Chick-fil-A just announced plans to build a massive new $53.8 million South East distribution center in Kannapolis.
The venture, named “Project Swarm,” will be located in the Lakeshore Corporate Park near Interstate 85. Spanning 120,000-square-feet, it will have the capacity to store and divvy out chicken patties to several hundred Chick-fil-a locations around the Carolinas.
“Chick-fil-A’s expansion is good for Kannapolis along with Rowan and surrounding counties,” said Governor Cooper in a press release. “We appreciate their vote of confidence in North Carolina and the strength of our workforce and infrastructure.”
The new facility will be needing drivers, managers, and office staff, with an average annual salary of $58,574, surpassing the county’s average. This expansion could boost the region’s annual payroll by over $4.8 million.
“North Carolina has the fourth largest food and beverage industry in the United States and is within a day’s drive of 150 million customers,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “When well-known companies like Chick-fil-A reinvest in North Carolina, it affirms our reputation as the best state to do business.”
A $200,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund will support this venture, provided the company meets specific job and investment criteria. The grant’s disbursement is contingent on matching contributions from local governments.