Print
Real Estate - Commercial

Industrial Park Gaining Momentum

By Christina Haley O'Neal, posted Jul 2, 2021
An updated master plan helps sell Pender Industrial Park. (Photo c/o Wilmington Business Development)
Economic developers are working to bring more business to the Pender Industrial Park.
 
An update to the master plan for the park, located in Burgaw, was completed in February, said Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development (WBD), the economic development organization serving Wilmington and New Hanover and Pender counties.
 
WBD and Four County Electric Membership Corp. started working with engineering firm Thomas & Hutton late last year on the update, he said.
 
Now that it is complete, economic developers, along with Pender County, the town of Burgaw and other corporate partners are using the plan to continue to market the Pender Industrial Park to generate jobs and investment in the region, Satterfield said.
 
“Light manufacturing and food processing are amongst our targets for the Pender Industrial Park,” he said. “The proximity to major players in the ag industry differentiates this park from other regional product that we market.”
 
Pender Industrial Park, different from Pender Commerce Park, currently has about 115 acres available to build on. Land within the park is all privately owned, and there are various tracts located at the site.
 
“All existing buildings at the Pender Industrial Park are occupied, but there is significant acreage available for new industrial development,” Satterfield said.
 
Existing industries there include American Skin, Packaging 151 Co., Phoenix Molded Plastics, Mojotone, Wilmington Box Co., Niels Jorgensen Co., Windsor Fiberglass and Cardinal Foods.
 
Earlier this year, Cardinal Foods announced that it would expand its facility, 201 Progress Drive, by 56,000 square feet to grow its food processing business. At the time, officials said the investment would make Cardinal Foods one of the largest sweet potato fry manufacturers in the world.
 
“It’s very exciting to see the industrial momentum in the Burgaw market. It’s not limited to the Cardinal Foods expansion announcement either,” Satterfield said. “There are fantastic niche manufacturers in Burgaw … really some of the Greater Wilmington region’s most interesting and unknown success stories … this is really becoming a strong industrial cluster and destination for world-class operations.”
 
Another key to this park is having the availability of sites that have the infrastructure needed to attract industry. The Pender Industrial Park meets several checkmarks, including water and sewer and electric and fiber lines, Satterfield said.
 
“We feel that we are in the best position we’ve been in many years on that front,” he said.
 
The park and the updated plan adds to a growing network of available sites and buildings that are in the region for industry recruitment.
 
“The name of the game is providing multiple options,” Satterfield added. “Each client/prospect has specific needs and specific interests. Some may be attracted to proximity to downtown Wilmington, the port, airport, etc. For others it’s about a workforce that can support a niche manufacturing base, the desire to be near business partners, or competitively priced land. The list goes on and on of potential influencing factors when making a relocation or expansion decision.”

Region in Focus: Pender County

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Tommytaylor ceo unitedway

How Philanthropy Fits Into Your Financial Plan

Tommy Taylor - United Way
Chris coudriet

A Public Service Profile on Creating Beauty in Our Community

Chris Coudriet - New Hanover County Government
Untitleddesign5

The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership

John Monahan - Vistage

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

NCino's Fourth-quarter Earnings Signal Rebound From Liquidity Crisis

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 27, 2024

In The Current Issue

Topsail-area Realtors Share Updates

Pender County Realtors recently shared updates about the coastal market at an event hosted by the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Associa...


Expanding Tastes On Castle Street

As John Willse and Beth Guertin, owners of Wilmington Wine bottle shop and now the recently opened Creative Tastings restaurant on Castle St...


Park Progress

The planning for Pender Commerce Park began in the early 2000s when the county wanted to create an economic driver on its largely rural west...

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments