Pope: Sanderson Farms committed to Kinston

Lenoir County's chief industrial recruiter offered assurances Thursday that Sanderson Farms will locate here as planned and pointed to the company's land purchases as evidence.

"Sanderson Farms is coming," Mark Pope, the county's economic development director, said of the country's fourth-largest poultry processing company.

In April, Sanderson announced plans to build a $126.5 million complex in Kinston and by next spring launch an operation employing nearly 1,600 people. But in June the company announced that spiking feed grain prices - a big chunk of Sanderson's operating costs -would force it to delay construction.

Preparations continue, however. Sanderson purchased two parcels of land of more than 700 total acres July 31 for $5 million from landowners Rodney Goodman and Dempsey Hodges. The tracts, off U.S. 70, are to be sites for the new poultry processing plant and an environmental spray field.

Lenoir County also finalized land deals at Smithfield Way in July worth $1.9 million, Pope said. The land was owned by the Parrott and Perry families. Sanderson Farms intends to build a hatchery and feed mill on 110 acres.

Pope discussed Lenoir County's economic future - including Sanderson Farms' efforts - during a Thursday meeting of the Kinston Rotary Club.

"Our economy is becoming very diverse with more companies calling Eastern North Carolina their home," Pope said. "There is more good news to come I hope."

Falling grain prices are an encouraging sign, he said. Floods in the Mideast and demand for corn for ethanol pushed prices above $7 a bushel about the time Sanderson reassessed its expansion plans.

"The price of corn per bushel is closer to $5," Pope said. "We should hear something shortly from Sanderson Farms."

Lenoir County Manager Mike Jarman said this week Sanderson Farms continues to finalize its building permits for the new plant.

"They are working to get things in order," Jarman said.

Preparations also continue for Spirit AeroSystems at the Global TransPark in Kinston. John Mewborn Road is partially closed leading to the park, Jarman said. The road was partially closed to allow crews enough space to begin construction at the site.

Pope said Spirit AeroSystems will host a groundbreaking ceremony at the site in September.

Since July 2007, Pope said 3,356 new jobs were announced for Lenoir County with company investments reaching over $1 billion. More than 4,200 new jobs were announced for Lenoir County since 2004, Pope said.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.