Posted on August 3, 2022
Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday a third-party logistics provider will create 75 new jobs in New Hanover County.
Port City Logistics plans to construct a 150,000-square-foot “high velocity” transload facility with cross-dock doors located near the Port of Wilmington. This buildout will cost around $16 million and will introduce a warehouse storage space designed to help streamline trucking solutions at the port.
The company could be eligible for up to $337,000 in state and local incentives, provided it meets specific job-creation goals.
The company was founded in 2001 in Savannah, Georgia and currently has 14 warehouses in the area totaling more than 3.5 million square feet of space. With a fleet of 90 trucks, Port City Logistics offers integrated capacity solutions for transportation logistics.
Port City Logistics is in the midst of expanding into new markets and eyed Wilmington for its growth potential. When considering the expansion, the company also considered Savannah, Mobile and Charleston, according to a release.
Offering both brokerage services and on-the-ground warehousing and transportation solutions, the company specializes in drayage trucking.
“We are thrilled to expand into the North Carolina market so that our customers can enjoy the benefits of the Port of Wilmington with the fastest turn times in the U.S.,” Eric Howell, CEO of Port City Logistics, said in a press release. “We are always looking for ways to pursue excellence and create innovative supply chain solutions and by spending time with the teams at NC Ports and Wilmington Business Development, we saw great alignment and knew Wilmington was where we needed to be.”
On Tuesday morning, the N.C. Council of State approved a land sale for the project of 42.2 acres owned by the N.C. State Ports Authority at 187 Raleigh Street for $2.15 million. Port City Logistics will also open up offices in downtown Wilmington, according to a release.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce approved a performance-based grant of $112,000 from the One North Carolina Fund to support the expansion, the governor’s office announced Tuesday. This grant is based on the creation of 75 jobs with an average annual salary of $64,833, reaching a total annual payroll addition of $4.8 million.
Wilmington Business Development confirmed Port City Logistics is “Project Speed,” a previously unnamed company approved for $112,500 in combined local incentives this spring. In the approval, Wilmington agreed to pay the company $9,000 annually over a five-year term and New Hanover County will contribute up to $13,500 annually.
The state community college system also will pitch in $112,500 in an in-kind job training incentive for the company, according to N.C. Department of Commerce spokesperson David Rhoades.
Among the tranch of local incentives approved this year, Port City Logistics and MegaCorp Logistics (another third-party logistics provider) are two that have been named so far; two more still remain publicly undisclosed.
“We are excited to partner with Port City Logistics, Inc. to provide current customers and North Carolina businesses an opportunity for greater flexibility and increased capacity,” Brian Clark, North Carolina State Ports Authority executive director, said in the release. “The North Carolina State Ports Authority has made significant capital investments to enhance capabilities at the Port of Wilmington. This partnership will increase local cargo volumes, while further enhancing our state’s economy.”
