Raleigh, N.C. – The Martin County Economic Development Commission announced an agreement today with Microcell Corporation that could bring more than 100 high-paying technical jobs to eastern North Carolina.
Microcell Corporation’s Martin County facility is an alternative energy operation that will manufacture the company’s automotive and distributed generation fuel cells, meeting product orders from its strategic partners and other customers.
Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corporation, headquartered in Tarboro, is a strategic partner in bringing this project to fruition, in concert with Martin County developers and other officials. Edgecombe-Martin County EMC provided a zero interest loan to the Martin County Economic Development Commission, who in turn loaned to Microcell Corporation as an incentive for them to locate to an available building in Robersonville.
“The county has been really supportive in helping us locate here,” said Beth Rehbock, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Microcell Corporation.
“This has truly been a great example of cooperation between all involved in the process,” said Bob McDuffie, General Manager at Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corporation.
Microcell Corporation will remain headquartered in the Research Triangle area and is the world leader in low-cost, high performing proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells that are cylindrical in shape, unlike the conventional flat platform. This design lowers production costs and allows for easier product repairs and service. “Bringing high-tech production to Martin County is a positive step for our economic future,” said Eddie Stocks, Manager of Marketing and Member Services at Edgecombe-Martin County EMC.
Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is one of 27 cooperatives that make up North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, which provide energy to 2.5 million people in 93 of 100 counties, primarily in rural parts of the state. The electric cooperatives own and maintain 95,000 miles of power lines, by far the most of any electric utility in North Carolina.