Durham approves incentives for Espita and Novartis that together promise about 1,300 jobs

The Durham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 8 to approve two separate performance‑based economic development awards that county staff said will bring major job growth and private investment to the county.

In the first action, the board approved a performance award for Project Speedy, an expansion by Espita Financial Services LLC, in a not‑to‑exceed amount of $750,000. County economic development staff told the board the project will create approximately 1,000 jobs and attract about $28,750,000 in private investment over five years; payments will be funded by new tax revenue generated by the project and released only after annual verification that job, investment and community partnership targets have been met.

Sandy Ball, chief people officer for Espita, said the company was founded in Durham and intends to hire entry‑level talent from local colleges and high schools, noting the company already employs about 200 people in the area and has a range of community partnerships. “We really believe in speed, simplicity, and service,” Ball said. Darian Harris, director of career and technical education for Durham Public Schools, told commissioners the company has committed to work with Durham Public Schools’ CTE programs, offer internships and participate in job fairs.

Later in the meeting the board approved awards for Novartis Gene Therapies for two complementary projects (referred to as Arrowood and Red Cedar) in a combined not‑to‑exceed amount of $5,500,000. County staff said the two projects are expected to create roughly 280 jobs and represent approximately $540,000,000 in local investment over five years. Staff emphasized that payments to Novartis will follow the county’s business recruitment and expansion policy and occur only after verification that employment, wage, investment and community partnership targets are met.

Representatives from Novartis and partner institutions described education and workforce commitments tied to the awards, including donations to the Durham Public Schools Foundation, equipment gifts to Durham Technical Community College, and participation in CTE programs and job fairs. Jerry Jones of Durham Tech said the timing aligns with the college’s new life sciences facility and the BioWorks certification that prepares technicians for local manufacturing jobs.

Commissioners repeatedly thanked county staff and local partners for the work that produced the projects, and several commissioners emphasized oversight measures: county staff will require annual performance packets, tax and payroll verification, and the agreements include clawback provisions should targets not be met.

Both awards were moved, seconded and approved unanimously. The board authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute performance agreements and related documents.

What happens next: County staff will finalize performance agreements, and companies must annually verify job creation, wages, community partnership commitments and capital investment to receive payments. If targets are unmet, clawbacks are possible. The projects are subject to standard county contracting and tax rules.