Rubbermaid to Bring Hefty Payroll

Salaries will average nearly $70,000 for new jobs

By TONY MECIA, Charlotte Observer

05/19/04

HUNTERSVILLE - The 100 administrative and professional jobs Newell Rubbermaid Inc. is creating near Birkdale Village will average nearly $70,000 in salary, Gov. Mike Easley announced Tuesday.

The company already has a tool division based at the NorthPointe Executive Park. The addition of the Rubbermaid Foodservice Products division in a neighboring building will bring the total to about 350.

"We came here for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the ability to attract talented people to our business," said Gary Hall, a Rubbermaid group vice president.

The Observer reported Tuesday that Newell Rubbermaid was headquartering its foodservice products division in Huntersville with 100 new jobs. Tuesday's announcement in a third-floor conference room -- in front of tables filled with plastic food containers, spatulas, Irwin saw blades, Levolor blinds and other company products -- provided additional details.

In a brief speech, Easley criticized "Washington trade policies" that he blamed for the loss of jobs in traditional industries.

"We are losing jobs out the back door because of these policies," he said. "Someone has to bring jobs through the front door."

He praised Newell Rubbermaid for creating jobs of the future based on knowledge, talent and skill and touted the creation of jobs as proof that North Carolina is a good place to do business.

Newell Rubbermaid is a Fortune 500 company headquartered outside Atlanta. It has annual sales of more than $7 billion.

The company received $200,000 in state economic incentives, plus a $170,000 grant from Huntersville and Mecklenburg County and a $30,000 grant from EnergyUnited, an electric co-op.

Company officials said people can apply for jobs by sending an e-mail to RFP-jobs@rubbermaid.com. A phone number is not yet available, they said.