North Carolina is the leader for Best Business Climate in Business Facilities’ 18th Annual Rankings Report, published in the upcoming issue of the magazine.

More and more companies, many with international ties, are choosing Gaston County because of its workforce, location and bright future.

Another big-name tenant has landed at a large industrial park in Gaston County.

The U.S. Postal Service confirmed to the Charlotte Business Journal yesterday that it plans to open a new facility in that county. Sources have told CBJ that USPS will occupy a building at Gateway85, NorthPoint Development's 365-acre industrial park between Gastonia and Lowell. USPS is expected to take a completed building of over 620,000 square feet at the park.

Rankin USA, an automation component manufacturer and distributor, has broken ground on a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Gaston County.  The company will invest over $5 million to build a new 30,000 square foot facility in the Apple Creek Corporate Center.

State and local officials charged with attracting and retaining businesses have a strong story to tell, based on the 174 corporate relocation and expansions. 24,000 pledged jobs and $10 billion in capital investment announced last year. The totals surpassed the previous two years. Site Selection magazine has ranked the state’s business climate as tops in the nation for the last two years.

Hans Kissle breaks new ground at the Apple Creek Corporate Center in Gaston County. Hans Kissle, a fresh food manufacturer, plans to invest $42.2 million and create 219 jobs.

Following its public announcement late last month, top officials from food manufacturer Häns Kissle will join North Carolina Chief Deputy Commerce Secretary Jordan Whichard, Gaston County Board of Commissioners Chairman Chad Brown and numerous other local dignitaries at the groundbreaking in the Apple Creek Corporate Center.

Häns Kissle Company, a fresh foods manufacturer, will create 219 new jobs in Gaston County. The company will invest more than $42.2 million to build a food manufacturing facility in Apple Creek Corporate Center.