Today Governor Josh Stein joined Grady-White Boats owner Eddie Smith for a tour of the boat manufacturing facility in Greenville and inducted him into The Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his contributions to North Carolina and the boating industry.
“Through his strong leadership in boat building, gracious generosity, and commitment to serving others, Eddie Smith has made a lasting impact in North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Grady-White is a key player in rural North Carolina’s strong manufacturing industry. We must keep building on that strength and ensure rural communities in every corner of our state have the opportunity to grow and succeed.”
The Long Leaf Pine, created in 1963, is an award reserved for people who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. In 1968, Smith took over a struggling boat manufacturer and made it a leader in the manufacturing industry known for research and development operations and product quality standards. He built a company culture with generous benefits including financial literacy and profit-sharing programs for employees. Upon his retirement, he set up a nonprofit that holds the company’s shares in perpetuity, supporting causes including conservation, health care, and education as the company maintains its place within North Carolina’s manufacturing legacy. Click here to read more about his legacy.
Including Grady-White Boats, North Carolina’s manufacturing industry continues to grow in production and workforce. North Carolina is home to the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast and the ninth largest in the United States, employing more than 450,000 workers who represent approximately 9 percent of the state’s total workforce. Governor Stein has long supported apprenticeship models that create more pathways to high-demand careers like advanced manufacturing.
Governor Stein is committed to investing in rural North Carolina and in all 100 counties. In 2025, more than $12.5 billion in investment and nearly 5,000 jobs were brought to rural North Carolina. In 2025, rural communities across the state were also awarded more than $136 million through the state rural grant programs to expand economic opportunity in these neighborhoods through housing and building revitalization, infrastructure upgrades, and business development. This year, North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority has approved more than $16 million in grants for local governments that will create more than 800 jobs and bring approximately $1.2 billion in total investment to rural communities. Four of the six newly approved grant requests will support manufacturing projects and jobs.