Governor Josh Stein announced July 22, 2025, that Eco King Solutions, LLC will invest $80.5 million in Robbinsville, Graham County, N.C., creating 515 jobs at a new production facility. Eco King Solutions is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Zhejiang Kingsun Eco-pack Co., Ltd, a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2008 that operates three factories in China employing approximately 1,200 people. The Robbinsville plant will be the company’s first North American production facility, manufacturing disposable, biodegradable paper tableware — including bowls, plates, clamshell containers and trays — for supermarkets and the food service industry.
What it means
The facility adds a new manufacturing operation to Graham County, a rural western North Carolina community. The 515 positions carry an average salary of $46,707, compared to the county’s current average wage of $46,628, and the jobs will generate more than $14 million in annual payroll impact in the community. North Carolina’s Economic Investment Committee approved a Job Development Investment Grant on July 22, 2025, with a 12-year term; the grant formula is based on 300 of the new jobs and the capital investment, with a maximum authorized reimbursement of $2,894,000 over the grant period. The state projects the project will grow North Carolina’s economy by more than $743.4 million over the 12-year grant term, with a projected return of $2.06 in state revenue per dollar of potential cost. State payments under the JDIG are made only after performance is verified by the Departments of Commerce and Revenue.
Key facts
- Company: Eco King Solutions, LLC — wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Zhejiang Kingsun Eco-pack Co., Ltd (founded 2008, China)
- Location: Robbinsville, Graham County, N.C.
- Capital investment: $80.5 million
- Jobs created: 515, with average salary of $46,707
- Annual payroll impact: more than $14 million in the community
- Grant: Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), approved July 22, 2025; 12-year term; maximum reimbursement $2,894,000
- JDIG formula based on 300 of the 515 new jobs and the capital investment
- Projected state economic growth over grant term: more than $743.4 million; projected ROI: 106% ($2.06 per dollar of potential cost)
- Products: disposable, biodegradable paper tableware (bowls, plates, clamshell containers, trays) for supermarkets and food service
- First North American production facility for the parent company
Source: North Carolina Department of Commerce news release (commerce.nc.gov)