BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The same night Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo
addressed residents for the 2012 State of the City, he told WECT.com that he's
a part of a regional effort to attract jobs.
Mayor Saffo said he joined Governor Bev Perdue, House
Speaker Thom Tillis and several representatives from New Hanover and Brunswick
counties to meet with an unnamed company that's interested in setting up shop
in Brunswick County.
A source with knowledge of the negotiations believes Caterpillar will be
coming to the area. A spokesperson from Caterpillar did not respond to the
speculation, but said "at any given time we have a wide range of business
initiatives at various stages of maturity that are under consideration." The spokesperson would not provide any more
comments.
He can't say much, but Saffo confirmed that a
manufacturing company would bring more than 1,000 jobs to the area.
Manufacturing is not an isolated industry, according to Saffo.
"The suppliers that supply that company would
also move to this particular area, because it seems to be a very large
company," said Saffo.
Brunswick county is not the only suitor, according to
Saffo. He said there's a strong competition among other states around the country,
but he's hopeful for southeast North Carolina.
"This is a great place to come to," said
Saffo, "and hopefully what they saw today it'll really make them want to
come here."
Brunswick County lost a potential 1,000 jobs in
October when Continental Tire chose South Carolina as the location for its
new plant.
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