Tommy Williford: CSX hub would benefit Johnston County

Selma and Four Oaks are the two poorest towns in Johnston County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, both have median household incomes at or below the poverty level. And both have nearby sites that CSX has identified for a possible intermodal hub that could provide hundreds of jobs to local residents that would pay well above the county’s average wage.

I hope the good people in or near these towns who are affected by the CSX hub will consider what the financial result would mean for them and their families.

The result will be good-paying jobs with staring salaries in the $25 per hour range. There will also be additional companies moving into the area, creating more good jobs.

Growth is what every community needs, otherwise it dies. Look at Eastern North Carolina today. Other than Greenville and Wilmington, most of the towns and counties have seen lower populations, lower income levels and higher poverty.

The economic impact will be tremendous for the I-95 corridor – better schools, greater recreation facilities and more small businesses. A lot of children, who now leave Johnston County for better jobs, will be able to stay here in the future. Think about it.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Tommy Williford: CSX hub would benefit Johnston County."