Global TransPark
Ushering in the
21st Century

On the cusp of the 21st Century, the traditional industrial park concept is taking on a new image. The industrial park of the future is one where manufacturing is linked with sophisticated transportation infrastructure, with an eye to global markets.

Leading this charge is the planned North Carolina Global TransPark (GTP) near Kinston. The park represents the wave to the next century, integrating transportation infrastructure with other elements such as global communications networks and redundant power and telecom systems that companies depend on to help them compete in a global economy.

Global TransPark near Kinston, N.C., is planned to link manufacturing with sophisticated transportation infrastructure, with global markets in mind. Runways will be tied to central cargo processing, storage and distribution centers, an intermodal rail system and upgraded highway connections.

The 15,300-acre (6,120-hectare) project is a public-private partnership with the state of North Carolina. The state has already spent nearly $16 million on planning for the project and has committed $25 million for land acquisition. In addition, the state will provide much of the support infrastructure. Local governments contributed the $125 million to acquire the existing Kinston jetport where the GTP facility is located, and have pledged $40 million in water and sewer improvements. A private-sector fund-raising effort has raised two-thirds of its planned $30 million contribution to the project.

The GTP features an 8,400-ft. (2,548-m.) runway that will be expanded to 11,500 ft. (3,488 m.) sometime late in 1997. A parallel 10,500-ft. (3,185-m.) runway, capable of accepting wide-bodied aircraft, is due to be built by 1998. The airstrips will be tied to a central storage and distribution center, a central cargo processing area, an intermodal rail terminal, an internal cargo transport system, a high-speed road network and upgraded connections to regional road and rail systems. Two deepwater ports are just one hour away by rail and highway.

About 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of the GTP has been set aside for industrial development, and $159 million will be spent over the next five years to upgrade the airfield, build state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities and build an onsite training and education center. The budget also includes funding for improving the roads around the GTP and improving access to nearby interstates. Longer term plans for creating more industrial space are on the drawing board, but remain flexible.

In August 1996, Global TransPark welcomed its first two tenants: Mountain Air Cargo Inc., a contractor for Federal Express that operates the largest small-aircraft fleet in the nation; and its sister company, Mountain Aircraft Services, a maintenance firm. Officials expect the GTP to attract a broad array of other industries, including light manufacturing and assembly of products with a limited shelf life, such as pharmaceuticals and electronics, that need to be moved quickly from one location to another.

Within 20 years, the GTP is projected to provide direct employment for 23,400 people and generate another 26,200 indirect jobs at other locations. At its full build-out in 30 to 40 years, GTP's combined direct and indirect employment is forecast at nearly 100,000.