Garner Business: Options & Opportunities

 Nancy Pardue

Good news, times three: That’s the buzz in Garner, as three major projects come together to lay a foundation for growth.

Construction has begun on the highly anticipated Timber Drive extension, and redevelopment efforts are under way for the ConAgra property, with both impacting the Historic Downtown Garner Plan.

Timber Drive
Bobby and Brenda Fowler have a front-row seat to the 1.4-mile Timber Drive construction, connecting N.C. 50 to White Oak Shopping Center. They’re among some 20 landowners who donated or sold property for the cause.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Fowler, who negotiated road design with the NCDOT.

“They agreed to redesign the road in order for the north side of our land to be developed,” he said. “It makes our land more valuable, and will open up a lot of growth for Garner.” Brenda Compton, of Hartwell Realty, is helping to market the Fowlers’ property, and says the connector is full of “opportunities and options.”

“This is creating a new epicenter for Garner, bringing Harnett, Johnston and Wake counties together,” she said, “and bringing I-40 closer for lot of people. This will change Garner forever.”

“It’s incredibly significant,” agreed Garner Chamber President Neal Padgett. “It will change the way we live, and create opportunities for more business.”

Planning Director Brad Bass says Timber Drive fits into the Town of Garner’s transportation and growth plans.

“Zoning for the east (at White Oak) and west (at N.C. 50) ends is already in place, consistent with our comprehensive growth plan,” he said. “One large tract mostly on the north side has potential for mixed use development that could include apartments and condos with retail and office space.”

The $9.4 million contract for extension construction, set to be complete by October 2012, was awarded to the Fred Smith Co. in June; the Town of Garner provided $2.4 million in funding toward right of way and construction costs.

ConAgra
Garner’s ConAgra plant will close by September 2011, eliminating 440 jobs, despite earnest efforts by local and state officials to retain the company’s presence following a deadly 2009 explosion.

However, in a unique move meant to honor Garner leaders and citizens for their labor and compassion during the tragedy, ConAgra donated its 425,000-square-foot plant and 96-acre property on Jones Sausage Road to the town, along with a cash gift of $3 million — $500,000 to market and maintain the site, and $2.5 million toward another long-awaited Garner project: a community center. ConAgra will leave the plant in tenant-ready condition, including millions in improvements made over the past three years. Marketable assets also include U.S. 70 frontage at the I-40 interchange.

Numerous inquiries have already been made about the site, even internationally.

“One of ConAgra’s goals is to see jobs roll in the day they leave,” said Town Manager Hardin Watkins. “Their heart and mission is certainly not leaving the community and workers in a bad situation.”
“There’s also extra property available that we can be working on now for another business,” added Wake County Economic Development Executive Director Ken Atkins. “Workers could walk right next door and get a job.”

The ConAgra plant is FDA-approved, a plus for potential pharmaceutical or biotech use that could re-employ workers at higher wages. Proximity to Fayetteville and Goldsboro could draw aerospace and defense technology firms.

“Our goal is job replacement for those 440 employees, and more,” said Garner Economic Development Director Tony Beasley. Interest to date is largely by companies in the 125 to 200-job range, specialties with high tax base investment, he says.

“We have the opportunity to reshape Garner with this,” Watkins said, “in jobs, visibility on I-40, and with cash to get another dream moving that’s been languishing for 25 years — the town’s own community center.”

Downtown
John Hodges, executive director of the Garner Revitalization Association, says the center will play a large role in the Historic Downtown Garner Plan.

“A rec or community center would be an effective anchor downtown, and traffic from it would support other businesses,” Hodges said. “And we have several opportunities to focus on transportation improvements on U.S. 70 to make it a better thoroughfare that will benefit downtown, and connectivity.”
Connecting U.S. 70 to downtown via an improved Montague Street could reroute thousands of commuters per day, boosting downtown’s economic viability.

The three-part downtown plan, based on detailed market analysis, includes districts for arts and sports — which generate 230,000 downtown visits per year — and calls for affordable “entrepreneur-sized” restaurant and retail space.

Bass says it ties together the elements of Garner’s Comprehensive Growth Plan. The effort has earned Garner a place in the North Carolina Main Street Program, and is endorsed by Garner’s chamber board, Planning Commission and Town Council.

Hodges notes the role of a vibrant downtown in overall economic development.

“From attracting homeowners to the next big company, all these plans support one another,” he said.

“When we think economic development, we think about money spent on big organizations, like Butterball or Golden State Foods,” Padgett said. “But most of our businesses are small businesses. They have a great impact on the community, and our role is to keep them, and residents, aware of their potential.”

“People are taking ownership,” Hodges said of the downtown plan. “We’re moving away from, ‘Why bother?’ to, ‘When, and how can we help?’”

Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams says Garner’s “big three” will redefine the town. “All three of these things will change the perception of Garner,” he said. “As they come to fruition, they will have a positive impact on our future.”

To examine that impact, the chamber will host an Aug. 10 conference titled Connect & Plug in the Future, featuring informational sessions and Q&A with regional economic development experts.

“Notice it’s ‘plug in the future,’ not plug into,” said Padgett. “In Garner, we determine and design the future.”