The 2025-26 Orange County Board of Commissioners. (Photo via the Orange County government.)
The Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed an agreement between the county and the company CITEL to move its American manufacturing operations to Hillsborough at its Dec. 9 meeting. CITEL is a French manufacturer specializing in industrial surge protection products.
The board meeting’s minutes on the agreement consisted of a public hearing and public comments from commissioners. Orange County Economic Development Director Steve Brantley delivered a short presentation on the company and proposed facility, and representatives from CITEL were in attendance to answer questions.
“The company came to us several months ago to look at a superb building in Hillsborough’s Meadowlands Business Park, the former long-time facility for Mid-Atlantic STIHL.” said Brantley. “Over five years, they would create 79 total jobs, of which 38 jobs are net new to be hired locally. The average wage exceeds $83,000 a year, which is more than $40 per hour, well above the Orange County living wage.”
One large part of the agreement is a tax incentive for the company that will remain in effect from 2025 until 2029. The max amount for the incentive is $100,433 dollars, and the projected net tax revenue from that period is $33,477. The projected net tax revenue for the first decade of CITEL’s operation in Hillsborough is $162,880.
“This seems to be very consistent with Orange County’s prior commitments to other businesses like CITEL,” said Commissioner Marilyn Carter. “Seventy-nine new jobs in the area and net new property tax revenue of roughly $163,000 over 10 years for the county and the residents is very attractive. Continuing to improve and expand our commercial base here in Orange County is in alignment with our strategic goals.”
“I don’t really see any downside of it,” said Commissioner Earl McKee. “I will make a motion that we move forward with this incentive.”
Orange County Board of Commissioners Chair Jean Hamilton ended the hearing by thanking CITEL directly.
“Your interest in Orange County kind of confirms what we already know, that our community offers a powerful combination of skilled workers, strategic location and high quality of life,” she said. “We’re pleased to support this project with this incentive and this is the kind of partnership that benefits both our residents and our growing global business community.”
The company’s American subsidiary, CITEL America Inc., is currently headquartered in Miramar, Florida. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein’s office announced the agreement in late November.
“North Carolina is on the rise, and companies like CITEL are taking notice,” the governor said in the November release. “With our world-class workforce and collaborative ‘Team North Carolina’ approach to economic development, we’re proud to welcome these new jobs to Orange County and are confident CITEL will find great success here.”
Featured image via the Orange County government
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Sally Greene, Earl McKee Elected to Orange County Board of CommissionersOrange County voters selected Sally Greene and Earl McKee to seats on the Board of County Commissioners in the primary election on Tuesday night. Greene and McKee, both Democrats, will be the only candidates on the ballot this fall with no Republicans filed to run for the seats. Greene, the former Chapel Hill Town Councilmember, […]
![]()
Burroughs Will Not Run for Re-Election to Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2018Mia Burroughs announced at Tuesday night’s Board of County Commissioners meeting that she will not be seeking re-election in 2018. Burroughs holds one of the three seats up for election next year after being elected to the board in 2014. Burroughs was a member of the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools Board of Education […]
Blackwood Elected to Second Term as Orange County SheriffOrange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood won nearly 77 percent of the vote for sheriff in the primary race Tuesday night. Blackwood defeated challenger Tony White, a former investigator in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Blackwood won a tight race in the 2014 race for sheriff, replacing longtime sheriff Lindy Pendergrass. Blackwood said Tuesday night he […]
![]()
3 Newcomers Join Lone Incumbent Seeking Seat on Orange County Schools Board of EducationVoters elected a wave of newcomers to the Orange County Schools Board of Education on Tuesday night. Brenda Stephens was re-elected to the board as the only incumbent running for another term. Stephens will be joined on the bard by three newcomers – Sarah Smylie, Hillary MacKenzie and Will Atherton. Those four candidates were the […]
![]()
Polls Open for 2018 Primary ElectionTuesday is Election Day in primary races across North Carolina. In some Orange County elections, the Democratic primaries serve as the ultimate election as no Republican candidates filed to run. The race for Orange County Commissioner from District one, representing the southern portion of the county, concluded with the closing of the filing period. Former […]
![]()
League of Women Voters Launches Election Information WebsiteThe last day to vote early in midterm elections in Orange County is tomorrow with general election day being next Tuesday. Voters looking for non-partisan information about elections and their candidates for office can check out the League of Women Voters’ website vote411.org. Co-president of the League of Women Voters, Janet Hoy said the website […]
![]()
Early Voting Begins in Orange CountyOrange County residents can start voting on Thursday for the 2018 primary election. The first two days of early voting on Thursday and Friday will be held at the Orange County Board of Elections office in Hillsborough, additional locations open on Saturday. Orange County will have at least two new members of the board of […]
![]()
Orange County Passes Resolution Supporting Judiciary Selection ProcessOrange County Commissioners voted unanimously at their March 8 meeting on a resolution against changing the way North Carolina judges are chosen. Commissioner Renee Price, who worked on the resolution alongside Commissioner Barry Jacobs, read the resolution aloud during the meeting. “The Orange County Board of County Commissioners herewith opposes any amendment to the North […]
![]()
Former CHCCS Board Member Jamezetta Bedford Running for Orange County CommissionerJamezetta Bedford is the first candidate to officially announce their intention to run for the District 1 seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners next year. Bedford’s announcement on Wednesday came on the heels of County Commissioner Mia Burroughs announcing at a board meeting on Tuesday night that she would not be seeking re-election […]
Orange County Board Makes CITEL Deal Official, Offers Tax IncentivesThe Orange County Board of Commissioners passed an agreement with CITEL to move its American manufacturing operations to Hillsborough.
›
