Natron Energy, an international industrial battery manufacturer, is set to bring over 1,000 jobs and a $1.4 billion investment to Edgecombe County, North Carolina. The company plans to build a “gigafactory” at Kingsboro Business Park, manufacturing sodium-ion batteries for clean energy purposes. This investment offers hope for a county with high unemployment and a declining population.
The average wage for jobs at the factory is expected to be $64,071, significantly higher than the county’s current average wage. However, some community leaders, like Princeville Mayor Bobbie Jones, remain cautious due to past disappointments with promised investments in the county.
Natron’s gigafactory construction will begin in March, and the company is working with Edgecombe Community College to provide workforce training programs. The company chose Edgecombe County for its well-educated and skilled workforce, despite the county’s declining population and educational challenges.
Officials see Natron Energy’s investment as a transformational project that could provide good jobs and help retain young people in the county. Both Carolinas Gateway Partnership and local government officials are hopeful that this project will be a step in the right direction to revitalize Edgecombe County’s economy.
Source
Photo credit carolinapublicpress.org
