Campbell University's Role in Harnett County's Economic Growth
Campbell University should be, and must be, an "indispensable partner" with Harnett County, which has experienced over 27% growth in the last 15 years and is on the cusp of significant business sector expansion. This was the opening message from Campbell President Dr. William M. Downs at the 2026 Harnett County Economic Development Update, held in the Oscar N. Harris Student Union for the third consecutive year.
The event brings together elected officials, business leaders, and stakeholders from Harnett and neighboring counties to share updates on new projects, economic trends, and announcements from the previous year. Campbell's continued involvement aligns with its five-year Strategic Plan, which highlights "community impact" as a key objective.
Downs emphasized Campbell's role as an economic development asset, inviting Harnett County to partner with the university for future growth: "We ask that you save us a seat at your table... Campbell University is open for business, and we'd like to do business with you."
Harnett County's Assets and Initiatives:
In addition to Campbell University, Harnett County boasts Harnett County Schools, its Career & Technical Education programs, and a satellite campus of Central Carolina Community College, home to the Eugene Moore Manufacturing & Biotech Solutions Center.
Stephen Barrington, Harnett County Economic Development Director, highlighted the county's latest efforts, focus areas, and opportunities. He praised Campbell and the county's educational and training infrastructure for preparing the workforce of today and tomorrow.
"Workforce is at the top of the list when we talk about economic development," Barrington noted.
Significant Projects and Developments:
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In September, Harnett County secured a $500,000 Build Ready Sites grant from the North Carolina Railroad Company to develop a rail-served industrial site. The investment will prepare the 83-acre Byrd Industrial Site B for future development, enhancing Harnett's competitiveness for rail-served projects.
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Samet Corp. is collaborating with Harnett County on the development of a 175,500-square-foot speculative industrial building to stimulate economic growth.
Featured Speaker: Ted Abernathy
Ted Abernathy, founding and managing partner of Economic Leadership, served as the event's featured speaker. He commended Harnett County's proximity to the Research Triangle and Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area, one of the fastest-growing and most business-friendly regions in the country. Abernathy emphasized the need for Harnett to attract higher-paying businesses to compete effectively:
"The quality of the jobs you attract is one of the challenges... You need more high-paying jobs... It's a marathon, not a sprint. You're going to work on being competitive forever."