Moore County Partners in Progress » In The News http://www.moorebusiness.org Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:21:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Locust Lumber Locates in Moore County http://www.moorebusiness.org/2012/01/locust-lumber-locates-in-moore-county/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2012/01/locust-lumber-locates-in-moore-county/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:08:29 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=3263  

Highlights from 1/24/12 article in The Pilot

Lumber Wholesaler Finds New Building

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J.D. Cuff is the manager of the new Locust Lumber Co. office on U.S. 1 south of Vass.

 

By TED M. NATT JR.

Locust Lumber Co., the previously unnamed wholesaler that prompted a review of permissible uses in the Southern Pines Corporate Park, has leased the former Sunpak Foods building on U.S. 1 south of Vass.

The decision ends the company’s yearlong search for space in Moore County to serve customers — mainly contractors in the home-building and renovation industry — within a 50-mile radius.

“We have been looking at other markets for a number of years, and the Southern Pines-Pinehurst area just seemed to open up for us with the departure of a longtime building supply company,” said Leon Huneycutt, co-owner of the Locust-based company.

Locust Lumber, which also has a satellite office in Monroe, already has 10 employees in Vass and is adding 10,000 square feet of warehouse space to the 16,000-square-foot building.

“Hopefully, we’ll have that project completed by the middle of February and be adding employees,” Huneycutt said.

. . .

Roy Harvel, owner of U.S. 1 Realty, brokered the deal that led to Locust Lumber signing a long-term lease with the owner of the former Sunpak building.

“There was industrial zoning under Sunpak, so we had to get it rezoned to B-2, which is like the General Business designation in most municipalities,” Harvel said. “Locust Lumber has a nucleus of employees that know the market and the building trade. I also think they’ll be a good corporate citizen.”

. . .

The building is on five acres, which has enabled Locust Lumber to not only expand, but store products inside the building and out.

“We’re very excited to be there and look forward to serving everyone in Moore and the surrounding counties,” Huneycutt said.

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com.

 

>> To view other Moore County news, click here.

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2012/01/locust-lumber-locates-in-moore-county/feed/ 0 Royal Threads Receives $48,000 Grant http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/12/royal-threads-receives-48000-grant/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/12/royal-threads-receives-48000-grant/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:38:42 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=3222  

From The Pilot, 12/14/11

Royal Threads Receives Grant to Expand

By Ted M. Natt Jr.

Barry and Lori Pry have started up-fitting a 6,000-square-foot building adjacent to Royal Threads thanks in large part to a $48,000 Building Reuse and Restoration grant from the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.

The Prys are spending an additional six figures and mainly using local contractors to turn the building into a showcase for their products: in-house digitizing and embroidery, corporate and golf apparel, custom uniforms and logoed apparel.

“We wouldn’t be doing this on such a large scale without the grant,” Lori said. “It’s the perfect scenario to be able to expand. It’s a family business that slowly but surely has gotten a lot bigger.”

Although the grant wasn’t approved until last month, up-fitting began in October and is expected to be completed next month. The expansion is expected to create 10 new jobs for a company that was founded in 1995 and now has 55 employees.

Royal Threads is currently operating in 10,000 square feet of space at its corporate headquarters on N.C. 211 in Aberdeen. The company also has an embroidery operation in Durham.

“Everything right now is so tight in this building,” Barry said. “The new building will bring everything in-house. This is a relationship business. We’re fortunate that we’ve been able to grow our business and maintain a high level of customer service.”

Local corporate customers include Golf Pride Golf Grips and Aberdeen Exterminating, but the Prys target schools, churches and other organizations in North and South Carolina.

“We try to help them grow through logoed apparel, which gets people excited,” said Barry, a former professional golfer with extensive ties to that industry. “We love steering our customers in the right direction. We try to find the right apparel, then dress it up with your logo.”

One of the company’s first big jobs was providing the volunteer uniforms for the 1996 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles.

“I worked with Pinehurst Championship Management on the deal, which subsequently led to business in the corporate market,” Barry said.

The Prys have hired apparel industry veterans Bob Shay and Scott Grant within the past year to make direct sales in the two states. Shay and Grant typically take rolling racks of examples and brochures on their sales calls.

“It’s really hard to pick things out of a catalog. People like to look, touch and feel,” Lori says.

Shay said potential customers are more willing to buy now than they were three years ago at the height of the recession.

“It’s headed in the right direction,” he said.

Grant agreed, saying, “It was tight. It’s loosening up a little bit.”

The Prys believe that their company offers the best of both worlds in that it is big enough to handle large orders, yet small enough to give customers the one-on-one attention that is disappearing in today’s marketplace.

“We are never satisfied until the customer is satisfied,” Barry said. “When someone comes to us with an idea and a budget, we try to put them in the highest quality logoed apparel that they can afford.”

Pat Corso, executive director of Moore County Partners in Progress, said the county is fortunate to have Royal Threads because the Prys could have easily consolidated operations in Raleigh, where the company does all of the embroidery for the Peter Millar golf apparel line.

“The Rural Center grant played a major role in retaining that business for us. That was the clincher,” Corso says. “I think it’s great that we were able to keep them.”

Corso adds that the Prys are “excellent examples” of the types of entrepreneurs that Moore County is trying to attract and retain.

“Barry has had an extensive career in the apparel business and Lori is a terrific operator,” Corso said. “They’re expanding, hiring more people and working for a major brand. Hopefully, they’ll continue to expand as time goes on.”

The Prys plan to retain their corporate showroom in the main building and move their athletic showroom to the new building.

“Our business has grown 30 percent this year and I would expect it to be about the same for 2012,” Lori said. “The new building will give us the opportunity to really service our customers. I just wish we had gone for more grant money because we’re so busy.”

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com .

 

>> To view other Moore County news, click here.

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/12/royal-threads-receives-48000-grant/feed/ 0 $250,000 Committed to Heart of NC MegaPark http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/09/250000-committed-to-heart-of-nc-megapark/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/09/250000-committed-to-heart-of-nc-megapark/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:55:11 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=3082 For Immediate Release
September 6, 2011

 

The Heart of North Carolina MegaPark is moving forward to the next phase of planning and development thanks to $250,000 committed to the project by First Bank, Moore County Partners in Progress, and Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. 

Jerry Ocheltree, President and CEO of First Bank of Troy, announced today that First Bank is providing a $150,000 loan to Heart of North Carolina MegaPark, Inc., the 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation established to develop and manage the 3,000-acre Heart of North Carolina MegaPark property located in both Moore and Montgomery Counties in the developing Interstate 73/74 corridor. 

The loan will be combined with funding from Moore County Partners in Progress and Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation.  At its August 16th meeting, the Partners in Progress Board of Directors approved a $50,000 loan to Heart of North Carolina MegaPark, Inc., as did the Montgomery County EDC a day earlier at its August 15th Board meeting.  The total $250,000 will be used to design a master plan for the entire site and to certify an 87-acre portion of the site through the N.C. Department of Commerce’s site certification program.

Ocheltree, who is also a member of the Heart of North Carolina MegaPark’s Board of Directors, said, “The $250,000 positions us to make some tangible progress on bringing the MegaPark to fruition.  The detailed master plan is critical for infrastructure development including water and sewer services and roads which, at a minimum, need to be in place if we are to be competitive in recruiting companies to the Park.  Achieving certification, even on just a portion of the site, will not only attract clients looking for “shovel-ready” locations, but will also qualify the project to be considered for additional public grant opportunities in the future.”

All three loans will have the same terms and will be collateralized by the 87-acre parcel.  The nonprofit corporation will repay the loan amounts plus 2% annual interest within a 10-year period using the proceeds from selling parcels to new and expanding industries locating in the Heart of North Carolina MegaPark.

“The project had reached the point of needing substantial funding in order to continue our momentum and move forward”, said Tim Lea, Moore County Commissioner and Chairman of the MegaPark Board.  “We are fortunate that First Bank, Partners in Progress, and Montgomery County EDC could come to the table with financial assistance.  These 3 lending entities are part of a diverse consortium of partners in both Moore and Montgomery Counties committed to the successful development of the MegaPark.”

Lea added, “We also greatly appreciate the 3 primary landowners without whom the opportunity to develop the MegaPark would not exist.  Bob Jordan, Bobby Myrick and Gus Schad are truly the foundation for the entire project.”  Property owned by former N.C. Lieutenant Governor Bob

Jordan of Jordan Timberlands, Inc. in Mount Gilead, Bobby Myrick of Two Bobs LLC in Biscoe, and Gus Schad of Gus Schad Associates in Albemarle comprises the majority of the mega-site.  The 87-acre parcel to be used as collateral for the loans is owned by Mr. Jordan.

The Heart of North Carolina MegaPark Board will also explore additional funding opportunities for future expenses that include marketing and managing the site long-term.  These sources may include the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and the N.C. Department of Commerce.

With 3,000 acres located in the Interstate 73/74 corridor, the Heart of North Carolina MegaPark will be the state’s largest tract of land available for industrial development.  The site has many features and advantages making it naturally attractive for business recruitment and expansion.  One such advantage is its strategic central location and accessibility through a combination of outstanding highway access and dual rail access capability.

Plans call for the Park to be developed as green and sustainable with specific zoning and covenants in place to protect on-site wetland areas and wildlife habitats, preserve natural aesthetics and promote conservation planning.  Industries embracing and demonstrating the philosophy of environmental sustainability, through building construction, production methods and/or end products, will be the primary targets for locating in the park.

Eligible industries locating here will benefit from the availability of more state incentives at larger dollar amounts.  Even though Moore County has a Tier 3 designation, Montgomery County’s Tier 1 status for Article 3J tax credit incentives applies to the entire site.  Tier 1 means larger state tax credits for jobs created and capitalized personal property. 

In addition, because Montgomery County is a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), the HUBZone applies to the entire site, giving businesses located in the Zone a preferential status when applying for federal procurement opportunities.

“This mega-site represents tremendous economic opportunities for both counties, especially in those areas distressed by major job losses,” said Ray Ogden, Co-Executive Director for the project and member of the MegaPark Board.  Judy Stevens, Co-Executive Director and Board member, added, “When you think about how many industries could feasibly locate on 3,000 acres, and then think about the long-term creation of new, quality jobs and taxable capital investment by these industries, it’s clear just how extensive the Park’s economic impact could be.”

“I think I can also speak for the other landowners that we are all pleased to be a part of such a far-reaching endeavor with the potential to economically transform the communities of Moore and Montgomery Counties and perhaps even the entire core of North Carolina”, said Jordan.

The Heart of North Carolina MegaPark Board is preparing a Request for Proposal that will be distributed to civil engineering firms with experience in designing master site plans.  All companies with interest and experience are encouraged to submit proposals.

Contacts:
Ray Ogden, Moore County Partners in Progress:  910-246-0311
Pat Corso, Moore County Partners in Progress:  910-246-0311
Judy Stevens, Montgomery County Economic Development Corp.:  910-572-2575

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/09/250000-committed-to-heart-of-nc-megapark/feed/ 0 Welcome Pat Corso, new PIP Executive Director http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/09/welcome-pat-corso-new-pip-executive-director/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/09/welcome-pat-corso-new-pip-executive-director/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:24:05 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=3076  

Pat Corso, Executive Director
Moore County Partners in Progress
910-246-0311
patcorso@moorebusiness.org

 

From The Pilot 9/10/11:

Corso Welcomes New Challenge

Photo detail

by Ted Natt, Jr.

Even though Pat Corso helped start Moore County Partners in Progress eight years ago, he is making no assumptions as its new executive director.

“The community has evolved, so I have to prove myself again,” Corso says. “I have to earn the respect of the business community.”

Corso, 61, assumed the new position Sept. 1. He plans to spend his first month on the job touring the county with his predecessor, Ray Ogden, who is retiring.

“Most of what we’ll be doing is getting out and shaking hands,” Corso says. “Ray wants to make sure I meet the local business community, and understand what their needs are. We’ll also be meeting with local governmental bodies and personnel, among others.”

For example, Corso spent his second day on the job touring agricultural operations in Moore County with Craven Hudson, director of the county’s cooperative extension service.

“I’d never seen anyone harvest tobacco before,” Corso says. “I’m really excited about the farm community. It’s such a key part of our economy. We need to determine the things that we can do to create more markets for what they’re producing.

“Fortunately, this job gives me an opportunity to help the community by doing what historically I’ve done best.”

Corso has lived in Moore County since 1987, when ClubCorp hired him as president of Pinehurst Resort, which at the time had lost much of its luster.

But Corso oversaw extensive restoration and renovations over the next two decades that helped the resort regain its prominence as one of the premier golf destinations in the world. He was also instrumental in convincing the United States Golf Association to bring championship golf back to Pinehurst No. 2, which hosted the 1994 U.S. Senior Open and the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens.

Corso left the resort after the latter U.S. Open to start National Resort & Club Management, a consulting company that has managed properties such as PGA National Resort in Florida and The Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire. He and partner Ken Baer are also exploring Dunkin’ Donuts franchise opportunities in the Sandhills.

Corso believes that leading Partners in Progress will be equally rewarding and challenging.

“It’s really as exciting as coming to Pinehurst in the first place or starting your own company,” he says.

Patrick Coughlin, president and CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, believes that Corso’s new role will immediately bring his view of the county from “30,000 feet” down to “ground level.”

“As president of the resort, he certainly knew a lot about the community,” Coughlin says. “Now, he’s got to roll up his sleeves, get down in the trenches and get his hands dirty. I’ve been very encouraged because Pat is taking an active interest in finding out what is new and what has changed in Moore County. He has absolutely jumped in. I think that’s going to serve him well.”

Fred Hobbs, chairman of the Partners in Progress board of directors, says the group’s executive committee brought up Corso’s name earlier this year after being informed that Ogden was stepping down.

“We were talking about the qualities we wanted to look for, and Pat’s name came up,” Hobbs says. “We knew we didn’t want a traditional economic developer. We also wanted someone with a true affinity for Moore County.”

So Hobbs invited Corso to lunch and broached the subject.

“I was kind of taken aback because I’d never thought about it,” Corso says. “So I thought about it and realized that the position calls for a lot of what I’ve always done.”

Hobbs likens the situation to what happened in the late 1980s when John Dempsey succeeded Raymond Stone as president of Sandhills Community College.

“Raymond did a great job setting a solid foundation at Sandhills as the first president, then John came in and took the college to the next level,” Hobbs says. “We believe Pat can do the same for Partners in Progress. He has the ability to take this position and make it something special.

“Pat is kind of like a sponge — you just expose him to it and he’ll soak it up.”

Ogden agrees: “Pat is a very qualified guy who is going to pick everything up very quickly. I think he’s going to step up and take this to another level. I just want to make the transition as easy and helpful as I can for him.”

Corso earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ball State University in 1972. He and his wife, Judy, who have been married 37 years, have three adult children.

“We just love it here,” Pat says. “During my career I’ve had the opportunity to lead and learn through my involvement in the resort industry and business communities in several states, and being able to promote Moore County is a wonderful and exciting opportunity.

“We’ve got something special here. We just need to keep stirring the pot and pushing new ideas that can fly. The good news is that times are tough and everyone is attuned to trying new things.”

And “everyone” includes Corso.

“I want to help create new jobs and vibrant communities,” he says. “I’m really excited about it. Not everybody gets the chance a little bit later in their career to do something that will have a lasting benefit.”

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com.

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/09/welcome-pat-corso-new-pip-executive-director/feed/ 0 New! HEART OF NORTH CAROLINA MEGAPARK http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/05/new-project-heart-of-nc-megapark/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/05/new-project-heart-of-nc-megapark/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 15:11:59 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=2870  

NEW! >> Heart of North Carolina MegaPark
The Heart of North Carolina MegaPark is a joint collaboration between Moore County and neighboring Montgomery County to develop a 3,000-acre corporate/industrial mega-site located in both counties. With its strategic location in central North Carolina and close proximity to U.S Interstate 73/74, the site offers easy access to markets throughout North Carolina and the Eastern Seaboard.

Heart of North Carolina MegaPark Overview

 

Infrastructure: The property offers many advantages for business recruitment and expansion including services from all utilities except natural gas, which is currently available within a 30-mile radius of the site. Fiber optics is available, and in addition to interstate access, rail service is onsite through Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway that connects to both Norfolk Southern and CSX.

Eco-Friendly: The MegaPark will be developed as a green, environmentally-sustainable corporate/ industrial location. Master planning will incorporate best practices to protect and enhance the natural environment and minimize the use of nonrenewable resources. Specific zoning and covenants will protect onsite wetland areas and wildlife habitats, preserve natural aesthetics and promote conservation planning.

Incentives: The N.C. Department of Commerce categorizes each of the state’s 100 counties into one of 3 “tiers” based on economic well-being. Counties needing a competitive boost to attract new industry are assigned a Tier 1 designation and are eligible for more state incentives at larger dollar amounts. Montgomery County has a Tier 1 status and because 1/3 of the mega-site is located in Montgomery County, the Tier 1 designation applies to the entire site. Businesses locating in the MegaPark may qualify for a job creation tax credit of $12,500 per new job and an investment tax credit of 7% of the cost of tangible personal property.

A project of this scale and caliber in central North Carolina combined with a commitment to environmental sustainability is truly unique in the state and has the potential to not only create tremendous economic and lifestyle opportunities for Moore and Montgomery Counties, but also to revolutionize the entire central core of the state.

>> For more information about the Heart of North Carolina MegaPark, contact us.

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/05/new-project-heart-of-nc-megapark/feed/ 0 Check out the New TOOLS FOR BUSINESS icon: A resource for entrepreneurs http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/02/check-out-the-new-tools-for-business-icon-a-resource-for-entrepreneurs/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/02/check-out-the-new-tools-for-business-icon-a-resource-for-entrepreneurs/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:44:49 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=2691  

February 21, 2011



A new resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners is available on the Partners in Progress website!  Tools for Business is a one-stop web portal that accesses a wealth of information and assistance for starting a new business or growing an existing business.  You’ll find the icon on every page of www.moorebusiness.org.

Tools for Business accesses free local, state and national resources through one portal and is designed to help new and growing businesses succeed.
 

 

Tools for Business is an initiative of the TriSouth Entrepreneurial Network (TriSouth eNet), a cooperative venture among Moore, Chatham, Harnett and Lee Counties to encourage and support entrepreneurship in the 4 counties.

 

 

 

>> To view other Moore County news, click here.

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/02/check-out-the-new-tools-for-business-icon-a-resource-for-entrepreneurs/feed/ 0 Meridian Zero Degrees named Small Business of the Year http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/01/meridian-zero-degrees-named-small-business-of-the-year/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/01/meridian-zero-degrees-named-small-business-of-the-year/#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:59:28 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=2651  

January 28, 2011

Congratulations to Meridian Zero Degrees of Aberdeen for being selected as Moore County’s Small Business of the Year!   The announcement was made at the Moore County Chamber’s annual Banquet last night.


Founded in 1999, Meridian is a leading manufacturer of touch-screen kiosk solutions for the self-service industry.  From design to finished product, Meridian’s in-house manufacturing includes custom solutions, hardware, enclosures, software and consulting.   The company’s 65,000 square-foot manufacturing facility is located in Aberdeen.  Meridian is ISO9001 Certified.  www.meridiankiosks.com
]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/01/meridian-zero-degrees-named-small-business-of-the-year/feed/ 0 Moore County selected a 2010 Best 100 Community for Young People http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/01/moore-county-selected-a-2010-best-100-community-for-young-people/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/01/moore-county-selected-a-2010-best-100-community-for-young-people/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:05:01 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=2603  
Moore County has been selected by America’s Promise Alliance as one of 2010′s Best 100 Communities for Young People.  This designation recognizes those communities whose extraordinary efforts are improving the well-being of youth and ensuring that more youth graduate from high school. 

More than 350 communities across the country were nominated for the designation.  Moore County is one of only 4 communities in North Carolina to be chosen.  The winners were announced at a ceremony on September 21, 2010 in front of the Washington Monument on National Mall in Washington, DC.

 

 
The following article is from America’s Promise Alliance, www.americaspromise.org:

Moore County, North Carolina

First time 100 Best winner, Moore County listens to youth and responds to their most pressing needs. By partnering within the community, Moore County gives their children both a strong academic program and a strong personal support system. Moore County places youth in leadership roles, empowering them to advocate for themselves, their peers and their community. The future is in their hands, and by giving them responsibility now and providing them with support along the way, Moore County is building the leaders of tomorrow.

The Moore County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local businesses, offers an Entrepreneurial Boot Camp for high school students to explore their business leadership skills. The camp provides youth with the opportunity to learn from successful business leaders and to create and present business plans to a panel of bankers for review. This professional learning environment gives youth insight into what they can achieve as a business leader of tomorrow. Youth leadership is encouraged and incorporated into grant-sponsored programs such as Teens against Tobacco Usage (TATU). TATU trains teens to address tobacco policy with school administrators and also to provide peer support for students attempting to quit tobacco. There are 60 teens in TATU who sponsor activities to increase awareness of the harmful effects and addictive nature of tobacco. Students are exposed to and involved in state level tobacco policy making.

Moore County believes collaborating and sharing resources creates the best opportunities and outcomes for youth. The dropout problem is one that impacts every sector of the community and requires collective attention. Recently more than 45 community leaders met to view the ‘High Cost of Dropping Out’, a Communities In Schools presentation showing the direct cost of dropping out to the community. As a result, education, business, community and government leaders renewed their commitment to make youth a priority. In 2008, Moore County initiated a study on the impact of poverty on youth within Moore County. More than 20 community groups worked together to produce this study, including the county’s health department, NAACP, community colleges, local nonprofits and local law enforcement. The lesson learned was that education and community collaboration are keys to not only survival, but real change.

The challenge lies in maximizing quality opportunities for all youth to help themselves and others, especially the disadvantaged and children of military families. To solve this, the community collaborates to provide youth with the opportunity to help others in a meaningful way, as well as develop personal character skills. One excellent example of youth helping others is Operation Military Kids. This program, operated by Moore County 4-H youth, offers many services and resources to more than 1,200 military students whose parents are stationed at Ft. Bragg. 4-H youth serve as camp counselors and form speaker bureaus to inform the community of the unique needs of military students.

Recognizing that obesity is also an issue among our youth, more than fifteen community partners joined to support Communities In Schools, a dropout prevention organization, and its FirstSchool Garden Program.  This brings a healthy choices curriculum to more than 3,000 students in eight schools. Students combine hands-on learning in math, engineering and water conservation with nutrition and physical activity. Its success has garnered statewide recognition as a model obesity prevention project and new partners are providing funding for expansion.

>> To view other Moore County news, click here.

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2011/01/moore-county-selected-a-2010-best-100-community-for-young-people/feed/ 0 Latest Issue of The Economic Echo Now Online http://www.moorebusiness.org/2010/08/latest-issue-of-the-economic-echo-now-online/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2010/08/latest-issue-of-the-economic-echo-now-online/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:45:04 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=2344 The August 2010 issue of The Economic Echo is now available online.

» Inside this issue:
   – ”Manufacturing Makes It Real” Statewide Tour Scheduled to Celebrate N.C. Manufacturers
   – Lt. General Frank Helmick, Fort Bragg’s Commanding General, Address Record Crowd at Annual Dinner
   – ”A Brighter Picture” – Moore County’s Economy Shows Signs of Improvement
   –  Grant Funds Help Local Businesses Expand
   – “From the Executive Director” – Ray Ogden talks about the Moore / Montgomery proposed mega-site.

>> Click here to go directly to the current issue of the newsletter.

]]> http://www.moorebusiness.org/2010/08/latest-issue-of-the-economic-echo-now-online/feed/ 0 Proposed Joint County Mega-Site Project Endorsed http://www.moorebusiness.org/2010/08/proposed-joint-county-mega-site-project-endorsed/ http://www.moorebusiness.org/2010/08/proposed-joint-county-mega-site-project-endorsed/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:14:44 +0000 moorebusiness http://www.moorebusiness.org/?p=2313 August 18, 2010

 

County Commissioners Endorse Moving Forward with

Proposed Mega-Site Project

 

At their Board meeting last night, the Moore County Commissioners signed a Resolution of Support to endorse moving forward in collaboration with Montgomery County on an industrial mega-site project that has the potential to create substantial economic opportunities for both Moore and Montgomery Counties.

 

The proposed mega-site is approximately 3,000 contiguous, undeveloped acres situated jointly in both Moore and Montgomery Counties.  By definition, a mega-site must be at least 500 contiguous acres that can be developed for industrial uses.  Ray Ogden, Executive Director of Moore County Partners in Progress and Judy Stevens, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, spearheaded the idea of establishing and developing a joint mega-site industrial park between the two counties almost 5 years ago, but the project has gained more momentum over the last year.  In addition to the endorsement by the Moore County Commissioners, the primary landholders who collectively own the majority of the land parcels have also embraced the project and are eager to move forward.

 

N.C. General Statue § 158‑7.4 authorizes county governments to enter into interlocal agreements for the purpose of developing a shared industrial site or industrial park.  The legislation also specifies how tax revenues generated as the park grows would be shared between the counties, and how eligibility for state tax incentives would be determined for the site. 

 

The N.C. Department of Commerce categorizes each of the state’s 100 counties into one of three “tiers” based on economic well-being.  Counties considered the most economically distressed and disadvantaged are assigned a Tier 1 designation, while counties at the other end of the spectrum are given a Tier 3 status.  The state has established that Tier 1 counties are eligible for more state incentives at larger dollar amounts in an effort to encourage more economic development in these counties.   A benefit for this project is that although Moore County is a Tier 3, Montgomery County is a Tier 1, and because one-third of the mega-site property is located in Montgomery County, the Tier 1 designation is applicable to the entire site.  “Having the Tier 1 status is a definite competitive advantage in attracting new and expanding companies, especially those that place financial incentives high on their list of requirements,” said Stevens. 

 

The mega-site will be marketed as the “Center of North Carolina” because it is in almost the exact geographic center of North Carolina.  The site is roughly bound by Spies Road, NC Highway 24/27 and Interstate 73/74 (US 220) between Star and Biscoe.

 

“The site’s central location puts Eastern Seaboard markets well-within a day’s drive”, said Ogden.  “The property offers many other advantages for companies as well.  It is served by all utilities except natural gas, which is available within a 25-mile radius of the site.  Rail service and fiber optics are on-site, and the Piedmont Triad International Airport is less than an hour away.”

 

The site will also be developed as a green, sustainable industrial park with zoning and covenants in place to protect on-site wetland areas and wildlife habitats, and preserve natural aesthetics.  Industries embracing the vision of environmental sustainability will be the primary target for locating in the park.

 

“While our own local efforts to market and develop the site will be important, we will also partner with the Department of Commerce to have marketing exposure at the state level,” Stevens said.  “Commerce has expressed an interest in the project and they are monitoring its progress.  They recognize that a mega-site of this magnitude and caliber is a great asset for North Carolina.” 

 

“This mega-site represents tremendous economic opportunities for the citizens of both counties,” said Ogden.  “Think about how many industries could feasibly locate on 3,000 acres, and then think about the long-term creation of new, quality jobs and taxable capital investment by these industries.  Needless to say, the economic impact of the park would be extensive.”

 

At their August 17th Board meeting, the Montgomery County Commissioners approved a similar Resolution of Support for the project.

 

 

Contacts:

Ray Ogden, Moore County Partners in Progress:  910-246-0311

Judy Stevens, Montgomery County Economic Development Corp.:  910-572-2575

 

 

 

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