News for Community

The Partnership for Children of Johnston County is pleased to announce its 13th annual lunch fundraiser, scheduled for Monday, August 18th, at Clayton Steakhouse. The event will raise funds to support essential programs that improve the well-being and development of young children in Johnston County. Proceeds from the event will provide resources such as parenting classes, training for the early ...read more

Leadership Johnston, a premier professional development program in Johnston County, is now accepting applications for the 2026 class. Applications will be accepted through September 30.   Leadership Johnston is a collaborative effort between the Johnston County Coalition of Chambers  and Johnston Community College, aimed at cultivating leadership skills and community engagement among ...read more

The Town of Smithfield is proud to host National Night Out 2025 on Tuesday, August 5th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Smithfield Community Park, located at 600 M. Durwood Stephenson Parkway. Introduced in 1984, National Night Out is a nationwide community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer and more caring ...read more

SMITHFIELD – Two bridges in Johnston County will undergo preservation work thanks to a $1.9 million contract awarded last week by the state Transportation Department. American Civil Constructors West Coast LLC will perform the maintenance work on these two structures: The U.S. 70 span over Interstate 95 outside Selma; andThe M. Durwood Stephenson Parkway bridge crossing the Neuse River north of ...read more

SMITHFIELD, NC - Dr. David Pearce was sworn in as Superintendent for Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. The ceremony was held at the Evander S. Simpson Building in Smithfield, where Dr. Pearce was joined by his family, colleagues, and community members. Dr. Pearce was sworn in by the Honorable Addie H. Rawls, District Court Judge, retired.  During the ceremony, ...read more

Shop Small. Support Local. Strengthen Community. This July, the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation is proud to celebrate Independent Retailer Month, a nationwide campaign dedicated to showcasing the positive impact of locally owned businesses on our economy, culture, and community. From charming boutiques and shops to specialty stores and creative services, Downtown Smithfield is home ...read more

More than a local initiative, Chamber foundations have become a national best practice—empowering chambers across the country to tackle big-picture challenges like workforce readiness, small business resilience, and inclusive economic growth. By establishing our Foundation 14 years ago, we positioned ourselves ahead of the curve, recognizing early on that a 501(c)(3) arm would allow us to access ...read more

The housing market in Smithfield and Johnston County is displaying encouraging signs of consistent growth as we progress through 2025. While the year began with less momentum than anticipated, April's data suggests that the market is stabilizing and, in several aspects, becoming stronger. According to the year over year home sales data in Smithfield, NC: Closed sales rose by 31.7% ...read more

The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. While a Texas federal district court’s preliminary injunction puts this requirement on hold, many experts expect that to be overturned. In that event, failure to file could lead to fines of $500 per day, up to a maximum of $10,000, and possible ...read more

Bridge over I-95 at Exit 95 will be upgraded SMITHFIELD – The U.S. 70 Business bridge over Interstate 95 at Exit 95 will be reconstructed into a taller, longer and wider structure, thanks to a new $38.3 million contract. The two-lane bridge over I-95 will be replaced with a five-lane bridge with a sidewalk. In addition, the on/off ramps will be reconfigured to meet modern standards, and ...read more

Distinguished Citizen Award Presented to Will Crocker by Chandler Pernell at the Annual Meeting on January 26th, 2015.   Our second Distinguished Citizen Award will be given to someone who has served Johnston County and the Smithfield-Selma area for his entire life. The award also is sponsored by Woody’s Computing Service.   When my parents first moved back to Smithfield, they became this ...read more

The Performing Arts at Johnston Community College is proud to announce the 25th Anniversary Concert Series line-up.  Season tickets are currently on sale and individual tickets will go on sale August 5th.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the JCC Box Office at (919) 209-2099 or by visiting www.jccperformingarts.com.  Patrons wishing to purchase 3 or more ...read more