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July 2023

Welcome to the first edition of the Economic Development Quarterly - Harnett County Economic Development's Newsletter. We hope that this new electronic communication highlighting economic development-related news is valuable and informative. We look forward to keeping you, our economic development partners, business and community leaders, local citizens, and colleagues up to date on economic growth and opportunity in Harnett County.

Why should a business choose Harnett County? Our newly-launched Economic Development website can tell you why.

Harnett County Economic Development has a new home online! Serving as the economic development resource hub for Harnett County, harnettedc.org is a one-stop-shop for businesses looking to expand or relocate, existing businesses and industries, and community partners wanting to learn more about all that Harnett County has to offer.

Explore harnettedc.org

News & Updates

Harnett County approves, makes progress towards strategic priorities

In February 2022, the Harnett County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the County's inaugural Strategic Plan. Harnett County’s 2032 Strategic Plan is designed to provide a clear vision for the future along with direction for turning that vision into a reality. The Plan includes five strategic goals to include: superior education; organizational excellence; healthy and safe community; economic strength; and information and engaged citizens.

Read more about the progress towards the Plan's goals in this Greater Fayetteville Business Journal article.

Harnett Regional Jetport

According to the "North Carolina: The State of Aviation" report released by the North Carolina Department of Transportation in January, Harnett Regional Jetport (HRJ) ranks #10 out of 62 General Aviation Airports in North Carolina in job creation and economic output. Read more in this Harnett County press release.

Updates to the HRJ are currently underway including the construction of a new, 7,361-square-foot terminal. Once complete, the terminal will offer a fresh and inviting space for pilots, businesspeople, and community members to enjoy. The building will also serve as the new home for Harnett County Economic Development.

New Marketing Director for Harnett County Economic Development

Elizabeth Edwards joined Harnett County Economic Development in February 2023 to serve as the team's Marketing Director. In this role, Edwards oversees internal and external marketing strategies, playing a central role in positioning Harnett County for the attraction of new jobs, investment, and overnight stays.

ILC Dover LP expands, opening factory in Lillington

ILC Dover LP, a world-leader in the design and production of solutions for biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and medical device markets, as well as a leading supplier for the aerospace industries, has started to fill and repack dry chemicals at their new facility in Lillington. Once fully operational, the company estimates hiring 50 to 100 employees.

Lumos invests $50M to bring economic development and connectivity to residents

Lumos, a provider of 100% Fiber Optic Internet, Total Home Wi-Fi, voice, and streaming services across Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, is investing over $50 million in Johnston and Harnett Counties. Through partnerships, the company plans to be a premier corporate citizen in the community, bringing economic development and connectivity to residents. Lumos’ expansion will not only change the landscape for homeowners, schools, and businesses, but it will also bring job opportunities.

New Cancer Center means jobs, vital medical services for Harnett County residents

Cape Fear Valley Health is moving forward with plans to build a comprehensive Cancer Center and Medical Arts Building at Central Harnett Hospital, one of the health system’s latest investments in the area since Harnett Health joined Cape Fear Valley. A groundbreaking for the new medical office building is slated for early Fall of 2023. Be sure to follow Harnett County Economic Development for more information regarding this exciting project.

Workforce Development

Harnett County Businesses and Human Resources Professionals:

We need your help to improve the employment pipeline.

The quality of our current and future workforce is increasingly seen as the most important factor in our region’s economic growth and vitality. To address this and improve the employment pipeline, Harnett County Economic Development is partnering with regional workforce and economic development groups - Wake County Economic Development, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and Capital Workforce Development - to launch a survey to better understand skills gaps and employer needs.

The study, previously conducted in both 2020 and 2017, is being managed by RTI International, an independent non-profit research institute. All Harnett County business executives, managers, HR representatives, and other business leaders representing small, medium, and large businesses are encouraged to participate.

Take the survey

Renovations for the Advanced Technology & Biotech Training Center in Dunn move forward with $5M match from Harnett County

At the June 19 Harnett County Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Board approved a $5 million match to support the renovation of the Magnolia Avenue School Building in Dunn into a workforce development center. Harnett County Economic Development partner, the I-95/I-40 Crossroads of America Economic Development Alliance, received a commitment from the North Carolina Legislature to help fund the renovation and development of the building but needed financial commitments locally to fully support the project. Upon completion of the renovations, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) will occupy space at the Advanced Technology & Biotech Training Center, offering customized workforce training for existing and new industry partners. In addition, the Center will provide an incubator and landing pad for industry partners.

