CVS Announces Distribution Plant in Warren County

The plant is coming to the town of Manson near the Vance County line.

Rural Warren County, an area that has fallen on tough economic times, will soon gain hundreds of new jobs.

From the steps of the county courthouse, leaders announced the CVS Corporation will build a state-of-the-art distribution center on a 125 acre site near Manson.

"It's a full supply chain operation. We will have automation at the highest level with new computerized warehouse systems. It will be our best facility, probably our most modern," said Herb Johnson of the CVS Corporation.

At one time, Warren County was one of the wealthiest farming communities in North Carolina. Now, it is one of the poorest counties in the state.

The average income is $17,000 a year. When CVS opens its distribution center, the jobs it creates will pay about $26,000.

"Usually when an industry looks at Warren County, they're looking at low-paying jobs and being able to save on the work force. But this isn't the case with this company, and it's important for us to go after companies offering more wages," said County Commissioner Harry Williams.

Groundbreaking on the site is planned for the first of the year. About 250 jobs will follow when the center opens in early 2001.

CVS plans to hire 600 employees by 2002. Mike Pullen would like to be one of them.

"There's not any industry in the area, and we need some more to improve the tax base and everything for the county," said Pullen.

Residents and local leaders hope the new jobs will help lift Warren County from the economic depression it has struggled with for years.

Nearly 200 jobs at the new Warren County site will be relocated from facilities in Henderson and Oxford.

The announcement is not only good news for Warren County but areas around it as well.

Warren and its surrounding counties are all well above the unemployment rate across the state.

The jobs will lure people from Vance, Halifax and maybe even as far away as Nash County.