It isn't the Junior Johnson "Yellow Banana" '66 Ford, but NASCAR does again have a banana affiliation. The NASCAR Hall of Fame hasn't been the only near vacant structure in Charlotte. Some space in the heretofore nearly vacant NASCAR Hall of Fame Office Tower in Charlotte has finally been leased to Chiquita Banana who announced today the move of its corporate headquarters from Cincy to Charlotte. The HOF Tower may be rebranded as the Banana Building or Chiquita Tower. Interesting that Kannapolis, NCup the road is now home to Dole Fruit's research center, including banana reasearch. Guess we better watch out for banana peels on pit road at Daytona and Charlotte. I think Jeff & Dustin ought to consider playing Donovan's "Mellow Yellow" during the Goat Rodeo to celebrate NASCAR's and Charlotte's good fortune... well we at least are spending a fortune.
In major coup, Charlotte lands Chiquita, 400 jobs
Posted: Nov 29, 2011 10:19 AM EST
Updated: Nov 29, 2011 12:02 PM EST
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Charlotte will soon be getting hundreds of new high paying jobs as Chiquita Brands is planning to announce its headquarters is moving to Charlotte.
According to sources in North Carolina, the company is planning to announce the move Tuesday afternoon.
The Associated Press reports that a North Carolina economic development panel approved a $22 million incentives deal to bring the global headquarters of banana giant to the Queen City.
The state Economic Investment Committee voted Tuesday to approve the deal, which includes more than $20 million in state incentives and more than $2 million from local government.
The panel says the move of Chiquita's headquarters, along with research and development laboratories, will bring about 375 jobs to the state by 2014. Sources told WBTV that around 80 of those jobs are expected to transfer from Cincinnati.
The company has been looking for about 150,000 square feet of office space and is expected to make the 19-story NASCAR Plaza office tower uptown its headquarters building, The Charlotte Business Journal is reporting.
They say the 19-story property at South Caldwell and East Stonewall streets could be rebranded as part of the lease agreement.
The jobs are supposed to pay an average of about $107,000 . Committee members say the incentives were needed to give Charlotte an edge over Ohio, Florida and Louisiana.
Chiquita is the successor to the United Fruit Company and is the leading distributor of bananas in the United States.
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce have scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference for an economic development announcement.
Over the past couple months Charlotte has been stepping up its push to become the new headquarters for Chiquita from incentives to Twitter and merchandising.
Chiquita hinted around months ago that it might be looking to move. Its lease on its downtown Cincinnati headquarters runs out next year.
Luring the nearly 400 high-paying jobs is considered a major coup for Charlotte. Bananas account for 60 percent of Chiquita's total sales.
The Salads and Healthy Snacks segment offers packaged ready-to-eat salads under the Fresh Express and other labels
Chiquita's products are sold in nearly 70 countries, mainly in North America and Europe.
The company was founded in 1899.
Copyright 2011 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM