Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development, North Carolina Department of Commerce presents a gift to George Lemerise, MasterBrand General Manager. Kristy Bock / Neuse News

MasterBrand Cabinets will be expanding in Lenoir County and bringing 464 new jobs to Kinston. The company made the announcement at Lenoir Community College’s Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Center as part of the NC Global TransPark Economic Region Development. The NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region provides economic development services through contractual relationships with Greene, Lenoir and Wayne Counties.

“I’m proud to announce that MasterBrand Cabinets, one of the largest cabinet manufacturers in North America, is expanding its Lenoir County operation, creating 464 new jobs in Kinston,” said Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development, North Carolina Department of Commerce.

MasterBrands, a subsidiary of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc., will invest more than $13.5 million to expand production capacity at its manufacturing center in Kinston. The salary of the new jobs will vary, but the average wage for all the new jobs will exceed the median average for Lenoir County of $39,839.

“We’re very excited about being a continued part of eastern North Carolina and are looking forward to a great future,” said George Lemerise, MasterBrand General Manager.

Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy and Lenoir County Commissioner Chair Linda Rouse Sutton thanked MasterBrand for their continued support in the area.

"It’s great news any time good manufacturing jobs come to Eastern North Carolina,” Governor Cooper said in a news release. “MasterBrand Cabinets already provides good jobs for many people in Kinston and Lenoir County and will now add even more opportunities for our ready and able workforce.”

This marks the 13th announcement from the NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region about job growth in the three counties.

“I think we have made a huge step in a short time to showcase eastern North Carolina,” said Mark Pope, Senior Vice President, NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region.