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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