October 25, 2025
Major Pharmaceutical Plant May Be Headed To Four Oaks
FOUR OAKS — A major pharmaceutical company is reportedly in the final stages of selecting a site in the area—potentially marking one of the most significant economic developments in the town’s history.
According to multiple sources, approximately 70 acres of land along NC Highway 96 South—between Spring Lake Road and Keen Road, near Ashley Furniture—is under serious consideration for the new facility. While the company’s identity has not been officially confirmed, sources familiar with the project suggest it may be Novo Nordisk, a global pharmaceutical leader with an established presence in nearby Clayton.
Adding to the speculation is the timing of the upcoming Johnston Community College Workforce Development Center, set to open this fall on Boyette Road in Four Oaks. The center could serve as a vital pipeline of skilled labor, offering potential workforce synergy that benefits both the pharmaceutical company and the local community.
In a step that may clear the way for development, the Town of Four Oaks has scheduled a public hearing for September 15 at 6:30 p.m. to consider a voluntary annexation request for the site. The request involves three tracts of land, totaling just over 70 acres, currently owned by Johnnie Johnson and Four Oaks Farms LLC. Pending town approval—widely expected to be a formality—the project could soon proceed to an official announcement.
Johnston County Economic Development Director Chris Johnson declined to confirm details but acknowledged heightened interest from several industrial prospects along the I-95 corridor.
“We have multiple projects considering Johnston County along the I-95 corridor, from Benson to Kenly and including Four Oaks,” Johnson said. “Some are looking at the same location. Adding to our tax base and creating job opportunities for our citizens is paramount. Any statement at this time on any of these projects would be extremely premature.”
Nonetheless, activity on the property is not going unnoticed. Survey crews have recently been spotted working on the Highway 96 South tract, reinforcing local anticipation that an official announcement could be imminent.
If confirmed, the development is expected to bring nearly 500 high-paying jobs and inject new momentum into the Four Oaks economy, while further positioning Johnston County as a rising hub for biopharmaceutical innovation in North Carolina.
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This story has been updated
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13 Comments
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As a property owner on Spring Lake Rd, this project concerns me as far as the expected increased traffic goes. I’ll be at the meeting to hear more about this. Otherwise, I am all for business development in our beautiful town, along with a stronger tax base. Lower our county property taxes, County Commissioners!
Good. Now leave Clayton & Smithfield alone.
Four Oaks will have to have more restaurants if this happens – need more now
Oh, and just WHERE is the meeting? Sort of left that out.
Cool. Some competition for the local drug dealers.
I hope they are making Ivermectin. That is what we need here, not corrupt pharmaceuticals. MAGA!
Four Oaks better put some more restaurants and shopping centers around for the people about to come to our town. It’s about to be traffic like hell in the Oaks
Let’s keep this mess out of four oaks for the love of God. It was one thing to put a new school building, but now even more land is being “taken” for this … Four Oaks is too small to keep up with all these “changes” and it’s only going to continue to make things worse for those of us who live here.
This is great for Four Oaks! Residents can get high paying jobs and college students can work in the town they grew up in! Good job, Four Oaks, for landing this.
👏🏼
Clayton officials are probably fuming over this lost opportunity. Clayton, your excessive fees and taxes are coming full-circle to haunt you. It’s about time.
Great more percocets to get a few more kids and teens addicted to junk just what we need Maga
Totally agree this kind of development could stay in Clayton or better yet RTP which is a ghost town and was supposed to be the place such places went. We don’t need this kind of thing in the middle of the country. If it’s Novo Reinholdt will get an earful keep the smelly pollution some place else.