07-22-2025 Meeting Agenda Packet EDC
Date: July 22, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda
Time Item Leader 4:00 pm Welcome Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:01 pm Invocation Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman
4:03 pm
Consent Agenda -March 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes -April 22, 2025 Meeting Minutes -May 27, 2025 Meeting Minutes -June 24, 2025 Meeting Minutes **Request a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented
Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:05 pm Leadership Summit Planning Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:40 pm Chairman Report Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:45 pm Member Comments Members and Ex Officios 4:55 pm Director Report Ms. Brandy Lynch, ED Director 5:00 pm Next Meeting
Set for August 26, 2025, 4:00 pm, EDC Boardroom,
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 5:00 pm **Adjourn Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman **Action Requested
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Person County, NC
Economy Overview
Takeaways
May 2025 Labor Force Breakdown
Educational Attainment
Concerning educational attainment,14.4% of Person County, NC residents possess a Bachelor's Degree (7.1% below the
national average), and 12.3% hold an Associate's Degree (3.5% above the national average).
Unemployment by Demographics
Unemployment by Age
Population Trends
As of 2024 the region's population increased by 0.7%since 2019, growing by 297. Population is expected to increase by 1.5%between 2024 and 2029, adding 606.
Population Characteristics
Inbound and Outbound Migration
The table below analyzes past and current residents of Person County, NC. The left column shows residents of other counties
migrating to Person County, NC. The right column shows residents migrating from Person County, NC to other counties.
As of 2022,445 people have migrated from Durham County, NC to Person County, NC. In the same year,195 people left
Person County, NC migrating to Durham County, NC. The total Net Migration for Person County, NC in 2022 was 401.
Top Previous Counties Migrations
Durham County, NC 445
Orange County, NC 178
Wake County, NC 127
Granville County, NC 90
Alamance County, NC 71
Caswell County, NC 54
Halifax County, VA 41
Guilford County, NC 7
Mecklenburg County, NC 7
Cumberland County, NC 6
Top Following Counties Migrations
Durham County, NC 195
Orange County, NC 101
Wake County, NC 85
Granville County, NC 83
Alamance County, NC 63
Caswell County, NC 52
Halifax County, VA 42
Guilford County, NC 40
Mecklenburg County, NC 27
Cumberland County, NC 24
Largest Industries
Business Characteristics
3,120 Companies Employ Your Workers
Online profiles for your workers mention 3,120 companies as employers, with the top 10 appearing below. In the last 12
months, 450 companies in Person County, NC posted job postings, with the top 10 appearing below.
Educational Pipeline
In 2023, there were 314 graduates in Person County, NC. This pipeline has grown by 2% over the last 5 years. The highest
share of these graduates come from "Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies" (Associate's), "Welding Technology/Welder"
(Certificate), and "Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse" (Associate's).
EDC Minutes for March 25, 2025
Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Person County EDC Board Room
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
March 25, 2025
Voting Board Members Present:
Dr. Scott McKinney- Chairman Mr. Donald Long
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman
Mr. Jay Poindexter
Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Agricultural Representative
The Honorable Merilyn Newell
Voting Board Members Absent:
Mr. Kenneth Perry
Mr. Jody Blackwell
Ex Officios Present:
Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager
Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager
Ex Officios Absent:
Dr. Pamela Senegal, PCC President
Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent
ED Staff Present: Others Present:
Ms. Brandy Lynch, Director Mr. George Willoughby
Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Ms. Kim Strickland
Mr. Bo Freeman
EDC Welcome and Invocation:
At 4:00 p.m., Chairman McKinney called the meeting to order.
Mr. Phillip Allen gave the invocation.
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EDC Minutes for March 25, 2025
Director Report:
Ms. Lynch made mention of the Kerr Tar summit that will be on October 9. We do have a draft
agenda. They are going to try to focus on small business for a chunk of it this year, but then
they're going to bring in some of the larger industries to ask, why did they choose region K.
Bryan will attend the Carolina Core event on April 9. Ms. Lynch attended one last month, but her
schedule did not work out to attend this one. The governor will be at High Point University and
will be able to talk about trends and prospects in the Carolina Core area. Additionally, Economic
Development is working with the Chamber on Small Business Week, which will take place from
May 4 to 10.
The Chamber is organizing leadership programs in Person County again. Orientation will be on
April 28, and graduation is scheduled for October 14. The program includes developing
leadership skills, learning more about Person County, meeting community and business leaders,
touring local businesses and industries, and gaining awareness of the community, quality of life,
and opportunities in Person County. I also want to let you know that the Chamber has
temporarily moved out of their building due to floor renovations, so they are currently located in
the B deck and will have limited office hours.
Chairman Report:
Commissioner Royster attended the NACO Summit. Ms. Lynch had a little blurb in here about
the Citizens Academy and how well it was doing and how well it was received. Person County
has a new interim planning director. She's wonderful. Ms. Lynch had the privilege of meeting
her. I begged her to stay, but she reminded me she was retired.
Ms. Wilborn announced that the Henderson County Health Partnership had released an
impressive performance video about relevant technology. They discussed the significance of
manufacturing for rural communities and noted that many people are pursuing residential
growth in order to access more services.
Chairman McKinney is working to consolidate this year's projects and other initiatives related to
workforce housing. This encompasses short-term housing infrastructure, such as water, sewer,
transportation, rental assistance, and the need for more businesses to expand, as well as a
review of our municipality's ordinances in our county. If you think of other relevant topics,
please share. Not only are we striving to discuss these important themes in a meaningful way
this October, but to achieve this, we need to start addressing them one by one each month as
we move forward.
Dr. Berryhill stated that you don't realize just how much farmland or forestry land there is in
Person
County. I keep saying, if you ride down from Durham to 501, or even 57 to Danville, you see
these beautiful pastures that raise cattle. But that land is working for us. It's harvesting rainfall—
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EDC Minutes for March 25, 2025
rainfall that helps with flooding and runoff. Carbon dioxide is being removed from our
atmosphere. It's beautification. It's peace. Peaceful, and Gordon always used to hate the term
"bucolic." The majority of the interviewees wanted to maintain our rural character. So, working
through EDC, AG, business, and agritourism, potentially through zoning, we need to consider
how to preserve development that's coming. We know what we want, but how do we still
preserve our character, our focus, our goal?
Mr. Lockhart stated that there are two different agricultural programs. He inquired about the
torch treatment and whether that covers everything. Dr. Berryhill clarified that the torch
treatment is unrelated to the voluntary agricultural district or the enhanced voluntary program
in the PDB. She believes that Nancy, specifically Corbin Solar Waters, is responsible for those
programs. Dr. Berryhill reported on this last month, noting that the 10-year time frame for the
voluntary act just needs to be renewed, meaning participants must be signed up. The
commissioners approved the enhanced program last fall, which is why it is currently in effect.
She is also accepting applications for that program; however, Dr. Berryhill believes she has since
requested GIS to remove it from the layers.
Dr. McKinney believes that many individuals are working on economic development projects
behind the scenes. Progress in this area at Microsoft is ongoing. If you have been following
news broadcasts—whether they are national, local, or statewide—you may have noticed that the
rules of the game appear to be changing. Regardless of political views, it is challenging for
businesspeople to operate effectively in an environment where the ground shifts rapidly
beneath them. Nevertheless, they are our community, and they will adapt.
The county is firmly committed to supporting new initiatives, particularly those that empower
women and enhance infrastructure. While they haven’t reached out to us for assistance in a
formal manner, we remain sensitive to their needs and ready to help, just as we do with all
existing industries.
Regarding industry engagement, Mr. Eatmon recently met with CertainTeed and has also been
collaborating with PA, which is currently facing challenges in finding a reliable fixer. Additionally,
he is working with NC State because several of our industries are requesting more than one
intern. Some companies, like Polywood, P&A, and LP, have already requested two interns for the
summer.
Mr. Eatmon's approach to industry visits has proven effective. He first introduces himself to the
companies and later returns for in-depth conversations to understand their needs and discuss
how we can assist them. He also involves partners from Person County Schools, PCC, the
Chamber, and some small businesses. We have found that having fewer people present during
these discussions makes companies more comfortable.
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He has discovered that building a relationship with them initially is crucial. As a result, when we
are not in meetings with them, we often receive phone calls asking for help with specific issues.
For instance, Spuntech they were invited to speak at the Kerr-Tar Summit. Mr. Eatmon contacted
his relationship there, discussed the opportunity, and it turned out successfully.
Overall, we have found that this approach helps us get in the door without creating pressure,
allowing companies to be more open about their needs, which in turn lets us better provide
assistance.
Dr. McKinney stated that sometimes our services are not as responsive as citizens would like. At
various stages, we face challenges related to staffing and communication channels. However,
don't hesitate to provide feedback, as it's essential for others to engage with those who can
make phone calls and establish the right connections to get things done. The good news is that
we have several key manufacturers in the area who are working on appropriate plans to
implement positive changes. We can expect good announcements in the future, although these
initiatives often involve planning, zoning, and similar considerations.
Dr. McKinney mentioned that he was reviewing something the other day to assist someone. He
will provide this information to Ms. Lynch and Ms. Strickland at the end of the meeting. He
asked if anyone would have still purchased what he referred to as bad links, similar to the one
that came up regarding the office. This information was received from Stuart Gilbert today. He
pointed out that if it is outdated, we should be aware of the old pages we encountered in the
past. Ms. Lynch inquired if he was referring to the EDC website. Dr. McKinney confirmed that he
was, but noted it was an earlier version—possibly two, three, or four generations ago.
Dr. McKinney wanted to discuss the recent school board meeting. At the last meeting, Dr.
Peterson clearly presented and recorded what was shared in an earlier meeting. This
presentation suggested that there will be changes in elementary schools in the near future,
specifically regarding residential housing development.
This serves as a good example of the need to think ahead and engage in discussions about
issues we should have been addressing five to ten years ago. We are now at a point where we
need to paddle faster to catch up. If you did not read the article in the paper, it is important to
do so, as it provides valuable background information for the members of this body regarding
K-12 education.
One thing that Ms. Lynch forgot to mention is that she recently received a phone call from
Bryce. He has purchased the Old Crown Craft facility on Somerset Drive and has rented out
some additional space on the property. Bryce has invited Ms. Lynch to meet with him, take a
tour, and meet his new tenant.
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EDC Minutes for March 25, 2025
He had previously inquired about funding for the old water tower located on the property. This
water tower is quite old and has been a part of the area for many years. He is seeking assistance
in finding funding similar to what Durham received for their own water tower. Ms. Lynch
informed Dr. Berryhill that, given her strong background in historical projects, any leads he
might have on funding would be greatly appreciated. Revitalizing this water tower would
enhance the appearance of the area, especially since it is one of the first things people see when
they enter the city.
Ms. Lynch just wanted to bring this to your attention. We received a very nice email from Bryce,
expressing his desire for us to see the improvements he has made to the facility. Ms. Lynch
believes that Commissioner Wilborn accompanied her during a previous discussion about the
expenses they incurred when connecting their building to the water main on Old Durham Road.
Closed Session:
Chairman Allen requested a motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to NC General Statues
143-318.11(a)(5)
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to go into closed session.
Motion: Ms. Sherry Wilborn Second: Mr. Phillip Allen
Closed Session was entered into at 4:28 pm.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting is proposed for Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County EDC
Board Room 303 S. Morgan St. Roxboro, NC.
Adjournment:
A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting at
approximately 5:26 p.m.
Motion: Dr. Claudia Berryhill Second: Mr. Phillip Allen
_____________________________________ ______________________________________
Date Approved Secretary
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Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda
Time Item Leader
4:00 Welcome Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:02 Invocation Mr. Phillip Allen, Vice Chairman
4:03 Director Report Ms. Brandy Lynch, ED Director
4:13 Chairman Report Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:25
Closed Session
**Request motion to enter into Closed Session
pursuant to NC General Statutes 143-
318.11(a)(5)
Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:45 Next Meeting
Set for April 22, 2025, 4:00pm, EDC Boardroom,
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:46 **Adjourn Dr. Scott McKinney, Charmain
**Action Requested
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Highlights
February 2025-March 2025
• Staff is collaborating with NC Works and Kerr-Tar on a job fair scheduled
for the Fall at the CHATT.
• The staff held a meeting with the Interim President of Piedmont
Community College.
• Staff met with the website developer on March 24 to discuss progress.
• New photos and videos will be taken in the coming months for the
website.
• Brandy attended the NCEDA Spring Conference, where several topics
were discussed.
o The Governor participated in the Conference to discuss North
Carolina's economic development status.
o Product Development
o The EDPNC vetting process
o Panel of Consultants for Site Visits and Project Requests
o Economic Development Salary Survey
• Bryan and alongside April, Uptown Roxboro Group, attended the Main
Street Conference
• RTRP provided information on the marketing campaign they will focus on
in 2025.
Upcoming Events of Interest
• Bryan will attend a Carolina Core Event on April 9th. Governor Stein will
speak, sharing his perspective on the trends and prospects for Carolina
Core
• The Wall that Heals will be on display from May 1-4 at the Rock Athletic
Complex
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• The Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development is
collaborating on plans for Small Business Week, taking place from May 4-
10.
• Kerr Tar Summit is scheduled for October 9, 2025
• Bryan is attending the Rural Summit in Raleigh, March 25-26
Information for the EDC Advisory Board
Person County Updates
• The County has a new Interim Planning Director, Margaret Hauth
• The County posted the Planning Director Position
• Person County Departmental Budget presentations to the county staff
have been completed
• The Person County Citizens Academy is well underway and is being well
received
• Commissioner Royster attended the NACO Summit
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EDC Minutes for April 22, 2025
Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Person County EDC Board Room
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
April 22, 2025
Voting Board Members Present:
Dr. Scott McKinney- Chairman Mr. Jody Blackwell
Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman Mr. Kenneth Perry
Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Agricultural Representative
The Honorable Merilyn Newell
Voting Board Members Absent:
Mr. Donald Long
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn
Mr. Jay Poindexter
Ex Officios Present:
Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager
Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager
Dr. Pamela Senegal, PCC President
Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent
Ex Officios Absent:
ED Staff Present: Others Present:
Ms. Brandy Lynch, Director Ms. Julie Maybee
Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Mr. George Willoughby
Ms. Dana Blackwell
Ms. Kim Strickland
Mr. Bo Freeman
EDC Welcome and Invocation:
At 4:01 p.m., Chairman Allen called the meeting to order.
Dr. Scott McKinney gave the invocation.
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EDC Minutes for April 22, 2025
Industry Visits:
Mr. Eatmon began by discussing the BRE Program, which will involve both our small businesses
and larger industries. He conducted 83 visits to different businesses and industries, including 20
sit-down meetings with larger manufacturers in the county. There are far more small businesses
in the county than larger industries, and through my increased collaboration with the Uptown
Roxboro Group and the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and he has been engaging more
with our small businesses.
There are two ways Mr. Eatmon has been approaching them, each with its own pros and cons.
One method is visiting our industries alone. This often involves me picking up the phone or
sending an email to our plant managers, EHS (environment, health, and safety), or human
resources, which is usually the best way to get my foot in the door. Then, it's just Mr. Eatmon
going on his own to sit down with whoever is available at the time, whether that's human
resources or the plant manager. Often, he tries to coordinate times when all departments are
available simultaneously to meet with the company. This involves sitting down and discussing
the current state of the company, the products they're producing, their current needs, their
growth projections, and their concerns. It's generally an overview of what's going on in the
company and how we can assist with their needs.
Mr. Eatmon has led meetings with partner organizations in collaboration with EDPNC. They
employ retention managers or, rather, regional expansion managers. For our region, that's Harry
Swenson. known for his work with the North Carolina State University industry expansion
solution. Additionally, Mitch Poteet is associated with NC State, specifically PCC. Jody is my
primary contact at PCC. Lastly, Lisa Holland serves as our business service manager with NC
Works.
With a specific goal in mind, it is beneficial to involve a subject matter expert when facing
challenges in filling a role or when employees need a customized training program. This
approach demonstrates our willingness to collaborate as a county government. As a
department, we demonstrate that we are open to collaborating with partners, conveying that we
are not closed-minded. It is advantageous for us as a department to maintain good
relationships with our partner organizations, allowing us to rely on their subject matter expertise
when engaging with these businesses. So far, Mr. Eatmon has received positive feedback from
our industry for this approach, whether he is working alone or with a partner organization.
Additionally, we have established open channels of communication with our local industries.
Industry Support, PCC:
Training and support services for both new and expanding existing community colleges in North
Carolina aim to serve all counties in our state. Training experts work closely in partnership with
employers to tailor the program to meet specific needs. The goal is to foster and support all key
aspects of a company's well-being. Most of our manufacturing companies do qualify, and it also
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EDC Minutes for April 22, 2025
applies to others. We recognize that some developments may occur in that area in the near
future. It certainly includes life sciences as well as regional or national warehouse and
distribution centers, along with customer support centers. Additionally, national headquarters
must meet certain criteria to qualify, which includes making a significant capital investment.
The budget was approved last year for $58,422 for customer training, training dialogue, and
other resources that are new to us. In the very first project, David received approval for $15,762
for Louisiana Pacific, which is undertaking quite a few more initiatives. With an expansion of
$80,000 in Polywood, they obtained a total of $123,000 in investment incentives. Currently, in
Person County, Polywood has opened up, and they will also approve around $1,000 in incentives
from the state to customize training for the initial project. Therefore, this small area has over half
a million dollars in training incentives for pilot programs, which is significant, as this training is
set to become a campus driving an economic Academy.
PCC also conducts leadership training. Polywood plays a significant role in that process. To
illustrate how customized training works, they're running a leadership program at their Indiana
facility in partnership with Purdue University. Purdue University collaborated with us on
customized training. Additionally, we worked with NC State, which he mentioned is located at
NC State. NC State developed the training program based on what Purdue University provided
them. Our current program here is being taught at NC State, whereas Purdue does not operate
in Indiana, so it somewhat mirrors their goal to expand to Spain. Some individuals do look back
and forth for leadership and higher-level robotics training, which is the third item on the list and
exists in a large environment. Most of our companies have some form of robotics integrated
within their facilities, so we gain a lot of knowledge about that, as well as VLC training and
similar programs.
So, one thing Mr. Eatmon mentioned about their machines is that they come from Canada,
Germany, and other places. The company can actually pay someone from those countries to
provide training for one or two weeks. Mr. Eatmon stated, "A lot of times, I have no idea until I
walk in the door or see them in person who they are." So, when he goes to meet with them, he
doesn't know if it's a minority-owned business or not, but there are resources that are specific to
minority-owned businesses, including private grant funding through nonprofit organizations.
Mr. Eatmon conducts a good bit of research to find what is available.
Leadership Summit:
Mr. Allen and Dr. McKinney are attending a Golden Leaf meeting in early May. The Wake County
Manager and grant writer, Ms. Lynch, has periodically received training. The Golden Leaf
priorities include job creation, economic investment, workforce preparedness, and agriculture.
These specific measures have consistently been utilized over the years to evaluate grant
requests from gatherings, along with the data and site development. These are the main
ongoing themes and how they want to measure impact or demonstrate how your project will
positively influence your economically distressed community. There's a fourth category that
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EDC Minutes for April 22, 2025
includes board-driven initiatives, such as the current prosperity zone cycle, but there have been
others that focus on local food initiatives or help develop Mega sites and similar projects.
What is the purpose of the summit? Of course, Commissioner Wilborn, part of her campaign was
to advocate for something like this to happen. It's also mentioned in the comprehensive land
use planning committee that was developed jointly by the city of Roxboro and the county. This
body is indicated as a good example of a community advisory group; it has no real power, but
we can gather the key influencers in our city and county who impact economic development. It
is a team sport.
Director Report:
Ms. Lynch created a highlight sheet. One thing Ms. Lynch noted is that she just received from
the chamber the Business After Hours for Small Business Week, which will be on Thursday night,
May 8th at Tunnel Creek. Additionally, I want to thank Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Eatmon. They did a
great job presenting and have also excelled with businesses. Ms. Lynch has received positive
feedback.
Ms. Lynch had a productive meeting with Dr. B and the interim president of PCC last week. Ms.
Lynch, Mr. Blackwell, and Mr. Eatmon also had a wonderful discussion with an industry very
interested in potentially partnering with us on future projects. It was truly gratifying to witness in
action—what we can do, what PCC can accomplish, and what businesses require. Overall, it was
a great meeting, and Ms. Lynch expressed her gratitude to them for joining her and meeting
with that industry.
Chairman Report:
A lot of discussions are taking place, and we will be sharing information about the big elephant
in the room, Microsoft. A couple of other items to appreciate briefly. Donald is sending all of us
an email regarding the General Assembly update from a building group type perspective. I
heard a significant update from one of the recent city council meetings, where things were
shared with the council, saying, hey, we don't know what's going to happen, but it may affect us
in a big way. So that kind of information has been trickling out to the average person like me,
digging into understanding just how significantly the General Assembly is considering making
changes that could affect zoning and planning activities in our communities.
Dr. McKinney has received complaints about things not moving through the system as quickly
as people would expect, and we try to share those in appropriate ways. I'm sure the manager's
office receives many more of those complaints than Dr. McKinney has, and everyone is doing
their best, but it's a really tough situation. They're searching for a permanent planning director,
which could help. Even if we had a permanent planning director in place right now with 10 years
of experience, it's still a tough time for them. As for staffing, other than the planning director,
are we fully staffed in inspections?
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EDC Minutes for April 22, 2025
Ms. Cathey answered Yes, we are. We have a contractor for technical assistance, and we have an
interim director who is here two days a week. Currently, there are very few complaints, and
we've received a lot of positive feedback regarding the services being provided and the
additional help. So yes, I hope we can get a permanent director in here soon.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting is proposed for Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County EDC
Board Room 303 S. Morgan St. Roxboro, NC.
Adjournment:
A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting at
approximately 5:01 p.m.
Motion: Second:
_____________________________________ ______________________________________
Date Approved Secretary
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–––––––
Date: April 22, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda
Time Item Leader
4:00 Welcome Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:02 Invocation Mr. Phillip Allen, Vice Chairman
4:05 Industry Visits Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry
Specialist
4:15 Industry Support, PCC Mr. Jody Blackwell, Dean PCC
4:25 Leadership Summit Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:45 Director’s Report Ms. Brandy Lynch, ED Director
4:50 President’s Report Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
5:00 Next Meeting
Set for May 27, 2025, 4:00pm, EDC Boardroom,
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
5:00 **Adjourn Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
**Action Requested
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Highlights
March 2025 - April 2025
- Staff attended the NCEDA Legislative Breakfast and met with legislative
representatives.
- Conducted a meeting with Stokes Manufacturing.
- Economic Development hosted the Civics Academy in April.
- Collaborated with the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce on a Small
Business Week booklet.
- Continued work with Kerr Tar on the Summit and Tourism project.
- Made ongoing updates to the website.
- Attended a Kerr Tar informational meeting regarding available grants.
Upcoming Events of Interest
- The Wall That Heals will be on display from May 1 to May 4 at the Rock
Athletic Complex.
- The Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development
are collaborating on plans for Small Business Week, which will take place
from May 4 to May 10.
- The Kerr Tar Summit is scheduled for October 9, 2025.
- The State of the Region presentation with RTRP is set for May 7, 2025.
- The Person County Citizens Academy will graduate in May, and there is a
waitlist for the Fall session.
- Duke is scheduled to appear on the North Carolina Utility Commission
agenda for May 5.
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Information for the EDC Advisory Board
Person County Updates
- The County conducted interviews for the Planning Director position.
- The Person County Board of Commissioners received the Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP) from the County Manager.
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EDC Minutes for May 27, 2025
Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Person County EDC Board Room
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
May 27, 2025
Voting Board Members Present:
Dr. Scott McKinney- Chairman Mr. Donald Long
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman
Mr. Jay Poindexter Mr. Kenneth Perry
Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Agricultural Representative Mr. Jody Blackwell
The Honorable Merilyn Newell
Ex Officios Present:
Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager
Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager
Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent
Ex Officios Absent:
Dr. Kenneth Boham, PCC Interim 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. Dana Blackwell
Ms. Julie Maybee
Mr. TC Morphis
EDC Welcome and Invocation:
At 4:00 p.m., Chairman McKinney called the meeting to order.
Mr. Donald Long gave the invocation.
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Ethics Training:
TC Morphis, the county attorney, stated that according to the bylaws, the board is required to
undergo ethics training every year. Mr. Morphis was not present last year, so one of his
colleagues conducted the ethics training instead. Therefore, this is his first time participating in
the EDC. From what has been gathered from Ms. Lynch, many of the members have served on
the board for quite a while. This isn't your first rodeo. Mr. Morphis thought that instead of
repeating an ethics training we have already conducted, we could discuss conflicts of interest, as
you are required to sign a conflict of interest statement each year, and then also talk a little bit
about quasi-initial procedure. And because I understand that there is going to be a closed
session, we're going to be talking about that issue, so it's something that doesn't typically come
up from the board.
Essentially, EDC bylaws, Article Two, outline the scope and duties of the EDC, closely following
state statutes 158-13. Therefore, the activities permitted by the statutes, along with what your
bylaws specify, include receiving an economic development program, which involves both
receiving and implementing it. You can formulate projects, conduct industrial surveys, and
advertise. You can provide advice and assistance. You can promote the formation of private
business development corporations, and you can engage in other necessary activities.
Basically, the two ways you all might encounter a conflict of interest as an advisory board,
according to your own standards, are as follows: first, you could have a general conflict, which
involves using your position for personal or private gain, giving preferential treatment,
compromising independence or impartiality, or adversely affecting public confidence and the
integrity of the commission. If you can avoid at least two of those, you'll also steer clear of any
criminal issues. Mr. Morphis believes our By-laws are precise and easy to read. Consider that you
signed this, and then just sign it at the end of the meeting; give it to the economic development
director, and she will keep it on file.
Ms. Wilborn asked if Mr. Morphis could discuss the exception for counties with municipalities of
fewer than 20,000 regarding close business dealings, where everyone conducts business. So, the
exception that Ms. Wilborn is referring to is 14-234, and Mr. Morphis has a copy of the statute.
Actually, I'll provide these statutes for anyone who wants them and can email them to you
afterward. It essentially states that you can't be an elected official or a member of any public
body and make or administer a contract—that means voting on it or, you know, being part of
the board that oversees it—if you also have an interest in the entity with which you are
contracting.
Mr. Perry mentioned that the EDC recently faced a situation in which information was shared
beyond the intended recipients. Would that be considered a misuse of confidential information
by passing it on to unauthorized individuals? Mr. Morphis stated, "It is unlawful for any officer,
employee of the state, or an officer or employee of any political subdivision, you all be an officer
in your appointed position and contemplate an official action by himself or governor unit which
he's associated or in reliance on information which is made known to him in his official capacity,
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which is not made public, to commit any of the following acts, acquire a pecuniary interest in
any property transaction or enterprise, or gain any pecuniary benefit which may be affected by
such information or official action, or intentionally aid another to do any of the above acts."
Therefore, don't see it happening as much with a board like EDC, but find that our county
commissioners are quite good about this. However, Mr. Morphis observed this in other
jurisdictions where you have what's called a leaky board: they enter a closed session, and five
minutes later, everyone on the street knows what was discussed. Well, that is not illegal, and it's
not a violation of the statute.
Ms. Wilborn stated that she was a little confused about why the SUP information was presented
to this board. Mr. Morphis expressed, "because I've been hearing a lot from citizens in the
community." He had talked to several elected officials and staff, asking, "Well, are you doing
this? Are you doing that?" He’s been speaking to the attorneys, both from the applicant and the
folks involved in the project. Additionally, due to the considerable discussion surrounding that
conversation, he wanted everyone to understand what our Board of Commissioners can and
can't do because he thinks it's important, especially since it is an application for business. He
also wanted to take this opportunity to inform you all about that. So, if you're asking the
community, you can say, "well, this is why they're not talking about it." That was really the
purpose of it.
Housing Supply Gap Analysis:
This is one of the potential topics that we identified more broadly in the name of new housing
units or affordable housing, which is relevant to that subject area. Dr. McKinney came across this
information, and you have been provided with four pages of details here in your packet. The first
page is a colorful one-pager labeled ‘North Carolina Housing Supply Gap Analysis.’ At the
bottom of that page is a QR code. If you scan it, you’ll access the extensive report, which is
supported by the names listed near the bottom. It was commissioned by the North Carolina
Chamber Foundation, the North Carolina Builders Association, and the North Carolina Realtors,
along with the independent research group, National Research Group.
Dr. McKinney attempted to summarize for you in the first two pages, and then on the third
page, we're going to share the reason why so much effort went into the study and why they
incurred these expenses. They want to take this information to your local area, adapt it, and
expand upon it. There are limitations since this study was based on census data and information
from BRSI, an organization that many of our groups utilize for economic data and similar
purposes. However, they are strongly encouraging us, as highlighted in those bullet points, to
maintain our composure during the joint meeting in October with the commissioners and city
council, ultimately aiming to develop a local housing policy.
Now, one of the major factors Dr. McKinney believes they overlooked in their study, simply
because it's such a significant unknown for all of us, was the effect of Microsoft and its transition
from a dormant status to a more active climate. This, of course, will impact our community.
However, if you examine that small table at the bottom of the third page, that's the crux of the
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matter. They categorized the data by income levels, which is the standard practice in the
housing industry, and they provided the household income range and rent range.
For the first two categories, we believe there's a housing gap in the next five years, with 158
units at the lowest income level and the next step up. They don't perceive that people in these
income levels would have the ability to buy or sell housing. The gap in those first two columns
may be a reasonable assumption, or maybe not. As things get assessed, you then move up the
scale to the next two columns: 51 to 80% of area median income and 81 to 120% of median
income. These are the two segments often served when a community has any kind of subsidized
housing or when a large development comes in and commits to having a certain percentage of
affordable housing. Typically, they're aiming to serve those two columns of individuals. I know
some of the elected officials and administrative staff here, along with members of our
community, who say, "Oh, we need more affordable housing."
Dr. McKinney was speaking with Commissioner Wilborn ahead of the meeting, trying to recall
where she had made this comment. However, she did make a comment at some point during a
public meeting that, in our community, the home builders and elected officials may not all be
entirely on the same page regarding what our community needs. We're driving toward that
goal, having a meaningful joint meeting in October where folks can discuss various issues. There
are many topics between the city and the county, such as water, sewer, and infrastructure
problems, which are much more significant than just a few issues.
Closed Session:
Chairman McKinney requested a motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to NC General
Statues 143-318.11(a)(5)
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to go into closed session.
Chairman McKinney requested a motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to NC General
Statues 143-318.11(a)(4)
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to go into closed session.
Motion: The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Second: Mr. Jody Blackwell
Closed Session was entered into at 4:31 pm.
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Strategic Plan Update:
Commissioner Wilborn had just inquired about the strategic plan that was presented to us. She
believes it was our first meeting of the year, and the direction from the chairman was to send
recommendations to Ms. Lynch regarding what we would like changed. Commissioner Wilborn
assumed that we would come back to the next meeting to discuss these issues, adopt the plan,
and receive updates on the goals we've set; however, we haven't talked about it since.
