Golden LEAF Foundation

In the Spotlight: Johnston County Industrial Development Corporation

When western Johnston County, a center of North Carolina's once thriving tobacco trade, found itself becoming a hub of the worldwide biomanufacturing industry, county leaders realized it was time to shift Johnston's economic focus and, ultimately, its identity.

Bayer's manufacturing site in Clayton, employing 1,550 people, is the world's largest plasma fractionation facility. Less than a mile down the road Novo Nordisk, with 350 employees, operates the only insulin production facility in the U.S. "Maintaining the vitality of this diverse industry can play a key role in ensuring the region's future economic health," said Charles Hayes, president and CEO of the 13-county Research Triangle Regional Partnership.

And Johnston County leaders are making sure it happens. "We believe the best incentive we have to offer business is a prepared workforce that needs less training after employment," maintains Linwood Parker, chairman of the county Economic Development Advisory Board. The Board led area business leaders, government and education officials to request funding for the Clayton Skills Training Center, a state-of-the-art biomanufacturing training facility.

Golden LEAF funding for a preliminary design report to help secure construction financing gave the idea a big boost early on. "The resulting grant allowed us to begin designing the training center," said Michael de Sherbinin, director of the Johnston County Economic Development Office. "Thanks to the Golden LEAF grant and our Board of Commissioners, we can assure these companies a reality—not false hope. The BioWorks training center will be in their back yard."

Wet lab at site of Johnston Community College's BioWorks program.

The $3 million-plus facility, being built in cooperation with Johnston Community College and Johnston County Public Schools, will occupy a 28-acre site in Clayton owned by Novo Nordisk. In addition to customized training for the likes of Bayer, Novo Nordisk and the nearby Fresenius Kabi, Johnston Community College anticipates that several other businesses and industries are poised for significant expansion. JCC's Clayton Skills Training Center stands ready to prepare their work- force, with training at every level, from the BioWorks certificate pro- gram through bachelor's degrees offered by N.C. State University.

The Clayton Center: A Collaboration of Business Leaders, North Carolina's
Community College and University Systems, and Public Schools

Johnston Community College's BioWorks program is currently offered on its Cleveland campus.

According to Jim Causby, superintendent of Johnston County Public Schools, a unique partnership was forged between education and the business community in planning this critical work force training facility. Dr. Don Reichard, president of Johnston Community College, adds, "All of education is important, but in terms of economic recovery, it's community colleges that are going to give you the quick turnaround." He continued, "Bayer's CEO said he was not going to hire employees with less than an associate degree. We heard that loud and clear. That's our job."

The Clayton center is expected to open in the spring of 2004. Coordinated resources offered by the community college and university system will provide general BioWorks training for new workers and skills upgrade for longtime employees, creating a competitive work force for new biotech jobs in a rural and historically tobacco-dependent community. Thinking ahead, planners designed the facility and curriculum to ensure that training for workers in other industries could also be accommodated.

Life science, biotechnology and biomanufacturing firms have chosen Johnston County for its proximity to the Research Triangle Park and major transportation routes, affordable land and utilities, lower tax rates and skilled workers. Soon they will have another reason to locate and grow in Johnston County—the Clayton Skills Training Center, providing the link between a supply of well-skilled workers and new industry to create future prosperity.

"We believe the best incentive we have to offer business is a prepared workforce that needs less training after employment."

—Linwood Parker, chairman of the county Economic Development Advisory Board

Golden LEAF Foundation
301 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252-442-7474 phone 252-442-7404 fax 888-684-8404 toll free
www.goldenleaf.org email: info@goldenleaf.org