The Orange County Board of Commissioners, County Manager’s Office and the Economic Development Department announce the successful recruitment of Piedmont Metalworks LLC, which will relocate it’s Durham manufacturing site to western Orange County. The Board officially approved Orange County’s local performance-based incentive offer to the company, valued at up to $86,261, in a special public hearing on Nov. 19, 2019.
The company chose Orange County following a review of competing real estate options and related business costs and advantages that were available between the Durham and Burlington regions of the State.
Over the next five years, the company will invest an estimated $4.15 million in Orange County to build approximately 40,000 square feet of new metal fabrication space. This operation will include the relocation of 12 existing positions and create 30 new jobs, which will pay an average salary of $41,236 per year (equal to $19.83 per hour) plus provide full health, educational and 401k match retirement benefits.
“Although there were numerous factors involved in the decision, two items pushed us to this site,” said Piedmont Metalworks owner Richie Richmond. “The incentive package of tax rebates was very much a plus but the business friendly climate that we have experienced from Orange County so far has been great. I would also extend a gracious thanks to the County Manager and the Orange County Commissioners for helping us build another great employer for the people in this community.”
The North Carolina Community Colleges System, and particularly the Hillsborough campus of Durham Technical Community College, will provide technical training assistance to the company.
Penny Rich, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, thanked Piedmont Metalworks’ management for this decision. “On behalf of Orange County, we welcome your new operation and sincerely appreciate the new skilled jobs you will bring to our community,” she said. “The Board is delighted to welcome your move here.”
Currently headquartered in Durham County, Piedmont Metalworks is a locally-owned structural and sheet metal fabrication company serving industries throughout the Southeast United States. The firm’s current staff of 12 metalworking professional has over 100 years of collective sheet metal fabrication experience and has performed custom work for many facilities around the region, including the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (ticket counters and jetway entrances), the North Carolina Museum of Art and North Carolina Museum of Natural History in Raleigh, UNC Chapel Hill (HVAC mounting platform), and the U.S. Marine Corps (tethered aerostat/blimp towing vehicles). Manufactured parts include enclosures, cabinets, housings, railroad sinks and toilets, panels, brackets, racks and recycling collection boxes. Products are made with structural steel and various sheet metal including mild steel, aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized, brass and copper. Manufacturing skills include plasma cutting, welding, design and CAD engineering, powder coating and silk screening. Learn more about Piedmont Metalworks at piedmontmetalworks.com/
Under the same ownership by C.E.O Richie Richmond is the Orange County-based custom sheet metal fabrication company, Forma-Fab Metals, which manufactures enclosures, cabinets, housings, panels, brackets, racks, bus bars, and covers. It has two locations at 5816 U.S. Highway 70 and at 6600 E. Washington Street in Orange County (between the Cheeks community and Mebane), has 68 local employees, and 75,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Learn more about Forma-Fab Metals at formafab.com/
Media Contact:
Steve Brantley, Director
Orange County Economic Development Department
Phone: (919) 245-2326