Commissioner Wilborn stated, “we still have a month now to do that, to send things that we'd
like to see amended or added to it and discuss it at the next meeting.”
What Commissioner Wilborn has circulated is related to that, as well as the leadership summit
we discussed. These are just a few thoughts that have been on my mind. Commissioner Wilborn
scratched this out this morning before starting my meetings, and she would like to read through
it quickly. The half-page dedicated to matters concerning the city is not a critique of the city; it's
simply a recognition that most of the development will occur in the city, and this body serves
both the county and the city. Even though it's appointed by the county, there are city members
here, and she believes there is an agreement in place for the county to provide economic
development services to the city while sharing some of those costs. Commissioner Wilborn
stated its May, we don't have any concrete steps in place to hold a leadership summit, and I
think we should contract out a facilitator to make sure that we're on track and have the solid
information we need to present to each body and to the public by October.
In many ways, the city controls our water and sewer, which affects our ability to govern the
county across all sectors. The infrastructure is aging and costly to maintain and repair. The city
has lost its largest water users and has been unable to replace them, leading to a decline in
revenue while still incurring maintenance costs. This situation has resulted in their placement on
the LGC UAL list for several years. One of their goals for this budget season is to get off that UAL
list. However, the only mechanisms available to them right now to achieve this are increasing
taxes and water rates. So technically, they're not raising taxes, but we've seen an increase in
property values from which they will benefit. We lack a clear understanding of our infrastructure
capacity or opportunities to expand it into the county. As a priority for seeking funding—
whether through grants or a partnership with the county and the city—or if the county sees it as
beneficial for county growth, the Hyco Lake area does not have water and sewer. That may be
something we want to learn about regarding the cost to extend infrastructure out there.
Should the city be more proactive in encouraging commercial and industrial development rather
than focusing solely on residential development? They could achieve this through incentives and
business-friendly policies, which is something this body can help them understand—tools that
are available if they aren't aware of them or if they haven't considered that approach. Once city
regulations guide development, they can control growth through either more stringent
regulations or more growth-friendly policies. This is a consideration we often overlook. We hear
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a lot about what the county does from social media, but it's important for us as an EDC to
recognize the significance of the ordinances that are implemented by the city.
Commissioner Wilborn stated that we have no available industrial sites and limited industrial
buildings. We need to evaluate the ever-changing needs of industry, as well as Person County's
strengths and opportunities. We need to evaluate all our infrastructure, including rail,
transportation, water, sewer, fiber, and workforce. We should enhance our workforce, which we
believe is already strong. We need to hear an update on our training and education needs, as
our industrial landscape has changed across the county and there's a housing shortage that
needs to be addressed. We also need to consider how to support other sectors of our economy,
including entrepreneurship and small business support.
We discuss farmland preservation often, yet we don't define what it entails. From an economic
development standpoint, to me, it represents land utilized for crop production to enhance our
GDP. If we are to preserve it and establish parameters, I believe we must define what it is and
implement measures to actively preserve it.
Member Comments and President’s Report:
Dr. McKinney like to recognize Dr. Berryhill first, because she did bring some information to
agriculture.
Dr. Berryhill shared a handout from the NC Cooperative Extension on local farms and food
profile.
Mr. Poindexter stated that he has seen so many people that don't understand the deferred, this
10s of 1,000’s of dollars that could be saved can't pay the taxes because they're not in deferred.
The only time you can sign up for it is in January. As long as you get 26 acres of timber and they
can be in it, someone's got a hard understanding of that, but this deferred management
program.
Mr. Blackwell announced that there is a new small business director that started.
Mr. Perry asked if we could create an organizational chart to better understand the
organizations we are part of. Mr. Morphis stated that you're an appointed board member, and
you respond directly to the Board of Commissioners. This is an appointed advisory board. Under
state law, you can hold one elected office and one appointed public office, or two appointed
public offices, and that's where that comes from. So, if you're on this board and also on the
planning commission, you couldn't be on the third board. Additionally, some positions are
strictly advisory and are not considered public offices.
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Ms. Wilborn highlighted the open house and hiring event that North American is hosting this
week, May 30, from 10 to 2. She hopes everyone saw the press release in the paper about their
change in ownership and future plans. However, this open house is for everyone, not just people
looking for jobs, and they hope that city and county leaders will attend.
Mr. Eatmon announced that the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments will hold a health industry
roundtable on June 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The goal is to address hiring, retention,
education, burnout, and staff shortages within the region for our healthcare entities. Therefore,
educators—including those from the public school system, private schools, schools of choice,
and community colleges—and practitioners will come together to discuss and evaluate these
issues as a region. The aim is to identify some best practices moving forward — something we
should take for granted here in Person County, particularly at our hospital, and to find ways to
support and uplift them.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting is proposed for Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County EDC
Board Room 303 S. Morgan St. Roxboro, NC.
Adjournment:
A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting at
approximately 6:00 p.m.
Motion: The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter
_____________________________________ ______________________________________
Date Approved Secretary
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–––––––
Date: May 27, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda
Time Item Leader
4:00 Welcome Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:02 Invocation Mr. Phillip Allen, Vice Chairman
4:02 Ethics Training Mr. TC Morphis, Jr., Person County
Attorney
4:22 Housing Supply Gap Analysis Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
4:37 Member Comments Members and Ex Officios
4:42
Closed Session
**Request motion to enter into Closed Session
pursuant to NC General Statutes 143-
318.11(a)(5)
Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
5:00
Closed Session
**Request motion to enter into Closed Session
pursuant to NC General Statutes 143-
318.11(a)(4)
Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
5:15 Strategic Plan Update Ms. Sherry Wilborn, Person County
Commissioner
5:25 President’s Report Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
5:30 Next Meeting
Set for June 24, 2025, 4:00pm, EDC Boardroom,
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
5:30 **Adjourn Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman
**Action Requested
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Highlights
April 2025 - May 2025
- Staff assisted in Small Business Week
- Conducted a meeting with North American and P&A
- Bryan began the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership
Person County
- Attended RTRP State of the Region
- Brandy met with Golden Leaf
- Made ongoing updates to the website
- Met with Kerr Tar KOG to plan the upcoming health industry round table
discussion
Upcoming Events of Interest
- Health industry round table discussion on June 5
- North American Open House and Hiring Event, May 30
- The Kerr Tar Summit is scheduled for October 9, 2025
- The NCEDA Annual Conference will be the week of June 11
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Information for the EDC Advisory Board
Person County Updates
- The County conducted interviews for the Planning Director position.
- The County Manager presented the 2025-2026 Budget to the Person
County Commissioners
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Person County
Economic Development
Commission
Ethics Training
March 27, 2024
T.C, Morphis, Jr.
Person County Attorney
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Overview of Presentation
•Scope of E DC’s Work
•Conflicts of Interest
•Criminal Self-Dealing Statutes
•Quasi-Judicial Procedure, Including Being a Witness
•Closed Sessions
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Scope of the EDC’s Work
G.S. § 158-13 and Bylaws Article Two:
•“Receive an economic development program”
•“Formulate projects” for economic development.
•“Conduct industrial surveys”
•Advertise
•“Furnish advice and assistance”
•“Encourage the formation of private business development
corporations”
•“Carry on such other activities as may be necessary.”
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Conflicts of Interest
The EDC Conflict of Interest Policy
1.General Conflict
2.Financial Interest
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Conflicts of Interest
G.S. 160D-109(b):
(b) Appointed Boards. –Members of appointed boards shall not vote on any
advisory or legislative decision regarding a development regulation adopted
pursuant to this Chapter where the outcome of the matter being considered is
reasonably likely to have a direct, substantial, and readily identifiable financial
impact on the member. An appointed board member shall not vote on any zoning
amendment if the landowner of the property subject to a rezoning petition or the
applicant for a text amendment is a person with whom the member has a close
familial, business, or other associational relationship.
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Criminal “Self-Dealing” Statutes
NOTE: EDC members are “public officers.”
G.S. §14-234: Public officers benefiting from public contracts[.]
G.S. §14-234.1: Misuse of confidential information.
G.S. §14-234.2: Public Officer benefitting from public position.
G.S. §14-234.3: Nonprofit officials participating in contracts.
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Quasi-Judicial Decisions in General
•These decisions are made by applying the County’s Planning
Ordinance to a unique set of facts and involve some discretion by
the decision maker.
•Quasi-judicial hearings are like miniature court hearings where
the Board is the decision maker applying facts to a legal standard.
•Due process rights must be preserved.
•G.S. § 160D-406(j): “Every quasi-judicial decision shall be based
upon competent, material, and substantial evidence in the record.”
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Quasi-Judicial Procedure
Conflicts of Interest
G.S. §160D-109:
“A member of any board exercising quasi-judicial functions . . . shall not participate in or vote on any quasi-judicial matter in a manner that would violate affected persons’ constitutional rights to an impartial decision maker. Impermissible violations of due process include, but are not limited to, a member having a fixed opinion prior to hearing the matter that is not susceptible to change, undisclosed ex partecommunications, a close familial, business, or other associational relationship with an affected person, or a financial interest in the outcome of the matter.”
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Closed Sessions
Exceptions for Closed Sessions:
(1) To prevent the disclosure of confidential information;
(2) The award exception;
(3) Attorney-client privilege;
(4) The economic development exception;
(5)Instructions for the terms to acquire real estate or for an employment
contract;
(6) The personnel exception
(7) Criminal misconduct exception;
(8) School violence plans;
(9) Potential terrorist activities; and
(10) Police recording exception.19 of 27
Findings about the projected Person County Housing Supply 2024 -2029
Excerpts from source document shared with the Person County EDC
with permission from the NC Chamber Foundation
Source document
2024-2029 North Carolina Housing Supply Gap Analysis and Economic Impact Report was
commissioned by the NC Chamber Foundation, North Carolina Home Builders Association, and
NC REALTORS®. Bowen National Research conducted the Housing Supply Gap Analysis, and
Dr. Michael Walden, Reynolds Distinguished Professor at NC State University and president of
Walden Economic Consulting, conducted the economic impact analysis.
Introduction and Purpose
The NC Chamber Foundation retained Bowen National Research in March of 2024 for the
purpose of conducting a Housing Supply Gap Analysis for rental and for-sale housing for each of
the 100 counties within the state of North Carolina. This study specifically focuses on North
Carolina’s five-year (2024 to 2029) projected housing needs (page I-1).
In the end, this study provides key demographic and housing data that will enable housing
advocates, elected officials, community leaders, residential developers and others to make data-
informed decisions on establishing housing priorities, creating or modifying housing policies,
and supporting housing initiatives and incentives (page I-1).
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Demographic Characteristics and Trends (2024-2029)
% Change Total Households 2.0%
% Change Households <35 Years 2.7%
% Change Households 35-54 Years -2.3%
% Change Households 55+ 4.1%
Median Household Income % Change 21.0%
Rental Housing Supply Overview
Overall Multifamily Vacancy Rate (2024) 0.0%
For-Sale Housing Supply Overview
For-Sale Availability Rate (2024) 0.6%
Median List Price of Available Homes (2024) $350,000
Housing Gaps (2024-2029) Person County State
Total Rental Gap 697 units 322,360 units
Gap to Renter Households Ratio 18.0% 21.2%
For-Sale Housing Gap 1,407 units 442,118 units
Gap to Owner Households Ratio 10.8% 14.3%
Total Gap 2,104 units 764,478 units
Gap to Total Households Ratio 12.5% 16.6%
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Conclusion and Recommendations (with links to resources)
• Educate the Public, Including Decision-Makers, on the Housing Characteristics,
Challenges and Opportunities in North Carolina
• Research other Communities and States on Possible Approaches to Address Housing
Issues
• Encourage Municipalities and Counties to Develop Individual Housing Plans
• Support Efforts to Preserve Existing Housing and Encourage New Residential
Development
• Encourage Local Housing Advocates to Build Organizational Capacity
• Leverage Data from this Statewide Housing Study to Encourage and Attract Residential
Development
Housing Gap Estimates Summary
This addendum includes the housing supply gap estimates for each county, both for rental and
for-sale housing, at a variety of affordability levels. The supporting data used in these
calculations can be found throughout the demographic and housing supply sections of this study.
Methodology and assumptions used in these calculations can be found in the housing supply gap
analysis portion of this report (Addendum A-1).
(Addendum A-10)
PERSON COUNTY Housing Gap Estimates by Income (2024 to 2029)
Percent of Area
Median Income
≤30% 31%-50% 51%-80% 81%-120% 121%-150% 151%+ Total
Household
Income Range
≤$23,550 $23,551-
$39,250
$39,251-
$62,800
$62,801-
$94,200
$94,201-
$117,750
$117,751+ N/A
Rent Range ≤$589 $590-$981 $982-$1,570 $1,571-$2,355 $2,356-$2,944 $2,945+ N/A
Total Rental
Housing Gaps
158 130 148 124 117 20 697
Price Range ≤$76,378 $76,379-
$127,297
$127,298-
$203,676
$203,677-
$305,514
$305,515-
$381,892
$381,893+ N/A
Total For-Sale
Housing Gaps
0 0 173 271 554 409 1,407
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The number of
households in the state
is projected to increase
by 5% (218,160
households) between
2024 and 2029.
is the overall for-sale
availability rate in
North Carolina.
This is well below
the 2%–3%
range of a
healthy market.
Only nine counties, representing less than 10% of the state’s counties, have a
median list price under $200,000, making it likely that many lower income households,
including first-time homebuyers, have difficulty finding affordable homes to purchase.
The statewide vacancy
rate for multifamily rental
units is 5%. This is within
the healthy market range
of 4%-6%, but affordable
rental programs show
near-zero vacancies and
over 41,000 households
are on waitlists for
affordable rental housing.
Closing both the
rental and for-sale
housing gaps in
North Carolina
could generate
$489 billion in
economic activity
and create nearly
2.2 million jobs
in the state.
$489BILLION
Source: 2024-2029 North Carolina Housing Supply Gap Analysis and Economic Impact Report was commissioned by the NC Chamber Foundation, North
Carolina Home Builders Association, and NC REALTORS®. Bowen National Research conducted the Housing Supply Gap Analysis, and Dr. Michael Walden,
Reynolds Distinguished Professor at NC State University and president of Walden Economic Consulting, conducted the economic impact analysis.
Scan to
access the
full report.
FOR SALE
FOR RENT5%
Five-year housing supply gap in
North Carolina for 2024 – 2029
764 ,478
322,360
RENTAL INVENTORY GAP
442,118
FOR-SALE INVENTORY GAP
North Carolina Housing Supply Gap Analysis
and Economic Impact Report
0.8 %
10 %
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EDC Minutes for June 24, 2025
Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Person County EDC Board Room
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
June 24, 2025
Voting Board Members Present:
Dr. Scott McKinney- Chairman Mr. Donald Long
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Mr. Kenneth Perry
Mr. Jay Poindexter
Mr. Jody Blackwell
Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Agricultural Representative
Voting Board Members Absent:
The Honorable Merilyn Newell
Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman
Ex Officios Present:
Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager
Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager
Dr. Barbara Buchanan, PCC Vice President
Ex Officios Absent:
Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent
ED Staff Present: Others Present:
Ms. Brandy Lynch, Director Mr. George Willoughby
Ms. Briana Whitt, ED Specialist (Minutes) Ms. Julie Maybee
Ms. Dana Blackwell
Ms. Kim Strickland
Ms. Garrison Bowes
EDC Welcome and Invocation:
At 4:01 p.m., Chairman McKinney called the meeting to order.
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn gave the invocation.
