Cree expects to add 275 jobs in North Carolina during 2009 to serve the expansion of its LED manufacturing capacity and other staffing needs at its facility in Durham, NC. Cree has about 3,500 full-time workers, including 1,500 in Durham. The company anticipates creating an additional 300 jobs by the end of 2012 – see press release.
Since August 2009, Cree has also been manufacturing and assembling LED lighting products with Flextronics in Mecklenburg County, NC. Initial products made in this facility are the LR6 recessed LED downlight and the LR24 LED troffer replacement.
Micron receives $5 million stimulus
Micron Technology, a microchip manufacturer based in Boise, Idaho, has received $5 million in federal stimulus dollars to help cover the cost of the LED research and development, according to an article in the Idaho Statesman.
The company has already put 30 people from throughout its R&D staff to work on the project, but company officials hope to hire even more once Micron has developed its LED system and perfected the manufacturing process.
In the proposal to get the stimulus money, Micron told the state it planned to produce LED prototypes by the first half of 2010. Full production is expected in 2011.
NCS Power to make LED lighting
Vancouver, BC-based NCS Power has received a $2 million federal stimulus loan to open a manufacturing facility at the Port of Camas-Washougal, Washington, according to a newspaper article.
The company will make LED-powered streetlights, and commercial and industrial lighting including 4-foot LED light tubes. NCS Power expects to begin operations with 50 employees on January 1, 2010 and expects to employ 290 permanent workers and 90 temporary employees by the end of 2012.
Indianapolis changes traffic signals to LEDs
Indianapolis, Indiana's largest city, is receiving $2.1 million in federal stimulus funds to retrofit traffic signals at 730 intersections with LEDs, according to a Chicago Tribune article.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works earlier put LEDs into signals at 370 intersections. In March, the city received a total of $8 million for local energy efficiency improvements including the installation of LEDs. Some of the money also will go toward meters to monitor energy and cost savings of the upgraded traffic lights.