World-class education center coming to Central Carolina Community College

When complete, the E. Eugene Moore Manufacturing and Biotech Solutions Center located at Central Carolina Community College's (CCCC) Lee Main Campus will be the largest facility in North Carolina focused on addressing the workforce needs of advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. The Moore Center will not only enhance CCCC's ability to recruit and train the workforce needed to support industry needs in our region, but also, provide the state with a world class resource capable of driving future economic growth and development. The anticipated start date for biotechnology and manufacturing classes to begin at the Moore Center is Fall 2024.

Campbell University addresses future life sciences workforce needs

The Department of Pharmaceutical & Clinical Sciences at Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is addressing future workforce needs through a Burroughs Wellcome Fund grant. The funds are being used to establish and support The Academy for Emerging Scholars Exploring Clinical Research & Pharmaceutical Science Careers, which will provide inquiry-based STEM activities for local and rural high school students. Three-day STEM Camps are being held for students in Summer 2023. In addition, two Discovery Days where students will learn about the fields of pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, clinical research, physician assistant, physical therapy, and nursing, will also be held.

Grant helps service members, veterans find life sciences careers

Thanks to leadership by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and Texas A&M's National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing, along with Central Carolina Community College (CCCC), Durham Technical Community College, Merck, and Pfizer, funding was secured to help military service members, veterans, and their spouses earn biopharma manufacturing certifications at no cost. The Military Service Members Biopharma Manufacturing Program was established by a grant from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). To date, a handful of service members have leveraged the program to complete the BioWork certificate program at CCCC or Durham Tech.

CCCC President joins delegation to United Kingdom

Central Carolina Community College (CCCC)'s President, Dr. Lisa Chapman, joined North Carolina government officials, university and community college leaders, and economic developers for a clean energy and workforce development mission to the United Kingdom in June. The delegation visited Liverpool, Manchester, and North Wales to learn more about how industries of the future such as electric vehicles, offshore wind, aerospace and more can contribute to economic development and increased trade and investment.

Harnett County Buildings & Sites

Harnett County has a variety of commercial, industrial, and vacant land listings on our Buildings & Sites webpage. Don't see your available property listed? Contact us at econdev@harnett.org or (910) 893-7524 to connect with a member of the Economic Development team.

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Central Carolina Industrial Park - Erwin, NC

The Central Carolina Industrial Park is a 58-acre complex that sits in the heart of Erwin off North 13th Street. Once the home to the historic "Erwin Mill," the building is currently in the redevelopment process with 500,000 square feet to be available soon.

Central Carolina Industrial Park is located off of Highway 421, five miles west of I-95, approximately 30 miles south of Raleigh, 48 miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and 25 miles north of Fayetteville. Find more information in this flyer or on our building and sites webpage.

View property details

Featured Blogs

Harnett County Business and Education Partners invest in students, preparing them for welding careers

Andy Cole, a teacher at Triton High School in Erwin, is the first high school teacher in the United States to complete the Advanced Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) course and train to teach the curriculum specifically for the Work Truck Industry. As the only certified trainer in the country, Triton High School is the only school that can offer certificates in Advanced Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) to students.

The Lincoln Electric Education Program (LEEPS) was made possible through partnerships among Harnett County Schools, The Godwin Group, Arc3 Gases, and the Harnett County Business & Education Partnership.

Harnett County joins Economic Development Week celebration

Harnett County Economic Development joined the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and hundreds of other economic development organizations to celebrate Economic Development Week, May 8 through 12. What is economic development? Why is it important in a community? We answer these questions and more in the blog.

National Small Business Week 2023

National Small Business Week was held April 30 - May 6 and Harnett County Economic Development took the opportunity to share about the various small business resources in Harnett County and within North Carolina as part of the celebration. In addition, the County's five downtowns were showcased and a local manufacturing company, was highlighted as they celebrate the company's 50-year anniversary in operation.