New Jobs and Investment in Southampton County Bring Life to Shuttered Facility

Bon Bon Farms slated to invest $8.5 million and create 162 Jobs

Southampton County – Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc. (FSEDI) announces Bon Bon Farms, LLC will invest $8,551,000 and create one hundred sixty-two new jobs to establish their new operations in Boykins, Virginia.

They will renovate and operate out of the former Asheboro Elastics Corporation facility, which ceased operations in June 2019.

Initially, Bon Bon will use the facility to grow hemp plugs to supply to farms throughout Virginia and the southeast. In years two and three, they plan to produce CBD oil and related products at the facility.

“Today’s announcement is a great win for Southampton County, said Dallas Jones, Southampton County Board of Supervisors Chairman. “By supporting innovative, locally-owned businesses like Bon Bon Farms, we can help bring economic vitality to the Franklin Southampton community.”

James Lee, Owner of Bon Bon Farms, said, “The citizens and farmers of Boykins and Southampton County have been extremely welcoming, which has played a major role in our decision to do business in Boykins. We have also found the economic development team and government officials to be great to work with as we ramp-up operations. We are looking forward to partnering with farmers and organizations in Franklin Southampton so we can play an active role in charitable, community, and economic initiatives.”

“This business attraction project is tremendous news,” said Brian Hedgepeth, FSEDI Board Chairman. “It gives life to a shuttered building in Boykins and provides much-needed jobs and economic vitality for our community.”

“A project like this provides a greater diversity of growing options for farms throughout our region and highlights one of the Commonwealth’s emerging crops, hemp,” said Doug Smith, President, and CEO of Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance.

Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc., Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Career Works – Hampton Roads Region, and Southampton County worked in partnership on this project. The company has received both state and local benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and Southampton County, respectively.

Please join us in congratulating Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc. on this announcement. Additional questions can be directed to Jay Brenchick, FSEDI President & CEO at jbrenchick@franklinsouthamptonva.com.