Yeadon Domes, an international manufacturer of air domes, will begin construction on its Fayetteville facility following the Fayetteville City Council’s approval on Monday of the company’s annexation and rezoning requests.
The site is located on more than 14 acres off Airport Road, in the city’s prime industrial area. A portion of the land within county lines needed to be rezoned and annexed so the company could pay city taxes and receive services.
In March, Yeadon Domes chose Fayetteville as the company’s new headquarters, manufacturing plant and distribution center for its air dome structures. Air domes are large inflatable structures used for covering various spaces like sports arenas, warehouses and swimming pools.
Yeadon Domes is relocating its operations from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company was attracted to Fayetteville by incentives offered by the city, county and state. This includes $63,948 from the City of Fayetteville, to be paid in installments over five years; $88,170 from Cumberland County, to be paid in installments over five years; and a performance-based grant of $225,000 from the state’s One North Carolina Fund.
The company will invest $4.6 million to build the facility in Fayetteville, according to an announcement from Gov. Josh Stein earlier this year. The factory will itself be located in an air dome that is 72 feet tall and covers 50,000 square feet. According to the incentives package, the plant and headquarters will bring 72 jobs to Fayetteville by 2029, with salaries averaging $47,724. Cumberland County’s average annual salary in the private sector is $47,175, according to N.C. Department of Commerce.
Yeadon’s website states the company, founded in 1979, has made air domes for international buyers and high-profile customers, including nearly a third of NFL teams. In addition, its domes have been used in four continents and 46 states, by 41 universities, and by 11 professional sports teams.
Rob Patton, executive vice president of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC), said approval of the rezoning and annexation of the land will allow the company to begin construction of its factory. FCEDC worked with the city and county to develop incentives for Yeadon Domes to come to the area.
“Three months ago you all graciously approved the incentive package for Yeadon Domes, which at the time was known as Project Crossfit,” Patton told the city council on Monday. “Earlier this evening, the rezoning request was approved. This is the final step before construction will begin. And at that point the world will know that Yeadon Domes are made in Fayetteville, North Carolina.”
Patton previously said Yeadon Domes is one of only three manufacturers of the product in the world.
Speaking at Monday’s council meeting, Yeadon CEO Matt Meija said the company has already hired 10 employees from Fayetteville and expects to hire seven times as many by the time the factory is operational. He said he will be moving to Fayetteville soon.
“We have been welcomed very warmly here,” Meija told city leaders. “I’ve been at the search for a new location for us for well over three years, and we’ve looked at a lot of sites and a lot of property all across mostly the mid-South and are really excited to be here.”
“We’re glad to have you,” Mayor Mitch Colvin replied.
Government accountability reporter Evey Weisblat can be reached at eweisblat@cityviewnc.com or 216-527-3608.
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