Press release from the Economic Development Coalition of Asheville-Buncombe County:
In conjunction with the Buncombe County Commission, Asheville City Council and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County (EDC), Charles Edward Industries (CEI) announced plans to invest $1.5 million over 3 years in a new manufacturing operation in Asheville, NC. The facility will create 60 new jobs including positions in assembly and production, engineering, management and administration.
CEI is an electronics manufacturer with specialized expertise in circuit boards and associated electronic components. The company will be relocating its headquarters and expanding into an existing building on Broadway Street, just outside of downtown Asheville. The new Asheville facility will support growth opportunities for CEI in the Aviation and Aerospace industries, in addition to supporting existing customer relationships the company has in Asheville. The area’s highly skilled workforce is seen as a distinct advantage that will set the company up well for future growth opportunities.
“CEI is thrilled to announce our plans to establish a presence in the Asheville community and to add to the ongoing revitalization efforts of the Broadway St. corridor,” stated Tim Harmon, President of CEI. “We see great promise for our company in Asheville and view the community’s workforce as a key competitive advantage as we seek to grow the business to new heights.”
CEI plans to renovate and occupy a building along the 100 block of Broadway Street in Asheville adjacent to the Moog Music factory. The company will pay an average wage of $46,925, roughly 110% that of the Buncombe County average wage. Hiring is expected to start in Fall of 2020.
“CEI’s commitment to invest in Asheville is a testament to the attractive community and economic assets that exist in our city,” said Esther Manheimer, Mayor for the City of Asheville. “The well-paying, highly-skilled manufacturing jobs associated with this investment are a welcome addition to our community as we work to rebuild our economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“We are grateful to welcome another technology-driven manufacturing company like CEI to Buncombe County during a time when strengthening and diversifying our local economy is a top community priority,” said Brownie Newman, Chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. “Buncombe County has a great legacy of manufacturing talent, and the workforce training partnership CEI will establish with A-B TECH will further ensure that a steady pipeline of highly skilled workers is available to help the company thrive in our community for years to come.”
“The Board of the EDC appreciates the confidence and commitment of CEI to this community at this critical time,” noted Michael Meguiar, EDC Board Chair. “A vibrant manufacturing economy is critical to a brighter future for Asheville and Western North Carolina.”
For more information on CEI operations, visit www.charlesedwardind.com.
The EDC for Asheville-Buncombe County is a public-private partnership committed to creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions. The EDC accomplishes this mission through its four core services: business retention and expansion, small business and entrepreneurship, research, and marketing and recruitment. The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the AVL 5×5 Campaign and is staffed by the Economic Development department of the Asheville Chamber.
For more than 120 years, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has been the catalyst for economic vitality in our community. The Asheville Chamber connects 1,700 member organizations, both large and small, representing more than 80,000 employees, to valuable resources such as economic development and research, business education, marketing opportunities and advocacy. Asheville Chamber initiatives have stimulated economic development, influenced public policy and supported the growth of thousands of local and regional businesses. Learn more at www.ashevillechamber.org.
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