Craven 100 Alliance counts 400-plus jobs six months into a five-year goal of 500
Executive director Jeff Wood told New Bern aldermen on Sept. 23, 2025, that the jobs came from expansions by BSH Home Appliances and Craven Glass. Alliance leadership told Wood to start thinking about higher goals.
The Craven 100 Alliance, a public-private partnership in Craven County, gave itself five years to reach 500 announced jobs. Six months in, it had counted a little over 400.
Jeff Wood, the alliance's executive director and Craven County's economic development director, gave that update to New Bern's Board of Aldermen on Sept. 23, 2025, WCTI reported. Wood said the jobs came from expansions by two employers, BSH Home Appliances and Craven Glass.
BSH, the home appliance division of the Bosch Group, has operated in New Bern since 1997 and makes Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau appliances. Gov. Josh Stein announced its expansion on June 3, 2025. In a release the next day, Craven County said BSH would add 199 positions in New Bern at an average annual salary of $60,779 and invest more than $11 million. Hiring would continue into 2026 and 2027.
"The momentum we're seeing with BSH and other leading companies reflects the success of Craven County's strategic investments in workforce development and infrastructure," Owen Andrews, the alliance's chairman, said in that release.
At the aldermen meeting, Wood added more, according to New Bern Now's account. BSH would close a repair and maintenance operation in Tennessee and move those positions to New Bern. Chatsworth is expanding its operations.
Wood also gave longer-term figures. The alliance had received about $1 million in grants for infrastructure in the Craven County Industrial Park, and had undertaken 23 projects with 19 companies, which generated over 1,400 jobs and $175 million in private-sector investment. New Bern Now's account did not say what period those totals cover.
The alliance is raising money, too. Earlier in 2025, it said it had raised $860,000 of the $1.5 million it sought for a five-year campaign called "It's Time to Build Together," WNCT reported in March. Andrews described the campaign as a way to develop industry and recruit new businesses to Craven County.
With most of the five-year target already counted, alliance leadership told Wood to start thinking about higher goals for the next few years.
About this story
By Sotwire Desk. Written by Sotwire Desk from the sources below. Not a company attestation.
Sotwire Desk. Written by a named Sotwire editor from the sources cited below. Not a company attestation. Sotwire corrects errors publicly.
Key facts
- Craven 100 Alliance
- New Bern, NC
- Company news
- Desk reported
- Sotwire Desk
- 500 announced jobs
- A little over 400 announced jobs, reported Sept. 23, 2025
- Expansions by BSH Home Appliances and Craven Glass, per Jeff Wood
- 199 positions in New Bern; average annual salary $60,779; more than $11 million invested; hiring into 2026 and 2027
- Operating since 1997; home appliance division of the Bosch Group; makes Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau appliances
- Repair and maintenance operation in Tennessee to close, with positions moving to New Bern, per Wood
- 23 projects with 19 companies; over 1,400 jobs; $175 million in private-sector investment; period not stated
- About $1 million for the Craven County Industrial Park
- "It's Time to Build Together," five years; $860,000 raised of $1.5 million sought, per WNCT in March 2025
- 501(c)(3) public-private partnership funded by private investors, Craven County, and the cities of New Bern and Havelock
- Jeff Wood, also Craven County economic development director
- Owen Andrews
Key events
- WNCT reported the alliance had raised $860,000 of $1.5 million
- Gov. Josh Stein announced the BSH expansion
- Craven County released details of the BSH expansion
- Jeff Wood reported 400-plus announced jobs to New Bern aldermen
Sources
- Craven 100 Alliance reports strong job growth, nearing 500 jobs within first six months · WCTI NewsChannel 12 · accessed 2026-10-17
- Updated: Board of Aldermen - Sept. 23, 2025 · New Bern Now · accessed 2026-10-17
- BSH Expansion Marks Major Win for Craven 100 Alliance and Local Job Growth (June 4, 2025) · Craven County · accessed 2026-10-17
- Craven 100 Alliance continuing progress toward growing business within county · WNCT (via Yahoo News) · accessed 2026-10-17