WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Dell Inc. is again postponing plans to close its North Carolina personal computer plant by three months thanks to an uptick in computer sales to businesses, governments and schools.

The company told 400 workers Friday they could keep their jobs until the end of July, the close of the company's second quarter.

Dell announced last fall it would close the plant in January, then pushed the date back to April, and now to July. Spokesman David Frink said Dell cut its workforce from 900 last fall in anticipation of closing.

The company quickly repaid local governments $26 million in incentives used to attract the plant that opened in 2005.

Dell was offered more than $300 million in state and local incentives to choose a North Carolina site in 2004.

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