Stretching Arms & Minds
With plenty of shovel-ready land to develop and access to such an abundant, high-quality labor force, Sanford has supported significant operations for companies as diverse as Caterpillar, Moen, Pilgrim’s and GKN Precision Forming. Proximity to Greater Raleigh has proved especially crucial to companies like Pfizer and Audentes Therapeutics, who recently announced investments of $500 million and $109 million, respectively, in new gene therapy manufacturing operations in Sanford.
40 Minutes to Research Triangle
Direct-access, four-lane U.S. 1 freeway to RDU and Downtown Raleigh
Home to Gene Therapy Production
Includes Pfizer’s $500 million expansion & Audentes Therapeutics' $109 million facility.
11,500 Commuters from Greater Raleigh
Strong recruitment potential from one of the nation’s smartest labor pools
Key Employers
Sanford and surrounding Lee County are home to a diverse set of employers across the life sciences, energy, defense and agrifood, drawn by a combination of available land, low operational and labor costs, and access to one of the top workforces in the world. Among the industry-leading employers are Caterpillar, Pfizer, Moen, Pilgrim’s and GKN Precision Forming, each of which employs 300 or more in local facilities. Augmenting this employer base are dozens of local manufacturers and suppliers with impeccable reputations for quality, including Mertek Solutions and Frontier Spinning Mills.
Workforce Development
Lee County is home to Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) and its award-winning degree and customized-training programs. CCCC’s Bioprocess Technology and BioWork programming prepares individuals to work as process operators in biological products manufacturing facilities.
Central Carolina's Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Bioprocess Technology provides current biopharmaceutical manufacturing employees the opportunity to qualify for promotions as well as providing the theoretical background and hands-on experience for others seeking a new career in the biopharma field.
The BioWork industry credential provides a foundation for a career as a Bioprocess Technician with a wide array of biopharmaceutical companies. Credits earned via the BioWork program create a clear, seamless path into the Bioprocess Technology degree program, if desired.
Students build a strong basic science foundation with a sound understanding of the major technologies and regulatory systems employed in the industry. They also develop a collaborative and disciplined work ethic while honing their problem-solving skills.
Taxes & Incentives
North Carolina has reduced its corporate income tax rate to 2.5%, the lowest in the U.S. of any state levying such a tax. It also has a fully phased-in single sales-factor apportionment for corporate income. Improvements like these led Forbes to rank North Carolina its No. 3 State for Business in 2019. From taxes to regulatory environment to low business costs, North Carolina consistently ranks in the Top 5 or 10 states every year.
For incentives, state programs are eligible, such as the performance-based Job Development Investment Grant and One North Carolina Fund, both of which are discretionary cash grants for competitive business expansions. Further, Lee County is identified as Tier 2 in North Carolina’s three-tier system, which encourages economic activity in certain areas of the state over others.
Transportation Infrastructure
Located in Central North Carolina and southeast of the Greater Raleigh region, Sanford-Lee County is traversed by the four-lane U.S. Highway 1 traveling north through Raleigh and south through Columbia, SC. A bypass of U.S. Highway 421 also aids east- and west-bound traffic. Class I rail is provided by both CSX and Norfolk Southern, which both run lines through the center of the county.
Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford provides corporate and recreational aviation with a 6,500-foot runway, serving as a reliever airport to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) located 40 minutes northeast. The direct air access to Lee County is convenient for executives operating at one of numerous shovel-ready sites located nearby.
Download Sites & Buildings
Sanford is home to several shovel-ready sites, as well as a new shell building under construction that is capable of housing pharmaceutical operations. The first building of the same design was recently filled out when Audentes Therapeutics established a 135,000 square-foot manufacturing operation in Sanford. More information can be found below.
Have questions?
Contact us
John Cotton Dean
Economic Development Manager
919-774-8439, ext. 1500jdean@growsanfordnc.com