The Onslow County Board of Commissioners held an official groundbreaking for the County’s second industrial shell building endeavor. The event on February 6, 2017, symbolized the start of construction for the industrial building on Lot 22 within the N.A. Burton Business and Industrial Park. The project consists of a 30,000 square foot shell building (expandable to 60,000 sq. ft.) to be built by Pro Construction Inc. for a cost totaling $1,424,924. This project is part of Onslow County Government’s efforts to create new jobs and capital investments in the County. The building will attract potential industrial companies to conduct business in Onslow County. During August 2016, the Board approved a public-private partnership to construct the building using funds granted by the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Fund, monies specifically earmarked for economic development. In addition, Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development (JOED) pledged at least $250,000 in private donations toward the project, resulting in no borrowing of funds for the endeavor. The estimated completion date for the building is April 2017.