The state of North Carolina has won a “Gold Shovel” award from Area Development Magazine in part due to efforts the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce put in on an expansion project for United Parcel Service.

In late 2020, the Greensboro Chamber and other partners announced a UPS expansion that will create over 140 new jobs at the company’s existing Greensboro facility.

 It will also add 451 jobs at a new package center in Alamance County.

Gold Shovel awards are given out to state and local economic development efforts that generated significant capital investments and created new jobs.

On Thursday, June 10, Marvin Price, the executive vice president of economic development for the Greensboro Chamber, stated in a press release that this should help bring attention to the city, the county and the state.

“We’re glad to see North Carolina recognized for our commitment to job creation and economic development,” Price said. “By enticing companies like UPS to further invest in our region, we are not only securing jobs for today, but expanding economic opportunities for the years to come.”

The UPS expansion project that brought the Gold Shovel award to the state is expected to add $38.5 million to the total annual payroll in the area. Salaries for these jobs will average $65,147 a year.

UPS currently employs nearly 2,500 people in the state. Over the next 12 years, the company’s expansion in North Carolina is expected to bring in about $1.4 billion to the state’s economy.

North Carolina has been awarded a Gold Shovel award in the 8 million to 12 million population category.

Some of the partners in the process included Guilford County, Alamance County, the NC Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of NC., the NC General Assembly, the NC Community College System, the cities of Greensboro, Graham and Mebane, as well as the Alamance Chamber, the High Point Economic Development Corporation, Guilford Community College, the County Workforce Development Board and Duke Energy.

 

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