Spotlight On: Chris Johnson, Director, Johnston County Economic Development

December 2025 — Invest: spoke with Chris Johnson, director of Johnston County Economic Development, about how the county is leveraging regional partnerships, transportation assets, and long-term talent strategies to stay competitive in a fast-growing region. “Business knows no boundary. Labor sheds know no boundary. It is all about drive times,” Johnson said.

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How would you define the economic development mission for Johnston County, and what long-term goals guide your team’s efforts?

Our mission is to sustain and strengthen Johnston County’s position as a leader in economic development while staying grounded in the character of our community. We’ve built strong momentum, with several projects in the pipeline that, if announced, would further solidify our statewide leadership. But that success isn’t about one office or one person. We’re fortunate to be situated beside one of the country’s hottest regions — the Research Triangle — and regionalism is central to our approach. When the region succeeds, Johnston County succeeds.

At the same time, we know companies have choices across the country, so our long-term strategy focuses on being clearly pro-business and relentlessly committed to speed to market. That means reducing permitting friction, responding quickly, and differentiating Johnston County at the final selection stage.

Another long-term pillar is talent. North Carolina is known for its workforce, and we build on that with programs like the BioWorks curriculum, allowing high-school students to graduate with both a diploma and a certificate that leads directly into well-paying life science and biotech jobs.

Initiatives like JoCoWorks bring nearly 4,000 eighth graders to Johnston Community College for what we call a “career fair on steroids,” giving students — and often their parents — a firsthand look at opportunities inside the facilities they drive by every day. These workforce, education, and regional strategies form the foundation of our long-term vision. Also somewhat unique is our JoCo Commissioners Promise program, which, since 2023, has paid postsecondary tuition and fees for local high school grads who are not eligible for student aid from state or federal programs.

What role do infrastructure and transportation corridors, such as I-95 and US-70, play in site selection and business attraction?

Infrastructure is absolutely central to our competitiveness. For years, economic development was territorial and confined to county boundaries, but that’s not how business or labor markets work. Business knows no boundary. Labor sheds know no boundary. It is all about drive times. Companies want to know how quickly they can move people, goods, and services, and Johnston County is positioned exceptionally well.

I-95 gives us prime north-south connectivity — 850 miles from both Miami and Maine — and Exit 95 is just minutes from my office. I-40 provides a strong east-west connection to port systems, Raleigh, major universities, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Prospects often require interstate access and proximity to a major airport within 45 minutes to an hour, and we meet those criteria. The transformation of US Highway 70 into I-42 has made Johnston County one of the few counties in North Carolina served by three interstates.

Similarly, multiple Class A railroads are another advantage, with the CSX main line intersecting the Norfolk Southern east-west connection right here. And our airport, the Johnston County Regional Airport, has grown significantly as general aviation relocates from RDU. Those aircraft are taxed here, buy fuel here, and contribute to our tax base without requiring the same public services as large residential developments.

No discussion of infrastructure is complete without water and sewer. These resources are finite and costly, often requiring regional approaches rather than standalone “super facilities.” Multi-county collaboration has become essential, and that cooperative mindset supports growth across the broader region.

With so many residents commuting out of the county for work, how are you supporting more jobs and talent within Johnston County?

That is the challenge I wake up to every day. Our labor shed is about 125,000 people, and roughly 77% leave the county daily for work, which is around 95,000 to 96,000 commuters. While that presents a challenge, it also represents an opportunity. When prospects ask where their workforce will come from in a tight labor market, I point to the morning traffic on I-40 heading into Wake County. That’s their labor pool.

If employers offer competitive wages, many of those commuters would prefer to work closer to home. A five-minute drive instead of an hour in traffic means more time with family and a higher quality of life — what we refer to as live, work, play.

Historically, Johnston County relied heavily on textiles, light manufacturing, and agriculture. Agriculture remains our No. 1 industry, but the mid-1990s brought huge shifts: offshoring, the tobacco buyout, and the rapid growth of Raleigh and the tech sector. At the same time, I-40 opened into the county, and a significant amount of land became available as farmers reevaluated their futures. Those forces created a perfect storm that attracted many new residents, especially from the Northeast, who saw Johnston County as an affordable place with strong schools, safe streets, and fast access to Triangle jobs.

Today, out-commuting is common across the broader region, but we view it as an asset. By recruiting advanced manufacturing and higher-wage industries, we can give residents more options to stay local. With the county adding roughly 8,000 residents each year, simply maintaining our current commuting ratio would require roughly 8,000 new jobs annually, which is an ambitious target for any county. We continue to see growth in small businesses, retail, and services, but the focus is on primary jobs that sustain households. It’s a steep climb, but we see it as an opportunity, and we’re committed to building a community where people can truly live, work, and play in Johnston County.

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