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Asheville, NC - In conjunction with the Buncombe County Commission, Asheville City Council and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County (EDC), Haakon Industries announced plans to invest $19.6 million in new Asheville operations at Enka Commerce Park. The custom HVAC manufacturer plans to build a manufacturing plant that will serve customers across the United States. The company expansion will create up to 160 new jobs in its first five years of operations including positions in assembly and production, machining and engineering, management, and administration.
Haakon Industries is a world leader in custom designed and manufactured air handling units for large institutional construction projects. Headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, the company’s HVAC equipment supports infrastructure in hospitals, pharmaceutical laboratories, clean rooms, microchip manufacturers, universities, data centers, and other institutional, industrial and commercial facilities around the world. The Asheville investment reflects a strategic decision to continue to operate in vibrant communities that cultivate and invest in the strength of the local workforce.
“Haakon is excited to join the Asheville community with access to the highly skilled workforce of the region,” stated Ryan Leahy, Plant Manager for Haakon. “Haakon customers expect the highest quality air handling units, and our success is dependent on the quality of our people. That made Asheville the obvious choice, and we look forward to many years here in Western North Carolina.”
Haakon plans to break ground in 2019 in the Enka Commerce Park. The 350-acre park is strategically located near the intersection of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40, adjacent to the Western Campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B TECH). Haakon joins a growing number of employers revitalizing the site formerly home to Buncombe County’s largest employer, American Enka. At its peak, the Dutch rayon manufacturing campus once spanned 2,000 acres in west Buncombe County, employing over 4,000 residents.
“Haakon joins a resurgence of smart, technology-driven manufacturing in Buncombe County,” said Brownie Newman, Chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. “The company investments in state-of-the-art facilities and workforce training partnerships with A-B TECH are key to strengthening economic opportunity for all of Buncombe County.”
“The commitments by Haakon Leadership today will advance the important goals of the AVL 5x5 economic development plan,“ noted Janice Brumit, EDC Board Chair. “A vibrant manufacturing economy is critical to a brighter future for Asheville and Western North Carolina.”
Please visit www.haakon.com for information about career opportunities. Haakon will hold a job fair and begin hiring for the Asheville facility in 2019.
The Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County is a public-private partnership committed to creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions. The EDC accomplishes this mission through its four core services: business retention and expansion, small business and entrepreneurship, research, and marketing and recruitment. The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the AVL 5x5 Campaign.
For more than 120 years, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has supported the community by growing jobs, advocating for a business-friendly environment and helping businesses thrive. The Asheville Chamber consists of nearly 1,700 member organizations (representing more than 80,000 employees) who are dedicated to building community through business. Located at 36 Montford Avenue, the Asheville Chamber is also home to the Asheville Visitor Center, serving more than 200,000 visitors each year, and to the Asheville Shop, showcasing many local products and Asheville gifts. Learn more at ashevillechamber.org.
Buncombe County Strategic Priorities
Cultivating a robust, inclusive local economy featuring a diverse workforce and implementing pipelines to jobs and educational opportunities for all citizens of Buncombe County is one of Buncombe Commissioners Strategic Priorities. Find out more here.