Job Development Investment Grant — Standard

JDIG Standard

Funds North Carolina industrial investment when companies expand operations and commit to job growth in the state.

Eligibility · United States · US-NC

The JDIG Standard program is the base tier of North Carolina's Job Development Investment Grant framework, authorized under NC Gen. Stat. § 143B-437.50 et seq. and administered through the NC Economic Investment Committee (EIC). The EIC is a five-member body comprising the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Revenue, State Budget Director, and one appointee from each chamber of the NC General Assembly. JDIG Standard provides performance-based cash grants to companies creating net new jobs and investing in North Carolina, structured as annual reimbursements of a percentage of newly generated personal income withholding taxes paid by the new employees. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis — there is no fixed annual deadline — subject to caps on future grant-year liability set by the NC General Assembly.

Standard JDIG grants run for up to 12 years, with annual payments made only after Commerce and Revenue verify that the company met its incremental job creation, wage, and investment targets for that year. The reimbursement percentage directed to the company depends on county economic tier: Tier 1 (40 most distressed counties) companies receive 100% of the annual grant allocation; Tier 2 (middle 40) companies receive 90%, with 10% redirected to the Industrial Development Fund Utility Account for rural infrastructure; Tier 3 (20 least distressed) companies receive 75%. Eligible applicants are for-profit companies only. The company must demonstrate a competitive site-selection situation — a credible competing offer from another state or location — and must provide health insurance covering at least 50% of premiums for participating employees. There is no published minimum job count or investment threshold for the Standard tier; award size is determined by project parameters and county tier.

A 2025 award to Jabil Inc. in Tier 2 Rowan County illustrates JDIG mechanics: 1,181 new positions and approximately $500 million in investment produced a JDIG ceiling of $11,251,800 over 12 years, with a companion $1,250,200 directed to the Utility Account. All payments remain contingent on annual performance verification; the Wolfspeed precedent has established that nonperformance triggers forfeiture or clawback across all tiers. Companies pursuing JDIG Standard must file a Grant Annual Report (GAR) each year and maintain the committed employment and investment levels throughout the grant term.