New Life Science Distribution Company to Open in Garner

Garner, NC — Third party logistics firm, MD Logistics, a Nippon Express Group Company, headquartered in Plainfield, Indiana, today announced their expansion to Garner, North Carolina with the opening of their first warehouse in the area, sixth total for the Midwest based company.

“We are thrilled to welcome MD Logistics (MDL) to the State of North Carolina.” Said Korey Howard, Director of Business Development with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. “As a Japanese-owned third-party logistics company supporting the pharmaceuticals industry, MDL’s presence in Garner will be a nexus of critical trends like bolstering a national supply chain that is currently being tested like never before, and contributing to the distribution of life-saving drugs manufactured in our state.  North Carolina continues to be a welcoming environment for foreign direct investment from Japan and other countries.  We look forward to continuing to assist MDL as they set up and thrive in our state.”

MD Logistics is expanding to North Carolina to extend current client partnerships and better serve the greater life sciences and pharmaceutical industry on the east coast. The Research Triangle Park area in North Carolina is the leading and largest high technology research and science park in North America. Founded in 1959, this 7,000-acre namesake for the entire Triangle region is two miles wide and eight miles long.

“We are excited to welcome MD Logistics to the ever-growing business community here in Wake County,” said Michael Haley, Executive Director of Wake County Economic Development. “The company’s focus on life science supply chain solutions represents the significant diversity of the life science industry that is critical to the continued growth and success of the region.”

This expansion comes at a time when demand for compliant warehouse space in the life science and pharmaceutical industry is high and inventory is low.

“The last few years have been unlike anything we have ever experienced in the supply chain industry.” says John Sell, President and CEO of MD Logistics. “This expansion allows us to respond to an existing need in the marketplace for cGMP compliant warehouse space in the Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical Industry. We are excited to be expanding the MD Logistics, MD Express and Nippon Express brands to a new market and believe this expansion has us well positioned to continue to not only meet the demands of the industry but also continue to offer our customers the same level of service they have come to expect from us.”

MD Logistics East Coast facility will be located in the town of Garner, a southern suburb of Raleigh, NC, a community within the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina. The town of Garner is home to nearly 32,500 people, and more than 600 life science companies call this region home.

"We're excited that MD Logistics has chosen Garner for its newest facility," Garner Mayor Ken Marshburn said. "Obviously, we offer a great location for any company that provides logistical support to life science and pharmaceutical firms in our region. But we also offer a business-friendly environment and a superior quality of life. I am certain that MD Logistics will be happy that it chose Garner, and I welcome the company to our community.  The amount of investment and the creation of new jobs will be a boost to our economy as we continue to diversify and bring new companies to our area.”

This facility is 240,000 square feet of cGMP certified, pharmaceutical grade space and will be comprised of both 2-8°C and 15-25°C storage environments. This investment is anticipated to add approximately 30 jobs to the area by the end of 2023. The project will be constructed in Garner Business Park 70.

About MD Logistics

MD Logistics is a third-party logistics (3PL) company specializing in customized supply chain solutions. Each opportunity represents unique, client-specific challenges that are evaluated utilizing proven strategic methodologies to deliver turnkey solutions. Our vertical markets include Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals, Retail and Consumer Goods, as well as Transportation Services. MD Logistics LLC was acquired by Nippon Express in 2020 and is a Nippon Express Group Company.

via GEDC at https://www.choosegarnernc.com

Wigeon Capital Brings Additional Industrial Space in Garner

If you have tried to buy a home lately you know that the real estate market is extremely competitive.  The industrial real estate market is no exception.

Wigeon Capital is seeking to help alleviate the crunch for industrial space with the construction of their new project, Greenfield 27.

Greenfield 27 is located in the Greenfield South business park.  This new project will consist of three buildings and encompass a little over 27 acres.  Buildings will be 160,380, 57,800, and 44,800 square feet.  This variety of building sizes gives potential clients the opportunity to choose which space best fits their needs.

Over the past few years, Wigeon Capital has made signifcant investments in Garner.  To-date, the company has already constructed nearly 200,000 square feet of space.  The Greenfield 27 project will only add to the companies invest in Garner.

"We are fortunate to have developers like Wigeon in our community," said Joe Stallings Garner Economic Development Director.  "These types of investments are critical to the community's ability to attract new jobs to our area.

