Industry Support

Key Industries

When you consider the skills of Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s highly educated, enthusiastic workforce, the variety of outstanding sites and buildings, the capacity of our utility partners, and all the economic benefits of doing business in North Carolina (incentive programs, right-to-work, etc.), we perfectly meet the needs of these target industries:

Critical Defense Contract Support

When it comes to developing the people and the technology to protect America’s freedom, it’s hard to think of an area that has had more experience than ours. In fact, our defense presence has endured for so long that insiders often refer to us as “Pentagon South.” We’re the gateway to Fort Bragg, home of the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Special Operations Forces, and site of many of the nation’s most important defense contractors. Many of the 7,000+ men and women who exit the military each year through the Fort Bragg portal are choosing to remain in our community and become a part of our civilian labor force. Defense contractors benefit from all that, our young workforce, extensive broadband capacity, and the resources of Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, and Fayetteville Technical College. Our highly educated residents have earned many degrees in STEM fields such as Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Computer & Information Sciences, and Mathematics & Statistics.

Logistics & Distribution

When you do business in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, you’re close to all the key markets that matter to you, and you can get to them quickly. Our place on the I-95 Corridor puts us within an eight-hour drive of two-thirds of the nation’s population (170 million customers), and less than half a day from the deep-water ports of Wilmington, Morehead City, and Charleston. We’re served by CSX Class 1 Rail, as well as short line services from R.J. Corman and Aberdeen & Rockfish. Fayetteville Regional Airport (FAY) has a 7,709-foot runway that accommodates cargo jets. We keep you connected with the online world, too, with extensive broadband capacity and accessibility.

Innovative Manufacturing

Fayetteville and Cumberland County have a long tradition of making things the world needs—and a historic willingness to anticipate and adapt to changes. That’s one of the reasons so many companies in innovative manufacturing have chosen our area, from metalworking to auto parts, plastic molding to lighting and appliances, to electrical transmission components. Our young and trained workforce has the knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of today’s advanced manufacturing operations. Their skills are supported by customized training support offered through Fayetteville Technical College and extensive broadband capacity, and their initiative is reflected in the fact that North Carolina is a right-to-work state.

Food Processing

Companies in the food processing industry take advantage of Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s location on I-95 and easy access to their supply chain and clientele. Not only is the location ideal for import/export needs, but its agricultural benefits and resources will supply you with high quality products and relations with our farms. With their experience in manufacturing, packaging, and distribution, our trained workforce also contributes to the success of your operations.

Business & Financial Services

A key indicator of the economic health of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area is the demand for high-value business and financial services to support local companies. We have a highly educated, highly motivated workforce that has the skills to handle the technological advances and transactional complexity of today’s economy. Our enthusiastic workforce includes more than 7,000 new military retirees each year, as well as 80,000+ military spouses who have the skills, knowledge, and work ethic to serve in high-demand office situations, transactional financial services, insurance, and other industries that benefit from high productivity and an affordable cost of doing business. Many of our residents have degrees in the STEM disciplines of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Computer & Information Sciences, and Mathematics & Statistics.

Customized Training Support

Education and a commitment to research have long been a key part of life and business in North Carolina, and Fayetteville and Cumberland County put you conveniently close to everything the state has to offer. In addition to North Carolina’s nationally known higher education institutions, such as North Carolina State (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), local employers can tap into education & training support from our local postsecondary sources, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville State University, and Methodist University.

Wage Information

Existing Industry

One of our key advantages is the cooperative, business-friendly attitude you’ll find in local government and in the business community itself. For existing industry, there are the Fayetteville Area Plant Managers Association (PMA) and the Transportation & Logistics Committee, which are forums that allow local employers to work together on subjects of common interest.

Largest Employers

(Source: NC Department of Commerce)
Updated: 02/18/2025

 

EmployerIndustryEmployment
Department of DefensePublic Administration63,200
Cumberland County SchoolsEducational Services5,800
Cape Fear Valley Health SystemsHealth Care and Social Assistance5,200
Wal-mart AssociatesRetail Trade4,300
Goodyear Tire & Rubber CoManufacturing2,100
Cumberland CountyPublic Administration2,100
Veteran's Affairs AdministrationHealth Care and Social Assistance2,000
City of FayettevillePublic Administration2,000
AmazonRetail Trade1,400
Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeEducational Services1,300
Food LionRetail Trade1,200
U.S. Postal ServiceTransportation and Warehousing1,200
Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)Retail Trade1,150
Fayetteville State UniversityEducational Services1,080
Womack Army HospitalHealth Care and Social Assistance950
Mann+Hummel Purolator FiltersManufacturing900
Booz Allen HamiltonOther Services except Public Administration700
Fayetteville PWCPublic Administration670
Eaton CorporationManufacturing630
Lowe's Home CentersRetail Trade600
Carolina Power & SignalizationConstruction550
McDonald'sAccommodation and Food Services450
Methodist UniversityEducational Services370
FoundeverCall Center350
eClerxCall Center330

Plant Managers Association

The Fayetteville Area Plant Managers Association (PMA) is Cumberland County’s network of plant managers, providing a forum for subjects of common interest, such as education, community involvement, economic development, utility costs, healthcare, and taxes.

The PMA conducts projects and programs that serve the manufacturing community’s interests. It encourages a positive employee relationship among all industries and helps to inform local citizens about the area’s manufacturing operations. The PMA also assists local public schools in fostering a better understanding of manufacturing through programs such as:

  • Workforce development
  • Partnership with middle schools
  • MATHCOUNTS
  • Fayetteville Regional Science Olympiad

If your company operates a manufacturing or distribution facility in a Cumberland County industrial setting and adds value to the product it sells or distributes via interstate commerce, you are eligible for membership.

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Hammond
Business Services Manager

Transportation & Logistics Committee

The Transportation and Logistic Committee is made up of the terminal managers of the local trucking companies in Cumberland County. The group meets once a quarter to share information and concerns within the trucking community. Quarterly meetings also include a guest speaker who provides updates on North Carolina laws, roads, and other relevant transportation information. The president of the North Carolina Trucking Association sits on the committee for guidance on legislative issues or regulations that are coming down the pipeline. The board also contains members from the CDL programs at FTCC and Miller Motte College. Terminal managers who participate have the benefit of attending FTCC graduations to grow their workforce.

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Hammond
Business Services Manager