Johnston County will soon be getting hundreds of new jobs.

Talecris Biotherapeutics will expand its plant in Clayton, according to the Triangle Business Journal. The paper said the expansion will mean a $270 million investment and 250 new jobs.

An official announcement is expected Friday morning.

The expansion is a big deal for a county that's been hit hard with layoffs.

Lisa Alves said there is a steady stream of people applying for jobs at the gas station convenience store where she works.

"There are people coming in daily asking for jobs and applying for jobs and coming back and checking on the jobs; you can see it's hitting hard," Alves said.

First construction giant Caterpillar laid off employees. Then nearby ConAgra Foods announced they'd cut back after an explosion that killed three people and destroyed a section of the building.

But the possible Talecris announcement is giving hope to people like Kelley Shields.

"It'll bring a lot of people to come and try and find jobs to that company," said Shields, who is job hunting.

It's not clear if local and state incentives were used to lure the company to expand in Clayton.

Johnston County Commissioner Wade Stewart would not confirm it's the Talecris plant that's expanding, only saying there will be a "good news" announcement Friday.

"People need jobs and a plant expansion like this is a wonderful thing for Johnston County," Stewart said. "There's going to be some six-figure jobs and 10 to 15-dollar-an-hour jobs."