Wake County Celebrates Apple’s “Transformational” $1 Billion Investment in North Carolina, Research Triangle Park
Wake County today further solidified its position as a hub for the world’s leading technology companies when Apple announced its plan to invest $1 billion in the state and build a new campus at the Research Triangle Park. The global tech giant plans to hire at least 3,000 people at an average annual salary of $187,000.
“We’re delighted that Apple chose Wake County as the site for its newest research and development campus,” said Chair Matt Calabria of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “An investment of this magnitude is transformational for our community, bringing great jobs and long-term economic benefits. It also proves that we have the right combination of talent and innovation to attract industry-leading companies who want an exceptional quality of life for their employees.”
Apple’s New Campus at RTP
Apple’s new campus and engineering hub at RTP will accommodate the company’s growing research and development and engineering teams, among others.
It will measure more than 1 million square feet and initially house 3,000 employees working in machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering and other cutting-edge fields. Like all Apple facilities, the new campus will run on 100% renewable energy from the first day the doors open.
“Apple’s decision to join the community of 310 companies in Research Triangle Park is extraordinary,” said Scott Levitan, President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation. “Its major commitments to public education, sustainability, infrastructure and partnerships with our universities and community colleges demonstrates corporate leadership starting day one.”
Why RTP and Wake County?
Like Apple, Wake County is always looking for what comes next. That, coupled with our leading tech sector, nationally recognized education system and top talent pool, give Wake County the right mindset and skillset to attract major corporations like Apple.
“As a North Carolina native, I’m thrilled Apple is expanding and creating new long-term job opportunities in the community I grew up in,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer. “We’re proud that this new investment will also be supporting education and critical infrastructure projects across the state. Apple has been a part of North Carolina for nearly two decades, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow and a bright future ahead.”
Apple is poised to be a strong community partner. The company has committed $100 million to support schools and education initiatives in the Triangle region along with more than $110 million for infrastructure across 80 counties in North Carolina.
Apple is not new to North Carolina. Currently, Apple employs 1,100 employees across the state and continues to expand its presence in Catawba County. Apple has been a resident of North Carolina for the past 20 years.
“We are proud Apple selected Wake County and the Research Triangle Park for a new campus,” said Adrienne Cole, President and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber. “The strength of our diverse and global talent pipeline, our world-class education ecosystem, solid business climate, and high quality of life make this region one of the most future-focused and innovative in the world.”
A Total Team Effort
It took many partners to help make this historic announcement possible. They include:
Wake County Government;
Greater Raleigh Chamber;
Wake County Economic Development;
Research Triangle Foundation;
Capital Area Workforce Development Board;
Wake Technical Community College;
N.C. Community College System;
N.C. State University;
N.C. Department of Commerce;
Economic Development Partnership of N.C.; and
North Carolina General Assembly.
“We are excited to welcome Apple to our thriving technology ecosystem,” said Michael Haley, Executive Director of Wake County Economic Development. “This is an important milestone that strengthens our position as a tech hub. Apple’s decision to invest in the Triangle is a testament to our community’s talent, resources, and overall quality of life.”
Once the campus is up and running, Apple’s investments are expected to generate more than $1.5 billion in economic benefits annually for North Carolina. That’s in addition to the benefits the state already receives as a result of Apple’s current investments.
Technology in Wake County
One of the biggest and fastest-growing industry sectors in Wake County is technology. With nearly 4,000 tech companies in the region, it’s home to heavy hitters such as IBM, Red Hat, Lenovo, SAS, Bandwidth, Citrix and Epic Games. They’ve called the region home for many years and continue to grow here.
Wake County is consistently ranked as one of America’s most digitally inclusive tech communities, and one of the best places for IT pros to live and work in the U.S.