BRS Defense in Pinebluff, Moore County, is ramping up production to accommodate an additional $8 million in new parachute orders from the U.S. Army.  The parent company, BRS Aerospace, announced that the increased production levels will require hiring an additional 134 employees.

BRS Defense has continued to grow steadily since locating in Pinebluff in late 2007.

BRS Defense New Army Parachute Contracts press release 2-11-10

>> To view additional press releases, click here.

>> Click here for the November 2009 issue of The Economic Echo

» Inside this issue:
   – N.C. State University’s Sustainability Programs to help your business
   – The new ISO 50001 Energy Standard
   – New Entrepreneurial Lab at Sandhills Community College
   — Update on exciting new projects to bring jobs and investment to Moore County

>> To view the previous issue of The Economic Echo (July 2009), click here.

>> For other economic development news in Moore County, click here.

A recent poll named 2 towns in Moore County among the top 10 prettiest small towns in North Carolina. Out of 45 NC towns with populations less than 15,000, Pinehurst was voted #2 and Southern Pines #9 based on charm, character, historic homes, landscapes, architecture and commitment to preservation, among other factors.

The poll of 32 in-state journalists was conducted by writer Bill Hensley of Charlotte, former director of the NC Division of Travel & Tourism.

In addition to the Village of Pinehurst and the Town of Southern Pines, the Town of Cameron, also in Moore County, received a number of votes in the poll.

The Village of Pinehurst is a scenic resort community in southern Moore County.  It is best known as home to the world-renowned No. 2 golf course, host to the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Men’s Open Championship, among many other golfing events and tournaments.  The U.S. Men’s Open, as well as the U.S. Women’s Open, will both be played at Pinehurst No. 2 back-to-back in 2014, which is unprecedented in golf history.  The No. 2 course is one of 43 golf courses located throughout Moore County, albeit the most prestigious one!

Pinehurst Resort, with the beautiful Carolina Hotel and luxurious Spa at Pinehurst, includes courses No. 1 through 8.  In 1996, the Village of Pinehurst and Pinehurst Resort were given National Landmark status for their significant role in U.S. golf history.  This is the only golf-related designation of its kind in the United States.

The heart of the Village is a unique array of shops and bistros that offers something for everyone.  Residents and visitors alike notice and appreciate the special ambiance and natural beauty of Pinehurst.

The Town of Southern Pines is the largest municipality in Moore County and is nationally known for its equestrian activity and beautiful, expansive horse farms.  At the heart of Southern Pines’ “Horse Country” are 2 pristine nature preserves totaling 4,900 acres and offering miles of riding trails.

The downtown area features a myriad of picturesque shops, cafes and professional businesses.  The Town uniquely combines a thriving commercial and industrial base with a diversity of cultural, historical and recreational offerings.  Southern Pines is also home to Pine Needles Resort & Golf Club, host to the 1996, 2001 and 2007 U.S. Women’s Open Championships.

In addition to the “Prettiest Small Towns” designation, the Pinehurst – Southern Pines area has also been ranked as #24 in Economic Strength out of 574 areas throughout the United States with populations between 10,000 and 50,000.  This 2009 ranking by POLICOM Corporation puts the Pinehurst – Southern Pines area high on the national list of communities with a stable economy consistently growing both in size and quality, enabling residents to enjoy a higher quality of living and less economic volatility.

“The accolades Pinehurst and Southern Pines have received simply reaffirm what residents here already know”, said Ray Ogden, Executive Director of Moore County Partners in Progress.  ”The enviable quality of life here is our greatest asset, and Moore County is a great place to live, work and play!”

Partners in Progress is the economic development organization that serves all of Moore County, North Carolina to improve the quality of life for our citizens through new business recruitment and existing business expansion. For more information, visit http://www.moorebusiness.org or call 1-800-461-3755.

>> To view additional Press Releases, click here.

