At state’s request, Johnston postpones new industry announcement

SELMA — County industry recruiter Chris Johnson demurs when asked for details about a new industry before the scheduled announcement.

“Project announcements can be volatile and may evaporate before they get off the ground,” he says in a common refrain.

That hasn’t happened, so far, with Project Tray. But an email on Friday had the word “POSTPONED” across the top of a notice about a Sept. 3 public hearing on proposed incentives for an industry.

“When a new date is announced, the hearing will be readvertised,” the postponement notice stated.

County Commissioners Chairman Butch Lawter said the state, apparently involved in the project, had asked for the postponement, though he did not elaborate.

Johnson said he was cautiously optimistic about Project Tray, which would go in the spec building that Do Good Foods had planned to occupy in Selma’s Eastfield business park. That company declared bankruptcy before starting production.

“When I was named the director of economic development in 2013, it was my goal to bring back the 6,000 jobs the I-95 corridor lost during the mid-’90s,” Johnson said.

Those Johnstonians worked a several now-closed plants — Eaton Corp., Channel Master, Fieldcrest Mills, Burlington Mills and K.R. Edwards Leaf Tobacco Co.

“Should Project Tray move forward, the quality manufacturing jobs that will be created will be another step towards that goal and change the lives of Johnstonians who are currently having to drive outside our county for employment,” Johnson said.

The notice about the public hearing on incentives for Project Tray was short on details, saying only that a manufacturer would create “new, permanent full-time jobs.”

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