Supporters of Titan plant

In an effort to bring more jobs to southeastern North Carolina, local business leaders have come together to support a controversial new cement plant in Castle Hayne.

Carolinas Cement, a Titan America subsidiary, has been a source of heated debate in our area. While opponents have been very vocal in voicing their opinions, supporters have been harder to come by, until now.

Bob Warwick is heading a group of Wilmington business leaders called the Coalition for Economic Advancement. “A city either grows or it dies. There’s not such thing as sitting still,” Warwick said.

The group launched newjobsforwilmington.com. The not-for-profit website supports bringing new jobs like the 160 Carolina Cement plans to provide to the area.

Carolinas Cement has said it would train local students to fill many of the positions at the plant.
Members of the group Stop Titan counter the plant could result in more lost jobs than it will provide.

“One of the reasons is nobody else is going to want to move in if there’s a big heavy polluting cement plant out in the corner of the county,” said one member Joel Bourne.

The website newjobsforwilmington.com lists several reasons for supporting Carolina Cement, one of which says the members of stop titan don’t live in the area.

But don’t tell that to Joel Bourne. “This is my house Mr. Warwick, I live in Bayshore. I’m a resident of Wilmington.”

Carolina Cement is beginning the environmental permitting process that would allow them to start construction on the new facility. The plant would provide 1000 jobs for two years during the construction phase.