January 22, 2010

Aberdeen, Moore County, North Carolina – Meridian Kiosks LLC recently announced the addition of BlueStar to its new Channel Partner program. Meridian is a leading manufacturer of standard and customized self-service kiosks for the North American market.  The company is based in Aberdeen (Moore County), North Carolina where it has a 65,000 square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility on 11 acres.

Founded in 1999 and in Aberdeen since 2005, Meridian Kiosk recently celebrated 10 years of providing product and service excellence to thousands of customers all over the world.  Its customer base continues to grow steadily.

BlueStar will distribute Meridian’s extensive hardware product line and software platform providing BlueStar value-added resellers with high quality, cost effective, self-service kiosk solutions within a rapidly growing market.  “We are very excited to offer our products and services through BlueStar,” Meridian CEO Chris Gilder said.

Meridian’s kiosk products are designed for corporate, government, health care, hospitality, retail and transportation markets, among many others.  These products feature quality construction and “Best in Class” ergonomic designs and can be customized for a variety of applications including guided selling, human resources, gift registry, gift card, patient check-in, ticketing, food ordering, bill payment and inventory extension.

Meridian is the only top-tier self-service provider that has complete metal fabrication in house, from initial concept to completion of the finished product.  “We’re probably the only company in the industry that does the complete package,” said Robert Giblett of Meridian’s sales team.

Based in Moore County, North Carolina
A native of the United Kingdom, Gilder discovered Moore County while visiting friends in nearby Fayetteville, and he was immediately impressed with the area. Today, Meridian remains committed to Moore County because it’s a great area and the operations facility in Aberdeen fits the company’s needs, according to Gilder.

“Many company managers and entrepreneurs are discovering that Moore County’s exceptional quality of life speaks for itself and that this area is an excellent location for a business that is starting, relocating or expanding,” said Ray Ogden, Executive Director of Partners in Progress, the economic development organization that serves all of Moore County.  “Meridian Kiosks is exactly the type of niche manufacturer that fits in well here, and Moore County supports the continued growth and success of our industries like Meridian.”

For more information about Meridian Kiosks LLC, visit www.meridiankiosks.com.  Partners in Progress’ mission is to promote Moore County, North Carolina and assist in new business recruitment and to support the expansion and retention efforts of local existing industry.  For more information, visit www.moorebusiness.org.

>> To view additional Press Releases, click here.

The North Carolina Legislature recognized that the national focus on Homeland Security and the immense presence of military installations in the state were generating many economic opportunities for North Carolina businesses.  They also realized that these businesses would need help matching up with the specific military opportunities that were relevant to them.

 
The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), headquartered in Fayetteville, was created in 2005 to serve all of North Carolina as a bridging entity between businesses and the military.  The NCMBC’s goals are:

• To increase federal and military business for existing North Carolina companies;
• To integrate transitioning military personnel and family members into the workforce;
• To support recruitment and development of defense-related businesses in North Carolina.

 
The NCMBC accomplishes these goals by identifying the most lucrative federal and military contract opportunities and then helping companies to submit winning proposals.  The Center administers the state’s web portal MatchForce, the online vehicle for matching companies with specific contract opportunities.  The NCMBC also offers numerous workshops, participates in trade shows, and conducts employment programs to assist both companies and the military.

The Center has offices at 11 Community Colleges across the state, including one at Sandhills Community College in Moore County.

At Sandhills Community College, Linn Owen, an NCMBC Business Development Specialist, is available to counsel local businesses on how to use the NCMBC’s services and to tap into the military market.  All of the NCMBC’s services are free.  Linn can be reached at 910-695-3780 or owenl@ncmbc.us. 

>> For more information on the NCMBC, visit www.ncmbc.us.

MatchForce and the Defense Ventures Fund are tools established to help North Carolina companies take advantage of military business opportunities and are indispensable resources for Moore County businesses.

 
MATCHFORCE
The web-based tool MatchForce, at www.matchforce.org, is maintained by the NC Military Business Center (NCMBC) and directly matches North Carolina businesses to government contracts, government purchasers to NC suppliers, and job seekers to North Carolina jobs.

Local businesses, government agencies, and individuals must register at MatchForce before participating in any of its services.  Registration is free, and this is the first step for companies to receive information on federal job opportunities that match their respective profiles.  Government contracting representatives can access MatchForce to easily find those companies offering the products and services needed.

 
» Read about the O’Connor Company of N.C., Inc.,  a Moore County construction company registered at MatchForce, who won a $3.2 million contract at Fort Bragg in October 2006 to construct a 70,000 square-foot indoor shooting range.  To read the story, click here.

 
>> For assistance with MatchForce, contact Linn Owen, NCMBC Business Development Specialist, at Sandhills Community College, 910-695-3780 or by email:  owenl@ncmbc.us.

 
DEFENSE VENTURES FUND
The Defense Ventures Fund is a loan fund program for North Carolina companies interested in expanding or entering into defense-related manufacturing.  The Neuse River Development Authority established the fund based on a grant received from the Golden LEAF Foundation.

Start-up or existing manufacturers and service businesses located in or relocating to North Carolina can apply for subordinated loans ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.  These loans offer deferred principal and interest payments, 10-20 year terms, and rates subject to market conditions.

Loan funds can be used for facility expansion, machinery & equipment, real estate, or working capital.

>> For more information, contact Guy Williams, President of Neuse River Development Authority, at 252-638-6724, or email:  gwilliams@nrda.org.

The Defense & Security Technology Accelerator (DSTA) is yet another resource to help North Carolina companies and entrepreneurs take advantage of business opportunities with the military.

The DSTA, located in Fayetteville (Cumberland County), is a business incubator / accelerator focusing on defense, security & intelligence technology:  locating entrepreneurs and innovators in technology, matching their technology with specific and immediate military needs and/or private business demands, and providing the resources to bring these technology innovations to fruition.  DSTA focuses on the rapid development, usually an 8 to 18-month timeline, of dual-use solutions — technologies with both military and commercial applications — to spur new job creation.

To provide resources and guidance to entrepreneurs and early-stage technology companies, DSTA works closely with the military, private industry, universities, and particularly technological and scientific companies, researchers and experts in Research Triangle Park.

To accomplish its goals, DSTA’s key components are:

• A 15,000 square-foot facility with Class A office space of different sizes, state-of-the-art laboratory space, and shared conference rooms for approximately 12-15 companies that can stay for a maximum of 2 years;
• Space within the facility where engineers and other experts can assist entrepreneurs and businesses in developing and testing prototypes, and where military can view and evaluate these prototypes;
• An affiliate program to assist North Carolina companies not physically located at DSTA;
• Fusion Grants providing $10,000 – $50,000 per company to member companies demonstrating financial need.  The grants can be used for the development or refinement of defense-related products and technology that also have commercial potential.

 
Counties located along this corridor between Fayetteville and the Research Triangle Park stand to greatly benefit from many new business opportunities.  As one of these counties, Moore County will be able to encourage and support technological entrepreneurs and innovators and offer resources, through DSTA, to accelerate technology development and job creation.

Interested defense and security-oriented technology companies must apply to join DSTA.  >> For more information, contact Scott Perry, Executive Director, at 910-864-3782 or email at scottperry@dstanc.org.  Visit the DSTA website at www.dstanc.org.

Between 2008 and 2013, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) move of Fort McPherson, Georgia to Fort Bragg, North Carolina will have a tremendous impact on Moore County and other counties surrounding the base.  Fort McPherson, the current home of the US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and the Army Reserve Command (USARC), will be closing as part of the BRAC initiative. 

By 2013, over 40,000 military personnel, civilian workers, family members and support company employees are expected to arrive at Fort Bragg and the surrounding 11-county area.  The average rank of these military personnel will be lieutenant colonel, and Fort Bragg will have its first 4-star general.  Some of the companies that do contract work for FORSCOM, plus logistical and supply companies, are also expected to relocate to the area.  When this move is completed, Fort Bragg will be the most populous Army base in the country.

As a result of the military growth at Fort Bragg, the impact on Moore County is expected to be as follows:

• A population increase of 4,128 people by 2013.
• An overall employment increase of 2,054 jobs.  Most of these jobs will be in construction-related occupations and in the professional & technical services sector.  Construction jobs are anticipated to peak in 2011.

Source:  Comprehensive Regional Growth Plan Final Report – Chapter 15:  Moore County, September 2008

WELCOME TO MOORE COUNTY

Moore County is an excellent location for relocating families AND companies that need or want to be near Fort Bragg (but don’t want to live the military lifestyle!).

The County is adjacent to the base’s western boundary and is just 35 minutes from the main post area.

Moore County offers easy access to Fort Bragg.

Relocating families looking for a safe, family-friendly environment to call home, apart from the military lifestyle at Fort Bragg, can look to Moore County for a variety of living options, as well as a wealth of family-oriented amenities.  Moore County has an excellent public school system, in addition to 2 charter schools and 8 private schools.  Healthcare services are exceptional with a hospital (Moore Regional Hospital) nationally-recognized for clinical excellence, as well as service providers locally who accept Tricare.

When considering a place to settle, Moore County compares favorably to the other 10 counties surrounding Fort Bragg (Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties).  Consider these statistics:

• Moore County Public Schools has the highest 2008 SAT score at 1528, compared to the next highest score of 1430.
• Moore County has the highest 2008 Median Household Income at $53,306, compared to the next highest at $50,202.
• Moore County has the 3rd highest 2008 Average Weekly Wages for private sector industries at $640.
• Moore County has the lowest 2008 crime index number (using U.S. average of 100) at 82, compared to the next lowest at 83.

(County com

parisons made using Economic Development Intelligence System, N.C. Department of Commerce.)

Moore County is a great place to live (and raise a family!), work and play!

BRAC REGIONAL TASK FORCE
Moore County is a member of the BRAC Regional Task Force (RTF), based at Fort Bragg and composed of the 11 counties surrounding the base that will be most impacted by the BRAC move.  The RTF has been organized not only to help these surrounding counties prepare for the move’s impact, but also to provide support resources and ease the transition for those who will be relocated.

Moore County is part of the 11-county region, known as the All-American Defense Corridor, surrounding Fort Bragg.

The 11-county region around Fort Bragg is the “All-American Defense Corridor“, which is descriptive of the region’s suitability as the location for a regional defense / homeland security industry cluster in North Carolina.  To view the brochure for the All-American Defense Corridor, click here.

The BRAC RTF has its own website including a page devoted to showcasing Moore County’s assets and exceptional quality of life. 

> The BRAC RTF website is:  www.bracrtf.com.     > To access Moore County’s page, click here.

>>  The BRAC RTF hosted its 4th Relocation Fair at Fort McPherson in September 2009 at Fort McPherson.  The Fair highlighted the Fort Bragg region’s educational, recreational, residential and healthcare amenities, among others, for the FORSCOM and USARC employees who will be eventually relocating to Fort Bragg. 

• The BRAC RTF’s 1st Relocation Fair was held in September 2006 at Fort McPherson.  To view the press release about the Fair, click here.

WWW.BUILDBRAGG.COM
The BRAC RTF and other partners have collaborated to create the www.buildbragg.com website, a central web portal for access to all information related to the construction of the combined FORSCOM / USARC headquarters at Fort Bragg.  Job opportunities, subcontracting information, and a profile on Hensel Phelps, Inc., the prime contractor for the project, are available at the new website.  To view the February 2009 press release about the site, click here.

Moore County is home to an impressive mix of medical facilities, golf resorts, manufacturers, and professional and retail businesses.  Following are the 10 largest employers in the County.

As of September 30, 2009

Moore County Partners in Progress

Moore County’s top manufacturing companies make a wide range of products from carpets to infant crib mattresses to specialized vehicles for the military.

For Quarter ending September 30, 2009

Source: Employment Security Commission – Workforce-in-Depth

Gulistan Carpet in Aberdeen is Moore County's largest manufacturer. (courtesy of Gulistan)