Honoree helps Johnston County put its best foot forward

By Randy Capps

If you’ve ever met him, you don’t have to know Chris Johnson’s job title to know that he’s passionate about Johnston County.

It’s a pretty good trait for the Executive Director of the Johnston County Economic Development Office to have, and it’s that passion and his dedication to promoting our community that has earned him the 2020 Johnston Now Honors Spirit of the County award, presented by Homemasters.

“I’m very fortunate,” he said. “A job is easy when you love it, and I was very fortunate to work with the Town of Smithfield and be the Main Street Manager for almost 15 years. There wasn’t a day when I didn’t get up and not enjoy it. Every day, I looked forward to getting up and going to work. The same thing applies to Johnston County and the position I’m in now.”

He’s been in his current role since 2013, and his background with the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, and the fact that he and his wife, Kim, own Jewel’s Formals on Third Street, helps him relate to small businesses as well as the major corporations.

“Being a small business person, I’m out there fighting for the mom and pops just as much as I am the large corporations,” he said. You apply those same principles that I learned on Main Street. It’s all about shaking a hand, looking somebody in the eye, making promises and then delivering on those promises. It’s all about relationships.”

Those personal touches are a little tougher in today’s COVID-19 climate, but the pandemic isn’t stopping Johnston County rapid rate of growth.

With Grifols announcing a $351 million expansion in June and the recent completion of the Ashley Furniture Retail Outlet and Distribution Center in Four Oaks — not to mention the parade of new housing development popping up around the county — it’s still full steam ahead.

“Obviously, masks are the new norm,” he said. “It’s given us the chance to take a deep breath and reevaluate the things that we’re doing,” he said. “Our office really hasn’t slowed down that much. If anything, it’s given us the chance to reflect on where we’ve missed it before, and how we can address things in today’s climate. ... We’ve been very fortunate with a lot of growth in the western part of the county, and I wake up every morning thinking about how that can be applied to the rest of the county.”

One area of focus for Johnson and his office is the West Smithfield Industrial Park, and the possibilities it provides for potential new industry.

“It’s close to 400 acres of available property for business growth,” he said. “The county and town have worked together to go through the certification process to make this available. For the longest time, Smithfield didn’t really have an industrial site it could offer up. … The growth is coming from Raleigh, and it’s Smithfield’s responsibility, in my opinion, to meet it in that direction.”

While industry and housing are important, Johnson says that they’re only part of the puzzle.

“If you’ve ever seen my presentation, I talk about the six cylinders of economic development, and I relate it to my old ‘55 Chevrolet,” he said. “I talk about the home builders, medical, manufacturing, small business, travel and tourism and agriculture. All six of those need to be running and firing for the engine to run. One is not any more important than the other. It’s trying to figure out that balance and making sure we, as a community, have those opportunities for those six cylinders to be successful in whatever capacity the community sees fit.

“We may disagree on whatever it is, but hopefully people can say, ‘I don’t agree with Chris, but he loves what he does and he’s doing it for the right reasons.’”

With that mind, he’s happy to turn the wrench on Johnston County’s economic engine — and help it get off the starting line just a little faster than its competitors.

“It’s easy to sell home when you’re passionate about it,” he said. “It’s always easier to talk about grandma’s cooking. Because you love grandma and you love everything about it. It comes naturally. I want to see the county do well.”