Sherwin-Williams plans $324 million expansion, doubling its workforce in Charlotte area

Global paint and coatings maker Sherwin-Williams Co. will spend $324 million to expand i ts manufacturing site in the Charlotte region, creating more than 180 jobs, state officials said Tuesday.

Sherwin-Williams plans to add 36,000 square feet to its 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, put in four new rail spurs and build an 800,000-square-foot distribution and fleet transportation center, Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said in a news release Tuesday.

For its investment, Sherwin-Williams will receive incentives and benefits valued at about $30 million from the state, county and local government as part of the agreement, the company said in a news release.

That includes a Job Development Investment Grant of over $2.7 million over 12 years which was approved Tuesday by the state’s Economic Investment Committee, according to Cooper’s office.

“Sherwin-Williams’ decision to expand its footprint here represents the largest single investment in the history of our city,” Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh said in a statement.

The addition also will double the company’s workforce, adding 183 jobs over the next three years, according to Sherwin-Williams.

“This investment will not only allow us to meet the growing customer demand in the region, but it will also add a number of good-paying jobs to our already vibrant employee base in the community,” Sherwin-Williams CEO John Morikis said in a news release.

The company did not indicate what the average salary will be.

Construction is expected to start by the third quarter of this year and be completed by the end of 2024. The manufacturing facility will continue to operate for the duration of the project.

Sherwin-Williams paints a long history with NC

The 156-year-old based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the largest specialty retail of paint and painting supplies with almost 4,500 Sherwin-Williams stores. Its brands include Valspar, Thompson’s Water Seal, Krylon and Minwax.

The Statesville manufacturing site opened 29 years ago, according to Sherwin-Williams. There are more than 2,400 full-time Sherwin-Williams employees throughout North Carolina.

Sherwin-Williams considered several locations but chose Statesville because of its workforce, transportation infrastructure, ability to handle expanded capacity and centralized regional operations location, according to the company.

This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Sherwin-Williams plans $324 million expansion, doubling its workforce in Charlotte area."