Choose Garner

Garner's Station Podcast Episode 19: Importance of Early Childhood Education in Economic Development

GARNER, NC –In this episode, we talk with Cassandra Brooks, owner of Little Believers Academy and Nikki Leonard, Department Head of Education at Wake Tech, about the important role that early childhood education plays in economic development.

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New Life Science Space Coming to Garner

GARNER, NC – Mainstreet Capital Partners and a fund managed by DRA Advisors today announced a joint venture to redevelop INQ 4300, a 180,017-square-foot building in Garner, North Carolina. Formerly a big-box retail store, the property will be repositioned to attract the region’s rapidly growing life science users. JLL’s John MacDonell and Taylor McCuiston will handle leasing on behalf of the owners.

Mainstreet Capital Partners and a fund managed by DRA Advisors announce joint venture to redevelop INQ 4300

JLL selected to lease the 180,000-square-foot building, which is being overhauled for life science space

“We are excited to launch redevelopment efforts for INQ 4300 so it can provide unmatched opportunities for life science users in the market,” said Peter Tonon, Partner at Mainstreet Capital Partners. “Similar to INQ 1101 in Morrisville, INQ 4300 will answer the demand for strategic and innovative lab space in Raleigh and we look forward to bringing our vision to life.” 

Located at 4300 Fayetteville Road, INQ 4300 will undergo significant interior and exterior renovations beginning in Q1 2022 with plans to deliver late summer 2022. Redevelopment plans are focused on creating a modern, highly amenitized laboratory and production environment for life science users. Once complete, INQ 4300 will feature new landscaping and hardscaping, glass openings, a new building facade, roof and outdoor amenity areas. INQ 4300 is the second property that Mainstreet Capital Partners and DRA Advisors have partnered together to reposition. Earlier this year, Mainstreet Capital Partners and DRA Advisors completed an overhaul of INQ 1101, a former big-box store in Morrisville, North Carolina. INQ 1101 is now fully leased to Schneider Electric and Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand. 

“As Raleigh’s life science community continues to thrive and demand for state-of-the-art lab and production space experiences unprecedented growth, INQ 4300 will be a highly sought-after addition to the market,” said JLL’s MacDonell. “We’re confident this property will generate interest from companies looking to grow or establish a Raleigh footprint, and our team is beyond excited to once again partner with Mainstreet Capital Partners and DRA Advisors.”

Located less than five miles from downtown Raleigh, INQ 4300 will provide future users with unparalleled accessibility to Raleigh’s life sciences community. The property is surrounded by numerous shopping and dining options and offers immediate connectivity to I-40 and the I-540 extension, which is currently under construction.

"We're excited about the innovative repurposing of this building and the potential impact it can have as the Town continues to aggressively pursue recruiting companies in the life science, advancing the manufacturing and technology sectors,” said Garner Mayor Ken Mashburn. “It is another significant step in the diversification of Garner's local economy. We welcome DRA Advisors and Mainstreet Capital Partners to our community and look forward to forging a strong partnership with them."

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Entrepreneurs Wanted: LaunchGarner to Take Off This Fall. Apply Now!

Garner, NC—The Town of Garner has partnered with Wake Tech and a network of local partners to bring LaunchGarner to the community. This 10-week immersive entrepreneurial course is designed to help prospective entrepreneurs and current small business owners get in-depth knowledge on how to develop and execute a business plan. The program also partners students with a mentor, who for six months, will help the student gain further insights in to how to operate a successful enterprise. The program is now seeking 10-20 students for the inaugural class.

To qualify, students must meet the following requirements: 

• Live or Work in the Garner area; 

• Demonstrate a need for financial and business resources; 

• Consent to interview by the selection committee; 

• Complete in-person business training once a week for 10 weeks; 

• Develop a business plan and budget; 

• Meet and communicate regularly with an assigned business mentor for 6 months; 

Those interested in the program can apply online at launchGarner.com no later than Saturday, July 31, 2021. The selection process will include an online interview that will be scheduled during August.  Those interested in applying can also attend one of three information sessions on June 24 at 12pm, July 12 at 6:30pm, and July 22 at 6:30pm.  To register to attend an information session, please go to www.launchgarner.com.    

