Public Hearing Set On Proposed Manufacturing Facility In Benson
BENSON — The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting next week to consider an economic development incentive package that could bring a new manufacturing facility — and a significant number of new jobs — to southern Johnston County.
The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at the Benson Conference Center, located at 303 E. Church Street in Benson. County officials will hear public comments on a proposed economic incentive grant aimed at supporting the development of a new industrial project in the Crosspoint Logistics Center, near NC 50 and Morgan Road in Benson.
According to county documents, the unnamed company plans to develop, upfit, and equip a new manufacturing facility at the site. In exchange, the county is considering offering the business annual cash grants from general county funds, paid over a 15-year period, once the company meets specific benchmarks for investment and job creation.
County leaders believe the project could stimulate the local economy, expand the county’s tax base, and result in the creation of a substantial number of new, permanent jobs for Johnston County residents. The Board of Commissioners will solicit public comment on the proposed incentives at the public hearing.
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I’m just waiting to see how the big transport buildings being built on Highway 42 and 70 are going to actually get onto the highway. Quite sure it’ll be chaos as usual.
Just say NO.
This was an insane project to approve, therefore it was natural the town would green light it.
I’m against paying “cash grants” to any commercial entity as an enticement to do business in our county. If you believe in your product and know deep-down that JOCO is good for you, then buy the property, build, hire and produce, all without incentives. If incentives are a “must”, then JOCO should look at tax incentives as opposed to using our taxpayer funds being given out like financial candy. Any “cash grants” should equate to JOCO having equity in the business. Partners if you will.
If you think JOCO is a good location and 3 or 4 other counties are also good locations … but one of those counties is willing to give you tax breaks and tax incentives … do you think that might sway you decision on where to build?
Mike, I appreciate your response, however, the article does not mention tax incentives, only “cash grants”. Grants, as you know, are basically gifts to help get something done. There is no requirement for repayment, whereas with tax incentives, the money does not come directly out of a county fund ( as this grant does ) and the recipient normally must reach specific milestones to continue the tax help. Regarding the “bidding” process … it usually results in a higher price to the winner than would normally be agreed to. Bidders also usually find themselves bidding more than they can afford just to remain in the game. The winner sometimes suffers buyers remorse because they were forced to bid a higher amount than they could really afford. So no, a bidding process by counties in this case is playing with MY money in a game I might not want us to win. I’m all for commercial development, just not with these conditions. As this current process moves forward, let us remember that the scales of power here in JOCO are heavily weighted with a particular thumb, or set of thumbs, weighing down, not on the side of transparency, but on the side of pure power.
Such are politics, when you expect a bribe, you first need to pay one. I’m for standing on your own two feet, business is gambling that you make enough to keep the doors open, politics are for those that are unable or unwilling to control whats theirs but for some reason they know enough to control everyone else’s.
This years 30% property tax increase should be a major consideration on how county funds are handled. A return directly to long term residents should be considered to offset this massive tax increase. Population growth is not something everyone enjoys.
So long as the benchmarks are met and the incentives are representative of the benefit to the county … it should be fine. I’m glad that the payouts are over time based on meeting demands. We had a POTUS who promised 5 million clean energy jobs and spent many billions to make it happen. 7 years later when their term ended, we had 2,600 clean energy jobs (and many of them have since vanished). Pay it out over time and verify that the milestones are being met. This would have avoided the debacle the federal gov’t got us into.
No thanks.
Please go to the meeting or send your comments. Not sure why the county wants to try on the failed grant model the State has been failing at and is considering abandoning. These kinds of structures more often than not fail. It’s an odd location as well being that there is a park designed for this up in four oaks. More folks wanting to come here and exploit cheap land . Edgewater Ventures can stay in Raleigh and keep the so called Logistics Park some place else. I worked in Logistics for years there was no heat map that could make Eastern NC make any sense for Logistics or manufacturing.