2023 was an amazingly productive year for Greater Fayetteville Business Journal's seven county coverage area. Our team has had the pleasure of keeping up with multimillion-dollar development plans, economic growth and major construction projects as they were announced. Below we’ve recapped some of our most groundbreaking stories from last year county by county. See what projects may be coming soon to your area!

BLADEN COUNTY

WELCOME SOVEREIGN AEROSPACE 

Leadership with the Town of Elizabethtown, Bladen County and Sovereign Aerospace all gathered at the Curtis L. Brown Jr. Airport to celebrate a new partnership announced on April 11, 2023. Sovereign Aerospace began expanding operations to Elizabethtown to offer flight instruction, general aviation maintenance and assumed duties as the fixed base operator for Curtis L. Brown, Jr. Airport. Expansion plans for the airport include expanding the runway into what is locally known as the “Brian Fordo property,” and adding three hangars to the property to house Sovereign Aerospace, airplane maintenance and aircraft painting operations. Sovereign Aerospace also partnered with Bladen Community College to begin working on an airport management training program for students. 

LIVE, WORK, PLAY 

Bladen County and the Town of Elizabethtown officials announced their Live, Work, Play project, a multimillion-dollar development plan based around the Elizabethtown Industrial Park. This multi-acreage concept includes plans for an enhanced lakefront with an amphitheater and event lawn, the expansion of Cape Fear Winery, a hotel, daycare center, multiple medical facilities and offices and most importantly, housing. 

The Live, Work, Play project addresses several parts of Bladen County’s 10-year Strategic Plan which will be used to tackle area development by highlighting the needs and strategic priorities of the County. The plan is estimated to cost more than $160 million and copies layouts seen in more urban areas combining Elizabethtown’s green space with a work component, affordable housing for the future workforce and commercial businesses. 

SEVERN PEANUT COMPANY UPDATES BLADEN COUNTY FACILITY 

Severn Peanut Company, a peanut sheller, announced on April 4, 2023 that it would be investing $17 million into its Elizabethtown facility used for peanut butter production. The move was expected to create 44 jobs and have a potential annual payroll impact of more than $1.8 million for the community. The investment included updates and renovations to the facility to allow for the production of bulk peanut butter. 

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

NVR’S FAYETTEVILLE FACILITY NEARLY COMPLETE 

NVR, Inc., a Virginia-based company that sells and constructs homes under three different brands across 15 states, announced the construction of a new 145,000-square-foot manufacturing facility located on 22 acres on Dunn Road and has worked on the project throughout 2023. Now nearly complete, the facility is expected to bring 189 jobs to Fayetteville and Cumberland County with the average wage estimated to be $45,000. 

The new location has begun hiring, with full operations scheduled to start this year. 

GREATER FAYETTEVILLE CHAMBER ANNOUNCES CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION 

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce announced the establishment of its new Consumer Protection Division (CPD) on Oct. 19, 2023. An initiative dedicated to promoting consumer rights, ensuring fair business practices and fostering a trustworthy business environment within the Cumberland County community, the CPD works toward three main objectives to build trust within the business community and work to increase awareness of legitimate businesses by: Advocating for fair practices, empowering consumers and promoting swift conflict resolution. 

FAYETTEVILLE’S FIRST MEDICAL SCHOOL

Cape Fear Valley Health and Methodist University have combined forces to bring the first ever School of Medicine to Fayetteville, NC. Announced in February 2023, the Methodist University School of Medicine at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center (SOM), a state-of-the-art institution, will soon be joining the Cape Fear Valley Health campus. The project is expected to cost around $120 million in total. Methodist University plans to begin recruiting students in July 2025, begin classes in July 2026 and graduate its first class from the SOM in spring of 2031, pending approval by the LCME and SACSCOC.

