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05-28-2024 Meeting Minutes EDCEDC Minutes for May 28, 2024 Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting Person County EDC Board Room 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 May 28, 2024 Voting Board Members Present: Mr. Phillip Allen-Chairman Dr. Scott McKinney-Vice Chairman Mr. Jay Poindexter The Honorable Gordon Powell The Honorable Merilyn Newell Mr. Kenneth Perry Mr. Jody Blackwell Mr. Donald Long Ms. Sherry Clayton Ex Officios Present: Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Agricultural Representative Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent Ex Officios Absent: Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager Dr. Pamela Senegal, PCC President ED Staff Present: Others Present: Ms. Brandy Lynch, Director Mr. George Willoughby Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Ms. Kim Strickland Ms. Briana Whitt, ED Specialist (Minutes) Mr. Bo Freeman Ms. Mikayla Berryhill Ms. Julie Maybee Ms. Sherry Wilborn EDC Welcome and Invocation: At 4:00 p.m., Chairman Allen called the meeting to order. Mr. Scott McKinney gave the invocation. 1 of 129 EDC Minutes for May 28, 2024 Agriculture Presentation: Mr. Allen introduced Mikayla Berryhill and Bo Freeman for their agriculture presentation. Ms. Berryhill started off by providing a little background about herself. Ms. Berryhill stated that she grew up on a small farm in Rowan County, then attended NC State and majored in Agronomy with an Agriculture Business Management minor, then worked in Union County for about a year and a half, once proposed to by her now husband moved closer and is now working as the Field Crops Area Agent of Person and Granville County. Currently, Ms. Berryhill is working on getting her Masters in Crop Science. Ms. Berryhill stated that they were here to extend the research-based information from the universities (NC State and NC A&T) to the citizens of North Carolina. NC Cooperative Extension has over 1,058 professionals and 101 local centers across North Carolina. It is the second largest extension network, and Texas is first. 2% is the percentage of the workforce that produces food for the rest of the population in the United States. In 1840, around 60% of the workforce produced food for the United States; it will continue to go down, and the share of agriculture in total employment is at an all-time low. Ms. Berryhill shared that United States farmers are some of the most valuable workers in the world. North Carolina has almost 43,000 farms, and the market value of their agricultural products sold is around $18.6 billion. NC State is lucky to have a member named Mike Waldon, who came up with the number for the Economic Impact of North Carolina Agriculture and Agribusiness last week, which is $111.1 billion. For Person County, there are about 364 farms, and the market value of products sold is $46.5 million. Person County's highest-ranking product is tobacco, 7th in the state and 8th in the nation for production. Mr. Freeman stated that agriculture is in the background of everything we have, which hints when starting to look at agritourism, the longer ones have been the venues and the wineries. Many farms are now learning how to increase their profits, such as using the land for wedding venues or festivals. Some people even buy land, build a house on the property, and then rent it out as an Airbnb. One of the new trends is bridging; watching the birds will be a big venue, and it's something new to do outside and bring new people in. Existing Industry Report: Mr. Eatmon introduced himself to the board and gave everyone a little background on himself. Education and training are vitally important in economic development. So, he stayed abreast of what was happening in the state and the region. While working in Warren, Mr. Eatmon was involved with the Community Development Academy; I started that with the UNC School of Government. I just started that when he got pulled away here and then finished that up at the beginning of May. That was like a three-and-a-half-month course. That's drawing down on the importance of community development, and a lot of that has to do with housing, but also that interacts with economic growth because, without 2 of 129 EDC Minutes for May 28, 2024 housing, you can't have people. Also, I am continuing coursework with a certified economic developer course at ECU. Mr. Eatmon has been developing a questionnaire to send to businesses previously. ED has just been going out and meeting with companies and continuing to do that. They were then asked these questions in person. The only problem is that they often need to have this information handy and dig it up from somewhere. Many, "I'll get back to you on that." And they don't ever get back. If you send them a survey and couple it with in-person interviews, we may get better data. Another thing Mr. Eatmon is working on is a business resources brochure. This brochure will serve as a comprehensive guide for our local businesses, especially small businesses, to understand and access the various state, regional, and federal resources available to them. Mr. Eatmon is working diligently on this project, and we believe it will be a valuable addition once we get our website up and running. Having these resources readily available on our economic development website will make it easier for businesses to thrive. Dr. Berryhill and Mr. Eatmon have visited a few places and given him a few new contacts. Bladen County Trip: Ms. Lynch mentioned that she and Mr. Eatmon were invited to the Alexandria Center in May for a meeting to discuss potential collaborations and learn from their successful initiatives. They have taken in an RTP building that they closed down and revamped, putting millions of dollars in greenhouses between two buildings. Ms. Lynch said, "We sat in a glass boardroom and looked down on a restaurant that had fresh food. It had greenery everywhere. So that is a great resource for business, property, and industry." Several months ago, Ms. Lynch attended a class at ECU. In that class, she was privileged to meet Tuck Eustace, a fellow economic development director in Bladen County. He was the guest speaker for the class instructor, Ernie Pearson. Chuck retired from Bladen County as their economic development director. He's also the executive director of Blyton's nonprofit Bladen's Bloomin and a business partner with Ernie Pearson. Ms. Whitt has compiled an information sheet comparing our county, Person County, with Bladen County. This comparison provides valuable insights into our county's economic development status and potential areas for improvement. The sheet is also included in your packet; you can see multiple graphs. Ms. Lynch visited Chuck for a few hours on Wednesday and told him about Person County and our needs and issues. The next day, I was joined by county manager Katherine Cathy and Dr. Berryhill. Bladen County is like Person County, miles away from an interstate which, as you know, can cripple you. They started to think outside the box in the early 2000s. Bladen's bloom and took the lead to bring the county where it is today. The nonprofit participates in revolving loan programs with the county. They also get funding from multiple sources, such as the Golden Leaf Committee of 100, USDA, and other funding. The nonprofit has an industrial park that continues to grow today. 3 of 129 EDC Minutes for May 28, 2024 Many startups have grown and expanded, one of which has expanded seven times. One of the latest project openings was in November of 2023 when the nonprofit purchased several downtown build buildings damaged in multiple hurricanes. The nonprofit built a mixed-use facility with low market value rent to help businesses thrive. The next phase has already started, including more parking and buildings. The Industrial Park has grown over the last 20-plus years. It now includes an emergency services facility, an airport, and a Cape Fear winery. The winery has multiple uses, including a distillery cottage, restaurant, Event Center Spa, and a petting zoo with unique animals. The winery has grown so much that there were plans to build seven more cottages, and in recognizing the need of the county or their focus, the needs highlighted were a daycare and health care facilities. Director Report: Ms. Lynch started by discussing the demographic sheet handed out at every meeting. Hopefully, once the website is ready, the information from those forms will be added to it. At the last meeting, questions were raised about how many projects were worked on, so the economic development department came together and completed 159 projects from February 2023 to May 2024. Ms. Lynch and Mr. Eatmon both attended the tourism summit at Unsalted, which also included other counties. They interacted with other counties and discussed how much tourism is a huge part of economic development. Guest speakers touched on the value of tourism, not only the value of it but also the number of dollars it brings in. Ker Tar is funding a property study, and there have been biweekly calls for this project. Ms. Lynch participates in two committees for the 2024 Kerr Tar economic development summit. This year's title is Cultivate 2024. I worked with Duke in Dominion to get sponsorship for the guest speaker. The Person County Economic Development website was designed on a no longer widely available platform. The Economic Development Department will now work with Capital B on a new website and is considering a six-month timeline. All of the economic development departments attended job fairs. Mr. Eatmon attended one in Granville County, Ms. Whitt attended one in Person County, and Ms. Lynch attended a regional one in Vance County because of another meeting that day. Ms. Lynch's whole plan was to launch the website, the logo, and these at the same time countywide, and because of the website and the issues we had with the developer, that didn't happen. We have to go backward from what was planned. The developers were supposed to already be on our website. However, the website developer had multiple issues with them, which, in turn, caused the department to cancel the contract with them and our hosting contract with them. So, the county has now that the IT department has worked to take over posts on our site with GoDaddy, and it's put me far behind them and the very disappointing website. Capital V has promised they will get us up and running quickly. 4 of 129 5 of 129 6 of 129 Agriculture in Person County Mikayla Berryhill and Bo Freeman 7 of 129 Introduction •From Rowan County, NC •BS Agronomy w/ ABM minor Spring 2020 •Field Crops Agent in Union –June 2020- November 2021 •Field Crops Area Agent in Person/Granville –December 2021 - now • Currently working on an MS Crop Science • Agent in the PSI Agent Network 8 of 129 MISSION We extend research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state. VISION We are the model of excellence in non-formal, research-based education that advances agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, youth and communities, while creating prosperity for all North Carolinians. 9 of 129 10 of 129 2% 11 of 129 12 of 129 13 of 129 The share of agriculture in total employment is at an all time low 14 of 129 15 of 129 United States farmers are some of the most valuable workers in the world 16 of 129 North Carolina Facts •# of Farms……………………………………..…….42,817 17 of 129 North Carolina Facts •# of Farms……………………………………..…….42,817 •Market Value of Ag Products Sold..…..$18,692,574,000 18 of 129 North Carolina Facts •# of Farms……………………………………..…….42,817 •Market Value of Ag Products Sold..…..$18,692,574,000 –Average Per Farm……………………………$436,569 19 of 129 North Carolina Facts •# of Farms……………………………………..…….42,817 •Market Value of Ag Products Sold..…..$18,692,574,000 –Average Per Farm……………………………$436,569 •# of Farms w/ Hired Farm Labor…………………10,464 20 of 129 North Carolina Facts •# of Farms……………………………………..…….42,817 •Market Value of Ag Products Sold..…..$18,692,574,000 –Average Per Farm……………………………$436,569 •# of Farms w/ Hired Farm Labor…………………10,464 –Payroll……………………………………$932,713,000 21 of 129 North Carolina Facts •# of Farms……………………………………..…….42,817 •Market Value of Ag Products Sold..…..$18,692,574,000 –Average Per Farm……………………………$436,569 •# of Farms w/ Hired Farm Labor…………………10,464 –Payroll……………………………………$932,713,000 •Economic Impact of NC Agriculture and Agribusiness $111.1 BILLION! Data from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and NC State University Economist Mike Walden 22 of 129 Person County Facts •# of Farms……………………………….………………364 23 of 129 Person County Facts •# of Farms……………………………….………………364 •Market Value of Products Sold……..………$46,525,000 24 of 129 Person County Facts •# of Farms……………………………….………………364 •Market Value of Products Sold……..………$46,525,000 –Average Per Farm………………….….….…$127,816 25 of 129 Person County Facts •# of Farms……………………………….………………364 •Market Value of Products Sold……..………$46,525,000 –Average Per Farm………………….….….…$127,816 •Number of Farms w/ Hired Farm Labor………..…….109 26 of 129 Person County Facts •# of Farms……………………………….………………364 •Market Value of Products Sold……..………$46,525,000 –Average Per Farm………………….….….…$127,816 •Number of Farms w/ Hired Farm Labor………..…….109 –Payroll……………………………………….$8,627,000 27 of 129 Person County Facts •Highest Ranking Product…………………………Tobacco 28 of 129 Person County Facts •Highest Ranking Product…………………………Tobacco –7th County in the State –8th County in the NATION 29 of 129 Person County Facts •Highest Ranking Product…………………………Tobacco –7th County in the State –8th County in the NATION •Market Value of Tobacco Sales…………….$23,541,000 Over 50% of the total agriculture product Market Value in Person County! Is it sustainable? How long can the 2% keep going? 30 of 129 Looking to the future…What is AGRITOURISM? Any activity carried out on a farm or ranch that allows members of the general public, for recreational, entertainment, or educational purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities, including farming, ranching, historic, cultural, harvest-your-own activities, or natural activities and attractions. Any activity is an agritourism activity whether or not the participant paid to participate in the activity. General Assembly of North Carolina - Session Law 2005-236 | House Bill 329 31 of 129 EXAMPLES OF AGRITOURISM IN PERSON CO 32 of 129 33 of 129 Examples in Other Counties •Dixon Farms, Granville County - previously a tobacco farm, now a pick-your-own strawberry and produce stand with playground •Baldwin Grass Fed Beef, Caswell County - cattle ranch with a farm store and “open house” farm day for families to visit 34 of 129 Why Agritourism? To create success-based opportunities for farms through visitor experiences to ultimately… •Preserve the farmland •Inspire the next generation to farm •Develop community vibrancy •Increase the farm’s bottom line 35 of 129 36 of 129 Agritourism is NOT for Every Farm Success requires: •Telling a unique and compelling story –Value of farm as destination –Worthwhile visitor activities –Neighborhood relationships & communication –Focus locally to boost community –Provide experiences of a lifetime to visitors –Excellent staff –Profit for farm –Management of the realities of farming37 of 129 Other ways the 2% is being innovated: NC PSI Vision – Create a healthier, sustainable and more prosperous future through plant science innovation. Mission – To solve grand challenges in agriculture and the environment in North Carolina and beyond through interdisciplinary team-based science, partnerships and talent development. 38 of 129 2013 Strategic Plan 2014 PSI Economic Study 2017 Launch Director Hired: Stephen Briggs PSI Task Forces Report 2015 Raise $14M in private funding, $85M in NC Bond Package for Building Construction 2016 $45M from Golden LEAF Foundation: Construction Building Planning Begins Strategy Task Forces Created 2021 Executive Director Hired: Adrian Percy NSF: $25M Grant $30.7M USDA-ARS Building 2017-2021 Faculty Hiring Phases 1, 2 and 3 Hired 140 Faculty 2019 Plant Breeding Consortium Director Hired: Carlos Iglesias Initiated GRIP4PSI Program NNF: $32M Grant NC PSI JourneyOur N.C. PSI Journey 33 2022 Building completed 25 scientific programs move in N.C. PSI Strategic Planning exercise launched 2019 Research Platform Directors Hired: Williams Reberg-Horton Sozzani 2022 Engagement Platform Directors Hired: Long & Vann 39 of 129 Plant Sciences Building Fostering a holistic view of interdisciplinary research 40 of 129 N.C. PSI’s Five Platform Directors Ross Sozzani PLANT IMPROVEMENT Professor of Synthetic and Systems Biology Department of Plant and Microbial Biology Chris Reberg-Horton RESILIENT AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS Professor of Cropping Systems Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Cranos Williams DATA-DRIVEN PLANT SCIENCES Goodnight Distinguished Professor of Ag Analytics Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering AND Dept. of Plant & Microbial Biology Terri Long EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Associate Professor Department of Plant and Microbial Biology Rachel Vann EXTENSION OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT Assistant Professor and Soybean Extension Specialist Department of Crop and Soil Sciences We will accomplish the Plant Science Initiative mission through five platforms - breaking down academic and research barriers to cultivate, support and sustain science teams focused on 41 of 129 36 Extension, Outreach, and Engagement Platform Mission Drive N.C. PSI project development by creating collisions from diverse disciplines with applied expertise and effectively connect the science conducted in N.C. PSI with stakeholders 42 of 129 43 of 129 https://cals.ncsu.edu/news/nc-plant-sciences-initiative-extension-agent-network/ 44 of 129 Come and visit with us! 45 of 129 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! CONTACT ME: Mikayla Berryhill mikayla_berryhill@ncsu.edu person.ces.ncsu.edu 336-599-1195 granville.ces.ncsu.edu 919-603-1350 North Carolina Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity provider. 46 of 129 2017 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS BY TYPE Family/Individual 85.0% Partnership 6.3% Incorporated 7.3% Other 1.4% OPERATIONS BY SIZE Size of Operation Farms Percent of Total Land in Farms Percent of Total 1–49 Acres 47.9%5.6% 50–99 Acres 19.7%7.5% 100–179 Acres 13.4%9.6% 180–499 Acres 11.5%18.4% 500–999 Acres 3.8%14.1% 1,000+ Acres 3.8%44.7% PRINCIPAL OPERATORS BY AGE GROUP Age of Operator Percent of Operations Under 25 0.7% 25–34 5.2% 35–44 10.0% 45–54 18.5% 55–64 27.2% 65–74 25.6% 75 and Over 12.9% Average Age = 58.1 FARMS BY VALUE OF SALES Dollars Number Less than 2,500 18,113 2,500 to 4,999 5,053 5,000 to 9,999 5,658 10,000 to 24,999 5,645 25,000 to 49,999 2,514 50,000 to 499,999 4,581 500,000 or more 4,854 North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Agricultural Statistics Division Steve Troxler, Commissioner www.ncagr.gov/stats U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service North Carolina Field Office Tony Dorn, State Statistician www.nass.usda.gov 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 Tel: (919) 707-3333 NUMBER OF FARMS AND LAND IN FARMS 1 Year Number of Farms Land in Farms Average Size Sales Class Estimates $1,000 – $9,999 $10,000 – $99,000 $100,000 +$1,000 – $9,999 $10,000 – $99,000 $100,000 + Thousands Thousand Acres Acres Number of Farms Land in Farms Thousand Acres NORTH CAROLINA 2018 46.4 8,400 181 26,100 12,700 7,600 1,500 1,800 5,100 2019 46.2 8,400 182 25,900 12,700 7,600 1,400 1,800 5,200 2020 46.0 8,400 183 25,700 12,700 7,600 1,400 1,800 5,200 2021 45.1 8,300 184 24,800 12,700 7,600 1,350 1,800 5,150 2022 45.0 8,300 184 24,800 12,600 7,600 1,350 1,700 5,250 UNITED STATES 2018 2,029 899,500 443 1,035,690 619,030 374,480 84,370 186,770 628,360 2019 2,023 897,400 444 1,034,540 615,340 373,520 83,940 187,100 628,360 2020 2,019 896,600 444 1,032,240 613,940 372,820 83,540 186,550 626,510 2021 2,012 895,300 445 1,025,090 614,040 372,920 82,900 186,490 625,910 2022 2,003 893,400 446 1,016,820 612,000 373,880 81,770 185,980 625,650 1 A farm is any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or would normally be sold during the year. NORTH CAROLINA NUMBER OF FARMS AND LAND IN FARMS 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 44.0 45.0 46.0 47.0 48.0 49.0 50.0 51.0 52.0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Million AcresThousand FarmsNumber of Farms Land in Farms • N orth C arolina • S TATISTICS 2023 A G R I C U LTURAL 47 of 129 FARM INCOME Cash Receipts from Farming by Commodity NC Rank Commodities 2022 2022% of Total Sales Thousand Dollars Percent 1 Broilers 6,887,125 40.8% 2 Hogs 3,102,394 18.4% 3 Turkeys 1,102,424 6.5% 4 Soybeans 887,955 5.3% 5 Corn 780,345 4.6% 6 Chicken eggs 753,086 4.5% 7 Miscellaneous crops 726,551 4.3% 8 Tobacco 509,407 3.0% 9 Cotton lint, Upland 336,256 2.0% 10 Cattle and calves 303,756 1.8% 11 Dairy products, Milk 239,184 1.4% 12 Sweet potatoes 225,005 1.3% 13 Floriculture 191,390 1.1% 14 Wheat 190,735 1.1% 15 Peanuts 134,469 0.8% 16 All other animals and products 107,067 0.6% 17 Hay 71,352 0.4% 18 Blueberries 69,650 0.4% 19 Cottonseed 62,442 0.4% 20 Watermelon 56,016 0.3% SOURCE: Economic Research Service, USDA data as of August 31, 2023. SOURCE OF FARM CASH RECEIPTS, 2022 $16,863,610,000 All Other Crops, Christmas Trees, Nursery, & others 1 5.9%Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts & Berries 2.6% Cotton 2.4% Peanuts0.8% Wheat 1.1% Corn 4.6% Soybeans 5.3% Tobacco3.0% Hogs 18.4% Chicken Eggs 4.5% Dairy products 1.4% All Other Poultry 0.1% All Other Livestock, 0.8% Cattle and Calves 1.8% Turkeys6.5% Broilers 40.8% Livestock, Dair y & Poultry 74.3%Crops 25.7% 1 All Other Crops includes hay, small grains, sorghum, greenhouse, floriculture, nursery, cut Christmas trees, mushrooms and other miscellaneous crops.5000 copies of this public document were designed and printed at a cost of $757.35 or $0.15 per copy. NORTH CAROLINA’S RANK IN U.S. AGRICULTURE, 2022 1 Rank Item Production NC % of US Top 3 States 1 2 3 1 All Tobacco 249.7 (Mil Lbs)55.8 NC KY TN 1 Flue-cured Tobacco 249.4 (Mil Lbs)82.4 NC VA GA 1 Sweet Potatoes 15,484.5 (000 Cwt)59.7 NC CA MS 1 All Poultry & Egg Cash Receipts 8,753.3 (Mil $)11.4 NC AR GA 2 Annual Pig Crop Dec 21 - Nov 22 18.0 (Mil Hd)13.5 IA NC MN 2 Turkeys 28.0 (Mil Hd)13.3 MN NC AR 2 Trout Sold (foodsize)3.3 (Mil Lbs)7.5 ID NC PA 3 Cucumbers 1,445.0 (000 Cwt)11.0 MI FL NC 3 Hogs & Pigs (12-1-22)8.3 (Mil Hd)11.1 IA MN NC 4 Peanuts 510.4 (Mil Lbs)9.2 GA AL FL 4 Broilers 976.2 (Mil Hd)10.7 GA AL AR 5 Burley Tobacco 0.3 (Mil Lbs)0.5 KY TN PA 5 Upland Cotton 2 1,005.0 (000 Bales)6.9 TX GA AR 1 Ranking commodities of published states only. 2 480-lb. net weight bales. TOP TEN COUNTIES IN TOTAL FARM CASH RECEIPTS, 2022 1 County Thousand Dollars County Thousand Dollars Duplin 1,667,550 Wilkes 542,776 Sampson 1,499,444 Wayne 530,381 Union 723,720 Anson 528,680 Bladen 592,636 Bertie 423,520 Robeson 579,692 Randolph 415,388 1 Includes government payments. COUNTY CASH RECEIPTS FROM FARM MARKETINGS, 2022 Includes Crops, Livestock & Government Payments Under 20.0 20.0 to 49.9 50.0 to 99.9 10 0.0 to 149.9 150.0 to 19 9.9 200.0 and up 䣏䣫䣮䣮䣫䣱䣰䢢䣆䣱䣮䣮䣣䣴䣵 48 of 129 Percent of state agriculture sales Total and Per Farm Overview,2022 and change since 2017 2022 %change since 2017 Number of farms 423 -17 Land in farms (acres)146,195 -19 Average size of farm (acres)346 -2 Total ($) Market value of products sold 615,976,000 +38 Government payments 5,383,000 +69 Farm-related income 6,441,000 -26 Total farm production expenses 377,251,000 +33 Net cash farm income 250,550,000 +43 Per farm average ($) Market value of products sold 1,456,208 +67 Government payments a 49,843 +181 Farm-related income a 31,118 -10 Total farm production expenses 891,846 +61 Net cash farm income 592,316 +73 3 Share of Sales by Type (%) Crops 14 Livestock,poultry,and products 86 Land in Farms by Use (acres) Cropland 53,874 Pastureland 4,033 Woodland 64,429 Other 23,859 Acres irrigated:7,597 5%of land in farms Land Use Practices (%of farms) No till 17 Reduced till 11 Intensive till 25 Cover crop 16 Farms by Value of Sales Farms by Size Number Percent of Total b Number Percent of Total b Less than $2,500 101 24 1 to 9 acres 38 9 $2,500 to $4,999 38 9 10 to 49 acres 111 26 $5,000 to $9,999 40 9 50 to 179 acres 148 35 $10,000 to $24,999 39 9 180 to 499 acres 71 17 $25,000 to $49,999 26 6 500 to 999 acres 28 7 $50,000 to $99,999 14 3 1,000+acres 27 6 $100,000 or more 165 39 Bladen County North Carolina 49 of 129 Bladen County North Carolina,2022 Page 2 Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold Sales ($1,000) Rank in State c Counties Producing Item Rank in U.S.c Counties Producing Item Total 615,976 5 100 126 3,078 Crops 86,454 21 100 942 3,074 Grains,oilseeds,dry beans,dry peas 23,450 32 99 1,238 2,917 Tobacco (D)41 56 122 267 Cotton and cottonseed (D)47 52 (D)647 Vegetables,melons,potatoes,sweet potatoes 1,701 44 100 691 2,831 Fruits,tree nuts,berries 51,697 1 95 77 2,711 Nursery,greenhouse,floriculture,sod 4,857 32 97 482 2,660 Cultivated Christmas trees,short rotation woody crops --36 -1,274 Other crops and hay 3,460 21 97 955 3,035 Livestock,poultry,and products 529,522 4 100 70 3,076 Poultry and eggs 226,153 14 100 93 3,027 Cattle and calves 1,570 49 99 2,237 3,047 Milk from cows (D)29 48 (D)1,770 Hogs and pigs 301,528 3 95 13 2,814 Sheep,goats,wool,mohair,milk 8 70 95 2,355 2,967 Horses,ponies,mules,burros,donkeys (D)65 87 (D)2,907 Aquaculture --53 -1,190 Other animals and animal products 13 65 96 1,669 2,909 Producers d 758 Sex Male 539 Female 219 Age <35 35 35 –64 425 65 and older 298 Race American Indian/Alaska Native 8 Asian - Black or African American 77 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander - White 666 More than one race 7 Other characteristics Hispanic,Latino,Spanish origin 27 With military service 75 New and beginning farmers 221 Percent of farms that: Have internet access 83 Farm organically 1 Sell directly to consumers 9 Hire farm labor 31 Are family farms 94 Top Crops in Acres e Corn for grain 18,477 Soybeans for beans 11,599 Land in berries 6,384 Blueberries,all 6,275 Forage (hay/haylage),all 4,583 Livestock Inventory (Dec 31,2022) Broilers and other meat-type chickens 3,609,896 Cattle and calves 4,358 Goats 168 Hogs and pigs 688,866 Horses and ponies 155 Layers (D) Pullets 107 Sheep and lambs (D) Turkeys 396,541 a Average per farm receiving.b May not add to 100%due to rounding.c Among counties whose rank can be displayed.d Data collected for a maximum of four producers per farm.e Crop commodity names may be shortened;see full names at www.nass.usda.gov/go/cropnames.pdf.f Position below the line does not indicate rank.(D)Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.(NA)Not available.(Z)Less than half of the unit shown.(-) Represents zero. 50 of 129 51 of 129 52 of 129 53 of 129 54 of 129 55 of 129 56 of 129 57 of 129 58 of 129 59 of 129 60 of 129 61 of 129 62 of 129 63 of 129 BLADEN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVLOPMENT COMMISSION BLADEN’S BLOOMIN’ AGRI -INDUSTRIAL, INC. 64 of 129 Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial, Inc. a Non-Profit Real Estate Corporation and Revolving Loan Fund has partnered with Bladen County local governments, Bladen County Committee of 100, Four County EMC (RDLG), Golden Leaf Foundation, NCSE, EDA, USDA and other funding partners to attract and/or grow dozens of businesses. BBAI has built or renovated 29 commercial and industrial facilities. You may recognize some of them. 65 of 129 BBAI has constructed or renovated 29 commercial and industrial facilities with over 400,000 sf. since 2001. 66 of 129 These projects total real estate investments of over $32M and have leveraged over $25M of investment in machinery and equipment. 67 of 129 The 29 projects have created approximately 900 jobs. 68 of 129 Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery Recently recognized as #5 in the top 24 North Carolina Wineries, is the centerpiece in the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park. 69 of 129 The projects range from food processing and manufacturing to warehouse distribution, healthcare, retail/commercial, government services, incubators and downtown revitalization. 70 of 129 BBAI Incubator #1 Leased by Aramark Uniform Services 71 of 129 Incubator 4 Leased by Delton Machining 72 of 129 Incubator 5 Leased by Anthem Displays 73 of 129 Person County Spotlight Report January – March 2024 © 2024 Capitol B | CapitolBCreative.com 74 of 129 Spotlight Article Metrics © © 2024 Capitol B Creative Studios Start Date End Date Article Placement Impressions Clicks to article CTR Pageviews Avg. Time on Page 1/03/24 1/17/24 Everything's better in Person WRAL.com 398,078 367 .09% 834 3:04 CBC Audience Network(off-site)100,002 756 .76% 1/17/24 1/31/24 The path to success begins early in Person County WRAL.com 400,004 249 .06% 708 2:31 CBC Audience Network (off-site)100,004 679 .68% 1/31/24 2/14/24 Success is sweeter in Person WRAL.com 380,711 566 .13% 1,427 2:18 CBC Audience Network (off-site)100,001 823 .82% Totals 1,478,800 3,440 .31%2,969 2:37 Spotlight Report | Jan-March 2024 | Person County Key Insights •More than 1.4 million impressions during campaign with 3,440 clicks to articles •"Success is sweeter in Person" was top performing headline with most clicks (1,389) to article and overall pageviews (1,427) •Average click-through rate (CTR) across campaign is skewing toward upper end of travel and tourism target CTR range of .25%-35% •Almost 3,000 pageviews across all three articles; pageviews are good measure of engagement once user gets to content •Average time on page across three articles is 2 minutes and 37 seconds; slightly below WRAL.com 2023 average of 2 minutes and 42 seconds 75 of 129 Creative © © 2024 Capitol B Creative Studios Content gallery Article example Spotlight Report | Jan-March 2024 | Person County 76 of 129 Glossary © © 2024 Capitol B Creative Studios •Average time on page:the average amount of time that visitors spend on a page. •Click:The number of times users click on your ad. •Click Through Rate (CTR): The number of clicks divided by the number of impressions. •Impressions: The number of times your ad was served to a device. •Pageviews: The total number of times a page was viewed.Repeated views of a single page are counted. Spotlight Report | Jan-March 2024 | Person County 77 of 129 78 of 129 2 387 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 →Business Recruitment Projects –281→Existing Industry Expansions –106 Manufacturing/Assembly –317 projects (82%) Warehouse/Distribution –19 projects (5%) Service/Sales –16 projects (4%) Corporate HQ –15 projects (4%) R&D –9 projects (2%) Back Office/Shared Services –7 projects (2%) Data Center –2 projects (<1%) Call Center –2 projects (<1%) PRIMARY ACTIVITY ALL PROJECTS 82% 5% 4% 4% 3% 2%<1%<1% 79 of 129 3 387 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 →New Location Projects –315→On Site Expansions –72 New Location Projects – 81% On Site Expansion Projects – 19% PROJECT TYPE ALL PROJECTS New Location, 81% On Site Expansions, 19% New Location Projects Median Jobs - 147 Median Investment - $45 million Median Wages - $57,426 315 Projects On Site Expansion Projects Median Jobs - 40 Median Investment - $10 million Median Wages - $54,185 72 Projects 80 of 129 4 PRIMARY ACTIVITY NEW LOCATION PROJECTS 83% 4%3% 3% 3% 2%1% 1% *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data. 315* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 Manufacturing/Assembly – 261 projects (83%) Warehouse/Distribution – 13 projects (4%) Service/Sales – 11 projects (3%) Corporate HQ – 11 projects (3%) R&D – 9 projects (3%) Back Office/Shared Services – 6 projects (2%) Data Center – 2 projects (1%) Call Center – 2 projects (1%) 81 of 129 5 PRIMARY ACTIVITY NEW LOCATION PROJECTS R&D Median Jobs - 20 Median Investment - $15 million Median Wages - $87,406 9 Projects Service/Sales Median Jobs - 79 Median Investment - $43.2 million Median Wages - $74,395 11 Projects Warehouse/Distribution Median Jobs - 50 Median Investment - $19.8 million Median Wages - $45,711 13 Projects 315* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 Back Office/ Shared Services Median Jobs - 151 Median Investment - $8.65 million Median Wages - $55,000 6 Projects Corporate HQ Median Jobs – 180 Median Investment - $14.5 million Median Wages - $104,150 11 Projects Manufacturing/Assembly Median Jobs - 170 Median Investment - $50 million Median Wages - $57,210 261 Projects *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.82 of 129 6 315* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 EDPNC Leads & Internal Referrals –113 projects (36%) Site Selection Consultant –110 projects (35%) Direct Call from Company –40 projects (13%) Local/County Developer –36 projects (11%) Statewide Agency/Partner –7 projects (2%) Other –6 projects (2%) Regional E.D. Partnership –3 projects (1%) PROJECT SOURCE NEW LOCATION PROJECTS 36%35% 13% 11% 2% 2%1% *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.83 of 129 7 315* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 Automotive/Motor Vehicles –16% Energy –15% Food, Beverage & Agriculture –9% Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber –7% Construction Materials –7% Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences –6% Other –6% Aerospace/Aviation –6% Textiles, Apparel & Sporting Goods –5% Unknown –4% Computers & Electronics –4% Waste/Recycling –3% Furniture & Home Furnishings –3% Transportation & Logistics –2% Medical Equipment –2% Information Technology –2% Business & Financial Services –2% Wood/Paper Products –1% Boating & Marine –1%2 3 5 6 6 6 9 9 12 14 16 19 19 20 21 23 29 47 49 Boating & Marine Wood/Paper Products Business & Financial Services Information Technology Medical Equipment Transportation & Logistics Furniture & Home Furnishings Waste/Recycling Computers & Electronics Unknown Textiles, Apparel & Sporting Goods Aerospace/Aviation Other Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences Construction Materials Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber Food, Beverage & Agriculture Energy Automotive/Motor Vehicles INDUSTRY SECTORS NEW LOCATION PROJECTS *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.84 of 129 8 TOP INDUSTRY SECTORS NEW LOCATION PROJECTS 315* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 Aerospace/Aviation Median Jobs – 100 Median Investment - $42.8 million Median Wages - $65,000 19 Projects Automotive/Motor Vehicles Median Jobs – 250 Median Investment - $150 million Median Wages - $55,000 49 Projects Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences Median Jobs – 150 Median Investment - $100 million Median Wages - $69,169 20 Projects Chemicals, Plastics, & Rubber Median Jobs - 75 Median Investment - $36 million Median Wages - $60,000 23 Projects Computers and Electronics Median Jobs - 135 Median Investment - $22 million Median Wages - $77,203 12 Projects Construction Materials Median Jobs - 100 Median Investment - $5.3 million Median Wages - $54,439 21 Projects Energy Median Jobs - 265 Median Investment - $138 million Median Wages - $52,184 47 Projects Food, Beverage & Agriculture Median Jobs - 85 Median Investment - $20 million Median Wages - $58,574 29 Projects Furniture & Home Furnishings Median Jobs - 125 Median Investment - $25 million Median Wages - $39,356 9 Projects Information Technology Median Jobs - 80 Median Investment - $2 million Median Wages - $54,265 6 Projects Textiles, Apparels & Sporting Goods Median Jobs - 123 Median Investment - $9 million Median Wages - $44,231 16 Projects Waste/Recycling Median Jobs - 51 Median Investment - $19.8 million Median Wages - $85,490 9 Projects *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.85 of 129 9 REAL ESTATE REQUESTS IN TOP INDUSTRY SECTORS –NEW LOCATION PROJECTS 2023 Automotive/Motor Vehicles 49 Projects Worked 35 Total Real Estate Assists (71% of projects) o Building or Site – 8 projects (23%) o Building – 8 projects (23%) Average Square Footage Request – 435,884 SF Average Ceiling Height Request – 27 feet o Site – 19 projects (54%) Average Acreage Request – 232 acres Utility Requirements – Sampling of 22 Automotive Projects o Power Needs 14 projects (64%) required over 25 MW 6 projects (27%) required over 150 MW o Water Needs 9 projects (41%) required more than 250,000 gallons/day o Wastewater Needs 6 projects (27%) required more than 250,000 gallons/day o Rail Needs 9 projects (41%) required rail 3 projects (14%) preferred rail Energy 47 Projects Worked 32 Total Real Estate Assists (68% of projects) o Building or Site – 13 projects (41%) o Building – 9 projects (28%) Average Square Footage Request – 395,773 SF Average Ceiling Height Request – 28 feet o Site – 10 projects (31%) Average Acreage Request – 230 acres Utility Requirements – Sampling of 22 Energy Projects o Power Needs 9 projects (41%) required over 25 MW 4 projects (18%) required over 100 MW o Water Needs 8 projects (36%) required more than 250,000 gallons/day o Wastewater Needs 9 projects (41%) required more than 100,000 gallons/day o Rail Needs 3 projects (14%) required rail 2 projects (9%) preferred rail *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.86 of 129 10 NEW LOCATION PROJECTS CLEAN ENERGY SUB-SECTOR 94* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 WERE DESIGNATED AS CLEAN ENERGY OPPORTUNITES ►86 of these projects (92%) were manufacturing operations BY INDUSTRY Energy – 37 projects (39%) Automotive/Motor Vehicles – 26 projects (28%) Waste/Recycling – 6 projects (6%) Food, Beverage & Agriculture – 5 projects (5%) Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber – 5 projects (5%) Aerospace/Aviation – 5 projects (5%) Construction Materials – 2 projects (2%) Computers & Electronics – 2 projects (2%) Other – 6 projects (6%) 39% 28% 6% 5% 5% 5% 2%2% 6% Energy Automotive/Motor Vehicles Waste/Recycling Median Jobs - 282 Median Investment - $150 million Median Wages - $52,532 37 Projects Median Jobs - 400 Median Investment - $500 million Median Wages - $52,630 26 Projects Median Jobs - 79 Median Investment - $25 million Median Wages – N/A 6 Projects TOP CLEAN ENERGY SECTORS *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.87 of 129 11 315* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 International –151 projects (48%) Domestic –119 projects (38%) Unknown –45 projects (14%) o International projects include any project where the parent company is international →International projects continue to increase from 41% in 2022 and 27% in 2021 o Unknown: Project never progressed to the point where the country was disclosed FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT NEW LOCATION PROJECTS Yes, 48% No, 38% Unknown, 14% *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.88 of 129 12 151* FDI OPPORTUNITIES CREATED IN 2023 China –12% Germany –12% Italy –7% Korea –7% Canada –5% Japan –5% United Kingdom –5% Belgium –4% France –4% Israel –4% Finland –3% India –3% Australia –3% Switzerland –3% Turkey –3% Brazil –2% Netherlands –2% Poland –2% Sweden –2% Austria –1% Spain –1% Ukraine –1% Other –9% Unknown –2%3 14 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 10 10 16 18 Unknown Other Ukraine Spain Austria Sweden Poland Netherlands Brazil Turkey Switzerland Australia India Finland Israel France Belgium United Kingdom Japan Canada Korea Italy Germany China FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT NEW LOCATION PROJECTS *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.89 of 129 13 Did EDPNC assist in the company’s real estate search: Yes – 202 projects (64%) No – 112 projects (36%) →92% of the real estate requests EDPNC assisted with in 2023 were for manufacturing locations (185 projects) →This is identical to the breakout in 2022, where EDPNC also assisted with 64% of project real estate searches (92% of those being for manufacturing locations) REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE NEW LOCATION PROJECTS Yes, 64% No, 36% Manufacturing 92% Other Industries 8% 315* PROJECTS CREATED IN 2023 *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.90 of 129 14 IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* REAL ESTATE REQUESTS FOR MANUFACTURING PROJECTS 2023 Requests for Building or Site: Building –71 projects (38%) Site –68 projects (37%) Building or Site –46 projects (25%) REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING PROJECTS ONLY –BUILDING v. SITE Building, 38% Site, 37% Building or Site, 25%50% 29% 21% 2021 DATA *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data. 34% 49% 17% 2022 DATA 91 of 129 15 REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING BUILDINGS –SQUARE FOOTAGE 9 20 18 26 14 18 8 4 ≤ 20,000 SF 20,001 - 50,000 SF 50,001 - 100,000 SF 100,001 - 200,000 SF 200,001 - 300,000 SF 300,001 - 500,000 SF 500,001 - 999,999 SF 1,000,000+ SF Square Footage Target SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUESTS: ≤ 20,000 SF: 9 projects (8%) 20,001 – 50,000 SF: 20 projects (17%) 50,001 – 100,000 SF: 18 projects (15%) 100,001 – 200,000 SF: 26 projects (22%) 200,001 – 300,000 SF: 14 projects (12%) 300,001 – 500,000 SF: 18 projects (15%) 500,001 – 999,999 SF: 8 projects (7%) 1,000,000+ SF: 4 projects (3%) IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS ► 117 projects specified need for either a building