Wilmington, N.C. - The North Carolina State Ports Authority, along with USA InvestCo, broke ground on a new 101,000-square-foot cold storage facility this morning. The warehouse facility is located directly on terminal at the Port of Wilmington and is expected to create more than 100 new jobs. North Carolina’s agriculture business has always relied heavily on the Port of Wilmington and this specific construction, offering over 11,000 pallet positions, represents further development in that market. “North Carolina is a major hub for global exportation of refrigerated pork and poultry products and a major player in the protein production export business,” Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Cozza said. “By utilizing this newly created cold storage facility, protein producers will be able to save a substantial amount on transportation costs to ship to their existing markets abroad. Having access to this facility will reduce spoilage, and increase delivery/export times for our customers and businesses in North Carolina.” Potential import commodities such as fruits, vegetables and seafood present vast opportunities for the North Carolina State Ports Authority and the Port of Wilmington Cold Storage Facility. The facility, which is scheduled to finish in February of 2016, will provide a seamless logistical advantage for international shippers. “The Port of Wilmington Cold Storage facility will add the missing link in the global cold storage chain for Port of Wilmington by providing a facility which will offer services of cold and frozen storage, blast freezing, and the loading and unloading of export and import products from North Carolina and around the world,” Chuck McCarthy, President & CEO Port of Wilmington Cold Storage.
North Carolina’s ports are a few of the most market accessible ports on the U.S. East Coast. Within 1,000 miles of North Carolina’s borders are more than 170 million U.S. and Canadian consumers, more than 65 of the country’s top 100 metropolitan areas and nearly 60 percent of total U.S. retail sales. Exporters and importers continue to recognize the inland logistics advantage of North Carolina’s ports and its operational efficiencies. A lack of congestion, faster gate turn times and increased crane moves per hour have led to a 20 percent container volume increase year-over-year, making the Port of Wilmington one of the fastest growing ports on the U.S. East Coast. North Carolina’s Ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, plus inland terminals in Charlotte and in Greensboro, link the state’s consumers, businesses and industry to world markets, and serve as magnets to attract new business and industry while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. Port activities contribute statewide to 76,700 jobs and $707 million each year in state and local tax revenues.