The development of a new water treatment plant may not sound like the most glamorous project, but for Dunn and the surrounding communities, these plans point to an exciting future for the region. 

“Industry is coming our direction, and we could have a customer who needs half a million gallons per day, a million gallons per day – we don’t know, but we have got to be prepared for that,” shared Mayor William Elmore.

The City of Dunn has recently completed the purchase of land adjacent to the Cape Fear River for $5 million for an upcoming expansion of their water treatment plant. This infrastructure update will not only allow the City of Dunn to provide water for an anticipated influx of residents, but also continue to provide water to the surrounding areas like Eastover, Falcon and Sampson and Johnston counties. 

“The closing of this deal and expected fall completion of a new 500,000-gallon water tank on Arrowhead Road is the latest sign of the City’s commitment to ensure it and its regional partners are fully prepared for future growth and economic development along the I-95/I-40 corridor,” the City of Dunn said in a press release. 

The City of Dunn is working with Benson and Four Oaks - known as the I95/I40 Alliance - to attract major industrial developers and new residents to the area. This region, branded “The Crossroads of America,” capitalizes on the fact that they fall at the intersection of these two major highways; I-95 running from Maine to Florida, and I-40 running from North Carolina to California. With easy access for transportation, fast-growing infrastructure and plans for workforce development, they’re preparing for growth related to major manufacturers like Vulcan Elements.

Vulcan Elements is a fast-rising company that produces rare earth magnets, which are essential in nearly all modern technology and are mainly produced overseas. Rare earth elements convert electricity into motion and are used in everything from power tools to satellites. Vulcan selected Benson as the site for its new $1 billion factory within the I-95/I-40 corridor, and it will bring about 1,000 new high-skilled, high-paying jobs to the area. 

Along with the water treatment infrastructure, the City of Dunn has also been working on the renovation of an old elementary school into a workforce training center, which will have its grand opening Feb. 13. The Advanced Life Science and Skills Training Center in Dunn, as well as the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Four Oaks, have been created in partnership with the Central Carolina Community College and Johnston County Community College. These trade programs will prepare students in Biotech, Agtech, AI and software programming, all of which are needed for the new industries coming to the area. 

“[Vulcan] is a game-changer for us,” said Dunn City Manager Justin Hembree. “It’s very similar to when Toyota, BMW or a manufacturing plant like that locates somewhere. There is going to be a supply chain around that. We’ve got an industrial park south of town we are developing with some of our partners… on the water side of things, that’s the type of growth that will allow us to meet the demands.” 

“Water and sewer are easy to take for granted… we cut the water on, and it comes out of the spicket… but a lot has to happen to get it to that point – and for it to always be at that point – that is where this land acquisition and expansion plan for future growth [factors in],” added Assistant City Manager Billy Godwin. 

This is just some of the many ways it is clear that Mayor Elmore and this current city council, in partnership with the I-95/I-40 Alliance, are planning for a future that will long outlast their tenure, and doing so in a fiscally responsible and strategic way. 

“I’ve been in local government for over 30 years… from my perspective, it’s very refreshing to see a local governing board that is willing to take the steps to secure the future,” shared Hembree. “A lot of the decisions, including the purchase of this property, are going to possibly impact this community well after a lot of us are gone. I think having the courage as a governing board to make decisions at a strategic level, looking long term… sometimes, frankly, is very rare with local boards.” 

Mayor Elmore, who owns Elmore Builders and Elmore Realty, saw the necessity for this land acquisition when he first took office six years ago. The land owner was not ready to sell back then, but recently came around to negotiations on the condition the sale was for all of his parcels. This is more land than the City of Dunn currently needs for its water treatment development, but they are anticipating future needs and working with an engineering firm on various options for the site. 

This water treatment plant expansion is a necessary component in the overall strategic plan and objectives for the City of Dunn in the near future. With more infrastructure development and community development to come, the city council is focused on improving the quality of life for current and future residents of Dunn. 

Mayor Elmore shared, “If we don’t look at what is going to happen to future generations, I don’t think we are doing our job as a board.” 

For more information about the I-95/I-40 Alliance and development opportunities, go to www.i95i40alliance.com.