Improving Business in the Wilmington Region

Corning Expansion Brings $585 Million Investment to Wilmington Fiber Plant

Will create 414 jobs at the company’s longtime manufacturing site

October 21, 2026 (Wilmington, N.C.) – Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW), the world’s leading innovator in glass science and optical physics, will invest $585 million at its Wilmington campus, where it will add 414 jobs to its local workforce of about 1,000. The New York-based company first arrived in the city 60 years ago and has grown its site here into one of the world’s largest optical fiber manufacturing plants, providing critical infrastructure for the digital economy.

“We’re proud to expand our presence in Wilmington, where Corning made history with the world’s first optical fiber manufacturing plant and where our people continue to make the fiber that is critical to next-generation networks,” said John McGirr, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Optical Fiber and Cable. “For decades, our talented workforce here has helped keep Corning at the forefront of optical communications. We’re excited about what comes next, and we’re grateful to the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and our key community partners, like Wilmington Business Development, for their continued support and partnership.”

Wilmington’s City Council and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted earlier this week to approve a package of performance-based incentives to support Corning’s expansion here. The region competed for the project with numerous other locations. New jobs will be added over the next five years, with average salaries exceeding $85,000 annually. New Hanover County’s overall average wage is about $70,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Once its hiring is complete, Corning’s expansion will produce a payroll impact of more than $35 million per year for the Greater Wilmington Region.

“Corning has been part of New Hanover County for decades, and when a company with that track record is ready to grow, this Board wants that growth to happen here,” said LeAnn Pierce, Chair of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. “This expansion means 414 new jobs at an average wage of more than $85,000. Those are good paychecks for families in our community. The grant is tied to those jobs and that investment, and that is exactly how it should work,” Pierce said.

“When a business that’s already part of our community chooses to grow here, that’s a strong vote of confidence in Wilmington and our future,” said Mayor Bill Saffo. “This project represents hundreds of new, good-paying jobs, a significant investment in our local economy and opportunities for families across our region. We’re proud to work alongside New Hanover County to support this kind of economic growth, while making sure our investment is tied to real results. By linking incentives to job creation and capital investment, we’re supporting opportunities that will benefit Wilmington for years to come.”

“Project Pearl 2,” which company executives and local officials called the site search during its confidential phase, will supply fiber for next-generation networks and support long-term customer agreements the company has announced. Growth in Corning’s Optical Communications business is being driven by fiber demand from AI network operators and telecommunications networks as they build out their optical infrastructure.

Founded in 1851, Corning is headquartered in Corning, N.Y., and employs more than 70,000 people from over40 countries. Corning opened its first Wilmington plant in 1966 after being recruited by Wilmington Industrial Development – the Committee of 100, the economic development organization currently known as Wilmington Business Development (WBD). Corning’s Wilmington site initially produced electric resistors, a component of televisions, stereo equipment and home appliances. In 1970, Corning engineers invented the first low-loss optical fiber – thin, flexible glass strands that could transmit information using pulses of light. The company’s Wilmington operation became the world’s first fiber optic manufacturing plant.

Across its 60 years in the region, Corning has maintained a visible civic commitment to Greater Wilmington. Corning collaborates with Cape Fear Community College on the Corning Technician Pipeline Program, a two-year apprenticeship that produced its first class of graduates in May 2023. Corning also invests in STEM education, and the Wilmington plant has hosted field trips for area schools.

“It’s impossible to overstate how important this company is to Greater Wilmington,” says Scott Satterfield, CEO of WBD. “Corning’s role in our business community rose alongside WBD more than three generations ago, and we’re proud that they selected Wilmington as the backdrop for another exciting wave of global growth.”

Corning’s announcement is the latest win for WBD. Now celebrating its 70th anniversary, the member-driven organization led the recent effort to attract Amazon’s +1,000-worker robotics facility to the Pender Commerce Park. The organization celebrated the opening of this 3.2M sf fulfilment center in early October. Through its existing industry engagement activities, the organization has also facilitated recent expansions by MegaCorp, Polyhose, Live Oak Bank and other leading regional employers.

“I can’t think of a more appropriate way to cap off this historic year than with a significant expansion by a best-of-class manufacturer like Corning,” Satterfield said. “Along with all our partners, members and allies, WBD will continue working aggressively to build on this remarkable momentum.”

Founded in 1956, Wilmington Business Development oversees business recruitment and industrial retention for the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and Pender County. A private, not-for-profit organization, WBD supports members, partners and allies through an array of technical expertise, leadership resources and value-added business services. For additional information, visit www.wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com

For additional inquiries:
John Arwood
Senior Manager, Executive and External Communications
Corning Optical Communications
[email protected]