Hose manufacturer to invest $7.9 million in Pender County

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Polyhose Inc., an industrial hose manufacturer, will create more than 50 jobs in Pender County, Governor Roy Cooper announced Tuesday.

The company will invest $7.9 million to locate a warehouse and assembly plant in the Pender Commerce Park along U.S. 421 in Pender County.

“Pender County is ready to grow, and international companies like Polyhose know North Carolina’s strong workforce is the right way to put their strategy to work,” Cooper said.

Cooper and Polyhose officials highlight the area’s highway system and port access as just a few of the reasons the facility is a great fit here.  They say the area’s skilled workforce was the driving factor for the company’s decision to build here though.

The facility will be built in the Pender Commerce Park in Pender County. (Photo: Kylie Jones/WWAY)

“I think all of us know that the most important asset that we have here is our people,” Cooper said. “In talking to Jon Pressler just a few minutes ago, he said that was the number one reason why they chose this place, is our workforce.”

Headquartered in India, Polyhose manufactures Thermoplastic, Hydraulic, PTFE and industrial hoses and tubings for large equipment companies such as Caterpillar, Boeing, Graco, and Wagner SprayTech. The global industrial conglomerate employs more than 1,800 employees for their operations in Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia and North America. Located in Pender Commerce Park, the new location will be a 40,000 square-foot warehouse for hose assembly and distribution.

“Polyhose is thrilled to be making its first significant USA investment in Pender County, North Carolina,” Senior Vice President of Polyhose Inc. Jonathan Pressler said. “As Polyhose searched for a home in the U.S., the state of North Carolina and Pender County did a great job of working with Polyhose to find a suitable location, while pointing out the many advantages of locating here. Polyhose looks forward to being an involved employer and positive contributor to the Pender County and North Carolina communities.”

“When international manufacturers want to expand, North Carolina is always a top choice,” North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland said. “Combining the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeastern United States with a prime East Coast location and great transportation infrastructure creates a winning strategy for global companies like Polyhose.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the state’s support for the company’s decision.

Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average for all new positions could reach up to $38,216. The current average annual wage in Pender County is $32,627.

A performance-based grant of $75,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate Polyhose’s operation in Pender County. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

“This is exciting news for Pender County,” NC Senator Bill Rabon said. “Our region is positioned to support Polyhose’s global growth for many years to come.”

“Pender County is a great place for Polyhose,” NC Representative Carson Smith said. “These new jobs and $7 million investment are welcome additions to our region.”

In addition to N.C. Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina Ports Authority, Wilmington Business Development, North Carolina’s Southeast and Pender County.

Polyhose Senior Vice President Jon Pressler says they hope to break ground on the new facility sometime between February and March, and then be up and running by the fall of 2020.

Pressler also says they hope to hire locally for a lot of these new jobs.