SALISBURY – Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Freshouse II, a distributor of fresh produce, will expand its operations in Rowan County. The company plans to create 90 jobs and invest $6.3 million over the next three years in Salisbury. The project was made possible in part by a $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, as well as cash incentives from Rowan County and Salisbury.
“My first priority is creating jobs. Our state’s top-notch business climate continues to attract companies like Freshouse,” Perdue said in a statement. “This expansion also bolsters our state’s strong farm industry by increasing opportunities to get North Carolina grown crops to market.”
Freshouse is a full service distribution and packing facility headquartered in Salisbury. The company aims to provide high-quality produce with benefits such as consolidation, state of the art repacking, re-grading, inventory control and just-in-time delivery.
Freshouse also features private label packaging to promote customer loyalty and increase sales. The company currently employs more than 115 people in North Carolina.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual payroll for the new jobs will be nearly $2.3 million, plus benefits.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the city, county and state for helping Freshouse to expedite its decision to expand their business and for supporting Freshouse, its employees in North Carolina and its future,” said Jamey Friedman, president of Freshouse LLC.
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.
These grants require and are contingent upon local matches.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 60,000 jobs and $11 billion in investment have been created since 2001.
Other partners that helped with this project include the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Rowan County, the city of Salisbury and Duke Energy.