Old North News

Governor Josh Stein has announced that Chatsworth Products, Inc. (CPI), a manufacturer of IT equipment, will expand its facility in New Bern, Craven County. The expansion will involve an investment of $11 million and is expected to create 45 new jobs.

“Our state’s ability to support manufacturing operations in all corners of the state will continue to grow our economy and ensure the benefits of that growth are more broadly shared across North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Chatsworth Products is reinvesting in Craven County because North Carolina is a great home for business and our workforce is the best.”

CPI has been providing infrastructure hardware and equipment solutions for over three decades. As a fully employee-owned company, it specializes in engineering thermal, power, and cable management solutions for data centers as well as enterprise networking and industrial enclosures. The expansion at the New Bern location will enhance production capacity and introduce new product lines.

“Chatsworth Products has been delivering innovative Data Center infrastructure solutions for over 34 years to our global customer base fueled by our employee-ownership culture,” said Ted Behrens, CEO of Chatsworth Products. “This expansion in New Bern underscores our dedication to meeting customer needs while strengthening our role as a trusted partner in the IT and telecommunications industries. We are proud to deepen our roots in Craven County and contribute to the region’s economic growth with new opportunities and advanced manufacturing capabilities.”

According to N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, “Chatsworth’s decision to expand is the result of what works well in North Carolina.” He added that a skilled workforce combined with manufacturing excellence makes North Carolina attractive for tech companies.

The new positions at CPI include machine operators, packers, and warehouse staff. The average annual wage for these roles will be $50,224, surpassing the county's average wage of $48,770. This could result in an annual payroll impact exceeding $2.2 million for the area.

A performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund worth $100,000 will assist CPI's expansion efforts. This fund supports local governments by providing financial assistance aimed at attracting economic investments and job creation.

“These new jobs are a welcome addition to our region,” said N.C. Senator Bob Brinson. “Chatsworth’s commitment in Craven County is a testament to our state’s strong economy and well-educated workforce.”

N.C. Representative Steve Tyson expressed gratitude towards those who facilitated CPI's decision: “We know Chatsworth could have expanded anywhere, but we’re glad they chose New Bern.”

Key partners involved in this project include several state departments along with local organizations such as Craven Community College and Duke Energy.