Inmar announces 212 new jobs in Winston-Salem

Gov. Bev. Perdue with Inmar CEO David Mounts Joined by a host of elected officials, Gov. Bev Perdue announced to hundreds of Inmar employees gathered for an annual meeting at the Joel Coliseum Annex that the company will keep its headquarters in Winston-Salem, hire an additional 212 workers and invest $24 million in Forsyth County over the next five years. The announcement took place after an employee band played a cover of "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" as CEO David Mounts led a parade of officials to the dais, including Mayor Allen Joines, Forsyth County Commission Chair Richard Linville and Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce President Gayle Anderson. "These are really good jobs and high paying jobs," Perdue said. "When I got the call from Allen Joines and Richard saying there was a real risk that this company might go to a new state, I got to work." The company is receiving a $237,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund in exchange for its agreement to stay here and create new jobs. Inmar is also eligible for up to $4.2 million in state tax breaks through the Job Development Investment Grant. As part of the incentives package, the Winston-Salem City Council approved up to $1.8 million for the company in February. "We need good news in our community as we make a transition in our economy to knowledge-based industries," Joines said. The city and chamber of commerce plan to work with area colleges and universities to train workers to meet the company's labor needs, Joines and Anderson said. "Our headquarters will remain in Winston-Salem," Mounts said. "I did share and I will say that it it was not an easy decision. We did look at several other communities that were competitive."