JDIG Transformative Project
Funds flagship North Carolina projects with exceptional employment impact and major private-sector capital attraction.
Eligibility · United States · US-NC
The JDIG Transformative Project tier is the highest-value incentive track within North Carolina's Job Development Investment Grant framework, administered by the North Carolina Economic Investment Committee (EIC) under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-437.50. It is a performance-based, discretionary cash grant that reimburses qualifying companies for up to 90% of annual withholding taxes generated by net new employees, paid over a grant term of up to 30 years — and in exceptional cases up to 32 years, as in the VinFast agreement. The EIC, comprising the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Revenue, State Budget Director, and one appointee from each house of the General Assembly, individually negotiates and approves every Transformative award with no fixed application cycle or deadline.
To qualify, a company must commit to creating at least 3,000 net new jobs and investing a minimum of $1 billion in capital in North Carolina, with both thresholds required. The base performance period extends up to 10 years, subject to annual verification of job counts, wages, and capital investment by the NC Departments of Commerce and Revenue. Past Transformative awards include VinFast Automotive in Chatham County, with a ceiling of $316.1 million reimbursement over 32 years; Toyota Battery Manufacturing at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite (5,100 jobs, $14 billion investment); Apple's 3,000-job Research Triangle Park R&D hub (later granted an EIC extension); and Wolfspeed's $5 billion semiconductor plant ($86 million JDIG, later reduced after a hiring shortfall demonstrated that nonperformance clawbacks are enforced).
Eligibility is limited to for-profit companies in a competitive site-selection situation; nonprofits, universities, and research organizations are ineligible. County tier affects the split: Tier 1 directs 100% of the annual grant to the company, while Tier 2 and Tier 3 sites direct 10% and 25%, respectively, to the Industrial Development Fund Utility Account. Employer-provided health insurance covering at least 50% of premiums is required for all new employees. The Transformative tier targets the largest manufacturing, semiconductor, clean-energy, aerospace, and AI infrastructure investments considering North Carolina as a primary location.
Performance-based cash grants to companies creating 3,000 or more net new jobs and committing at least $1 billion in capital investment in North Carolina, reimbursing up to 90% of withholding taxes over terms of up to 30+ years.
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