Governor Josh Stein announced on April 14, 2025, that Wow Bao will invest $6.45 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Forest City, Rutherford County, creating 88 jobs. The project marks the Asian street food brand’s first company-operated production plant, shifting from its existing network of restaurants and delivery kitchens to dedicated manufacturing capacity for products including bao, potstickers, and soup dumplings.
What it means
The facility is designed to increase production capacity and modernize operations for the brand, which was founded in 2003. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the new positions will include maintenance engineers, production supervisors, and sanitation associates. The average annual salary for these roles is projected at $49,648, which exceeds the Rutherford County average annual salary of $46,673. The company stated the expansion aims to expand its reach beyond its current footprint of restaurants, airport locations, delivery-only kitchens, and grocery store placements nationwide.
The project is supported by a $180,000 performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund. Under the terms of the OneNC program, companies receive no upfront funding and must meet specific job creation and capital investment targets to secure the award. The grant also requires matching funds from local governments. Partners in the announcement included the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina General Assembly, the Commerce Department’s Division of Workforce Solutions, the North Carolina Community College System, Isothermal Community College, Rutherford County, and the Town of Forest City. Governor Stein said the expansion strengthens the state’s food industry and brings new opportunities to the region.
Key facts
- $6.45 million: Total investment by Wow Bao Service, Inc.
- 88 jobs: Number of new positions in Rutherford County
- $180,000: Performance-based grant from One North Carolina Fund
- $49,648: Average annual salary for new employees
- $46,673: Rutherford County average annual salary
- More than $4.3 million: Potential annual payroll impact
- Forest City, N.C.: Location of the new manufacturing facility
Source: North Carolina Department of Commerce news release