Wilmington City Council approves $2 million in incentives for proposed Corning expansion

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington City Council unanimously approved $2 million in incentives Tuesday night for a proposed Corning expansion, one day after New Hanover County commissioners approved their share of the funding package.

The project, known as “Project Pearl Two,” is expected to create more than 400 jobs over five years.

New Hanover County commissioners approved $3 million in incentives Monday, bringing the combined city and county commitment to $5 million.

The incentives are designed to help keep Corning in the region and support future investment in its Wilmington facility.

The city’s $2 million contribution would be distributed over five years and tied to performance requirements and job-creation targets.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo praised Corning’s contributions to the local economy and its commitment to the community.

“It’s about bringing in the jobs, but what I like about this organization: they don’t toot their own horns, they keep their nose close to the ground, they work very hard, they don’t ask for the fanfare, but they get the job done. And I really appreciate just the way you folks work over there because your clients appreciate it, the community appreciates it.”

With both local governments approving their contributions, the proposed expansion now has $5 million in approved local incentives tied to the project’s performance and job-creation goals.