Developer proposes Johnston County as site for huge life science facility

BENSON – More high-paying life science jobs could be coming to Johnston County in the coming years. So believes E.D. Parker Corporation is in the process of finalizing its plans to build a nearly 300,000 square-foot facility in Benson.

According to a statement, the company is proposing a facility that would become known as the Benson Global Building.

Rendering of the proposed Benson Global Building. Image provided by Johnston County Economic Development.

To build out the facility, the company expects to invest $25 million and is estimating that it would provide a tenant to bring on at least 25 jobs “at wages comparable to those of Johnston County’s life science and manufacturing operations.”

There may be performance-based incentives provided by the county through an existing Building-Lease program.

An economic model predicts that the facility, once completed and occupied, could deliver $15 million in immediate benefits to the community and would add more than $23 million to the county’s annual gross domestic product.

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“In this highly competitive region, having quality product available and speed-to-market has never been more paramount. With the Fed’s recent rise in interest rates, it has thrown a curve for meeting these needs locally and working with lending institutions,” said Dale Parker, CEO of E.D. Parker Corporation. “We have the ability to develop in other areas of the Triangle Region, but we are bullishly confident in the market in Benson and Johnston County.”

Parker described the building as a “Class A” property and noted that the firm intends to have the building leased prior to completion.

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) classifies “Class A” buildings as those with “a definite market presence [that can] compete for premier tenants” and includes features like state-of-the-art electrical, telecom, plumbing and other operating systems, high-quality finishes and “exceptional accessibility,” according to its website.

“Inquiries continue pouring into our office at a high level,” said Chris Johnson, director of the Johnston County Economic Development Office. “Unfortunately, we’re having to decline many of them due to not having properties that fit clients’ search criteria.”

BD is expanding in Johnston County with plans to add 22 workers in a deal announced earlier this year. And Novo Nordisk is also expanding in the county, expecting to add hundreds of jobs in the coming years.