CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ó A housing assistance nonprofit wants to add more than 1,000 jobs in Charlotte over the next five years, and the organization said Thursday it plans to immediately hold a jobs fair to fill half those positions.

Gov. Beverly Perdue said the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America would invest $4.5 million to expand its Charlotte operation, which currently employs about 100 people. The 1,014 jobs will pay an average annual wage of $35,982, and the state will provide $1 million in incentives to bring the jobs to North Carolina.

NACA CEO Bruce Marks said the nonprofit plans a jobs fair Friday to immediately hire 500 people.

“These jobs are crucial as NACA leads the campaign nationwide to make mortgages affordable for homeowners at risk of losing their homes,” Marks said in a statement.

The Boston-based nonprofit provides counseling and lending assistance to those with poor credit. It offers loans with no down payments or closing costs and has held events around the nation to find ways to help at-risk homeowners lower their mortgage payments.

“North Carolina remains a strong presence in the U.S. finance sector and this is a tremendous opportunity for the Charlotte area,” Perdue said.