Brunswick to expand boat manufacturing facility in Navassa

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A major boat manufacturer plans to buy a facility in the coastal town of Navassa and expand the work force there by about 600 in the next five years.

Brunswick Corporation will purchase a manufacturing plant from KCS International, another boat-building company. The 250 workers at KCS will continue working there.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed in today's announcement.

State business recruiters promised Brunswick a grant of more than $4 million if the company meets its job creation targets. The average wage for the jobs is about $31,000 a year.

Governor Easley's office says Brunswick will invest more than $51 million during its expansion.

Brunswick says it will use the plant to meet the growing demand for boats 45 feet and larger. The Chicago-based company also says it's close a plant in Maryland and transferring production to the new North Carolina site.

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