During the grand opening ceremony this morning of the new North Carolina Research Center, David Murdock announced that of the new companies joining the center, PepsiCo has agreed to come aboard. Joining other companies like Dole Foods, UNC Nutrition Research, and other university research centers. PepsiCo plans on occupying 4,000 square feet of space in the new building. It has not been announced how many people will be hired as of yet, but previous employees of the Pillowtex Mill which closed in 2003. Workers are being encouraged to begin pre-hire retraining to make assimilation into the new companies much easier.
With the addition of this new center I can only imagine what great things this will do for the local population and economy. With an influx of giant companies joining up to get space in the center, jobs are soon to follow. With the economy in the state that it is, future hope of building local jobs and resources for the area are going to be huge. Another aspect that will experience some evolution will also be a retail side to help offer services to the hundreds that are planned to be working in the future. I look forward to seeing the development of the center and the surrounding area.
In a time where the economy is struggling and home buyers are having a tough run at getting a loan, the last thing you would expect would be a multi-million dollar development going forward. But in Kannapolis, billionaire David Murdock has created a $3.96 million dollar investment in the future of Kannapolis and the surrounding area. Murdock’s Company, Castle & Cook, has invested $1.5 billion dollars into its North Carolina Research Center which will provide hundreds of jobs and additional income for the residents of the city. The focus of this new community is to target upscale buyers in the region and to attract buyers who are looking to travel no more than 2 miles to and from work. A very attractive strategy considering Murdock will own and run both the residential property and the research center located just minutes away from the site. The site which is named Irish Creek, will house several amenities not yet available to the surround area. Some of these include a full 18 hole golf course, Club house, and pool facilities, all of which have been finished before the majority of buyers have reserved or paid for they’re lots. Part of the reasoning behind this is that the amenities will attract buyers to the area. With pockets as deep as Murdock’s, worries of a unstable economy are not as much as a concern as to most people. Building will continue through the next few years with a total of 580 homes planned until completion. With a total of $500 million to be invested in the community, Irish Creek should become one of the most prestigious locations for people of Kannapolis and the surrounding areas to be a part of. I believe that in times such as ours, it is important that all development does not cease. With new development comes hope and confidence that in the future, things will get better. Even though we are in hard times…they will not be for long.
