McCrory: More jobs coming to Triangle
RALEIGH -- HCL Technologies is bringing more than 1,200 jobs to Cary over the next three years.
The deal isn't free: North Carolina poured more than $20 million in incentives into the plan.
A traditional lamp lighting ceremony meant to symbolize prosperity was held Thursday at HCL Technologies, as the company made the announcement.
The ceremony was a fitting metaphor considering what HCL is doing: adding 1,237 jobs to the company's Cary operations.
"I think it's great," said Cary resident Michael Willis. "I think it's great. Especially high tech jobs - IT jobs. That's where the future is."
The state is giving HCL more than $21 million dollars in incentives; about 5 percent of the money will go to retraining programs at community colleges.
McCrory applauded the plan.
"This announcement no doubt verifies that we're competitive against Silicon Valley, and Boston, and New York," he said.
NC State economist Mike Walden said incentives are worth it if companies contribute more to the economy than they cost. He said he expects that's the case with HCL.
"You never know if the company would have come anyway," Walden said, "but I'm looking at this and thinking 'this is actually a pretty good deal.'"
McCrory also praised HCL for investing heavily in the K-12 science and math initiative known as STEM. McCrory acknowledged a "skills gap with IT workers," but lauded the state's efforts to retrain workers and HCL's contribution.
The Governor also gave HCL high marks for prioritizing veterans.
"They're hiring veterans," he said, "veterans coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq."
That was just one more reason for Andrea Willis to get excited; her daughter is in the Army Reserves.
For more information, please visit www.hcltech.com .
