Corning announces $585 million Wilmington expansion, adding 414 jobs

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Corning Incorporated announced Wednesday, Oct. 21, that it will invest $585 million to expand its Wilmington optical fiber manufacturing facility, creating 414 jobs over the next five years.

The expansion will increase the company’s local workforce, which currently stands at approximately 1,000 employees.

According to Wilmington Business Development, the new positions will offer average annual salaries exceeding $85,000, compared with New Hanover County’s average annual wage of approximately $70,000.

Once hiring is complete, the additional jobs are expected to generate more than $35 million in annual payroll for the region.

The announcement follows votes earlier this week by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners and Wilmington City Council to approve a combined $5 million in performance-based incentives for the project.

County commissioners approved $3 million Monday, while City Council unanimously approved $2 million Tuesday. The incentives are tied to job creation and investment requirements.

The expansion, previously known as “Project Pearl 2,” was considered alongside other potential locations before Corning selected Wilmington.

The company says the investment will support growing demand for optical fiber used in artificial intelligence infrastructure and telecommunications networks.

“We’re proud to expand our presence in Wilmington, where Corning made history with the world’s first optical fiber manufacturing plant and where our people continue to make the fiber that is critical to next-generation networks,” said John McGirr, senior vice president and general manager of Corning Optical Fiber and Cable. “For decades, our talented workforce here has helped keep Corning at the forefront of optical communications. We’re excited about what comes next, and we’re grateful to the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and our key community partners, like Wilmington Business Development, for their continued support and partnership.”

New Hanover County Commissioners Chair LeAnn Pierce said the incentives are structured to ensure the company meets its commitments.

“This expansion means 414 new jobs at an average wage of more than $85,000. Those are good paychecks for families in our community. The grant is tied to those jobs and that investment, and that is exactly how it should work,” Pierce said.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo also expressed support for the expansion.

“This project represents hundreds of new, good-paying jobs, a significant investment in our local economy and opportunities for families across our region. We’re proud to work alongside New Hanover County to support this kind of economic growth, while making sure our investment is tied to real results,” Saffo said.

Corning has operated in Wilmington since 1966, when its facility initially manufactured electric resistors used in televisions and household appliances.

The company later became a pioneer in optical fiber technology, with its Wilmington operation becoming the world’s first optical fiber manufacturing plant.

Corning also partners with Cape Fear Community College through its Technician Pipeline Program, a two-year apprenticeship program that graduated its first class in May 2023.

Wilmington Business Development CEO Scott Satterfield said the expansion reflects the company’s longstanding presence in the region.

“It’s impossible to overstate how important this company is to Greater Wilmington,” Satterfield said.

Corning, headquartered in New York, employs more than 70,000 people worldwide.

The company has not announced a specific timeline for construction or when individual positions will become available.