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EDC Minutes for June 24, 2025
Approval of Minutes:
Chairman McKinney acknowledged the approval of the minutes from February 25, 2025.
A motion made, seconded, and unanimously approved to approve the February 25, 2025
meeting minutes.
Motion: Mr. Jody Blackwell Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter
Golden Leaf-Potential Projects:
This is Golden Leaf’s community-based grants initiative. This program operates in cycles, and we
are currently eligible to apply for funding this year because Person County is included in this
year's grant process. We recently met with Golden Leaf and learned that this is likely the last
cycle for these community-based grants. At the June 16, 2025, Person County Board of
Commissioners meeting, Ms. Cathey provided information about the process. The agenda
packet, including the abstract, was included for reference, along with links to the Golden Leaf
site for additional details.
County managers play a key role in leading this process by coordinating with the commissioners
to create a list of projects for submission to Golden Leaf for consideration. Ms. Cathey has
developed a timeline based on the grant submission deadline. Now is the time for interested
organizations to complete the worksheet included in today’s meeting packet, which outlines the
required information. The county will accept these worksheets for potential projects, which will
then be reviewed by Golden Leaf staff. They will provide feedback to county staff on their
thoughts about the projects, including whether they meet the funding criteria and how likely
they are to receive the grant. The worksheets will be sent to the EDC for feedback on the
submitted projects, and then they will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners to create
the final list, which will be sent to Golden Leaf. This allows us to submit up to $2 million in
funding requests to Golden Leaf, with the maximum county allocation being $1.5 million. We
can submit up to four projects, but only three will be selected for funding.
Manager Cathey stated Brandy would serve as the primary contact for the county regarding the
collection of applications. EDC is welcome to apply if they have any suggested projects in mind.
This will allow us to reach out to the organizations that might be best suited to propose those
ideas, whether it's something at the staff level that we can develop into a grant application.
We've already talked with several organizations interested in this funding process and in
developing project proposals, so we'll work with them through that process. Additionally,
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Cooperative Extension has been discussing a regional project, which I believe is related to food
systems. Piedmont Community College is interested in submitting a proposal for the chat
building. Brandy and Ms. Cathey have also had some conversations about potential
development at the airport and what might be the best approach for applying there, but we are
waiting on some additional information from our airport engineers.
In a recent meeting with the Golden Leaf Foundation, they strongly emphasized that job
creation is a key outcome they are seeking, which is very important for the project to consider
for funding. Golden Leaf is seeking strategic projects that demonstrate an immediate need and
the ability to deploy funds quickly.
Something that has been pre-planned, well thought out, and ready to hit the ground running
will score more favorably in their eyes, as they focus on action rather than planning, leveraging
additional funds or investments. It's not just standalone funding; Golden Leaf builds on previous
community plans, successes, and sustainable community buy-in, as well as strong support from
various citizens and organizations. In that recent meeting, they also emphasized that while
letters of support are acceptable, letters demonstrating actual impact are even more important,
specifically, how the project addresses the current needs of the community, backed up with
evidence for the application. For prior grantees, their performance and track record are also
critical. Ms. Cathey is glad to answer any questions. Their priority areas include job creation and
economic investment, workforce preparedness, and agriculture.
EDC Board Vacancy:
Ms. Cathey stated that because Mr. Long is now a commissioner, he no longer has a seat on the
EDC board and is not the commissioner appointed to the EDC board. The same applies to his
previous seat on the Recreation Advisory Board as well. Therefore, for all intents and purposes,
we would consider that seat vacant. We would then post and accept applications, and the Board
of Commissioners would make an appointment to fill it.
EDC Board Responsibility’s:
Dr. McKinney discussed a significant topic regarding recent conversations the commissioner had
about the responsibilities of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) board. He
mentioned that they had requested Commissioner Wilborn and Ms. Cathey to meet with us to
provide their insights and gather feedback.
Ms. Cathey explained that during a meeting, Commissioner Wilborn highlighted a proposal to
alter the county's organizational chart. Specifically, the proposal involves changing the reporting
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relationship of the Development Director from the County Manager to the Economic
Development Commission (EDC). Ms. Cathey emphasized that instead of implementing this
change immediately, it is essential to examine the implications of this structural adjustment
carefully. There are several legal considerations for updating the bylaws that must be taken into
account. It is important to clearly define the expectations and intended outcomes of this change
to ensure they are accurately represented in the bylaws. This process will help articulate the
commissioners' vision for the development structure in the future.
Ms. Cathey has begun conducting preliminary research and has committed to presenting more
information at the July 21 meeting. This will help the board make informed decisions regarding
these proposed changes. She is currently examining various organizational structures and
considering potential revisions to the bylaws while collaborating with the county attorney.
Additionally, Ms. Lynch is compiling examples from other organizations to contribute to this
discussion.
Commissioner Wilborn is seeking feedback from the EDC regarding what you would like to see
in terms of the organizational structure.
Commissioner Wilborn recalled that the discussion took place during a work session rather than
a regular meeting. The Person County Board of Commissioners was reviewing the organizational
chart, and she highlighted the need for some changes, citing various reasons. During this
session, it was actually Chairman Puryear who initially raised the topic after a member inquired
about the role of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) within the organizational
structure. She mentioned that, in the past, the model had the director reporting to the EDC,
which sparked further discussion.
Ultimately, there was unanimous support from all commissioners for this approach, particularly
given the current opportunities for growth, the lack of available resources, and the potential for
advancement. The seasoned board, along with the chairman’s input, emphasized the need for
proactive planning and development.
Commissioner Puryear had prior experience with this structure, and while Commissioner Wilborn
noted that all commissioners were in favor, they felt it was important to present the idea to the
board first. This was crucial because any changes would affect the responsibilities of every
member on the board, and they wanted to ensure that everyone had a chance to provide input
before moving forward.
Commissioner Wilborn also apologized for inadvertently sending out the bylaws twice on
Saturday. She explained that she had not opened the packet until after sending the email, not
realizing the documents were already included. Initially, she believed that any changes to the
bylaws would need to be addressed at a regular meeting after review, with approval delayed
until the next meeting. However, since the most current bylaws were available, changes could
actually be made and approved within the same meeting, provided that board members
received a seven-day notice with the changes outlined. Alternatively, these changes could also
be discussed and approved at a special called meeting or a regular scheduled meeting.
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Dr. Berryhill asked Mr. Perry about the structure of the Economic Development Board during his
tenure as chairman. Mr. Perry explained that the board operated on a foundation of
cooperation, with the director reporting to the manager while also receiving guidance from the
Economic Development Commission (EDC). He emphasized that the focus was on collaboration
rather than establishing a new branch of local government. The relationship was defined as a
directive from the manager to the director: "I'm your boss, but you also receive guidance from
the EDC."
Over the past few years, there has been a growing lack of trust among members, despite the
natural ups and downs associated with being on an appointed board. This issue has persisted
for a long time. There were discussions in the late 1990s and early 2000s about having the EDC
report directly to the county commissioners.
Currently, the focus is on rebuilding trust. Both the county commissioners and the organization
already have a foundation of cooperation, but now it’s essential to strengthen that trust.
Collaboration between the citizens, the commissioners, and the staff must be prioritized; trust
must be emphasized in all interactions. If necessary, they are even willing to resign and allow
new leadership to come in. However, a solid trust must exist between the commissioners and
the constituents they represent, especially since there have been trust issues in the past.
Dr. Berryhill recalled the previous director, Stewart, conducting performance evaluations. Mr.
Blackwell then inquired about the intentions behind the outlined responsibilities. Commissioner
Wilborn explained that the initial steps would involve gathering feedback to gauge everyone’s
feelings about the proposals. Simultaneously, the county manager would work on potential
changes to the bylaws with the attorney. Ultimately, these proposed changes would be
presented to us at the meeting on July 21.
Dr. McKinney stated that he had been reviewing the bylaws himself, considering changes quite
often. He noted Article Two, which has eight sections that include the supervisor's relationship.
