Caswell County Press Release

Cherokee Tobacco announces plans to invest $14 million in Caswell County

December 17, 2024

PELHAM—The Caswell County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that a new business is locating in the county’s Pelham Business Park.

Cherokee Tobacco Company plans to invest $14 million to build a 65,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Caswell, as well as create 39 new jobs.

According to the Department of Commerce website, “Cherokee Tobacco Company is a family-owned business that has manufactured and sold its own brand of cigarettes, cigars, and pipe products for more than two decades. Cherokee is a sister company of JEB International, a tobacco processing company that serves the industry throughout the global market. The new build-to-suit facility will provide a clean manufacturing space to add new, next-generation product lines. The company will consolidate their existing operations, along with JEB International, into one 65,000-square-foot location in Pelham.”

“We are thrilled to have this industry locating in our county and bringing jobs for our residents. Cherokee Tobacco Company is building on a long tradition of tobacco as an important driver for Caswell’s economy,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Tim Yarborough.

According to the NC Department of Commerce, the annual average wage will be $65,154, which is significantly higher than county’s current average wage of $43,046. The new jobs could have a potential annual payroll of $2.5 million.

The Caswell Board of Commissioners unanimously approved awarding the bid for the sale of property to the developer during its December 16, 2024 meeting. The developer will pay $100,000 for 12.5 acres in the business park.

This project will be across the street from Piedmont Community College’s Center for Educational and Agricultural Development (CEAD) is located. According to PCC President Dr. Pamela Senegal, whose team has worked with Cherokee Tobacco for the last year, CEAD's proximity was a major factor in the site choice.