or were open to both building and site options: *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.92 of 129 16 REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING BUILDINGS –CEILING HEIGHT 4 2 13 1 1 2 16 1 2 3 8 8 5 2 5 1 28 5 10 Number of ProjectsClear Ceiling Height IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS ► 117 projects specified need for either a building or were open to both building and site options: *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.93 of 129 17 REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING SITES –ACREAGE REQUESTS 10 25 15 17 17 8 14 2 3 3 ≤ 10 11 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 50 51 - 100 101 - 150 151 - 250 251 - 500 501 - 999 1,000+ Acreage Target ACREAGE REQUESTS: ≤ 10 acres: 10 projects (9%) 11 – 20 acres: 25 projects (22%) 20 – 30 acres: 15 projects (13%) 30 – 50 acres: 17 projects (15%) 51 – 100 acres: 17 projects (15%) 101 – 150 acres: 8 projects (7%) 151 – 250 acres: 14 projects (12%) 251 – 500 acres: 2 projects (1%) 501 – 1,000 acres: 3 projects (3%) 1,001+ acres: 3 projects (3%) IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS ► 114 projects specified need for either a site or were open to both building and site options: *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.94 of 129 18 IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS Request for Buy or Lease: Buy – 24 projects (13%) Lease – 28 projects (15%) Buy or Lease – 65 projects (35%) Not Specified – 68 projects (37%) REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING PROJECTS ONLY –BUY OR LEASE 13%15% 35%37% *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.95 of 129 19 Building Requests: Requirement for Natural Gas on site: Yes –51 projects (44%) No –47 projects (40%) Preferred –19 projects (16%) REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING PROJECTS ONLY –NATURAL GAS 59% 26% 15% Site Requests IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS ► 117 projects specified need for either a building or were open to both building and site options ► 114 projects specified need for either a site or were open to both building and site options Sites Requests: requirement for Natural Gas on site: Yes – 67 projects (59%) No – 30 projects (26%) Preferred – 17 projects (15%) 44%40% 16% Building Requests *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.96 of 129 20 Building Requests: Requirement for Rail Service on site: Yes –10 projects (9%) No –102 projects (87%) Preferred –5 projects (4%) REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING PROJECTS ONLY –RAIL SERVICE Sites Requests: requirement for Rail Service on site: Yes – 29 projects (26%) No – 72 projects (63%) Preferred – 13 projects (11%) IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS ► 117 projects specified need for either a building or were open to both building and site options ► 114 projects specified need for either a site or were open to both building and site options 9% 87% 4% Building Requests 26% 63%11% Site Requests *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.97 of 129 21 REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING PROJECTS ONLY –PORT SERVICE IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS ► 117 projects specified need for either a building or were open to both building and site options ► 114 projects specified need for either a site or were open to both building and site options *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data. Building Requests: Requirement for Port Usage: Yes –25 projects (21%) No –92 projects (79%) Sites Requests: requirement for Port Usage: Yes – 27 projects (23%) No – 87 projects (76%) 21% 79% Building Requests 23% 76% Site Requests 98 of 129 22 Was there an initial interest in a site certification or readiness program: Yes –40 projects (35%) No –74 projects (65%) REAL ESTATE REQUESTS MANUFACTURING PROJECTS ONLY –SITE CERTIFICATION INTEREST Yes, 35% No, 65% IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 185* MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS ► 114 projects specified need for either a site or were open to both building and site options: *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.99 of 129 23 REAL ESTATE REQUESTS $1 BILLION+ CAPITAL INVESTMENT –MANUFACTURING PROJECTS IN 2023, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 20* REAL ESTATE REQUESTS FOR MANUFACTURING PROJECTS EXCEEDING $1 BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT ► This is a 37% decrease from projects of this size EDPNC assisted with in 2022 ► Top industry sectors of projects this size are the same as in 2022 ► All 20 of these large project requests were for sites 45% 30% 10% 5% 5%5% PROJECT INDUSTRY SECTOR Automotive/Motor Vehicles –9 projects (45%) Energy –6 projects (30%) Computers & Electronics –2 project (10%) Aerospace/Aviation –1 project (5%) Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences –1 project (5%) Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber –1 project (5%) Automotive/Motor Vehicles 9 Projects Average Jobs – 1,355 Average Investment - $1.65 billion Average Acreage Request – 419 acres Average Power Need – 109 MW Average Water Need – 1.65 million gallons/day Average Wastewater Need – 1 million gallons/day Energy 6 Projects Average Jobs – 1,485 Average Investment - $1.73 billion Average Acreage Request – 315 acres Average Power Need – 129 MW Average Water Need – 1.9 million gallons/day Average Wastewater Need – 987,500 gallons/day *These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No existing company, same-site expansions are included in this data.100 of 129 24 2023 PROJECT LOSSES REASON GIVEN FOR PROJECTS LOST IN 2023, NORTH CAROLINA LOST 85 PROJECTS TO OTHER LOCATIONS 34% 15%15% 11% 7% 6% 5% 4%4%REASON LOST: Lack of Suitable Building/Site –29 projects (34%) Outside of Search Area –13 projects (15%) Proximity to Supply Chain/Customers –13 projects (15%) Incentives –9 projects (11%) Inadequate Infrastructure –6 projects (7%) Expanded at Current Location –5 projects (6%) Local Issues –4 projects (5%) Excessive Land/Building Costs –3 projects (4%) Other –3 projects (4%) ► As in previous years, the majority (34%) of our projects lost in 2023 were due to lack of suitable real estate options 101 of 129 102 of 129 Brooklin Salemi Senior Managing Director E: BROOKLIN.SALEMI@NMRK.COM P: 309-333-7818 Salemi joined Newmark in 2022 as a Consultant with the firm’s Economic Incentive Advisory Team, a practice within the firm’s Global Corporate Services (GCS). In her role, Salemi assists clients in making optimal real estate decisions related to their site selection, new location, and expansion initiatives by providing financial modeling, feasibility analyses, and incentive negotiation services. Salemi is based in Atlanta. Salemi has over seven years of experience providing location advisory and incentive services to major U.S. and international clients in the healthcare, finance, distribution, telecommunications, and IT industries. Collectively, she has provided support on projects resulting in over $900 million in investments, 5,500 jobs, and $260 million in total benefits secured for her clients. Prior to joining Newmark, Salemi was a Consultant at BDO USA, LLP, a public accounting firm; Hickey & Associates, global leader in site selection and location strategy; and Cushman & Wakefield, global commercial real estate firm. 103 of 129 Salemi has been published in the Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives and frequently participates in other industry events. She speaks at economic development conferences and events offering guidance to state and local economic developers on site selection trends, best practices and the role of credits and incentives. Areas of Specialty • Incentive Negotiation • Statutory Tax Credit Analysis • Location Strategy/Site Selection • Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis • Financial Modeling • Compliance Management • Project Management Partial Client List • The Stow Company • Proximo Wine & Spirits • Catalent • Aphena Pharmaceuticals • Calgon Carbon Professional Achievements • Speaker, Boise Valley Economic Partnership Economic Summit, 2022 • Secured the Colorado Strategic Fund and Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit on single project for the first time in State’s history, 2021 • Speaker, Michigan Economic Development Association’s Annual Meeting, 2021 • Speaker, Area Development Consultants Forum, 2021 • Co-Author, Idaho’s Tax Reimbursement Incentive article, Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives, 2015 Professional Affiliations • Member, Institute of Professionals in Taxation 104 of 129 • Member, Council on State Taxation, 2019 - present • Member, Tax Executives Institute, 2019 – present Education Salemi graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Business in Economics and a minor in Accounting. 105 of 129 Briana Whitt Specialist Briana is an Economic Development Specialist for Person County Economic Development. She is responsible for providing administrative support to the department director. Briana assists in collecting data and research, responding to RFIs, managing the department and non-profit budgets, developing new marketing materials, managing social media, and is responsible for office operations. In addition, Briana oversees the planning and execution of community events. Briana joined the team in May 2023 and has several years of experience working in various industries, such as insurance, hospitality, and administrative support. Briana’s education, combined with her time in the workforce, lends her to be an asset to the department. In her free time, Briana enjoys spending time with family and friends on Hyco Lake (in Person County) and resides in Roxboro with her dogs, Cooper and Mickey. Since our last meeting in March, a lot has been done throughout the Economic Development Department, and I just wanted to talk about a few things that I have been working on. Since I started, I have taken on PCBIC billing responsibilities for Williams Mullen, Duke Energy, and Lawn Services, ensuring accurate and timely invoicing processes. Managing this task has allowed me to streamline the billing system, guaranteeing that all parties receive their quarterly invoices promptly and without errors. On April 25th, I had the opportunity to attend the PCC Job Fair to connect with various employers and understand their specific needs. Engaging in insightful conversations, I spoke with numerous companies to explore potential collaborations and offer assistance. On May 2nd, I had the pleasure of attending the State of the Region event held at Angus Barn. The evening was filled with engaging conversations, delightful food, and enlightening speeches delivered by exceptional speakers such as Travis McCready, His Excellency Jesper Moller Sorensen, and Barbara Stephenson. The event provided valuable insights and networking opportunities in a professional and welcoming setting, making it a truly enriching experience for all attendees. I was also fortunate to participate in the Tri-COG FEEDS Regional Convening on May 14th at the NC Rural Economic Development Center in Raleigh. The event was filled with productive discussions centered around strategizing on our regional food ecosystem infrastructure. It was truly inspiring to be surrounded by like- minded individuals who shared a common goal of fostering growth in our community. The interactive sessions and collaborative efforts showcased during the convening left me feeling motivated and eager to contribute further towards our collective objectives. I recently attended the EDPNC Real Estate Report Webinar where Austin Rouse from the EDPNC took us through the report in great detail. It was a laid- back and informative session that provided valuable insights into the current real estate market trends. Austin navigated through the data effortlessly, making the complex information easy to understand. I have also diligently organized all necessary documents, including the Agendas, Demographic Report, Treasure Report, and any other relevant attachments required for the meeting. 106 of 129 #VALUE!General Category of Work Specific Focus Area Detailed Description of Action Type of Project Progress Metrics Target Indicator Evaluation Schedule Notes Lead ED Staff Person Board Support I. Retain Existing Economic Drivers Connect local industry and community institutions Facilitate connections between existing industries and needed resources to encourage retention and growth Routine project # consultations, # resources provided Meet or exceed 2023 numbers Annual I. Retain Existing Economic Drivers Ensure future viability of agriculture and agro-tourism Assess the condition of agricultural interests in the county, support agriculture and agro- tourism interests Routine project # consultations, # resources provided Meet or exceed 2023 numbers Annual I. Retain Existing Economic Drivers Identify and support priority partners and industries Meet with EPIs to discuss challenges, benefits, and opportunities for future community engagement Routine project # meetings (new EPI, existing EPI) 24, at least 8 new/existing each year Annual I. Retain Existing Economic Drivers Identify and support priority partners and industries Conduct survey of existing priority industries to identify issues Routine project % response rate Response rate above 50%Annual I. Retain Existing Economic Drivers Identify and support priority partners and industries Develop a database of existing priority industries; update database annually and distribute to partners Routine project Completion, regular updates Complete project by XX 2024; reevaluate annually Annual II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Develop infrastructure to meet anticipated needs Secure funds to expand airport infrastructure, develop and execute plans for necessary improvements Completed major effort develop plans XX, RFPs XX, break ground XX, open XX Progress in completing action steps Life of project II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Develop infrastructure to meet anticipated needs Develop funding mechanisms to expand water and wastewater infrastructure. Consider grants, county funds, state funds, and other sources. Completed major effort # applications or requests; sum of granted money New funding should meet or exceed 2023 numbers, ensure access at targeted sites Life of project II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Develop infrastructure to meet anticipated needs Develop funding mechanisms to expand internet access and increase speeds. Consider grants, county funds, state funds, and other sources. Completed major effort # applications or requests; sum of granted money New funding should meet or exceed 2023 numbers, ensure access at targeted sites Life of project II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Monitor housing and quality of life indicators Monitor growth in quantity of housing, new housing construction, and housing values Routine project regularly record changes Assess changes at least once per year Annual II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Monitor housing and quality of life indicators Monitor population levels, income and employment indicators Routine project regularly record changes Assess changes at least once per year Annual II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Prepare prime development sites for investment Purchase priority section of the Mega Park site. Completed major effort completion Completion of project Life of project II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Prepare prime development sites for investment Clear and grade portions of the priority section of the Mega Park site Ongoing major effort Completion Completion of project Annual II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Prepare prime development sites for investment Secure funding to develop the priority section of the Mega Park site. Completed major effort # applications or requests; sum of granted money Meet or exceed 2023 numbers Annual II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Secure resources for future development Dedicate seed money to incentivize building development by the private sector Future major effort $ dedicated to seed program; # projects affected Meet or exceed 2023 numbers Annual II. Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem Secure resources for future development Secure funding for future Mega Park site purchases. Completed major effort sum of granted money; amount of land purchased Meet or exceed 2023 numbers Annual III. Foster Opportunity and Growth Advance shared interests with regional economic development organizations Meet with EDPNC and RTRP representatives to share priorities and new targeted industries.Routine project # meetings 4? Annual III. Foster Opportunity and Growth Advance shared interests with regional economic development organizations Increase recruitment efforts to site selection consultants through aggressive participation with EDPNC and RTRP opportunities.Routine project # of events attended Meet or exceed 2023 numbers Annual III. Foster Opportunity and Growth Support funding for improvements at Piedmont Community College Consider viability of a future joint campaign to raise funds for PCC capital needs Future major effort identify and connect with stakeholders; develop assessment and action plan Progress in completing action steps Life of project III. Foster Opportunity and Growth Support funding for improvements at Piedmont Community College Advocate for increased funding for Piedmont Community College to improve and expand training facilites and staffing Ongoing major effort $ investment in significant renovation of existing facilities, $ investment in construction of new facilities Funds accrued for development; funds spent on improvements Annual IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy Build shared understanding and consensus on goals Conduct EDC Board member land and building product tours in Person County to evaluate current stability and future needs.Ongoing major effort # of site visits; # of EDC board members participating At least 1 annually, 50% participation Annual IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy Build shared understanding and consensus on goals Conduct EDC board member visits to learn about competitor offerings in the region. Conduct one of each annually.Ongoing major effort # of site visits; # of EDC board members participating At least 1 annually, 50% participation Annual IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy Collaborate on messaging and external materials Improve the EDC website; provide a dashboard with information on economic development and quality-of-life metrics.Ongoing major effort completion; regular reevaluation Complete project by XX 2024; reevaluate annually Annual IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy Collaborate on messaging and external materials Work with PIO to build and implement a communications plan to promote ED work and messaging; regularly update strategies Ongoing major effort completion; regular reevaluation Complete project by XX 2024; reevaluate annually Quarterly PIO IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy Continue and enhance marketing efforts with WRAL Promote employment opportunities within Person County regionally, especially among commuters Ongoing major effort completion; regular reevaluation Complete project by XX 2024; reevaluate annually Quarterly IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy Continue and enhance marketing efforts with WRAL Promote Mega Park opportunities to regional developers, employers, and investors Routine project completion; regular reevaluation Complete project by XX 2024; reevaluate annually Quarterly Mission statement: “To create opportunities for families & businesses to prosper & compete in a global economy” 107 of 129 I. Retain Existing Economic Drivers Goal: Engage existing economic powerhouses to support their success and investment in the county Strategies: Identify and support priority partners and industries Connect local industry and community institutions Ensure future viability of agriculture and agro-tourism Goal: Bolster local assets to enhance viability and visibility to future investors and business growth Strategies: Monitor housing and quality of life indicators Secure resources for future development Develop infrastructure to meet anticipated needs Prepare prime development sites for investment II. Strengthen the Local ED Ecosystem Strategies: Report consistent quality of life and economic metrics Collaborate on messaging and external materials Continue and enhance marketing efforts with WRAL Build shared understanding and consensus on goals IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy Goal: Foster an ED Commission and Department that can fulfill their duties to this community Strategies: Advance shared interests with regional ED orgs Foster new amenities to attract potential residents Cultivate agriculture and agro-tourism capacity Support funding for improvements at PCC III. Foster Opportunity and Growth Goal: Demonstrate the county potential as a place for businesses and for working people to prosper “To create opportunities for families & businesses to prosper & compete in a global economy” Person County, North Carolina 2024 Economic Development Action Plan 108 of 129 airport upgrades By Ivey Schofield iveyschofield@borderbelt.org Elizabethtown has plans for four major projects that could help transform the small Bladen County community into a hub for growth and innovation. Home to about 3,200 people in southeastern North Carolina, Elizabethtown is set to get about $20 million in state and federal grants. Town officials say they want to use the money to address a number of issues, including housing, health care, infrastructure, recreation and economic development. To keep up with more news from the Border Belt Independent, sign up here for our weekly newsletter. “I’m so excited. For the first time in a long time, there’s a lot of grant money out there,” Mayor Sylvia Campbell said, referring to the $1.9 trillion 109 of 129 American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. “Thank goodness we’ve gleaned something out of COVID.” Here’s a breakdown of the projects in Elizabethtown. Airport expansion The town plans to expand the Curtis L. Brown Jr. Field airport in hopes that more businesses and individuals will use the facility. The airport already has an annual economic impact of $21 million, said Rusty Worley, Elizabethtown’s director of planning and code enforcement. In 2021, Elizabethtown received $795,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve the airport over the next five years. So far, the town has used a portion of the funds to create a 10-year master plan and is currently in the process of finalizing it, said Dane Rideout, the town manager. This year, the town is asking for $2.5 million from the state legislature to create an “incubator” – or hangar and apron space that will eventually offer jobs in manufacturing and aviation maintenance – at the southern end of the airport. Chuck Heustess, Bladen County’s economic development director, said the expansion plan, dubbed Project Samuel, is a really big deal. “I may be as excited about the opportunity to really create an economic development tool out of our airport than anything I’ve seen here in the last 20 years,” Heustess said. 110 of 129 Elizabethtown plans to expand the Curtis L. Brown Jr. Field airport, which the town owns. Photo by Ivey Schofield Since October, when the town installed a new computer system at the airport and dropped fuel prices, about 1,000 planes have utilized the air field each month – triple the number previously, Worley said. Planes that use the airport’s hangar as home base generate property taxes. For example, the owner of a plane might owe the county $22,000 and the town $17,000 for one year of use. Meanwhile, Elizabethtown allocates $205,000 a year to the airport, and Bladen County contributes $45,000. “It’s a huge investment by the county and the town, financially, to maintain that, and nobody has been working toward developing the vision and trying to recruit in folks to change that,” Rideout said. “We’re trying to change that.” Starting in April, the town plans to use its partnership with a faith-based aerospace company to create a flight school and offer enrichment opportunities for students in Bladen County Schools and Bladen Community College. This summer, the airport will host camps for middle and high school students interested in learning more about aviation. “I think it will mean a great deal to our future generation. A lot of them don’t realize the opportunity that is at that airport,” Campbell said. “It just opens up a whole new world to them.” 111 of 129 Mixed-use project Elizabethtown has plans for a mixed-use project at the Elizabethtown Industrial Park near the airport. The “live, work, play” project would include homes, health care and business offices, a day care center, a hotel and a 5,000-seat amphitheater. The town has invited several developers to build 145 single-family homes ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 square feet for people who qualify for workforce housing by earning between 60% and 120% of the area’s median income. Police officers and teachers typically fall into this category. Town Manager Dane Rideout shows plans for a mixed-use project near the Elizabethtown Industrial Park. Photo by Ivey Schofield Bladen County needs more housing, said Rideout, who has been living in a 900- square-foot condo for the last couple of years because he hasn’t been able to find a home. “We’re leaking our own success and job creation to outside areas because there’s no place to live,” Rideout said. “Our goal is obviously to keep the money in the county.” The town already owns the land, which officials say should help keep costs lower for homebuyers. 112 of 129 Rideout, who is a veteran, has been working with the Wounded Warriors Project to reserve five to seven homes for soldiers from Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, who need temporary housing. Alex Munroe, who owns Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery at the industrial park, said he plans to donate some of his proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project. Munroe is expanding his business to a new 10,000-square-foot building at the industrial park, which he says will increase onsite sales by 30%. “Our challenge has always been finding help and finding housing for when we find people to help,” Munroe said. “This will kill two birds with one stone.” Rideout said several other businesses have committed to the space, including Cape Fear Distillery, an urgent care, health care specialists including a speech pathologist and eye doctor, a tiny-home manufacturing company and a pharmaceutical company. 113 of 129 “We can’t build it fast enough,” Rideout said. Elizabethtown hopes to create a mixed-use project with more than 100 single-family homes near the Elizabethtown Industrial Park. Photo by Ivey Schofield Infrastructure upgrades But first Elizabethtown must expand utility lines to the project site. In 2022, the town received a $365,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation for roads, water, sewer and sidewalks. It is now applying for a $691,000 match from the U.S Economic Development Administration to complete those projects by the end of 2024. The town is also applying for a $2.2 million grant from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality for a storm water project on King Street and a $2 million Community Development Block Grant for a city-wide sewer collection system. “It’s not a shiny object – water, sewer, stormwater,” Rideout said. “But if it’s broken, you’ll get all kinds of attention, and that affects property values.” 114 of 129 Elizabethtown is already working to double its sewer capacity, a $13.6 million project funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. The plan is to create a regional wastewater system that will treat waste from Bladenboro, Dublin and potentially White Lake. Related: Elizabethtown’s sewer upgrades could help Bladen County grow In the last two years, the town has allocated $100,000 of its own budget to fixing its geographic information systems, which companies use to determine water and sewer capacity. Worley said Elizabethtown was a finalist for a drone manufacturer because of its GIS system. Ultimately, the company chose not to move to North Carolina, he said. New Town Past the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is New Town, a small community where most residents are Black. Elizabethtown officials admit the neighborhood has been neglected for years. “It’s very clear that New Town has taken a backseat to a lot of initiatives in this area,” Riedeout said. “One of the town council’s top priorities was to get after New Town from a holistic perspective.” In 2021, Elizabethtown received $950,000 in federal money from Community Development Block Grants to rebuild three dilapidated homes and install new sidewalks and lighting.The town is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to replace more homes. 115 of 129 Last year, Elizabethtown got nearly $2.6 million from the block grant program to create a community center – an 11,000-square-foot building with a playground, indoor event space, office space, tutoring services and a small- business development center. The town invested $135,000 for the project, which is expected to open in 2024. Related: Bladen County town hopes to revitalize Black neighborhood with new community center This year, Rideout said, Elizabethtown is a finalist for a $1 billion grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to revitalize the New Town area. The plan addresses infrastructure, including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, street lighting and greenspaces, and economic development opportunities like the creation of a business incubator for minority-owned companies. Heustess said he hopes all of the projects will just be the beginning. “If Bladen County is going to succeed and grow, the easiest place to have it happen first is Elizabethtown,” he said. “Then from there, we want to take the success we have and recreate it in other towns.” 