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Vulcan Elements Proceeds With $918M Benson Magnet Factory Despite Municipal Leadership Shifts

Benson, North Carolina, prepares for a major magnet factory development by Vulcan Elements amid ongoing town leadership turnover and a $2.8 million budget deficit.

By Colin Percy · May 26, 2026

The town of Benson, North Carolina, faces a leadership transition as town manager Dane Rideout and assistant town manager Calla Godwin have resigned amid an ongoing financial crisis. The town is currently navigating a nearly $2.8 million budget deficit, with previous audits uncovering issues ranging from unpaid invoices to excessive employee benefits. Rideout cited institutional resistance to necessary fiscal reforms as the primary driver for his departure.

Despite the town's administrative challenges, project development for the region remains active. Vulcan Elements continues its plans for a $918 million magnet manufacturing facility—described as the largest of its kind outside of China—which is expected to create 1,000 jobs. Local leadership has confirmed that the town’s fiscal instability will not impact the commitment to the Vulcan project.

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Vulcan Elements

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