Fortune 500 company returns to Charlotte area with $380M investment and 110 jobs
PPG, a Fortune 500 giant producer of paints and coatings, is investing $380 million to open a new manufacturing center in Shelby, the company and Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday morning.
The Pittsburgh-based company is also creating more than 100 jobs in Cleveland County. It marks a return to Shelby for the company, where PPG ran a facility in the 1950s. Shelby is about an hour west of Charlotte.
PPG’s 198,000-square-foot facility in Shelby will produce a full line of aerospace coatings and sealants. Construction on the 62-acre site for the manufacturing and warehouse units is scheduled to begin in October. PPG anticipates completion in 2027.
The investment was made because of significant demand for its technologies and services for aerospace customers, said PPG CEO Tim Knavish.
“The (Shelby) location will play a crucial role in enhancing our operational efficiency and supporting our customers,” stated Sam Millikin, PPG vice president, global aerospace. Millikin said he’s looking forward to continuing a partnership with state and local officials, and increasing production in the region.
Stein praised the deal while calling North Carolina the top state for manufacturing in the Southeast.
The project is expected to create 113 jobs with an average salary of approximately $66,861. This average salary is $18,551 higher than the reported average yearly wage of $48,310 in Cleveland County.
Shelby City Council approved a resolution to sell the property on Randolph Road and another 1.6 acres at 37 Washburn Switch Road sell to PPG. The cost was $500,000. The shell ready building was developed through a partnership between Shelby and Cleveland County.
Shelby tax incentives of 20% over the next five years were estimated at $97,410, according to October city records.
Incentives were also offered for PPG’s return through tax credits for job creation and capital investment from the state.
This includes a $300,000 grant from One North Carolina Fund, which provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. It was based on a company investment of $221.8 million and creation of 62 jobs.
Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment, according to the state.
All OneNC grants require a matching grant from local governments, and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
About PPG
PPG was founded in 1883 as Pittsburgh Plate Glass by Captain John Ford and John Pitcairn in Pittsburgh. Today, it produces paints, coatings, optical products, and specialty materials.
The company is ranked No. 226 on the Fortune 500 list, and has operations in more than countries and 46,000 employees worldwide. That includes about 12,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada.
PPG reported net sales of $15.8 million in 2024.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM.
