Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
8 <br /> opportunities, and introduce desired job skills and related benefits to a community, and for the <br /> benefit of its residents. The Local Government Act, North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 158- <br /> 7.1, outlines the requirements of public hearings, and NCGS 158-7.1(a) specifically addresses <br /> the requirement that economic development appropriations "must be determined by the governing <br /> body of the city or county to increase the population, taxable property, agriculture industries, <br /> employment, industrial output, or business prospects of the city or county" This public hearing <br /> has been scheduled in compliance. <br /> Company Background: <br /> Morinaga America Foods' current operation is based in a 101,495 square foot manufacturing <br /> facility located along Wilson Road in the County's western Buckhorn Economic Development <br /> District. This operation makes "HI-CHEW" candy, employs approximately 204 full-time <br /> associates, and has a current County property tax valuation of$31.6 million. The facility is located <br /> within the County's designated "Buckhorn Economic Development District" and Mebane's city <br /> limits. <br /> On September 3, 2013, Morinaga announced its decision to make its first major manufacturing <br /> investment in the United States, and in Orange County, as follows: <br /> • Capital Investment: $48 million <br /> • Employment: 90 jobs <br /> • Average Salary: $37,969 <br /> • Annual Payroll, with benefits: $3.4 million <br /> • Facility Size &Type: Approximately 110,000 square feet <br /> • Type of Operation: Production of the fruit flavored candy snack "HI-CHEW" <br /> Description of Proposed Manufacturing Expansion Project: <br /> • A doubling of the current manufacturing operations at the existing Orange County site to <br /> increase production capacity for"HI-CHEW" candy. <br /> • $136 million total new capital investment, with $127,077,000 million in new capital <br /> investment forecast to occur over the five-year investment period (2024-2028), as outlined <br /> in the Performance Agreement, and the remaining $9.9 million investment to occur on or <br /> after 2029. <br /> 204 additional new jobs will be created between 2026 — 2030 with an average annual <br /> wage of$48,912 (or approximately $23.52 per hour). These jobs are full-time and include <br /> healthcare and related employment benefits. <br /> New construction of an additional 132,600 square feet of production space. <br /> • Competing sites were considered in Taiwan and China (where Morinaga operates existing <br /> Hi-Chew manufacturing plants), or in a new facility to be constructed in Vietnam. <br /> • Orange County's site is the Company's existing 21-acre factory property located at 4391 <br /> Wilson Road, Mebane, NC. The site is outlined on the following location map. <br />