Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems and GrowGreen Power Commit to Hiring

By Amalia Otet, Associate Editor

Charlotte is more appealing than ever to investors inside and outside the US. It boasts some of the best performing markets, a talented workforce and eager consumers, not to mention an under-valued real estate market.

Home to at least 10 of the Fortune 500 companies, including BofA, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Nucor and Duke energy, Charlotte brought in dozens of employers and around 7,600 new jobs between 2010 and 2011. In fact, the Queen City ranked 28th on the Business Journal’s ranking of the nation’s 100 largest metro areas for employment growth in the past 12 months.

One of the companies making a large contribution to the improvement of the city’s economy is Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems which plans to invest $4.1 million in an engineering center in South Charlotte designed to support nuclear plant building across the US. This US subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. has commited to hiring 135 engineers and other professionals within the next five years, promising high-paid jobs and large investments. As long as they stick to the plan they will be granted up to $2.9 million in incentives by the state. Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems is interested in leasing 26,000 sq. ft. of office space in Ballantyne Corporate Park and is currently negotiating the deal with The Bissell Cos., owner of the park.

Another company that has announced its prolific entry into North Carolina is GrowGreen Power, Inc., an integrator of renewable energy and greenhouse growing systems. After conducting extensive market research considering economic factors, available workforce, agricultural situation, access to produce distribution and energy market, GrowGreen Power has decided on Piedmont as the primary location for its $250 million green project. The organization intends to build a hydroponic greenhouse on 50 acres of NC land, producing only tomatoes at first, and a 43.65 MW solar thermal and biomass power plant. The fully sustainable GrowGreen center will produce clean, renewable energy, a part of which will be used to power the greenhouse and power plant itself and the rest will be sold to the local power grid. According to the company’s statements they create about 300 jobs with each of their new projects and North Carolina will definitely embrace the opportunity. Besides the employment growth that it generates, the project also has a major positive impact on other business areas such as manufacturing, energy, transportation and retail.