(The Center Square) – Walmart is investing $300 million in North Carolina rather than South Carolina through a warehouse operation in the Gaston County community of Kings Mountain.
The project – called a fulfillment center by leaders at the Bentonville, Ark., headquarters – expects to yield 300 jobs in a facility used to ship online orders of items such as lawn mowers and patio furniture, state leaders said. The Economic Investment Committee of the state Commerce Department approved a job development investment grant of $4 million over 12 years, contingent on the company creating the number of jobs promised.
Walmart’s 2025 annual report included $36 billion in operating cash flow, and increases of 5.1% in revenue and 8.6% in operating income. Walmart, with a market cap of $827 billion, is No. 1 on the National Retail Federation’s Top 50 Global Retailers and No. 1 for U.S. retail sales.
Runner-up in the bid to land the facility was Spartanburg, S.C.
In announcing the taxpayer subsidy for the global retail giant, the Commerce Department said average salary of the jobs will be $69,360. Kings Mountain, population about 11,000 and just 30 miles from downtown Charlotte, has average annual salaries of $45,507, according to the U.S. Census.
Economists question the effectiveness of financial incentives to businesses to expand or come to a new state. Context is encouraged when wages are introduced because a few corporate leaders at a site can skew the average higher while the median wage would not have the same ratio.
The availability of skilled labor, overall cost of operations and the location were factors in the decision as were overall business climate, quality of life, and financial incentives.
“As our eCommerce business continues to grow, this new fulfillment center will play a critical role in helping us serve customers faster,” Karisa Sprague, Walmart U.S. senior vice president of Supply Chain, said in a statement. “We’re excited to join the Kings Mountain community and proud to create long-term career opportunities where associates can grow and build their future with Walmart.”
The 1.2 million–square-foot fulfillment facility will be located at 799 Sara Lee Access Road and is scheduled to open in 2027, the state said.
“North Carolina offers global companies like Walmart a friendly business climate, strong workforce development programs, and a transportation network tailored to their logistics needs,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement. “These advantages, and more, make North Carolina the top state to do business in the country.”
Walmart has more than 214 stores and Sam’s Clubs in North Carolina, employing 62,300 people, according to the state.
