John Bender, Economic Development & Planning Director, Jones County Economic Developmen
Jones County is laying the groundwork for economic growth through industrial development, infrastructure investment, and regional collaboration. In an interview with Invest:, John Bender, economic development and planning director for Jones County Economic Development, discussed the county’s speculative shell building, planned two-county industrial site, and efforts to expand sewer service. “Jones County is seeking growth; it wants to see businesses come here and welcome people here,” Bender said.
What changes over the past year have had the greatest impact on economic development in Jones County, and how have they shaped your priorities?
Jones County is a small, rural county with an economy driven mostly by agriculture. Before I arrived seven years ago, the Economic Development Department had been vacant for seven years. Since then, much of the work has involved rebuilding, networking, and learning from neighboring counties.
The biggest recent development is that we secured funding for a speculative shell building in our industrial park and broke ground in February. The park is small and functions more like a business park, with only two or three larger businesses, an insurance company, and a State Employees’ Credit Union branch. To bring investment into a rural county surrounded by places with more activity, we had to put a building there ourselves.
We also secured funding for water and sewer infrastructure at a future industrial park that includes property in Jones and Craven counties. The goal is a joint, two-county industrial park. We have been laying the groundwork for it since I started, and potential projects have already looked at the site. It began at about 1,500 acres, and we are preparing to market closer to 2,000 acres. That site represents the future of economic development in Jones County.
Another major change has been the availability of funding for product development. North Carolina’s Southeast, the 20-county regional economic development partnership, has opened doors to funding and advocacy for smaller, rural eastern North Carolina counties.
What are prospective employers looking for when they compare rural locations for a new facility or expansion?
Workforce is the biggest issue. A county of about 10,000 people has a limited labor pool, so I encourage companies to take a broader view. In this area, people can travel 30 or 40 miles to work in 30 to 45 minutes. If you look within a 30-mile radius, the workforce is available, although it may not all be in Jones County.
Our employers draw workers from Craven, Onslow, Lenoir, Carteret, and other surrounding counties. One of our manufacturers, a plastics company, is actively hiring and needs people for positions that require little or no specialized skills. It has been challenging, but a regional approach gives companies access to a much larger labor market.
How does having market-ready industrial space change the conversations you can have with companies considering Jones County?
Before this project, we did not have anything to market. You cannot attract investment without product. There is a shortage of industrial space in eastern North Carolina and probably across the state. We are getting ahead of the market by offering a ready building.
Our location is a major advantage. Jones County is less than an hour from the Port of Morehead City, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and Camp Lejeune. We are less than two hours from Fort Bragg and Raleigh, and about an hour and a half from Wilmington and its port. Bypasses and other road improvements continue to shorten those travel times. Even though we are rural, we are in a good location in the middle of eastern North Carolina.
How do the county’s transportation links influence the types of investment that are the best fit for the local economy?
They make us more accessible. Jones County was once viewed as secluded, but changing traffic patterns and new bypasses, particularly routes connecting the Raleigh-Durham area with the beach, have opened the county to more industries.
Jones County is still being discovered. People may think it is a small county tucked away from everything, but it is accessible and close to areas experiencing significant growth. Continued road and transportation improvements will only strengthen our position.
Where do you see the strongest opportunities to diversify Jones County’s agricultural economy?
Agriculture has changed. In the past, many people in Jones County farmed on a smaller scale. Today, fewer farmers are operating much larger farms.
One opportunity I would like to see developed is agritourism. We still have many farmers, and I would like them to take advantage of opportunities that bring people into Jones County and encourage them to spend money here. Rather than simply driving through and seeing fields and livestock on the way to the beach, visitors could have reasons to stop and experience the county.
How can Jones County work with nearby communities to compete more effectively for investment while creating benefits across the region?
We need to lean on one another and take a regional approach. The joint industrial site with Craven County is a good example. It is near the new Highway 17 bypass and close to Interstate 42. Craven County’s economic developer invited me to begin looking at the property because we understood that working together would strengthen the project.
Regional projects are also more competitive for state and federal funding because they affect more than one community. North Carolina’s Southeast markets all 20 counties in its region, allowing smaller counties such as Jones to be promoted alongside larger counties.
Jones County’s communities already have regional ties. Pollocksville is close to Craven County, Maysville is close to Onslow County, and Trenton is close to Lenoir County. We need to build on those relationships and market the region together so everyone can benefit from new industry.
What investments are needed to create lasting economic opportunity for Jones County residents?
Infrastructure is the top priority, particularly sewer. Jones County does not have countywide sewer service. Sewer exists within the municipalities, but much of the county relies on septic systems and property that must perc. That limits development.
We have discussed regionalizing sewer service and connecting municipalities, which would help lay the groundwork for future growth. Water and sewer are essential, but sewer is the biggest need. A new bypass runs through the county, and many people expected it to become a commercial hub. That will not happen until sewer service reaches the area.
Land availability is another challenge. Jones County has a great deal of old family land, and many owners do not want to sell it. My family has property dating back to the early 1800s, so I understand that connection. We will need willing property owners to make more land available for development, but infrastructure remains the top priority.
What projects would have the greatest impact on Jones County’s economy over the next few years?
Jones County is almost a blank canvas because we have not had much major industrial investment. We are open to a broad range of projects, but the greatest impact would come from companies that create good-paying jobs.
We want to retain young people. Many residents graduate from high school, leave for larger cities such as Raleigh, Charlotte, or Wilmington to pursue work, and do not return. We need jobs that require higher education and give college graduates a reason to come back, raise families, and invest in the community. The county also needs a greater range of housing to attract and retain more people.
Jones County is a wonderful, tight-knit community and a safe place to raise a family. I grew up in Pollocksville, a town of about 200 people, left for school, and came back. People can enjoy a rural, slower-paced lifestyle while remaining close to larger cities. Jones County is seeking growth; it wants to see businesses come here and welcome people here.
