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Sonic Automotive opening new Gaston County office, will create 500 jobs

LOWELL, N.C. — Charlotte-based Sonic Automotive is opening a new office in Gaston County, which will create about 500 jobs.

It’s an $11.2 million investment for the town of Lowell.

The location for the call center is only a 15-minute ride from uptown Charlotte.

The announcement means 500 new jobs in a city of 3,500 people.

It is the biggest single investment of office jobs in the history of Gaston County.

"This truly a historic day for Lowell,” said Lowell Mayor Sandy Railey.

The ripple effect of 500 new jobs paying an average of $50,000 a year will be felt up and down Main Street.

"We'll see a drastic change,” said Mario Nichols, who is an owner of a nearby business.

Nichols says they can't even imagine what lunch traffic will look like when the new call center opens.

Nichols said that every business in the area may have to add staff to handle the new crowd

"We are excited about it,” Nichols said. “That will be more revenue for the area and more jobs."

The city, county and state are offering a combined $6.8 million in incentives.

However, Sonic will have to complete its $11 million investment and add the 500 jobs to get it.

Some of the new jobs will be transfers from out of state, but Channel 9 was told that more than 70 percent will be brand new hires.

Sonic will start hiring in January, with a goal to start operations in March.

They will add more staff and office space over time.

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