116 of 129 Highlights March-May • Attended Person County Tourism Summit at Unsalted. o Very good attendance for a rainy day, other counties attended as well o Guest speakers touched on the value of tourism in Economic Development • Kerr-Tar is funding a property study, there have been bi-weekly calls for this project • Participated in two committees for the 2024 Kerr-Tar Economic Development Summit. The title this year is Cultivate 2024. Worked with Duke and Dominion to gain sponsorship for the guest speaker. • The Person County Economic Development website was designed on a platform that is no longer widely available. The Economic Development Department will now work with Cap B for a new website. • Worked on multiple public records requests. • In March Person County hosted Ryan Combs with RTRP. The county was able to discuss the future of economic development within the county with Mr. Combs. • Attended Good Morning Coffee Hour, hosted by the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Dominion Energy presented information on their safety measures and other topics. • Attended two courses for the North Carolina Certified Economic Developer certification. • RTRP hosted Brooklin Salemi, Senior Marketing Director for Newmark. o Attended dinner with Ryan Combs, Brooklin Salemi, and representatives from Orange and Durham County. o Bryan and I also attended a round table with Brooklin Salemi. Multiple topics were covered:  Triangle North  Person County Mega Park  Incentives  Issues in economic development today 117 of 129 • Person County had two calls with Hilary Sherman, EDA NC Representative. Discussed future opportunities, including a possible funding opportunity for Piedmont Community College. • Budget work continued • North Park now has a new sign • Attended regional job fair in Henderson • Worked with staff to review CRM • New Marketing material • Met with local industries with specific needs • Representatives from Tom Tillis's office met with the Kerr-Tar region to hear about economic development needs/challenges. o Infrastructure o Work Force o Turnover in economic development o Lack of information and understanding of educational opportunities to the public o Supply and demand o EV grants 118 of 129 Information for the EDC Advisory Board  Person County needs inventory, advise on going forward.  Federal funding changes  Action Plan adoption  Architecture group engaged-Raleigh Regional Airport o Terminal o Offices o Flex Space  Marketing Analysis  Person County updates o Mayo Park is planning to expand RV sites o Carver Dr-239 homes in the pipeline o Person County is hosting the district softball Little League International tournament o Budget was presented to the Person County Board of Commissioners 119 of 129 Several months ago, I attended a class at ECU, at that class I had the privilege of meeting Chuck Heustess. He is a fellow Economic Developer in Bladen County, NC. He was a guest speaker for the instructor of the class Ernie Pearson. Chuck retired from Bladen County as their Economic Developer. Currently he also is the Executive Director of Bladen County’s non-profit Bladen’s Blooming and business partner with Ernie Pearson. They have partnered to help non-profits succeed. During the brief time I was able to meet him I was intrigued at the changes he noted he was making in the county. Bladen County was really Blooming. I had some knowledge about Bladen County prior to meeting Chuck, I wondered if we were talking about the same county, but I had the pleasure of talking to him over lunch and I knew we were talking about the same county, I knew before the end of his presentation that I had to go see all the changes and talk more with Chuck. As you know things are busy but I made a promise to myself that as soon as I got fully staffed I was taking a trip to Bladen County. Bryan’s first day in the office I had a meeting with him. Within the first few minutes of our meeting we both said that we wanted to go meet Chuck and learn more. Believe it or not the counties have some commonalities. Bri has put together information on both counties for more perspective. As questions have been raised lately about the need for non-profits in economic development and funding nonprofits, I thought now would be the best time to meet with him. Schedules are tight but I wanted to make sure I got to Bladen County before this meeting, A couple of weeks ago I headed to Bladen County for a few days, all I can say is wow and I can’t wait to go back! I was able to go visit for a few hours with Chuck on Wednesday and tell him a little about Person County and some of our needs and issues at hand. The next day I was joined by Person County Manager and Katherine Cathey. We were able to spend most of the day learning more about Economic Development in Person County, I did stay the next day to look around and bring some ideas back to Person County. I was able to do some; however, the day didn’t happen the way I planned. Let’s just say I have learned that everyday is different and one of the main qualities you need to be in economic development is to be flexible and adjust. I was able to do some and I plan to meet with other county departments to share some of the information I found out. I have every intent on going back soon. I did not even get half of what I wanted done. I plan to go back very soon and to learn more. 120 of 129 Bladen County, like Person County is miles away from an interstate, which as you know can cripple you. They started to think outside the box. In the early 2000’s Bladen’s Bloomin took the lead to bring the county where it is today. The non profit participates in a revolving loan program with the county. They also get funding from multiple other sources. Golden Leaf, Committee of 100, USDA, and other funding sources. The non-profit has an industrial park, that continues to grow today. Some of the businesses in their business park are Delton, Aramark and the State DMV call center. They have come up with a building designs that can be changed and expanded which is important in today world. Many start ups have grown and expanded, one of which has expanded 7 times. One of the latest projects opened in November 2023. The non-profit purchased several downtown buildings that were damaged in multiple hurricanes. The non- profit built a mix use facility, with below market value rent, to help businesses thrive. The next phase has already started which includes more parking and more buildings. The industrial park has grown over the last twenty plus years. It now includes an emergency services facility, airport and Cape Fear Winery. The winery has multiple uses. That include a distillery, cottages, restaurant, event center, spa, and event center. The absolute best part is a petting zoo, with unique animals. The winery has grown so much there are plans to build 7 more cottages and a inn. Recognizing the needs of the county are their focus. Two of the needs highlighted was a daycare and healthcare facilities. Some if the needs are being met by the non-profit now. They are in the process of building a medical facility and a daycare. As a side note, to get your child in a daycare in Bladen County, there is a two year wait list. The non-profit understands they will take a loss on the daycare but the need is there and it is a benefit to businesses in the area. Business are now starting to realize that childcare is a huge benefit and an attraction tool for workforce. There model is unique, the one advantage they have is 2 of the staff members for Bladen Blooming are retired from the ED department of Bladen County. Therefore, they do not need benefits. There non profit board does not have terms, it is a mentor system. Younger members are trained by the seasoned members before they leave the board. Chuck noted the non-profit board was too large at this time but some members would soon be exiting. The by-laws are included for you to understand more about the board make up. They are able to act as a private board and do not have to follow open meetings law. He noted his non-profit board was more important than an EDC advisory board. A 121 of 129 EDC advisory board cannot act as quickly as a private board. The ED director needs to have immediate contact with the Chairman of the BOC and the County Manager. He noted the EDC board only met a few times a year. The EDC board does not have the time or confidentiality on their side. I have hit some high points and plan to talk more about Bladen County in the future. I would also like to take a moment for Dr. Berryhill and the county manager, Katherine Cathey to add their takeaways. We are still looking at options for non profits, this is just one that we have studied. 122 of 129 123 of 129 124 of 129 125 of 129 126 of 129 127 of 129 Bladenboro celebrates town square grand opening By Stephanie Meador, posted Mar 1, 2024 on BizFayetteville.com Today, March 1, community members, local leaders and business owners all gathered together for the official ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of Bladenboro’s new town square. This project is the result of years of hard work and was made possible through many partnerships including the Town of Bladenboro, County of Bladen, Boost the Boro, Bladen’s Bloomin’ and many others. “This all started with Boost the Boro… I remember when the first article in Bladen Online came out that there was a group of people, [a] grassroots effort, that was going to revitalize Bladenboro. We thought, well, that'll last a couple years. Six, seven, eight years later, that group was still working, putting out benches and doing facade improvements. And I think that's what gave us the desire to come in and do something that they didn’t quite have the capacity to do. But I can tell you that in my mind and in our office, this entire project started with the fortitude and persistence of the Boost the Boro organization,” shared Chuck Heustess with the Bladen County Economic Development Commission. Photos provided by GFBJ Heustess recalled that putting together enough property downtown for a development like this, especially after the damage done by hurricanes Matthew and Florence, 128 of 129 seemed like an impossible task, but with the support of Bladen County Commissioners and trusting in God’s timing, the project came to fruition. The new town square is home to locally owned businesses such as Things I Love Gifts and More, Lash & Mane Salon, Market on Main, Over Yonder Coffee, Teas, and Creamery, Sweet Tea Boutique and more. “One thing that I've learned is that Bladenboro may be small, but it is mighty. This town square project is an example of a town that wants to survive,” remarked Town Administrator Shanelle Harris. The opening of the new town square is just the beginning of what’s in store for the revitalization of Bladenboro. Copyright © 2024 Enhanced Media Management Inc. dba Greater Fayetteville Business Journal This story may be displayed, reformatted and printed for your personal, noncommercial use only and in accordance with our Terms of Service located at https://bizfayetteville.com/useragreement. 129 of 129