Garner Economic Development
A Message from Garner ’ s Economic Development Director
Joseph Stallings
2016-17 was a year of growth for the Town of Garner . All sectors — industrial , commercial , and residential — saw substantial new investment .
Groundbreakings , expansions , and construction of much-needed industrial space were the highlight of 2016-17 . STOCK America opened their new $ 2 million corporate headquarters in Greenfield Park North in March 2017 . The move allows STOCK to consolidate their North American holdings and improve efficiency company-wide .
Nearby in Greenfield North , Duke Realty erected 151,000 square feet of new industrial space . With a vacancy rate below 5 %, Duke Realty adds much needed square footage to the tight industrial / warehouse market .
Improved Nature opened a 30,000 square foot manufacturing facility in a formerly vacant grocery store . Their innovative meat replacement product offers a great opportunity for continued growth .
Bella Rose Nursing Home broke ground on a $ 8.8 million expansion of their Garner campus that is slated to open in 2017-18 .
The town approved Lundy Group to add 20,000 square feet of Class A office space to the market on Timber Drive . Half of the
office space was leased before construction .
Existing companies also made significant investments in 2017-2018 . Strategic Behavioral Health ’ s new $ 2.2 million expansion will allow the company to treat adult patients for the first time at their Garner facility . Pergo invested over $ 7 million in their Garner facility to accommodate new production and packaging space .
With two new restaurant / retail spaces opening this year , White Oak continues to be an epicenter of new commercial development . Occupancy rates also increased in older retail properties , as national chains like Lumber Liquidators and Gabe ’ s opened new locations in existing shopping centers .
Residential developers agree — Garner ’ s growth makes it a great place to raise a family . Over 3,000 new residential units have been approved since 2016 . New multi-family , townhouses , and single family residential development are sprouting up throughout Garner .
With the passing of the transportation bond in November 2016 , town staff will pay special attention to residential and commercial development along proposed transportation corridors .
Our department focused on workforce development in 2017 through a partnership with the Trojan Business Alliance . We cohosted the Senior Employment Initiative , a hiring event for high school students who are not bound for college or the military .
Held for the first time since the 1990s , this event helps prepare graduating students for the job market with exercises in resume writing , interview skills , and dressing for success . Over 30 companies and hundreds of students participated in the hiring event .
Overall , economic development activity has steadily increased and companies and families are choosing to make Garner their home - showing once again that Garner is a great place to live and work . With the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Transportation Plan slated to be approved in late 2017 , Garner stands ready to accommodate new growth .
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