On a parallel course with the state of North Carolina, Harnett County has made biotech a focus. Harnett County confirmed through an independent economic development survey that biotech is a great fit for its human and natural resources. Biotech companies find here a rare blend of plentiful resources and a low cost of doing business, all at a valuable portal to the resources of internationally-famous Research Triangle Park, NC, and the 13-county Research Triangle Regional Partnership.

Harnett County wants biotech, and it offers the resources to help companies—from start-ups to established manufacturers—grow and thrive.

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A strong workforce awaits, in Harnett County, North Carolina.

Human resources, from experienced high-tech post-doctoral workers to skilled factory workers, are plentiful in and around Harnett County, North Carolina, the eighth fastest growing county (of 100) in the state.

Highly educated. The state’s large employment base ranks 10th in the nation for higher education degrees in biological sciences.

Available. Over 100,000 college students are in the area, and as many as 70 percent from some campuses choose to remain right there.

Affordable. With no unionized industries, Harnett County labor costs and labor pools are also attractive. Presently, 60 percent of the county’s residents commute out of county. As strong indication of a desire to remain in-county to work, hundreds of residents turned up for job fairs held by county industries.

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Harnett County is the portal to world-class intellectual resources.
Collaborations, partnerships, and intellectual assets are key to biotech successes, and Harnett County is a portal to a host of interrelated resources.

Biotech cluster. Harnett County is within an hour’s drive of:

• Research Triangle Park
• N.C. Biotechnology Center
• N.C. Supercomputing Center
• Three major research universities
• Two teaching medical centers
• Two pharmacy schools

Research. Forty miles and an easy drive up the interstate, in Raleigh, NC, is the nation’s first “technopolis,” the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. This partnership of university, private R&D facilities and incubators is also home to a separate 200+ acre Biomedical Park.

Legislature. As the state capital, Raleigh is convenient for those industries active in legislative and lobbying efforts.

Military industry. Adjacent to Harnett County are Pope Air Force Base and fast-growing Ft. Bragg Army Base. Both offer skilled personnel and a ready market for products and services.

Training. Companies moving to North Carolina have long praised its mature workforce training programs that are free to industry. Quality life sciences and research programs are active at the 13 area colleges, including two within Harnett County. Campbell University provides graduate degrees in clinical research, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy and business, as well as doctoral degrees in pharmacy and law. Also in the county, Central Carolina Community College hosts both biomedical and engineering programs.

Rich resources promote economic gains in Harnett County, North Carolina.

Water. While areas throughout North Carolina and elsewhere in the nation suffer through mandatory water restrictions, Harnett County’s Cape Fear River basin keeps companies well-supplied with clean water, even during extended, yearly droughts.

Air quality. The county is tops in air quality, also, unlike more congested urban areas where certain industries are restricted.

Land & Buildings. Plats of land, large or small, are plentiful and affordable, and Harnett County leadership has invested in both certified shovel-ready sites and move-in ready buildings. Raw acreage with the infrastructure of water and sewer is an option, as well.

Transportation.
- With great interstate access, Harnett County became the southeast distribution hub for two national companies last year alone.
- The newly expanded Harnett County Jetport welcomes corporate jets.
- Commercial airlines serve Fayetteville, NC, and Moore Co., NC, both 30 min. away.
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport is one hour north.

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Harnett County, North Carolina, reduces the costs—and the hassles—of doing business.
Harnett County wants your biotech business and, leaders here are known for our business-friendly policies. Harnett County and its municipalities offer tax incentives of 80 percent for up to seven years for new investments and expansions. The State offers incentive programs for new jobs, employee training, R&D, research partnerships with universities, investments in machinery and equipment, leased space, and more. In addition, it boasts some of the lowest property taxes in the region, incentives from utilities, grants and loans.

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Stretch out and grow with Harnett County, North Carolina.

Commute? Employees of all levels can afford to live, work, play and learn right in Harnett County. They also have the option of commuting from one of several large cities, traveling against traffic into the rural county.

Affordable housing. With housing costs lower than the national average, lawns are often larger in Harnett County.

Lifelong learning. Public and private K-12 schools, community colleges, private and public universities are plentiful and close. Most often, students attend the same schools year after year, unlike more crowded school systems which turn to frequent redistricting.

Play here and far. From beachcombing to fishing to water and snow skiing, families enjoy day trips from Harnett County. Eight golf courses are within the county itself; world-famous Pinehurst is just an hour away; and coastal Myrtle Beach, SC, is a two-hour drive. The peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which claim the highest point east of the Mississippi, are popular for weekend getaways.

For the future. In part to attract new industry, Harnett County leaders have recently donated more than 1,000 acres of land for two new parks. One is on the riverfront, next to a move-in ready manufacturing plant.

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Conclude the search for a new site. Call on Harnett County, North Carolina.
While Harnett County can’t really take full credit for its proximity to Research Triangle Park, or for its great water supply, it will allow a nod for the vast and growing infrastructure that supports new and existing industry, for achieving high air quality, and maximizing transportation options. Economic development and job growth are Harnett County’s motivators. Offering a business-friendly focus to biotech and other industries is how our leaders choose to put out the welcome mat.



Harnett County (NC) Economic Development Commission
PO Box 1270, 907 South Main Street, Lillington, NC 27546

910-893-7524 (office)
910-814-8298 (fax)

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“The County created the Brightwater Science and Technology Campus to encourage the Life Sciences to consider the county.”