County. This new air separation unit will strengthen Linde’s presence in the state and extend our strong merchant gases supply network to increase our ability to reliably serve our customers’ current and future needs.”
N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said: “Linde’s decision to build in Northampton County validates the community’s resilience and strength. Companies like Linde grow the supply chain of our thriving life sciences ecosystem, and when they choose rural North Carolina, they affirm North Carolina’s position as the best place for business in every corner of the state.”
The estimated annual payroll impact from these jobs could exceed $1.75 million for Northampton County.
A performance-based grant of $60,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help support Linde’s expansion efforts. The fund assists local governments by providing financial incentives tied directly to job creation targets; companies receive no money upfront but must meet specific goals before receiving payments.
N.C. Representative Rodney D. Pierce welcomed Linde’s investment saying: “We welcome Linde and its investments in our people and our community, and we stand ready to support the company as it executes its growth strategy.” N.C Senator Bobby Hanig added: “This is outstanding news that will be a great return on investment for Northampton County and the region.”
Several partners contributed toward bringing this project forward including various state agencies such as Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions along with regional organizations like Golden LEAF Foundation.
