📣 The Announcement
- Investment: Jabil will invest approximately $500 million over several years, including an initial $264 million in capital expenditures, to create a manufacturing facility focused on cloud computing and AI data center infrastructure.
- Location: The site is the former Gildan building (2121 Heilig Road) in Granite Industrial Park, Salisbury, Rowan County, about 45 miles northeast of Charlotte.
- Jobs: The project is expected to create 1,181 full-time jobs by 2030, with average wages around $62,000.
- Highlights:
- Adds ~$73.2 million in annual regional payroll.
- Projects a $3.2 billion boost to North Carolina’s economy over 12 years.
- State and local incentives totaled over $21 million, including a potential $11.3 million JDIG grant over 12 years.
- Expected ROI of 115%, returning $2.15 for every $1 in state investment.
- As a Tier 2 county, Rowan receives a $1.25 million deposit into the Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account.
🌍 Places That Will Benefit
- Rowan County (Salisbury): Direct beneficiary with reuse of a vacant industrial site and workforce activation.
- Surrounding towns: Spencer, China Grove, Landis, and communities along I-85/I-85 Business are poised for spillover growth.
- Neighboring counties: Davidson and Cabarrus will benefit from infrastructure investments bolstered by JDIG-backed utility funding.
- Statewide gains: The project reinforces North Carolina’s leadership in manufacturing and AI infrastructure, with a significant economic and technological uplift.
🏘️ Impact on Housing & Retail Growth
- Housing Demand
- Nearly 1,200 new jobs mean increased need for both rental and owner-occupied homes in Salisbury and nearby towns.
- Expected growth in single-family and multi-family housing developments to meet workforce needs.
- Retail & Services
- Rising population will drive demand for grocery, dining, healthcare, fitness, and other daily services in Salisbury, Spencer, China Grove, and Landis.
- Growth expected along the I‑85 corridor as new housing and workers attract strip malls, convenience stores, banks, and quick-service restaurants.
- Quality of life improvements spurred by a $62k average wage may support more upscale retail, dining, and entertainment options.
- Industrial Real Estate
- The active site in Granite Industrial Park may draw supplier manufacturers, logistics firms, and light industrial tenants serving Jabil.
- Additional demand for warehouse, fabrication space, and R&D facilities is likely.
- Infrastructure Enhancements
- JDIG-driven utility funds will support road upgrades, broadband expansion, and utility extensions, laying groundwork for further residential and commercial development.
✅ Bottom Line
Jabil’s Salisbury investment transforms an idle industrial property into a high-tech manufacturing hub, creating nearly 1,200 well-paying jobs and generating multi-billion‑dollar economic momentum across Rowan County and North Carolina. The ripple effects—spanning housing, retail, logistics, and infrastructure—present a compelling opportunity for real estate developers, investors, and local planners across Salisbury, Spencer, China Grove, Landis, and neighboring counties.
Sources
- https://www.commerce.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/06/30/jabil-selects-rowan-county-nearly-1200-new-jobs-and-500-million-multi-year-investment
- https://rowanedc.com/jabel-chooses-rowan-county-for-new-facility/
Win Coleman, CCIM, is a graduate of East Carolina University where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance. He holds both North Carolina and South Carolina Real Estate Licenses and was awarded the prestigious CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation in 2008.
Win served on the board of directors of The Triangle Apartment Association (TAA) where he co-chaired The Independent Rental Owner’s Council (IROC). He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Triangle Commercial Association of Realtors (TCAR) and the Raleigh Kiwanis Club.
While a specialist in site identification, evaluation and acquisition for investors and businesses, he also has extensive experience in brokerage, leasing, property management and investment sales.
Win assists in managing The Coleman Group, LLC, which owns a portfolio of investment properties, and he is a member of our acquisitions committee. He has lifelong experience and love for historic properties including the one he restored and where he resides in Historic Oakwood in Downtown Raleigh.