Cambridge-Lee Industries LLC (CLI), one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of copper tubing, has announced that it has selected Cumberland County for the location of a new facility. This project will result in the immediate creation of 19 full-time jobs.

Headquartered in Reading, PA, the global company produces copper tubes for water supply, air conditioning, refrigeration, and a variety of commercial applications. Its new facility on Tom Starling Road will manufacture “line-sets”, which are pieces of copper tubing and tube insulation that are cut, assembled into various configurations, packaged, and shipped to customers.

Cambridge-Lee chose Cumberland for its improved logistics for customer service and product production as well as a readily available workforce. “Fayetteville provides us with an improved reach to our customers as well as an improved ability to streamline and grow our operations,” said Dave Spadafora, VP Global Supply Chain for Cambridge-Lee.

The Project will include renovations at the Cape Fear Distribution Center and the purchase of machinery and assembly equipment. As the business grows, additional capital investments are expected to expand its operation and distribution capacity in our community.

Cumberland County endorsed the company’s application for a “Building Reuse and Restoration Grant” through the NC Department of Commerce. The Department awarded $27,780 to the project based on its creation of 19 full-time positions, with the County providing an additional 5% match. “We are happy to support this project and excited to welcome this global company to our community. The new jobs and investment this facility will bring are prime examples of how our business climate and aggressive approach to economic development are creating growth and new opportunities for our citizens,” said County Chairman Larry Lancaster.

The new jobs will be manufacturing positions offering a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits packages. CLI is expecting to begin operations by mid-2018 and will be accepting applications for Manager, maintenance technicians, assemblers, and truck drivers. It also plans to add more full-time and part-time employees in the coming year. Job openings can be found on the Cambridge-Lee website www.camlee.com under the Employment tab.

Additional assistance from the NC Department of Commerce includes a diverse training package from the North Carolina Community College System. Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) was involved in the recruiting process and will be managing this training program.

The Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) worked with the company to identify a location, evaluate the building, and connect with assistance programs. Commenting on the cooperation that resulted in the success of this project, Andrew Pennink, the Chairman of the FCEDC Board of Directors said, “On behalf of our Board and staff, we greatly appreciate the efforts of our State, County, and local partners who helped make this possible. The year is off to a great start and we look forward to more success stories like CLI in the near future.