Selected students will be required to attend 10 weeks (one session each week) of a small business course as well as an in-person orientation and graduation ceremony.  The courses will be held virtually and are provided free of charge to all LaunchGarner participants. Each class is three hours long and will be scheduled on Thursday evenings beginning in September. 

After the training, students are paired with experienced businessmen and women who will act as mentors for another six months.  Students will also receive a free one-year members to the Garner Chamber of Commerce. 

LaunchGarner is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a great idea but are unsure where or how to begin as well as those who are already in business and need to learn how to progress to the next level. At the end of the 10-week course, students will graduate with a business plan, marketing plan, and a path to make success a reality. 

This program would not be possible without the support of the following: Wake Technical Community college, the Garner Chamber of Commerce, Garner Rotary Clubs, the Town of Garner, Garner Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown Garner Association, and many other community partners. 

For more information regarding economic development matters in the Town of Garner, contact Joe Stallings at 919-773-4431 or jstallings@garnernc.gov. 

Entrepreneurs Wanted: LaunchGarner to Take Off This Fall

The Town of Garner has partnered with Wake Tech and a network of local partners to bring LaunchGarner to the community.  

This 10-week immersive entrepreneurial course is designed to help prospective entrepreneurs and current small-business owners get in-depth knowledge on how to develop and execute a business plan. 

The program also partners students with a mentor, who for six months will help the student gain further insights into how to operate a successful enterprise. The program is now seeking 10 to 20 students for the inaugural class.  

To qualify, students must meet the following requirements: 

• Live or work in the Garner area;

• Demonstrate a need for financial and business resources;

• Consent to interview by the selection committee;

• Complete in-person business training once a week for 10 weeks;

• Develop a business plan and budget;

• Meet and communicate regularly with an assigned business mentor for six months.

Those interested in the program can apply online at launchGarner.com no later than July 31, 2021. The selection process will include an online interview that will be scheduled during August. 

Those interested in applying can also attend one of three information sessions on June 24 at 12 pm (noon), July 12 at 6:30 pm, and July 22 at 6:30 pm. 

To register to attend an information session, please go to launchGarner.com.    

Selected students will be required to attend 10 weeks (one session each week) of a small-business course as well as an in-person orientation and graduation ceremony. The courses will be held virtually and are provided free of charge to all LaunchGarner participants.

Each class is three hours long and will be scheduled on Thursday evenings beginning in September. After the training, students are paired with experienced business persons who will act as mentors for another six months. Students will also receive a free one-year membership to the Garner Chamber of Commerce. 

LaunchGarner is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a great idea but are unsure where or how to begin as well as those who are already in business and need to learn how to progress to the next level. At the end of the 10-week course, students will graduate with a business plan, marketing plan and a path to make success a reality. 

This program would not be possible without the support of the following: Wake Technical Community college, the Garner Chamber of Commerce, Garner Rotary Clubs, the Town of Garner, Garner Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown Garner Association and many other community partners. 

For more information regarding economic development matters in the Town of Garner, contact Joe Stallings at 919-773-4431 or jstallings@garnernc.gov. 

GEDC, Wake Tech Announce Scholarship for Garner Magnet, South Garner High Students

Garner high school students have a great new opportunity to attend Wake Tech thanks to a new scholarship endowment. The Garner Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) has established a $250,000 endowment with the Wake Tech Foundation which will provide scholarships to graduating seniors at Garner Magnet High School and South Garner High School who wish to further their education at Wake Tech.

GEDC and Wake Tech made the announcement during a ceremony Thursday afternoon in the Town Council Chambers at Garner Town Hall. In addition to Garner and Wake Tech representatives, Matt Calabria, Wake County Commissioner Chair, and Monika Johnson-Hostler, Wake County Public School System Board Member, spoke during the program.

The GEDC believes that an education is fundamental in building a bright and thriving future for the Garner community.

"Having a well-trained and educated population is vitally important to Garner's future," GEDC Chair Jeff Swain said. “Every community's greatest asset is its people. That is why the GEDC is pleased to establish this GEDC Endowment for Education and ensure that Garner students have access to a world-class education and a brighter future."

“Wake Tech is so grateful for the support and generosity of the Garner Economic Development Corporation,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “Because of this endowment, deserving high school students from the Garner community will have an opportunity to continue their education and pursue their college degree right here in Wake County.”

Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to qualify and financial need will be considered. The scholarship may be designated to assist students in any Wake Tech degree, diploma or certificate program.

The scholarship application is currently open, and the first two recipients will be selected this summer. Current Garner high school seniors graduating this spring who plan to attend Wake Tech in the fall are encouraged to apply at scholarships.waketech.edu by April 30.

"The Town is excited about this new opportunity for a young person from our community to pursue their dreams and career aspirations," Mayor Ken Marshburn said. "Garner has always taken pride in the way it nurtures young people. It's why our town is recognized as an All-America City. It's why Garner is a great place to live and raise a family."

About Garner Economic Development Corporation:

Since its inception in 2010, the Garner Economic Development Corporation (GEDC), an economic development non-profit, has been committed to improving the quality of life for all Garner residents through the recruitment and retention of quality employers, support and encouragement of entrepreneurship, and marketing the Garner community as a great place to locate a business and raise a family. For more information on the GEDC, please go to choosegarnernc.com.

About Wake Tech:

Wake Tech is North Carolina’s largest community college, serving more than 70,000 adults annually, with six campuses, three training centers, multiple community sites, and a comprehensive array of online learning options. The Wake Tech Foundation awards more than $450,000 in over 350 individual scholarships to degree-seeking students each year. The Foundation believes in making an education possible for anyone in our community who wants one so that our region remains the best place to live and work in the world.

Garner Announced as Location for New VA Clinic

Garner, NC—The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that it recently accepted an offer to lease 244,860 square feet of space for a new outpatient multi-specialty clinic in the Town of Garner.

The site for the new construction is approximately 17 acres located on the west side of N.C. 50 between Rand Road and Arbor Greene Drive. The real property investment amount for the project is estimated to be about $100 million.

“This facility will be a great addition to our community. We are proud that the Town of Garner will be known throughout the region as a hub for veterans' health-care services,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said. “Our veterans deserve the finest of care, and I’m confident that this new facility will provide outstanding care to the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. I’m sure the VA staff and veterans who come to Garner for services will find us to be a welcoming and compassionate community that deeply appreciates what our veterans have done to ensure our freedoms.”

VA officials said they were enthusiastic about bringing a facility of this scale to Garner and Wake County.

“The Durham VA Health Care System values our local community partners’ efforts in helping us to keep the nation’s promise to our veterans,” said DVAHCS Executive Director Paul Crews. “The new outpatient facility will employ nearly 400 VA employees, ranging from administrative support to health-care providers. It will offer primary care and mental-health services to nearly 25,000 veterans annually from Wake County and surrounding areas.”

Limited specialty services may include cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, pathology, audiology and speech, rehabilitation medicine, and imaging services including CT and MRI. A pharmacy and eye clinic could also be a part of the facility. VA officials say that specialty services could change based on demand and need at the facility.

“We are excited about the development and construction of a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will allow the Durham VA Health Care System to ensure that veterans who choose VA receive the highest-quality care. This facility will allow us to provide veterans with the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” said Fred Roche, administrator of the new VA facility.

A joint venture, Atriax/PPGG JV, based in Hickory, N.C., will serve as the developer and lessor for the center. The majority of the lessor’s design, construction and operations team is based in North Carolina. The Atriax/PPGG JV is a service-disabled, veteran-owned business with years of experience in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs projects.

“As a veteran-owned company, we couldn’t be more proud to serve the veterans of North Carolina through this important project and the critical health-care services to be delivered by the professionals in the VA,” Atriax principal George Auten said.

Brenda H. Compton with locally based Hartwell Realty represents the property owners in the sale for the project.

“It was truly an honor for me and the Hartwell Realty team to be involved in a project that will have such a meaningful economic impact on Garner while providing a much-needed service for our veterans,” Compton said. “This multifaceted transaction could not have been successful without the hard work and collaboration of the Atriax Group, property owners and local municipalities. It’s a huge win for Garner and our regional economy.”

For more information on the Durham VA Health Care System, please contact Shahron James at 919.928.3997 or by email at shahron.james@va.gov For more information on economic development matters in Garner, please contact Joe Stallings at 919.773.4431 or at jstallings@garnernc.gov.