(The Center Square) – Pittsburgh-headquartered PPG, a global Fortune 500 company that makes paint, coatings, and specialty materials, said Thursday it will invest $380 million in a new North Carolina factory.
The return to Shelby in Cleveland County harkens the echoes of the 1950s, when PPG was in the same community.
In a company release, Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and chief executive officer, said, “PPG’s investment in this new manufacturing facility demonstrates the significant demand growth for our world-class technologies and our continued commitment to serving our aerospace customers. By modernizing and digitizing our facilities, PPG will continue to embody our purpose – to protect and beautify the world – while contributing to the growth and innovation of the aerospace sector.”
PPG, in a release, said the new aerospace facility will try to reduce environmental impact while incorporating advanced manufacturing technology. Quality and safety, it said, will be paramount.
“It’s great to see another top manufacturing company select North Carolina as a place to do business,” North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said in a statement. “It’s also gratifying to see a company like PPG, with its historical ties to the region, once again become part of the strong and vibrant community of Shelby. I look forward to the great things to come from this renewed partnership.”
PPG says the factory will create 110 jobs, with an average annual salary of $66.861. The Cleveland County average wage is $48,310, a release from the state says.
PPG has been approved for a $300,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, the governor’s office said.
“Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment,” according the governor’s office. “All OneNC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.”
PPG which operates in more than 70 countries and had sales of $15.8 billion in 2024.
The company will make coatings and sealants for airplanes at the Shelby plant.
“Our state’s workforce is our greatest asset, and I will continue to advocate for more training and education programs so that employees can build a career and employers have the well-trained people they need to get to work,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Cleveland County had a population in 2024 of 102,194. It had a poverty rate of 17.2%, the Census said.
PPG was founded in 1883 in Creighton, Pa., and was originally called the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.
