US Conec plans $149.7M Hickory expansion, 224 jobs

US Conec plans to invest $149.7 million to expand its Hickory, North Carolina, manufacturing operations, adding 224 jobs and retaining roughly 300 existing local positions. The project will equip a 221,000-square-foot facility at Catawba Commerce Center in Fairgrove Business Park, with construction-related expansion and hiring expected to be completed by the end of 2030. The new roles will include engineers, operators, technicians and support staff, with average annual pay around $57,000. The company says the added capacity will help meet rising demand for optical interconnect components used in advanced computing infrastructure and communications networks. A proposed state grant is performance-based, and local incentives still require approval.