Carolinas Gateway Partnership

05/28/2026

READY FOR YOUR BUSINESS! We are pleased to provide this update on Rocky Mount Industrial Village. The first building is complete. Ready Space. Prime Location.

Contact Brenda or Dean for more information.

05/04/2026

🚨 Attention All 2026 High School Graduates of Edgecombe County Who are Prepared to Enter the Workforce!

💲 $15/hour paid on-the-job training at Astemo (full-time career opportunity)

STEPs4GROWTH is available to eligible 2026 high school graduates in Edgecombe County who are fully prepared to enter the workforce. Participants will receive $15 per hour while enrolled in 96 hours of curriculum instruction. Students will also receive 80 hours of paid on-the-job training with local industries. Most positions will lead to full-time employment with benefits and room for advancement. Candidates must be 18 years of age and have a CRC score of BRONZE or higher. Students will earn their OSHA 10 certification, Working Smart certification, and Lean Six Sigma certification. Students will also receive electrical and electric vehicle training. Space is extremely limited! Interested students should reach out to their high school counselor or contact [email protected].

Must meet the following requirements:

✅ Bronze level or above on the Workkeys assessment
✅ Resident of Edgecombe County
✅ 18 years or older
✅ Must be prepared to enter the workforce
✅ Must have transportation
✅ Must be able to commit to the schedule

04/30/2026

04/16/2026

02/20/2026

This is terrific news for our area. LS Cable and System USA announced a $50 million expansion investment in Tarboro, NC.
“LS Cable & System USA continues to achieve strong success in Tarboro and Edgecombe County and this latest expansion investment of $50 million with two new production lines is a testament to their commitment to our region and the growing demand for power distribution cables,” said Bob Pike, President of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership.

For the full press release and details, visit https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213830112/en/LS-Cable-System-USA-Announces-%2450-Million-Expansion-Investment-in-Tarboro-North-Carolina

Photography provided by Garry Hodges.

02/20/2026

Great news for the Town of Tarboro.

"LS Cable & Systems, an industrial company which develops, produces, and provides power and telecommunication cables and systems, which is creating 85 jobs and investing $10,882,000 in Tarboro."

LINK to press release: https://www.commerce.nc.gov/node/4829

10/23/2025

TOWN OF PINETOPS AWARDED $450,000 GRANT ALLOWING ABB TO EXPAND OPERATIONS

NC Governor Josh Stein has announced the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved a $450,000.00 grant request from the Town of Pinetops (in Edgecombe County) for the expansion of the ABB Inc. Pinetops expansion. ABB plans to add 38,000 square feet to the existing facility which will create 49 new jobs with a private investment of $590,790. The grant was part of 21 grants awarded to rural communities to help attract 269 new jobs and nearly $200 million in additional investments.

Bob Pike, President and CEO of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership noted, “This expansion is just another example of why Edgecombe County is where businesses can thrive because the County encourages and supports existing industries making continued investments in their operations and facilities.

Pike further noted, “The emphasis that the Partnership is now putting on helping existing industry find ways to expand is being led by Tracy Crenshaw, our Director of Existing Industry. This ABB expansion is another example illustrating how Workforce development is paying dividends for Edgecombe.”

ABB designs and manufactures power quality and power protection equipment for the electric grid. This includes instrument transformers which reduce the current and voltage to allow for the measurement and control of the grid itself.

ABB in Pinetops also manufactures sensors and a variety of protective equipment for the power grid including overhead distribution cutouts, disconnect switches and capacitor fuses. Products manufactured in Pinetops are found throughout the electric grid, including in substations, on transformers, and on power poles. Used primarily by electric utilities and other power equipment providers, our products enable safe, efficient and reliable electricity service to homes and businesses across the country.

Commenting on the 21 grants awarded by the State, Governor Josh Stein said, “Investing in North Carolina’s rural communities brings more opportunity to every corner of the state. These recent grants create jobs, improve quality of life, and attract businesses that support rural development and help make our state stronger and more prosperous.”
https://econdev.org/

10/22/2025

VALENCIA PIPE COMPANY BRINGS JOBS TO SOUTH ROCKY MOUNT

California based Valencia Pipe Company (VPC) will open a 70,000-square foot manufacturing facility in the old Trinity building in Edgecombe County at 1549 Vance Street in South Rocky Mount with operations beginning this month.

The company manufactures rotationally molded polyethylene containers for use as water, septic, cistern and multi-use tanks. The company also manufactures parts used with various types of tanks. With $18 million in annual sales, Valencia Pipe Company is the 32nd largest rotational molder in North America according to Plastic News magazine.

Rocky Mount will be the third production facility Valencia Pipe has opened in the past two years. Facilities were opened in Miami, OK and Wabuska, NV in 2024. Opening the Rocky Mount plant is a major step for the company as it moves to attract more East Coast customers and better serve all of its customers across the US.

Valencia Pipe Company CEO Andrew Dervin noted, “We invested in this market using the latest in manufacturing technology and bringing in industry experts to guide us at every stage of our process. We’re very excited for this next phase in Rocky Mount.”
Valenica Pipe officials point to the company’s success based on its track record for meticulous product design, customer service and deep industry expertise. The products the company will manufacture in Rocky Mount are difficult to bring to market because they are produced in accordance with environmental and government regulations.

Christopher Butler, Valencia Pipe Vice President of Manufacturing and Distribution, noted the company has invested in the latest manufacturing technology for the plant so it can be put into operation as quickly as possible. Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson noted, “I am thrilled to welcome Valencia Pipe Company to Rocky Mount to launch their East Coast distribution hub. They are renowned for their quality product, superior customer service, rapid turnaround times, and corporate community support. We are grateful for the new jobs and look forward to their continued growth. I stand ready to support them however I can.”

Bob Pike, President and CEO of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership commented, “We are so excited Valencia Pipe Company has chosen Rocky Mount because they see an opportunity to not only expand a successful company, but to make a difference in an underserved community with minimal job opportunities. This project is the first of many new efforts Carolinas Gateway Partnership is working on that will help build better futures through economic growth.
https://econdev.org/

09/22/2025

We’re honored to be recognized as Member of the Day by the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce! At Carolinas Gateway Partnership, our mission is simple—help businesses grow, bring new jobs, and strengthen our communities. We couldn’t do this without the support and collaboration of leaders, industries, and partners, like you, across the region!

🌟 Member of the Day: Carolinas Gateway Partnership 🌟

Carolinas Gateway Partnership is dedicated to driving economic growth across Eastern North Carolina—serving Edgecombe County, the City of Rocky Mount, and the Town of Tarboro. Through collaboration with local governments, businesses, and schools, they create opportunities for companies looking to grow or relocate, while also supporting existing industries. Their work brings new jobs, long-term investment, and brighter futures for families right here at home.

🌐 www.econdev.org
📞 252-442-0114

09/02/2025

Here's a great opportunity for community leaders -- sign up for the Twin Counties Education and Business Leaders' SUMMIT, organized by STEP. Listen to experts on workforce and education, hear inspiring stories and learn about active partnerships, and experience a showcase of how schools are preparing our future workforce.

DATE: 9/18/2025
TIME: 8-11AM (breakfast at 7:30AM)
LOCATION: Brown Auditorium, Nash Community College
REGISTER HERE: https://www.step-partnership.org/education-business-leaders-summit

06/06/2025

This represents progress and important to the readiness for future growth in this area.

Carolinas Gateway Partnership President Bob Pike said “We need to have workforce housing projects such as these very much and they are well-received by industry.” Pike said that 3,600 jobs have been recently announced in Pitt, Wilson, and Edgecombe Counties, with another 1,000 jobs in the pipeline.
“And for each job that comes, there’s a multiplier of three,” he noted, adding, “We’re very much in favor of this project.”