Corning to Expand Optical Cable Manufacturing in Hickory

HICKORY, N.C. — Corning Inc. announced a major expansion of its optical cable manufacturing operations in North Carolina, with a significant boost planned for its Hickory facility—an investment expected to bring hundreds of new jobs and deepen the region’s role in the nation’s growing data center economy.

The expansion follows a multiyear agreement with Meta Platforms Inc. valued at up to $6 billion. Under the deal, Corning will supply optical fiber, cable, and connectivity products to support Meta’s expanding network of U.S. data centers, a buildout driven in large part by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Corning said the agreement will significantly increase manufacturing capacity across North Carolina and is expected to result in nearly 1,000 additional jobs statewide. The company already employs more than 5,000 workers in North Carolina and maintains a headquarters in Charlotte.

In Hickory, the announcement builds on an expansion plan revealed in October by Corning Optical Communications, which includes hiring at least 132 additional employees and investing between $170 million and $268 million. The Hickory facility, located at the Trivium Corporate Center in Catawba County, will serve as Meta’s anchor manufacturing site under the new agreement.

As part of the expansion, Corning Optical is expected to take over nearly 33 acres at the Trivium Corporate Center. Average annual salaries for the new positions are projected to exceed $65,000, adding a significant economic boost to the local workforce.

Company officials said the investment is designed to accelerate the development of advanced data center infrastructure needed to support Meta’s growing AI capabilities, while reinforcing North Carolina’s position as a hub for high-tech manufacturing.

The expansion underscores Corning’s long-term commitment to the state and highlights the increasing demand for optical connectivity as data centers scale to meet the needs of cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications.