Apple’s ambitious plans for its North Carolina campus are getting a significant reboot, as state officials have granted the company an additional four years to fulfill its hiring and investment commitments. This extension effectively resets the timeline for the project, shifting the target completion year from 2024 to 2027.
On Tuesday, the Economic Investment Committee, the state board responsible for approving incentives, approved the extension at Apple’s request. This change follows recent legislative modifications allowing for longer extensions for transformative grants provided the recipient already has a workforce of at least 1,000 employees in the state and has not yet received any payments through the original grant.
The new timeline means that Apple must hire 126 employees for its Research Triangle Park project by the end of 2027. This number will rise to 1,719 by the end of the fifth year and reach 2,700 by the tenth year. The company has indicated that the employees will focus on “machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and other related fields.”
Challenges and Delays in Development
The journey to establish a significant presence in Research Triangle Park has been fraught with delays. Apple initially acquired land in 2018, intending to create an engineering hub alongside corporate operations in the area. Reports from 2021 highlighted the extensive efforts made by North Carolina to attract Apple, which included a commitment of $1 billion in investments and the potential for Apple to receive over $800 million in tax incentives over the next 39 years.
Despite these ambitious plans, by 2022, construction had not yet begun. Instead, Apple opted to invest nearly $20 million to renovate its temporary offices within the MetLife III building. Although this renovation indicated a shift in timelines, it did not signal a complete abandonment of the campus project.
In 2023, plans emerged for a substantial campus covering 281 acres, which would feature commercial offices, parking facilities, streets, and a central utility plant. Reports from Wake County in May 2024 suggested that utility companies were on standby, but Apple had not initiated active discussions regarding construction.
By June 2024, Apple formally requested a suspension of its development plans, seeking a delay of up to four years. This request was ultimately approved in November 2025, marking a significant turning point for the project.
As Apple moves forward with its plans, the extension provides the tech giant with additional time to solidify its commitments and potentially reshape its vision for the Research Triangle Park campus. The outcome of this endeavor will not only impact Apple’s operations but could also have lasting effects on the local economy and job market in North Carolina.
