AREVA Expanding In Charlotte With North American Headquarters Relocation, Additional Engineering Jobs

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AREVA, the largest technical resource for the nation's nuclear energy sector, is expanding in Charlotte, N.C., through the addition of 130 positions over the next four years. 

These new positions include the relocation of AREVA's North American headquarters from Bethesda, Md., to Charlotte along with the hiring of additional professional engineers to join AREVA'S operational center in Charlotte, which is the city's largest firm of professional engineers comprising a total workforce of 562 employees.

N.C. Governor Pat McCrory and AREVA CEO Michael W. Rencheck announced the company's expansion plans during a news conference at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce on Monday ( March 4).

"We're proud to partner with AREVA to help them bring more jobs to North Carolina," said Governor McCrory. "This announcement helps shine a spotlight on our skilled workforce and strong business climate. We're also very supportive of AREVA's position in the renewable energy market, which is something this administration is very interested in expanding."

AREVA opened its offices in Charlotte in 2002 and has grown into the largest engineering firm in the city with more than 300 licensed professional engineers, providing planning, design and construction resources for the commercial nuclear power industry in the U.S. and internationally. 

AREVA projects that its corporate headquarters relocation, engineering jobs addition and other investments will accelerate the growth of its Charlotte operational center from more than $10 million in annual revenue projected for 2013 to more than $48 million in five years.

Locating AREVA Inc.'s headquarters in Charlotte capitalizes on the company's strong presence in North America by anchoring activities conducted at more than 40 locations within operational centers, including Charlotte; Lynchburg, Va.; Richland, Wash.; Columbia, Md.; Washington, D.C.; and Mountain View, Calif. AREVA's long-term strategy of more closely aligning leadership with customer needs and operational centers led to the decision to relocate corporate headquarters from Bethesda to Charlotte.

"AREVA has taken the lead in the U.S. nuclear sector by investing millions to create domestic industrial capacity, which provides a tremendous boost to American energy infrastructure and the U.S. economy," Rencheck said. " North Carolina is a great place to do business because of its quality of life, extensive business infrastructure, investments in workforce development and commitment to forming partnerships with industry." 

To support AREVA's growth in North Carolina, the N.C. Department of Commerce has awarded the company a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) valued at up to $2.5 million over nine years. AREVA projects that salaries and benefits for the 130 additional executive and technical staff in Charlotte will average more than $130,000 annually in salary plus benefits.

In addition to its business activities in Charlotte, AREVA is an active participant in the growth of the energy sector in North Carolina as a founding member of E4 Carolinas' Energy Cluster Platform and supporter of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in local schools and at UNC Charlotte through the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC).  

ABOUT AREVAAREVA provides its customers with solutions for low-carbon power generation in North America and all over the world. As the leader in nuclear energy and a significant, growing player in the renewable energies sector, AREVA combines U.S. and Canadian leadership, access to worldwide expertise and a proven track record of performance. Sustainable development is a core component of AREVA's strategy. Its nearly 5,000 U.S. and Canadian employees work every day to make AREVA a responsible industrial player helping to supply ever cleaner, safer and more economical energy to the greatest number of people. Visit us at http://us.areva.com or follow us at Twitter: AREVAinc.

SOURCE AREVA

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