GARNER, N.C. – Town officials said Garner is changing from a bedroom community to a business destination, and they’re doing everything they can to convince businesses to move into town, including offering incentives.

 

 

Two companies are relocating to the Greenfield North Business Park in Garner.

 

"The town offered incentives to Butterball and to Golden State Food, so initially we will not receive their entire amount of tax base, but after three to five years we will receive the entire amount,” said Rodney Dickerson, assistant town manager for Garner.

 

Officials with Butterball and Golden State Foods said the location and a sense of community is why they chose Garner.

 

"Incentives are always important, but really the thing that was most important to us was being in the community where we thought we would fit in," said Keith Shoemaker, Butterball CEO.

 

"As we looked at the changing trends in our distribution business, we were looking for a site that would provide us the greatest logistics advantage in terms of road access, ingress-egress, certainly rail access was an important aspect,” said Jim Brooks, Golden State Foods of N.C. General Manager.

 

Now Dickerson said he hopes these companies are just the beginning for industry in Garner. He said the town plans to use the name recognition to encourage other businesses to set up shop in town.

 

"Everybody knows Butterball. If you say 'turkeys, name a turkey company' most people are going to say 'Butterball,' so they're a well known company, a family-oriented company, so if they're willing to move here then we don't see why other companies wouldn't be willing to move here to Garner," he said.

 

Both companies also said that Garner's schools, and the rural environment coupled with the convenience of Raleigh's amenities, made Garner a perfect location not only for business, but for their employees who will relocate to the area.

 

Golden State Foods will bring up to 200 people; Butterball plans to bring about 80 in the first phase of their project. Both companies said they will also hire new employees when they get to town.