Building Reuse Grant for Burke County Manufacturer
$175,000 Building Reuse Grant Announced for Project Office
For Immediate Release
Burke County, NC – August 15, 2024 – Governor Roy Cooper’s Office, in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, has announced the awarding of a Building Reuse grant to MillerKnoll Inc. to support a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility in Hildebran, North Carolina.
MillerKnoll is pleased to unveil plans for a major enhancement of its existing facility, a project made possible through a substantial state-funded grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. This expansion highlights MillerKnoll’s steadfast commitment to growth and innovation within Burke County.
The expansion project will involve a comprehensive redesign of the production floor, the enlargement of restroom facilities, and the installation of new equipment to support additional production lines. It will also facilitate upgrades to power distribution, compressed air systems, sprinkler systems, and plumbing infrastructure. These improvements will bolster MillerKnoll’s capacity for new product development and insourcing efforts within a rapidly expanding and lucrative market segment.
The expansion will introduce two new production lines at the facility, increasing production capacity by 25%, and creating 47 new job opportunities. The project represents an investment of $1,008,000 in facility upgrades. This expansion will not only advance MillerKnoll’s production capabilities but will also contribute to local economic development by offering substantial employment opportunities across technical, engineering, and skilled manufacturing roles.
Burke County, the grant applicant, and the town of Hildebran will contribute a 5% local match to support this initiative (this is pending approval by the Burke County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on August 20th). The grant will enable MillerKnoll to enhance its production capabilities, integrate advanced technologies, and improve operational efficiency.
“The addition of more high-quality jobs at MillerKnoll will be invaluable to the economy of Burke County as it provides more opportunity for our local residents,” said Jeff Brittain, Chairman of Burke County Commissioners. “Expansions and job growth like this are essential for the county moving forward, and we appreciate MillerKnoll’s investment in the county.”
MillerKnoll Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of office furniture and related products, operates its Hildebran facility to serve diverse markets including healthcare, higher education, corporate offices, and residential sectors. Since the consolidation of two facilities into the current Hildebran location in 2011, the site has experienced significant growth and remains a key driver of MillerKnoll’s business.
Burke Development, Inc. would like to thank all partners for their efforts on this project including, the N.C. Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and Bill Slagle, State Director-Existing Industry Expansions-EDPNC. Other key partners in the project include the North Carolina Department of Commerce Workforce Solutions, the North Carolina Community College System, Western Piedmont Community College, The Town of Hildebran, and Burke County.
To view the announcement from the Governor’s office click (here).
About Development Burke, Inc.
Burke Development, Inc. (BDI) is a nonprofit organization supported by private and public funding that is charged with accelerating economic growth in Burke County. BDI works with industry leaders, site selection consultants, government agencies and other entities to facilitate expansion strategies for existing businesses and recruit target industries to Burke County. For more information about BDI, visit www.BurkeDevInc.com.
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Contact:
Alan Wood, President and CEO, Burke Development Inc.
Tel: 828-764-1818
Email: alan@burkedevinc.com