Garner Economic Development 2018-19 Annual Report 1 | Page 2

A MESSAGE FROM
GARNER’S ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Fiscal year (FY)19 was a banner year for
Garner Economic Development. From July
2018 to June 2019 the community saw
new companies locate, a renewed energy
in supporting and growing small business
and the transition of the Garner Economic
Development Corporation (GEDC). All that
was accomplished in the past 12 months will
surely make FY19 a year to remember.
The year started with the announcement of Amazon on
August 9th, 2018. This project will result in $200 million
in new real and personal property investment, $45 million
in new payroll, and create 1,500 jobs. The project also
led to the build out of the ultimate cross section of Jones
Sausage Rd., from I-40 to the end of the southern boundary
of the Amazon property. This is being accomplished with
a $4.5 million grant from the North Carolina Department
of Transportation and a grant from the Town of Garner
of $600,000. However, Amazon was not the only
announcement in FY19.
Autozone announced they will be constructing a new
prototype in Garner, an Autozone Mega Hub Center.
The Mega Hub Center will be located on US 401. This
project will bring 125 jobs and will invest over $4 million
in real and personal property. These projects coupled
with the completion of Martin Marietta’s aggregate
testing lab in Greenfield South and the leasing 150,000
square feet in Greenfield North, made FY19 one of the
busiest in recent memory.
With the redevelopment of the Garner Technology Center
site behind them, the GEDC Executive Board developed a
new work plan to carry them into the future. This plan has
been approved and will widen their scope as they continue
to find impactful ways to improve and support Garner’s
economic development efforts. The organization also saw
two long time board members retire from the organization.
Bruce W. Andrews Sr. and Elmo Vance both announced
in June of 2019 they would be leaving the GEDC. Their
exemplary service to the GEDC and the Garner community
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is greatly appreciated. Their work will be seen and felt in
this community for generations to come.
Small business is big business here in Garner as Gearworks
showed this past year. Gearworks was opened in the fall of
2018 in downtown Garner. This “bridge” space is designed
to help small technology companies scale up by offering
them flexible and affordable office space. Operation 36,
the first tenant of the space moved into Gearworks in
September 2018.
You can now give Garner Economic Development a listen.
This past year the department worked with the Garner
Communications Department to develop two podcasts
that focused on economic development related issues. The
first podcast developed focused on entrepreneurship and
why Garner is a great place to locate a new company. The
second, focused on workforce development and included
several of the department’s workforce development
partners: Wake Tech, Capital Area Workforce Development
and GMHS’s Career Development Coordinator.
This past year saw amazing things happen in Garner. It is easy
to forget that none of this year’s accomplishments would have
been possible if it weren’t for the leadership we have in our
town. The Town Council and other economic development
partners have doubled down on their commitment to
Garner’s economic development future. Garner is truly a
better place because of the willingness of so many to give
of themselves in the service of others. Thank you all for your
help with making FY19 a year to remember.