Harnett County Secures $500K from North Carolina Railroad Company for Byrd Industrial Sites
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Funding will advance a rail-served industrial site, providing access to 58 developable acres and supporting future investment and job creation in Harnett County.
Harnett County, N.C. – September 10, 2026 - Harnett County has been awarded a $500,000 Build Ready Sites grant from the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) to advance a rail-served industrial site. The investment will help prepare the property for future development and strengthen Harnett County’s ability to compete for rail-served projects.
This funding will support Byrd Industrial Site B, an 83-acre site with 58 developable acres within the Byrd Industrial Sites in Lillington. The grant will fund engineering, clearing, and grading of a new access road that will provide critical access to the site and help make the property market-ready for rail-served manufacturers. Byrd Industrial Site B is one of three sites within the 224-acre property.
"Primed industrial sites are a critical component of North Carolina's infrastructure for supporting business recruitment and expansion," said Carl Warren, President and CEO of the North Carolina Railroad Company. "The Build Ready Sites program gives communities such as Harnett County the resources to reduce development risk and to attract prospective rail-served manufacturers."
The Byrd Industrial Sites are located along U.S. 401 South, just outside downtown Lillington, 17 miles from I-95 and 20 miles from the I-95/I-40 interchange. Two of the three sites are rail-served by R.J. Corman Railroad, with established interchanges to both Norfolk Southern and CSX. Due diligence has been completed and utilities are available.
In September 2021, the Byrd Industrial Sites were evaluated through the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program, which helped identify opportunities to advance the property and strengthen its competitiveness for industrial development.
“North Carolina Railroad’s investment in the Byrd Industrial Sites will help us compete for manufacturers that require rail access,” said Stephen Barrington, Harnett County’s Director of Economic Development. “Preparing this site to meet the needs of rail-served companies puts us in the game when they are evaluating locations of similar size. NCRR’s partnership will help move the site forward and strengthen Harnett County’s inventory of market-ready sites.”
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners approved a local government match of 25%, up to $125,000, for the project in May 2026. The Town of Lillington is a critical partner in the project, dedicating the right-of-way for the access road to Byrd Industrial Site B. The road will provide the access needed to bring prospects to the site for visits, an important step in marketing the property for future development.
“We are grateful to the Harnett County Board of Commissioners for supporting this grant and committing local funds to help make this project possible,” said Harnett County Manager Brent Trout. “Investments like this help us attract and grow businesses, create jobs, and bring new investment to Harnett County.”
“This funding represents an important step forward for our community,” said Lillington Town Manager Joseph Jeffries. “We appreciate Harnett County’s partnership and look forward to working together to advance this important infrastructure project and support Lillington’s continued growth.”
About Harnett County Economic Development
Harnett County Economic Development’s mission is to spur private sector investment that creates new jobs with better than average wages for Harnett County residents. Positioned between the Research Triangle and Fort Bragg, Harnett County connects companies to workforce, infrastructure, and project-ready opportunities.
About the North Carolina Railroad Company
The North Carolina Railroad Company is the one private railroad company that has been driving economic growth for North Carolina for more than 175 years. The company manages 317 miles of rail corridor, transforming its trusted expertise and unique assets into economic advantages. The company’s mission is to focus on our rail & safety expertise, assets and advantageous corridor to provide dynamic services and best-in-class solutions. Our vision is a railroad company promoting and facilitating opportunities leading to economic gains for North Carolina. For more information, visit ncrr.com.
To learn more about economic development in Harnett County, visit harnettedc.org.
For media inquiries, contact Elizabeth Edwards, Marketing Director for Harnett County Economic Development, at eedwards@harnett.org.