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09-24-2024 Meeting Minutes EDCEDC Minutes for September 24, 2024 Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting Person County EDC Board Room 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 September 24, 2024 Voting Board Members Present: Dr. Scott McKinney-Vice Chairman Mr. Donald Long The Honorable Gordon Powell, Mr. Phillip Allen-Chairman The Honorable Merilyn Newell, Mr. Kenneth Perry Mr. Jody Blackwell Voting Board Members Absent: Ms. Sherry Clayton Mr. Jay Poindexter Ex Officios Present: Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager Dr. Pamela Senegal, PCC President Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent Ex Officios Absent: Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Agricultural Representative ED Staff Present: Others Present: Ms. Brandy Lynch, Director Mr. George Willoughby Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Ms. Sherry Wilborn Ms. Briana Whitt, ED Specialist (Minutes) Mr. Bo Freeman Ms. Dana Blackwell Mr. Dan Craig, CPA EDC Welcome and Invocation: At 4:00 p.m., Chairman Allen called the meeting to order. Vice-Chairman McKinney gave the invocation. 1 of 12 EDC Minutes for September 24, 2024 Approval of Minutes: Chairman Allen recognized The Honorable Merilyn Newell for the approval of the July 23, 2024, minutes. A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved to approve the July 23, 2024 meeting minutes. Motion: Mr. Jody Blackwell Second: Mr. Donald Long Chairman Report: Chairman Allen began by expressing his gratitude to the Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring Polywood's ribbon-cutting ceremony. He mentioned that Polywood aims to increase its workforce to over 700 employees by next year. Mr. Allen also encouraged everyone to attend the public hearing at 6 p.m., where Ms. Lynch will present. Director Report: Ms. Lynch gave some highlights from July through September. At our previous meeting in July, Economic Development had been working on a marketing flyer with Marketing 360. The final product is complete and has been put in frequently visited locations in the county, e.g., visitor centers and hotels. Once the Economic Development website is up and running, the flyer will also be posted there. Ms. Lynch wanted to recognize Mr. Eatmon for his work on a business resource brochure that has been printed and will soon be distributed. Many of the local businesses he met with had questions about the brochure's purpose, its resources, and where they could find more information. While providing specific answers to every question is impossible, Mr. Eatmon emphasized that the brochure lists helpful resources. He encouraged businesses to call him so he could guide them in the right direction. Ms. Lynch stated that, as Mr. Allen said, the Person County Mega Park Public Hearing is this evening. The hearing is possibly to close a portion of County Club Road. Since the last meeting, the Person County Mega Park has also been rezoned. Ms. Lynch had the pleasure of helping plan the Cultivate 2024 in Louisburg and helping choose the keynote speaker. Ms. Lynch intends to discuss the keynote speaker in the November meeting. The contract for the redesign of the Economic Development website has finally been signed, and we are now collaborating with county staff to utilize the same website host as our government. This alignment 2 of 12 EDC Minutes for September 24, 2024 should make the websites more consistent. We hope that in the next year or two, when Person County undertakes its redesign, it will result in streamlined and easier-to-navigate websites. Currently, you can visit the Person County website to view agendas for any county board and their approved meeting minutes. Ms. Lynch had a productive call with the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), which has agreed to sponsor a marketing analysis for the Kerr-Tar region. The analysis will cover the entire Kerr- Tar area, focusing on identifying needs, determining the most suitable industries to explore, and assessing what the region in North Carolina might be lacking. During a recent meeting attended by Ms. Lynch and Mr. Eatmon, a site consultant was brought in to discuss these topics, generating significant interest. Ms. Lynch has had several meetings with Golden Leaf regarding the North Park project over the past month. There have been issues with a contract involving the contractor, but they are working diligently to resolve it. Ms. Lynch mentioned that the situation looks promising, though she emphasized that this is just her opinion. Ms. Whitt will begin her NCCED classes in the fall of 2024. Meanwhile, Mr. Eatmon and Ms. Lynch have already started the ECU portion of the program, and Ms. Lynch has recently completed it. She finished her last class last week and is excited to be done, as this allows her to begin the capstone process. Mr. Eatmon is also almost finished; he has one more ECU class and one UNC class before proceeding to the capstone process. Local industry visits have continued, and Ms. Lynch has received multiple compliments and excellent responses. Mr. Eatmon has been working with county staff on the CAFER for employee numbers. Polywood had its ribbon cutting, which was exciting. Many photos were taken and shared with Ms. Strickland to be posted on social media. Vance Granville Community College will be hosting a business and industry event. A sheet was handed out to the agenda board, and there will be a Q and A as of right now. It is free, and you can register online to find out more information. Dr. Senegal shared an email about the rural listening tour. It will be at PCC on October 17th from 1 to 3 p.m. Registration is free and available online. On October 1st and 2nd, Ms. Lynch was invited to the North Carolina Rural Economic Summit; the agenda was added to the packet and handed to the board. This summit is presented by ECU and Business North Carolina. Ms. Lynch plans to attend. The topics that will be discussed are education, broadband, healthcare, and digital equity. Planning for Personality is ongoing. The city of Roxboro and economic development are helping with that event with the chamber. Early voting will be held on October 17th in the county office building auditorium. 3 of 12 EDC Minutes for September 24, 2024 Raleigh Regional Airport will be closed for approximately 30 days as of September 30th. Ms. Blackwell noted that there will be a business after-hours ribbon cutting at the new visitor center on November 19th from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mr. Perry asked Ms. Lynch to provide more details about the contractor issues. Ms. Lynch explained that the situation primarily involves a dispute between the contractor and the county regarding differing contract interpretations. We are collaborating with Kevin Hornick to address this matter and hope to resolve it soon. Mr. Long asked for any updates on the GKN and if they are forthcoming with any information. Ms. Lynch communicated that she had not heard any information from GKN, but per a previous conversation with Ms. Wilborn, there would be a tour of the facility that she arranged with EDPNC to come to see. Mr. Blackwell gave the latest feedback on the employment that was heard: they have pushed back to the end of November. Ms. Cathey was asked to provide an update on broadband services. Ms. Lynch had included a map, and Ms. Cathey collaborated with Ms. Vaughn from the GIS department to create a more detailed version of that map. Currently, about 2,000 locations in Person County are not funded for broadband access, and efforts are underway to address this issue. Everyone is eager to see progress and to connect some addresses that already have funding for service. The timeline for completing this project is two years, though we hope to see results sooner rather than later. The green dots on the map indicate locations funded through the Great Grant. We have partnered with the state and Spectrum on this grant and another grant with Brightspeed. Some of the green dots will be serviced with fiber from Spectrum, while others will have fiber installed by Brightspeed. The small blue dots on the map represent areas being served through federal funding and the Arnot grants; Spectrum is primarily carrying out these projects and is currently building them out. Dr. Senegal stated that one of the questions we now ask is, "Do you have access to a computer, and do you have access to high-speed internet access at home?" We're seeing an increasing portion of our students who are telling us that that is an issue. We can solve the computer part. We can basically say that the cost of those devices has come down. That's really not the issue. The issue is that high-speed, reliable, affordable internet is connected from home. Last week, there were five of us. Mr. Powell and Mr. Perry went, and then the afternoon session was with Mr. Long, Mr. Blackwell, and Mr. Powell. Mr. Allen said they are making huge strides in getting that project going further along. Day by day, He was very impressed again with the public's attention to detail and concern regarding the environment. Mr. Lockhart informed the board that the City of Roxboro has received authorization to award the Western Sewer project. The contract has been signed, and the City Council has been directed to 4 of 12 5 of 12 $0.00 $5,000,000.00 $10,000,000.00 $15,000,000.00 $20,000,000.00 $25,000,000.00 $30,000,000.00 May-23 May-24 Jun-23 Jun-24 Jul-23 Jul-24 Sales Tax Person Caswell Orange Durham Granville $841.00 $1,857.00 $1,108.00 $1,348.00 $1,477.00 $942.00 $854.00 $1,648.00 $1,047.00 $1,198.00 $1,358.00 $901.00 $850.00 $1,741.00 $1,030.00 $1,222.00 $1,421.00 $900.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 $2,000.00 $3,000.00 $4,000.00 $5,000.00 $6,000.00 Caswell County Durham County Granville County North Carolina Orange County Person County Average Weekly Wage 2023 Q1 Q2 Q3 Person County Demographic Report February 2023 – August 2024 196 Projects Were Worked Top 3 Reasons Why Projects Were Not Submitted: 1. 5-10 Miles for an Interstate 2. 32ft – 40ft Ceiling Height 3. Close Proximity to a Major Airport 0.00% 0.50% 1.00% 1.50% 2.00% 2.50% 3.00% 3.50% 4.00% 4.50% 5.00% Caswell County Durham County Granville County North Carolina Orange County Person County July 2024 Unemployment Rates 11 29 8 57 38 53 1 0 2 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Jun-24 Jul-24 Aug-24 Permit Activity SFD (Single Family Dwelling)Bldg (No-mods)Modular Homes 6 of 12 Highlights July - September • Economic Development completed the Marketing Flyer with copies being distributed to frequently visited locations in the County and visitor’s centers in the state • Business Resources brochure has been printed and is being distributed • Person County Mega Park rezoned; public hearing this evening regarding the closure of a portion of Country Club Rd. • Economic Development staff attended Cultivate 2024 in Louisburg. • Economic Development website will be redeveloped in conjunction with updating the Person County Government website. • Market Analysis meetings are ongoing with possible partners/firms • Brandy had several meetings with Golden Leaf on the North Park project • Bri will start her NCCED classes in the fall of 2024; Bryan and Brandy have already started the ECU part of the program • Bryan has taken part in the trail information sessions • Local industry visits have continued in a much more positive light, with a great response • Staff is working on employee numbers for the Person County CAFR • Polywood held a ribbon cutting celebrating their expansion on September 20. Upcoming Events of Interest • Economic Development staff will attend NCEDA Fall Conference October 21-22. • Vance Granville Community College will host Business and Industry Connect 2024 on October 31. Registration is free and available online. • Rural Listening Tour presented by the Rural Center at PCC on October 17th from 1:00-3:00. Registration is free and available online. • NC Rural Economic Summit presented by ECU and Business North Carolina will be held October 1-2 at ECU 7 of 12 Information for the EDC Advisory Board Person County Updates o Planning for Personality is ongoing with close collaboration between the City of Roxboro, RACC, and Person County Economic Development. o Person County Planning Director has left the county for an opportunity in the private sector; position has been posted o Person County Tourism Development Authority is moving to a new location this week o Roxboro Rotary Centennial Park construction is ongoing o Digital Inclusion Plan final draft has been composed o October 17, 2024 In-person early voting begins. Early voting will be held in the Person County Office Building Auditorium o Raleigh Regional Airport runway will be closed for approximately 30 days for construction Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce Updates o The Executive Director position has been posted on the RACC website o Planning for Personality is ongoing, over 80 vendor spots have been reserved. o Continuing to plan Business After Hours and Good Morning Coffee Hours o Ribbon Cutting for Distinguished Young Women on Thursday from 5:00 to 6:30 at the Kirby o Business After Hours for Cypress Creek Renewables on Oct. 3rd at 1792 Beer Co. from 5:00 to 7:00 8 of 12 https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/0968e0d6753b4eb59b0b70ebb361f2cb9 of 12 VGCC BUSINESS & INDUSTRY CONNECT The Ties that Bind Thursday, October 31, 2024 - VGCC CIVIC CENTER - 8:00 am-2 pm Event Agenda Jim Link, Chief Human Resources Officer - SHRM Talent, Tech & Leadership | Shaping the Modern Workplace Brett Brenton, Regional Impact Manager - MyFutureNC NC Data and Trends in the new reality Lunch Industry Round Table Discussions Industry Leadership Q and A Economic Development Q and A Economic Development Directors/ College Presidents Register now space is limited https://vgcc.jotform.com/240423739358057 Event Contact Ken Wilson wilsonk@vgcc.edu 10 of 12 The digital inclusion taskforce is committed to engaging with community stakeholders to identify and address digital disparities, create opportunities for digital skill-building, and advocate for policies that promote digital equity and inclusion. By developing a countywide digital inclusion plan, we aim to empower our community members with the resources they need to succeed in the digital age and create a more inclusive and prosperous community for all. Person County Digital Inclusion Taskforce Share Your FeedbackOur Mission Volunteer on the community taskforce Attend a listening session or a Board of Commissioners meeting Contact us and ask questions (information below) Interested in getting involved? Here are the ways you can: digitalequity@personcountync.gov 304 S Morgan St, Roxboro NC, 27573 (336) 330-2233 Connecting People, Improving Person Our Vision For everyone in Person County to have the access and skills to participate in a digital world. Person County Broadband Survey State Digital Equity Survey Get Involved! tinyurl.com/343axpub tinyurl.com/4nhvt74k 11 of 12 Assess Needs & Resources Set Goals and Strategies Write and Implement Digital Inclusion Plan Involve the Community Throughout the Process Determine digital needs in community and identify pre-existing resources to address those needs Set community-centered goals, as well as timelines and plans to meet those goals Develop a draft to incorporate needs, resources, goals, and strategies, and execute the plan once finished Involve the community in every single step of the process by attending community events, hosting listening sessions, including community members on the taskforce, and opening the draft plan for public comment What are the Taskforce's Goals? Person County's Digital Inclusion Taskforce is a group of county and community representatives committed to developing and implementing a plan to achieve digital equity in Person County. Digital Inclusion aims to improve: What is Digital Inclusion? Digital Equity refers to the goal of all people having equal access to digital resources, such as the Internet or a device. Digital Inclusion refers to the efforts made to achieve digital equity. Internet Availability Internet Affordability Device Access Digital Literacy Do residents have sufficient options for high-speed Internet? Can residents afford a high-speed Internet subscription? Do residents have a way to use the Internet? Do residents know how to use computers and navigate the Internet? Technical Support Do residents have access to help if they need it? What is the Digital Inclusion Taskforce? 12 of 12