MICROBAN TO BUILD NEW HEADQUARTERS IN HUNTERSVILLE
Construction to begin fall 2007
October 17, 2007
Huntersville, NC – Gov. Mike Easley today announced that Microban International Ltd. will expand its facility in Huntersville, creating 45 jobs and investing $8 million over the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $45,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.
“Microban’s decision to expand in North Carolina is a testament to our highly skilled workforce,” Easley said. “We will continue to make the necessary investments in workforce development, education and infrastructure that help make North Carolina a leading state for biotechnology.”
"We are pleased to remain in Huntersville” said company CEO, David Meyers. “Microban continues to benefit from being able to attract the caliber of employee it needs to sustain its growth. Our employees are smart, hard working and committed to the Company's success. And we're able to continue to find that same type of person as we grow. On the odd occasion that we can't identify the person we need in the Charlotte area, we've found that being based in this location has been a great advantage to attract the talent we need from across the country. Our employees and the community can look to our new facility as another symbol of our commitment to grow our worldwide business from the Charlotte area."
Microban International, Ltd. is a global technology company headquartered in North America with offices in Asia, Europe, Canada, and the US. Microban is the global leader in built-in antimicrobial product protection, engineering durable antimicrobial solutions for consumer, industrial and medical products around the world. Microban® technology can be engineered into a breadth of materials including polymers, textiles, coatings, paper and adhesives.
Built into products during the manufacturing process, Microban antimicrobial product protection inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, mold and mildew which cause stains, odors and deterioration of a product. Microban products provide continuous, durable and effective antimicrobial protection that will provide an added level of defense against damaging microbes for the useful lifetime of the product.
Headquartered in Huntersville since its creation in 1994, the company has their administrative offices, R&D labs, sales and warehouse/distribution operations in the Park, Huntersville. They have grown to approximately 50 employees locally and project adding 45 new jobs over the next three years.
Microban management considered sites in several localities in North and South Carolina. Support offered by the Town of Huntersville and the State of North Carolina helped convince the company to expand in Huntersville.
Huntersville Mayor Kim Phillips said that Microban’s new headquarters facility will strengthen this region’s position as a center for research and development. “Microban represents the type of company we want to attract and retain in this region. They are on the cutting edge of development of a wide variety of new products, and we are delighted with their decision to continue to grow and expand in Huntersville.”
Charlotte Chamber chairman Tom Nelson of National Gypsum said he’s pleased that the public-private partnership has helped retain a locally grown company. “Our membership has indicated their interest in not only recruiting new business to the County, but in maintaining and strengthening the businesses we already have. Microban is a headquarters project in a targeted industry and public collaboration was key in keeping them here. We’re very pleased about their decision to stay and grow in Huntersville.”
Craig Norfolk with ElectriCities, chairman of the Lake Norman Regional EDC indicated this project emphasizes the importance of maintaining good relationships with existing industries. “Keeping existing companies that are growing and expanding is just as important as attracting new companies to the area.”
Assistance to the company on this project was provided by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corp.
Stephen G. Lukoskie
Microban International, Ltd
704-875-0806
www.microban.com
Kit Cramer
Charlotte Chamber
704-378-1301
www.charlottechamber.com
Jerry W. Broadway
Lake Norman Regional EDC
704-992-2300
www.lakenormanregion.org