By the end of the summer, a vacant building at 8182 US 70 Business in Clayton will be the new headquarters for Turkington Industries.

The company, which produces industrial baking equipment, is moving its headquarters from Goldsboro to Clayton. Its lease in Goldsboro is expiring.

It is the first major company to move to Clayton this year.

"We like that Clayton is going to be their identity," Clayton Town Manager Steve Biggs said. "And we think that says something about Clayton's emerging prominence in the business world."

It is a $4.5 million dollar project, according to the town. Turkington Industries is renovating an office building with the help of a $324,000 grant from the Rural Economic Development Center. It is also building a new plant, which will open September 1.

The company hopes its 125 employees in Goldsboro will commute to Clayton, Facilities Manager Jim Partridge said. It expects to create at least 15 new jobs in Clayton.

Tony McKinney, president of the Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce, hopes the new workers will boost the local economy, which is still recovering from layoffs at the local Caterpillar plant.

"I think this will help," McKinney said. "I don't know if there's anything that will make up for the job losses with Caterpillar. And we hope to see that they will come back and put their facility back in operation full."

Turkington Industries signed a 10 year lease, Partridge said.