Exciting developments in Wayne County as Select Genetics, a premier turkey breeding company, held a groundbreaking at their new site of its latest announced facility. In April 2023, alongside Governor Cooper, the company unveiled plans to create 26 new jobs and invest $58 million in a cutting-edge turkey egg hatchery at ParkEast, as well as establishing turkey farms in Goldsboro, NC. Once completed the 128,500-sf facility will be the largest hatchery in the United States. The positions, ranging from farm crew to specialists and managers, will offer salaries surpassing the average annual wage in Wayne County of $43,882, contributing over $1.1 million annually to the local payroll. This expansion is supported by a $75,000 performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund, which aids local governments in attracting economic investments and job creation. To receive the grant, Select Genetics must meet specific job creation and investment milestones, with local government matching funds also a prerequisite.
Chris Gurley, Chairman of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners: “On behalf of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, I want to thank Select Genetics for choosing Wayne County for its hatchery expansion. The agricultural heritage in Wayne County from the Maxwell family with Goldsboro Milling and Carolina Turkey now continues with Butterball and Select Genetics. We look forward to the future construction of Select Genetics to keep Wayne County leading the way in the agricultural industry.”
Boasting an 80-year history in the turkey breeding and hatching industry, Select Genetics is known for its high-quality turkey eggs and day-old poults supplied to both independent farmers and major brands like Butterball. With its headquarters in Minnesota, the company’s operations span nationwide, producing over 150 million turkey eggs annually. This expansion will consolidate its existing hatcheries into a new 100,000-square-foot climate-controlled facility and add new turkey farms in Goldsboro.
Chip Crumpler, Wayne County Manager: “This is another exciting announcement for Wayne County and our region. This hatchery will be a benefit not only to our local farms but also to farms outside our county lines. We appreciate all of the partners who are working to bring this expansion to our County and look forward to the future success of Select Genetics in Wayne County.”
The expansion of Select Genetics in the area is celebrated by the North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region and Wayne County, underscoring eastern North Carolina’s capacity to attract innovative agricultural companies. This project has garnered support from a wide array of partners, including the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, North Carolina Community College System, Wayne Community College, Wayne County, Wayne County Development Alliance, North Carolina’s Southeast, City of Goldsboro, and Duke Energy, all of whom are instrumental in bringing this venture to fruition.
NC Department of Commerce Press Release:
