Project Bluefin announcement set for today

State and local officials will gather in Greenville today to announce a company plans to build a facility north of town, making a $400 million investment that will add 232 jobs.

The announcement is set for property at U.S. 264 Bypass and Old Creek Road, where officials have pitched air-conditioned tents for the event.

Project Bluefin has been in the works. The Pitt County Board of Commissioners on June 17 approved a request from Pitt County Economic Development to provide an incentive to the life-sciences company in addition to the sale of the property, 130 acres owned by the county.

County staff distributed a memorandum on July 5 to commissioners to save today's date for the Bluefin announcement.

The incentive approved last month gives the company 70 percent of the net increase in ad valorem taxes it pays for a seven-year period for the two-phase project, with a cap set at $9 million over the life of the project.

County Economic Developer Kelly Andrews told the board the incentive is contingent on the company investing $400 million in real and personal property during the two phases and creating 232 jobs with an average salary above the county current median average wage of $50,937.

Commissioner Mary Perkins Williams asked if the jobs would be blue-collar.

“This is life sciences, there will be all kinds of jobs. There will be administration, there will be engineers but certainly the majority will be high-skilled, blue-collar jobs,” Andrews said.

The commissioners unanimously approved the request, with a modification giving board chairman Mark Smith the authority to execute any documents in relation to the project.

Officials have not disclosed details about the company.

WRAL on Wednesday said the Japanese medical device maker Nipro Corp. has been the subject the incentives discussions with state and local officials, citing people familiar with the company's plans.

It reported officials with the North Carolina Department of Commerce scheduled a special meeting for today at which the department’s Economic Investment Committee is expected to discuss one or more economic development projects.

The event follows one in April when officials joined Boviet Solar to announce the company is bringing 900 jobs and a $300 investment in a facility in nearby Indigreen Corporate Park.