HARNETT COUNTY

New Harnett Health Cancer Center 

Health Professionals from around Harnett County came together on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 to celebrate the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Harnett Health Cancer Center and medical office building. Located right beside the Central Harnett Hospital building at 215 Brightwater Drive in Lillington, the new $40 million, three-floor, 66,000-square-foot facility will include multiple specialists, including orthopedics; ear, nose and throat; a surgical clinic, neurology, cardiology and rheumatology. The Cancer Center will include radiation and medical oncology, and expand the number of infusion chairs currently available at Central Harnett Hospital. Currently, radiation oncology is not available in Harnett County but is expected to be offered to local patients with this new addition. The project is slated to be complete in late 2024. 

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER COMING SOON 

The Harnett County Board of Commissioners voted to approve $5 million in matching funds to renovate the Magnolia Avenue School building into a workforce development center at their meeting on June 19, 2023. The City of Dunn and the Town of Four Oaks formed the I-95/I-40 Crossroads of America Economic Development Alliance (Alliance) in 2021 to promote economic development, including job creation along the I-95 corridor. Central Carolina Community College will occupy the space and offer customized workforce development training for existing or new industry partners once renovations are complete.

The center will include incubator and soft landing spaces for new industries to begin interviewing and hiring personnel before their facilities open. 

HIGH SPEED INTERNET COMING TO HARNETT 

High Point based internet provider Lumos announced the investment of a portion of more than $50 million for internet expansion in Harnett County in June of 2023. Lumos, a high-speed internet provider with a presence in over 200,000 homes and businesses throughout North Carolina and Virginia, is continuing their recent rapid expansion throughout the state by entering Harnett County as their fifth market. The $50 million investment will build nearly 600 miles of Fiber Optic Technology across Johnston and Harnett counties. Construction officially began in 2023. 

HOKE COUNTY

NEW AQUATIC CENTER 

The James A. Leach Aquatic & Recreation Center had its official grand opening on May 1, 2023. Located on Fayetteville Road, the building is two stories and measures 53,000 square feet. Inside, the main features are an NBA size basketball court, an Olympic sized swimming pool, walking track and numerous aquatic features, including a waterpark area with a waterslide. The facility also features weightlifting rooms, rooms for dance, martial arts, yoga, exercise and other classes and an indoor walking trail. 

Amenities also include an inclusive playground designed for special needs children, a concession area and two party rooms.

HOKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE BEGINS CONSTRUCTION 

A new Hoke County courthouse project was confirmed in early 2023. The project was contracted out to Silling Architects and Metcon Buildings and Infrastructure. The new three-story building will sit on the empty lot between Edinborough Avenue and East Elwood Avenue on Main Street. The courthouse project’s current projected cost is $33.5 million, $31 million of which the state awarded through a grant in 2022. 

The courthouse design features a 51,000-square-foot building with a connecting walkway to the jailhouse on the first floor. The first floor will also house the clerk of courts office, clerk’s hearing room, and a jury assembly room which will also act as a traffic court. 

The second floor includes two courtrooms, the public defender’s office, and jury deliberation rooms. The third floor consists of two courtrooms, judges’ offices, and defendant holding spaces. There is also a small area for the district attorney to work onsite when needed. 

According to City of Raeford officials, early stages of the construction process began in the summer of 2023 with construction slated to begin in 2024.

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING A PRIORITY

On May 1, 2023, the Hoke County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously for the rezone designation of 93.2 acres of an unaddressed parcel located on Philippi Church Road and an addressed parcel at 5621 Philippi Church Rd. According to an excerpt from the Hoke County Subdivision Ordinance, the high density designation is intended to add flexibility for the County and developers to allow for higher density residential development where both sewer and water infrastructure is available. 

This was part of a larger push by the county throughout 2023 to make residential housing a priority along with incorporating more amenities such as large box stores and shopping outlets for future residents.

MOORE COUNTY

WELCOME IRON HORSE INDUSTRIAL PARK 

On Nov. 30, 2023, the Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) acquired a 73-acre parcel of land in Aberdeen that will contain the Iron Horse Industrial Park. This makes Iron Horse the first publicly controlled industrial park site in Moore County. Over the last two years, MCEDP has accumulated nearly $2 million in grants and other funding to acquire and develop the 73-acre parcel. Most of the funding, or $1.2 million, came from a state directed grant. Moore County and the Town of Aberdeen also provided loans of $200,000 each to MCEDP to acquire the land. Clearing of the site is planned to occur in January or February of 2024 along with construction of a public industrial access road from NC Hwy 211. 

