Hart & Cooley Inc. recently announced that it will open a facility in Columbus County, N.C., creating 180 new jobs and investing $4.5 million in the area during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $180,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.

Owned by Tomkins PLC, Hart & Cooley Inc. is headquartered in Holland, Mich., and maintains seven other sites in North America. The company is a leading manufacturer of air distribution and vent products for forced-air heating and air conditioning systems. Major products include grills, registers and diffusers, flexible duct, gas vent and chimney systems, and duct system components.

The new jobs will be primarily manufacturing positions. While wages will vary according to job function, the expected average weekly wage of the workforce will be $495 plus benefits, which is comparable to the average weekly wage in Columbus County of $494, not including benefits.

"We are excited about opening a new facility in Tabor City," said Gary K. Henry, president of Hart & Cooley Inc. "North Carolina is a great location for us to service our customers located in the Carolinas and the Southeast. We look forward to establishing a great workforce with a good work ethic in an excellent community."

The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in industry recruitment and expansion by providing financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Through the use of this Fund, more than 18,000 jobs and $2.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001.