Apple will build a campus and engineering hub in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park 33 spending more than $1 billion and creating at least 3,000 new jobs.
The announcement establishes the company's first major east coast presence, as well as its first completely new U.S. campus in more than 20 years.
"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," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said. "We're proud that this new investment will also be supporting education and critical infrastructure projects across the state.
The hub will bring numerous work opportunities to the local technology industry, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering and "other cutting-edge fields."
Apple estimates that once completed, its investments would produce more than $1.5 billion in annual economic benefits for North Carolina.
The development is part of Apple's effort to increase investment as the U.S. continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The campus will be 1 million square feet and will be located on land straddling N.C. 540 near Cary and Morrisville on the Wake County side of The Triangle. According to Apple, it will be powered entirely by renewable energy.
To celebrate the announcement, Gov. Roy Cooper, state Senate Leader Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore, and other leaders from both political parties held a rare joint press conference at the North Carolina Executive Mansion.
According to an Apple representative, hiring for the new campus will begin immediately. The company plans to lease local office space to accommodate new workers until construction is complete.
This is Apple's second major investment in the state. The company arrived in Maiden, Catawba County, in 2009 to build its data center, which employs approximately 200 people.
