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The Economic Development Quarterly is a communication produced by the Harnett County Department of Economic Development and highlights the latest news and updates on economic growth and opportunity in Harnett County.

October 2023

Cape Fear Valley/Harnett Health Breaks Ground to Expand Access to Cancer Care in Harnett County

Ground was broken on August 29 at the Brightwater Technology Park in Lillington to celebrate the start of construction of a comprehensive Cancer Center and Medical Arts Building at Central Harnett Hospital. Plans for the project include a three-story, 70,000-square-foot Medical Arts Complex, which will be anchored by a new Cancer Center. This project will have a significant impact on Harnett County and its residents needing local access to cancer care.

Welcome, Stephen Barrington! Harnett County's Director of Economic Development

Harnett County Economic Development has a new leader. Stephen Barrington joined the team on September 18 from neighboring Sampson County, where he served as the Executive Director of Sampson County Economic Development. In this role Barrington will be responsible for leading a successful economic development program that attracts new business and industry, and supports expanding companies, resulting in good, quality jobs and a growing tax base.

Harnett County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update

Harnett County began efforts to update its Comprehensive Land Use Plan in August 2023. This work will modernize its 2015 Grow Harnett County Comprehensive Growth Plan, focusing on land use, affordable and workforce housing, parks and recreation, economic development, transportation, natural resources, public infrastructure, and the Harnett Regional Jetport. Harnett County Development Services will provide citizens the opportunity to get involved through a community survey and public meetings.

Economic Development to Present at October Citizen Information Session

The Harnett County Manager's Office will host its next Citizen Information Session on Thursday, October 26 at 6 p.m. at the Harnett County Resource Center and Library and virtually via YouTube. This is the second session hosted by the County in 2023 and will include presentations from the Harnett County Animal Services, Development Services, and Economic Development Departments. The purpose of the session is to provide Harnett County citizens with the chance to learn more about County initiatives, programs, services, and department updates.

Workforce Development

I-95/I-40 Crossroads of America Economic Development Alliance Breaks Ground on Workforce Training Center

On October 4, elected officials, local businesses, partners, and community members joined the I-95/I-40 Crossroads of American Economic Development Alliance to break ground in Dunn. The ceremony celebrated the start of renovations to the historic Magnolia School building to make way for a new Advanced Technology & Biotechnology Training Center. Once renovations are complete, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) will occupy the space and offer workforce development training for new industry partners as well as serve as an incubator for new industries regionally.

AdvanceNC - A Regional Coalition for Workforce Readiness

On September 21, representatives from 18 education and workforce organizations participated in a signing event, celebrating the official launch of AdvanceNC - an innovative workforce development ecosystem developing a robust talent pipeline to support unprecedented economic growth in central North Carolina. This collaboration optimizes strengths from community colleges, universities, and workforce boards - addressing the needs of thriving regional employers and positioning North Carolina as a global leader in advanced manufacturing.

CCCC Hosts Annual Manufacturing Day Expo for Students, Employers

Central Carolina Community College (CCCC)'s held its annual Manufacturing Day Expo on October 6 at the E. Eugene Moore Manufacturing and Biotech Solutions Center in Sanford. Manufacturing companies from across the region, including Harnett County's own Armtec Defense Technologies, Boon Edam, BullDog Hose Company, and Morgan Advanced Materials, participated in the event to increase manufacturing awareness and showcase potential career opportunities to the next generation of employees.

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Harnett County CTE Program Trailer Helps Youth Explore Careers

After receiving a capital credits refund, Harnett County Schools' Career & Technical Education (CTE) Program purchased a trailer and filled it with state-of-the-art equipment to address local hiring needs. The trailer is one piece of a big movement at Harnett County Schools to promote local industries with hiring needs and bring together the school system, industry, and vendors. It's is used at school career days, community events, and even a career carnival set up for fifth graders to explore different pathways.

Golden LEAF Scholarship: Rural Internship Initiative

In its two years, the Golden LEAF Foundation's Rural Internship Initiative has supported 60 Golden LEAF Scholars who have worked 17,000 hours in various sectors throughout 31 rural counties in North Carolina. Scholars intern in a wide range of settings, including businesses, governmental entities, and nonprofits. Common fields of interest are health care, human services, government/public administration, engineering, education, and journalism/communication.

Golden LEAF Scholars are responsible for identifying a site to complete their internship. In preparation for the upcoming summer 2024 internship season, the Golden LEAF Foundation is gathering information from entities interested in hosting an intern next summer. There is no commitment to host. Interested sites can complete the form here.

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Available Buildings & Sites

Harnett County Buildings & Sites

Harnett County has a variety of commercial, industrial, and vacant land listings on our website. Don't see your available property listed? Looking to relocate or expand your company in Harnett County? Contact our team today at econdev@harnett.org or (910) 893-7524.

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Featured Listing: Central Carolina Industrial Park #201

This 110,557-square-foot light manufacturing/flex space is located in the Central Carolina Industrial Park (CCIP) campus providing convenient access to Highway 421 and I-95. CCIP in Harnett County is in close proximity to metro markets of Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Garner.

CCIP #201 is part of an exciting new project in rapidly growing Harnett County. The CCIP Campus, situated on the historic “Erwin Mill” site, is a 57-acre complex containing more than 1 million square feet of space and is currently in the redevelopment process. The property and buildings layout offer flexibility for a variety of uses and sizes of 3,000-500,000 square feet.

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Featured Blog

Economic Development Hosts Business & Industry Day for Leadership Harnett

Harnett County Economic Development had the opportunity to lead and plan a Business and Industry Day for Leadership Harnett. During the July session, participants toured Champion Hoist and Equipment, ADUSA/Food Lion Distribution Center, and connected with the Town of Angier's newest leader - Town Manager Elizabeth Krige.

The Leadership Harnett Program is held annually and consists of eight monthly sessions beginning in March and ending in October. The program is an example of a successful private-public partnership with its creation as a joint effort between Harnett County Government, the County's chambers of commerce, and Campbell University.