NEW EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY 
Sandhills Community College announced in September of 2023 that a new school focusing on late high school and early college years will be coming to Moore County thanks to a $25 million appropriation in the North Carolina budget.

Moore County has officially begun planning for its first cooperative early college high school. Given the incredible growth of industry anticipated for central North Carolina in the next decade, initial planning has focused on creating an early college high school offering vocational career paths, such as engineering, manufacturing, construction and other trades industry certifications, credentials and degrees. North Carolina is home to 134 Cooperative Innovative High Schools.

USGA MOVES IN TO PINEHURST, NC 

The United States Golf Association officially moved into their completed building in Pinehurst in late December of 2023. The USGA first announced plans for Golf House Pinehurst in September of 2020. Concepts for the facility included a new equipment-testing facility, innovation hub, museum/visitor center and offices. 

The goal was to have the facility completed by 2023 and host five U.S. Open Championships in the golf-rich state by 2047. 

The total $25 million investment included the construction of two buildings to be located near the clubhouse on the historic Pinehurst Resort property, housing 50 full-time USGA staff members.

ROBESON COUNTY 

COMTECH BUSINESS PARK DEVELOPMENTS 

COMtech Business Park is a 700 acre site within Robeson County that serves to attract people of various industries and gather them all in one centralized location. In 2023, new tenants included UNCP, who purchased three acres and is leasing 12 others to create an agricultural innovation and research center and a new career and technical education high school. In addition to being located centrally within Robeson County, the site boasts easy access to both I-95 and I-74. COMtech staff shared that they are working with Robeson County Economic Development to prepare a space for a large warehouse or industrial facility onsite at COMtech while continuing plans for growth in the next few years.

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION FOR LUMBERTON 

Two economic development groups, the Friends of Main Street Lumberton and Main Street Lumberton saw continued growth for the City of Lumberton in 2023. Both organizations endeavor to revitalize the downtown area of Lumberton to encourage economic growth and community wellness. Their 2023 successes include reviving the “Live After Five” summer concert series, successful beautification projects throughout downtown Lumberton and launching successful outdoor events aimed at generating foot traffic for downtown.

SAMPSON COUNTY

SAMPSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CELEBRATES TRADES CENTER 

Sampson Community College Trades Center celebrated the first full year of classes in 2023. The project included expanding vocational training for career and technical education (CTE) classes for high school and traditional students for high-demand jobs in electrical, masonry trades and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). The project included the construction of a new building on the college’s campus and the space can be used for short-term, customized worker training for existing and new businesses. 

High school students can complete a CTE pathway, while community college students can complete a certificate or degree. Other students can earn industry credentials and workers can complete short-term customized training.

R&R ANNOUNCES NEW LOCATION 

R & R Brewing, a microbrewery originating in Mount Olive, NC announced it will be bringing Sampson County’s first ever taproom and their second location to downtown Clinton at 104 Fayetteville Street in the historical Henry Vann Building. Originally announced by the City of Clinton in early 2023, Owner and head of “Hoperations” Ryan Roberts shared with the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal that he has toured the space planned for the new taproom and early structural work has begun to pave the way to begin fully renovating the space. According to Roberts, early conceptual plans for the lower level include a taproom to the left of the entrance and a full restaurant space to the right. The restaurant will be a new addition to the R & R Brewing Brand, with their Mount Olive location being taproom only.

NC WELDING, LLC ANNOUNCES ROSEBORO EXPANSION

North Carolina Welding, LLC purchased 17.21 acres from Sampson County for $375,000 as part of their expansion in Roseboro, NC in early 2023. According to a press release from the County, the primary goal for the purchase was to prepare the site for business and industrial use. The full property measuring 20.5-acres is located on NC Highway 24, only a short 15-minute commute to Interstate 95.

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All of these stories have been featured in both our online and print coverage of 2023. To read the full stories, visit us online at www.bizfayetteville.com.