Food safety company to build plant in Leland

A food safety technology company will open a manufacturing facility in Leland expected to bring 52 jobs and a $4.4 million investment, according to a news release from Gov. Bev Perdue’s office.

CMS Food Solutions, Inc., is a private company that does research and development, marketing and manufacturing of biotechnologies. It has produced proprietary antimicrobial applications to target specific pathogens and spoilage bacteria in fruits, vegetables and other foods, the news release said. The company expects the plant to open sometime next year.

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs is estimated to be $43,115, plus benefits, according to the news release. The Brunswick County average annual wage is $32,500.

CMS Chairman and co-founder Jim Burns said the company, which also has a manufacturing plant in Conroe, Texas, was pleased to plant its flag in North Carolina.

“We had multiple considerations in looking for a new site, and Leland – from our standpoint – was a home run,” Burns said in the news release. “The work force here, location, research conducted in North Carolina’s universities, and the emphasis on an eco-friendly manufacturing environment, all played a significant part in our decision.”

According to the governor’s office, the project came to fruition in part due to a $32,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

The fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

For more information about CMS foods, including job opportunities, visit www.g99producewash.com.