Commissioner Butch Lawter with John Maslin, CEO of Vulcan Elements
JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. (November 18, 2025) — Vulcan Elements, a Research Triangle Park-based manufacturer of Neodymium Iron Boron rare earth magnets, announced plans to invest $1 billion to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Benson, North Carolina. The project will create 1,000 new manufacturing jobs and position Johnston County as a critical hub in the U.S. rare earth supply chain.
Founded in 2023, Vulcan Elements specializes in advanced rare earth magnet production used in defense systems, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and other high-growth industries. The Benson facility will play a central role in the company’s recently announced $1.4 billion partnership with the U.S. government, which aims to expand domestic magnet manufacturing capacity to 10,000 metric tonnes and strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
The new facility, located at the Crosspoint Logistics Center, is expected to exceed 1 million square feet and generate an estimated $2.5 billion in statewide economic impact over the next 12 years.
State and Local Leaders Celebrate Major Manufacturing Win
Governor Josh Stein joined U.S. Senator Ted Budd, North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, state legislators, and Vulcan Elements executives to announce the project.
“This is a big win for North Carolina,” said Governor Stein. “This veteran-owned company will help keep our state at the forefront of national security while building the economy of the future. Vulcan Elements’ investment and job creation will deliver tremendous long-term benefits for our people and our communities. Vulcan, welcome home to North Carolina.”
R.S. “Butch” Lawter Jr., Chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, emphasized the project’s local importance.
“This transformative opportunity brings new jobs, new revenues, and advanced manufacturing technology to Johnston County,” Lawter said. “Just as importantly, this facility strengthens America’s national security and competitive economic position. We are proud to support Vulcan Elements as it establishes its home here.”
Strategic Location Drives Selection
Vulcan Elements conducted a nationwide site search over the past year, ultimately selecting Benson due to its ability to support the company’s scale, workforce, infrastructure, and transportation needs. The facility’s location at the crossroads of Interstates 95 and 40, less than 30 minutes from downtown Raleigh, provides direct access to major markets, research universities, and military installations.
“From the beginning, Johnston County clearly understood Vulcan Elements’ aggressive growth timeline and long-term needs,” said John Maslin, CEO of Vulcan Elements. “World-class talent, reliable infrastructure, and a strong workforce development ecosystem were critical to our decision. We look forward to building on this foundational relationship as we create 1,000 new jobs and invest in the future of the County.”
Crosspoint Logistics Center Anchors Historic Investment
Vulcan Elements will operate at Crosspoint Logistics Center, a 90-acre industrial site located at 230 Morgan Road in Benson. The property currently includes a 501,000-square-foot Class A+ industrial building, which will be expanded to more than 1 million square feet.
When Raleigh-based developer Edgewater Ventures announced plans for Crosspoint Logistics Center, it represented the largest speculative industrial development ever built in the Raleigh-Durham metro area.
“Our County Commissioners showed bold vision in supporting Crosspoint Logistics Center, and that leadership is generating extraordinary results,” said Ed Aldridge, chair of the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board. “This project demonstrates what happens when a strategically located, amenity-rich site is paired with a transformational employer like Vulcan Elements.”
Workforce Development and Regional Collaboration
Vulcan Elements will be among the first companies to benefit from the new $40 million Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in nearby Four Oaks. Operated by Johnston Community College, the 67,000-square-foot facility opened in September and was developed with state and county support to meet the region’s growing demand for skilled manufacturing talent.
“This announcement proves that collaboration delivers results,” said Harold T. Keen, Chairman of the I-95/I-40 Crossroads of America Economic Development Alliance. “Strong leadership, workforce readiness, and strategic infrastructure investments came together to land sustainable, high-wage jobs for Benson and Johnston County.”
Significant Economic Impact
The project’s economic impact will be substantial. Vulcan Elements’ payroll alone is expected to generate nearly $90 million in annual economic activity. An analysis by Dr. Michael Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University, estimates the facility will add $169 million to Johnston County’s GDP and generate more than $950,000 annually in new municipal and county tax revenues.
“While the numbers tell an impressive story, this project also reflects our region’s spirit of collaboration and sense of national duty,” said Chris Johnson, Director of the Johnston County Office of Economic Development. “I’m proud of the many partners who worked together to secure this historic win for our community and our country.”
About the Johnston County Office of Economic Development
The Johnston County Office of Economic Development facilitates collaboration between government, education, and the private sector to promote job creation and economic investment countywide. A unit of Johnston County government, the office delivers customized site selection assistance, workforce and labor analysis, digital mapping, incentive packaging, and site readiness support to businesses and to the county’s 11 municipalities.
Contact:
Chris Johnson, Director
Johnston County Office of Economic Development
919-205-1232 | 919-915-6202 (cell)
chris.johnson@johnstonnc.com
