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Harger, Inc., a leading supplier of electrical protection equipment, will expand its current operations in Robeson County, creating 20 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced Wednesday, August 18. The company will invest $3.2 million to increase the capacity of its facility in Fairmont.

“Manufacturers like Harger continue to expand and find value in rural North Carolina,” said Cooper. “Our state offers an outstanding, diverse workforce, a great quality of life and infrastructure that enables industrial companies to thrive here.”

Harger, founded in 1960 and headquartered in Grayslake, Illinois, provides solutions for lightning protection and the grounding of electrical equipment. “The company’s experience spans all facets of these systems including engineering, systems design, product manufacturing, and installation,” stated the announcement from Cooper’s office. “Harger serves a wide range of industrial markets, including utilities, railroads, the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors, and data communications, among others. The company’s expansion in Robeson County will support new product lines in both grounding and lightning protection.”

“Fourteen years ago we made a decision to build a plant in Fairmont,” said Mark Harger, owner and steward of Harger Lightning and Grounding. “The operation has more than tripled its output over that timeframe, primarily due to the excellent workforce. We look forward to continue growth for years to come in Fairmont.”

“There’s no greater testimonial to North Carolina’s strength as a manufacturing hub than when a company doing business in the state decides to expand here,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders.  “As the state’s new strategic economic development plan makes clear, North Carolina’s diverse workforce is our greatest business attraction asset, so it’s more important than ever to invest in the educational and training systems that lead to successful workforce development.”

It is reported the company’s new jobs will yield an average salary of $39,408, although actual wages will vary by position. The Robeson County average annual wage is $35,003.

A performance-based grant of $75,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate Harger’s expansion in Robeson County. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met, stated the annoucement.

“Harger’s expansion in Robeson County brings welcome good news to our region,” said N.C. Representative Charles Graham. “This company’s positive experience in doing business here led to their decision to expand and invest more, this reflects well on our workers and on the business climate available in North Carolina and locally.”

“It’s great to see that manufacturing is alive and well in North Carolina and Robeson County,” said N.C. Senator Danny Britt Jr. “Harger is a valued member of our local business community, and everyone here is proud of this company’s continuing partnership with our region.”

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC), Robeson Community College, Robeson County, North Carolina’s Southeast, the Robeson County Committee of 100 and the Robeson County Office of Economic Development.

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