Highlights from Harnett County’s 2025 Economic Development Update
Friday, November 14, 2025
Sharing insights, celebrating progress, and spotlighting the economic development projects and priorities shaping Harnett County’s future.
On Thursday, November 13, Harnett County held its inaugural Economic Development Update, drawing over 100 stakeholders, including elected officials, business leaders, developers, brokers, education and workforce partners, and state and regional economic development leaders.
The event highlighted Harnett County Economic Development’s focus on industrial real estate and product development, business attraction, and support for existing businesses, while also offering a closer look at state and regional partnerships, retail opportunities, a conversation with developers investing in and building industrial space in Harnett County, and the HEDC’s Harnett County Jobs Campaign.
Here are some of the key moments and takeaways from the event:
Opening Remarks by Event Co-Hosts
Dr. William M. Downs, President of Campbell University, welcomed guests, provided an overview of the University, and offered an invocation to open the event.
Jerry Milton, Owner of Southeastern Interiors and Chair of the HEDC, then recognized all elected officials in attendance, celebrating their commitment to service in Harnett County. He shared the mission of HEDC, a private non-profit dedicated to promoting economic development in Harnett County and its municipalities. The organization supports this mission through real estate initiatives such as land acquisition, product development, construction of shell or speculative buildings, and property management.
Milton concluded his remarks by thanking attendees for participating in Harnett County’s Inaugural Economic Development Update, emphasizing the importance of continuing to invest in the County’s growth.
County Economic Development Update
Stephen Barrington, Harnett County’s Economic Development Director, shared the latest initiatives, focus areas, and opportunities in economic development, covering active projects, real estate and product development, business attraction, key state and regional partnerships, and support for existing businesses and industries - the foundation of any full-service economic development organization.
Barrington spoke to Harnett County’s key differentiators, including its rapidly growing population of more than 147,000, an increase of more than 27% over the last 15 years; I-95 runs through the County and our County Seat is only 30 miles to downtown Raleigh; Harnett Regional Water (HRW) is the largest county-owned public water system in the state; Central Carolina Community College’s E. Eugene Moore Manufacturing & Biotech Solutions Center is the largest training facility in the state and rivals only one other on the East Coast; a regional population of 2.3 million with a labor force of 1.2 million; and the lowest county property tax rate in the Research Triangle Region.
You can learn more about Harnett County’s Economic Development strategic focus in this July 2025 blog post.
State and Regional Economic Development Perspectives
Katy Parker, Director of Project Management and Support at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), shared the state-level perspective on partnering with Harnett County, reiterating the importance of market-ready sites and buildings in today's competitive landscape.
Loren Hill, Regional Economic Development Director with the NC Carolina Core, and Ryan Combs, Executive Director of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), each provided their insights from a regional perspective, emphasizing how strong partnerships across North Carolina counties help market our collective regions, both nationally and internationally, attracting industrial investment and job growth in Harnett County.
Retail Opportunities & Market Insights
Two years ago, Harnett County began a partnership with Retail Strategies to identify potential retail sites and attract national brands and top-tier shopping center anchors. Joshua Davis, Portfolio Director with Retail Strategies, outlined how this partnership is shaping retail opportunities across the County, walking attendees through each stage of the process.
Partner Panel: Industrial Growth & Why Harnett County
Brian Hall, President of Real Estate for Samet Corporation, and Chris Norvell, Principal of Edgewater Ventures, participated in a moderated panel highlighting their industrial investments in Harnett County.
Samet has broken ground on Building One at Harnett 95 Industrial Center (Harnett 95), a 175,500-square-foot speculative industrial building on nearly 15 acres in Dunn, with delivery anticipated in Q3 2026.
Edgewater Ventures’ MidPort 95, a 139-acre Class A+ industrial development located on I-95 in Dunn, is designed to accommodate up to 1,343,880 square feet of industrial space.
Both panelists highlighted why Harnett County stands out for investment and provided guidance on how communities can be more business-friendly and supportive of private-sector growth.
Closing: HEDC’s Jobs Campaign
Jeff Whittington, President & CEO of First Federal Bank and Vice Chair of the HEDC, closed the program with an update on the Harnett County Jobs Campaign. This initiative aims to create 1,000 new above-average-wage jobs, retain local talent, and expand the availability of market-ready industrial buildings and sites across all five municipalities.
To date, the HEDC has raised $138,500 in support of the initiative.
Thank you
A special thank you to HEDC and Campbell University for co-hosting this inaugural event. Collaboration is fueling growth and opportunity across Harnett County, and we are just getting started!
Stay connected with Harnett County Economic Development at harnettedc.org.