He expressed concern that these sections may not be adequately written, suggesting they imply
that we are to take the place of the county's managing staff. He mentioned that the
commissioner had previously emphasized the importance of our engagement with these topics
and sections.
Dr. McKinney expressed his interest in Section Four, which encourages the establishment of
private business development corporations and highlights the role of commissioners in
supporting this initiative. However, he did not feel there was an urgent need for significant
changes to the bylaws, although he acknowledged that he might have overlooked some
technical details. He thanked the commission for clarifying the county manager's role in relation
to this body and its direct supervision. Commissioner Wilborn asked the board if they had
reviewed the link she provided, which continued the discussion from the work session.
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Ms. Cathey mentioned that there are several departments highlighted in blue boxes on the
organizational chart, indicating a different type of reporting relationship. North Carolina general
statutes establish this structure.
For instance, the director of the Board of Elections is hired under the supervisory authority of the
Board of Elections personnel. Similarly, the Health Director operates within a framework defined
by general statutes. The health department's structure supports the Health Director, who
oversees the personnel and resources within that system.
Additionally, the structure for the Soil and Water Conservation Board is slightly different. In this
case, the board is elected, and the director reports directly to them. However, there is also a
reporting relationship to the Assistant County Manager, who conducts the director's
performance review.
Cooperative Extension serves as another example. These employees are technically under
contract and are considered part of the county department, but they are actually employees of
the university system. The county pays the university system on a contract basis for their work,
and they are included on our organizational chart.
Dr. McKinney recognizes overall, while there are variations in these arrangements across
departments, the previously mentioned are all governed by general statutes.
Dr. Berryhill provided another example involving a hospital owned by the Duke Life Point, which
also has an advisory board.
Mr. Perry stated that, first and foremost, whatever the commissioners decide will take priority.
However, I believe we should avoid creating something based on past events. It's important to
keep things as simple as possible moving forward, focusing on direct cooperation. I think we can
effectively achieve our objectives this way.
Dr. McKinney mentioned that the commissioner will likely expect us to provide an annual update
from this commission, which also acknowledges that the EDC director may be the one in this
position. In any case, I believe we are moving in the right direction. Just keep in mind that they
expect results and feel that some changes to the organizational structure may be necessary to
kickstart these outcomes. Ultimately, that's what we aim to achieve through this process.
Mr. Blackwell agreed with Mr. Perry that this is what the commissioners want, possibly indicating
a broader issue. He believes that this should not be a concern. Mr. Blackwell's main worry is that
if they proceed in this direction—since everyone wants the area to grow—problems could arise.
For instance, if the growth is significant and Ms. Lynch or someone else reports being
overwhelmed, stating that their operations are thriving and they need more personnel, but there
isn't enough work to justify that, it raises questions. How would that situation fit into the budget
and other considerations? Would this matter need to be brought to the board?
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Ms. Wilborn suggested that it would be similar to how the director presents matters to the
electoral board. She explained that the director would provide reasons to support the request
and guide it through the budget process to management, with even board members sometimes
involved in the discussions.
Dr. Berryhill is looking forward to the summit, which presents a great opportunity for us to
refocus as a board and ensure that we are aligned, particularly in how we direct our staff. There
seems to be some uncertainty about our priorities and what our focus should be moving
forward, especially after the challenges posed by the COVID years.
Currently, we don't have a clear list of priorities, and this is a critical moment for us.
Dr. Buchanan, noted that while I'm relatively new and my insights should be taken with a grain
of salt, I wonder what the differences would be between our current approach and the changes
we are discussing. One potential change could be that the board would take on the
responsibility of overseeing the evaluation tool that the director uses each year. Would that be
one of the changes we are considering?
Ms. Wilborn stated that this board would have the ability to set the direction, thereby
reinforcing the goals for the department and expediting actions.
Dr. Buchanan stated that when evaluating any individual or position, it is essential to establish
clear expectations regarding their responsibilities. Additionally, the evaluation criteria should
align closely with these expectations. For example, if one of the expectations is the submission
of an annual report to the county commissioners, we must ensure that this requirement is
tracked and met satisfactorily by everyone involved.
Mr. Lockhart provided an example regarding standard profit-share practices. It’s not just within
the city; the city connects these practices with the director's salary and evaluations. These
evaluations are completed by the planning director. Previously, this was managed differently,
but now it is the planning director's responsibility. Employees are protected by personnel
policies, as you mentioned, which include the county's standards and procedures.
Lockhart noted the city does have a system of progressive discipline in place. Although the
planning director conducts the evaluations, they also solicit input from the residents' board to
provide constructive feedback. This feedback helps guide the employee towards greater success
for the board. This process has been effective for the last ten years.
The only question he had was whether there is consideration for the employees who might be
impacted by a potential shift towards at-will employment, similar to an appointed position,
similar to a manager or a clerk. Will the county continue to treat these employees as regular
employees? Lockhart questions Wilborn about whether she was suggesting that the PCBOC
wanted the Director to be an at-will position. Wilborn said, Yes. That is what the Person County
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Board of Commissioners was saying. Lockhart explains that it would, in fact, take away the
personnel policy aspect.
Ms. Cathey explained that the director reports to the county manager, who manages
performance. Currently, the county does not seek feedback from advisory boards for director
performance reviews, except in specific cases, such as with the Board of Health or the Board of
Elections. The county manager is responsible for understanding the commissioners'
performance expectations, working with the director to create an annual work plan, and
evaluating performance based on that plan. An advisory board collaborates with the director
monthly, providing guidance and communicating expectations.
Ms. Cathey noted some uncertainty about the proposed model and whether it would change
the current structure. She is consulting with the county attorney and reviewing other
jurisdictions' practices, as any changes could significantly impact the roles. If implemented, the
board would provide direction to the director and manage performance through regular
feedback and reviews. A standardized evaluation tool is currently used for all county employees.
Ms. Cathey reminded the board and acknowledged Ms. Lynch for her significant achievements
in her role. The Chairman of the Person County Board of Commissioners recently remarked that
Person County is on the brink of essential developments, primarily due to Ms. Lynch's
contributions. Ms. Cathey emphasized the need to recognize her efforts while remaining open to
feedback from the board on future initiatives.
ED Summit Update:
The ED Summit has become a key topic of discussion. Dr. McKinney received some feedback
from Commissioner Wilborn that needs to be incorporated into our working template. As we
mentioned earlier, the main focus areas are job creation, preparedness, and agriculture.
Commissioner Wilborn has provided some valuable insights that I'm working into the template
to further develop our model. We are still aiming for a completion date sometime in October.
Dr. McKinney has not yet secured a commitment from the city council regarding participation
from the commissioners, so I will need to follow up with the administrator to ensure this is on
the calendar.
Additionally, the Personality Festival is scheduled for October 3 and 4, with rain dates set for the
following weekend, which is after the elections.
We have not yet decided on a location for the ED Summit. The ED Summit is confirmed for
October 30, although we still need to determine if it will be a joint meeting or just a
presentation.
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Chairman Report:
Dr. McKinney was excited to attend the Research Triangle Research Partnership board meeting a
few weeks ago, where collaboration was a key focus. Ryan, who does an outstanding job
managing our $1 million budget, funded by contributions from 14 counties.
They have successfully run advertising campaigns on ag tech for the past couple of years and
leverage their efforts with the EDPNC’s initiatives using the same marketing firm. Recently, they
introduced the Bio Economy Campaign, which includes ag tech, textile research and
development, and industrial biotech. This campaign aims to engage all 14 counties and build on
a previous campaign targeting business executives.
North Carolina has a significant military presence, ranking among the top states in terms of the
number of military personnel. However, when examining the economic activity related to the
military, we find that our spending patterns remain at 2010 levels, particularly in terms of
recovery and spin-off investments. There was great hope that the bio economy, particularly in
the area of industrial biotechnology, could engage the military in new ways, prompting them to
encourage us to consider how we can address some of the military's needs.
There are government grants available, and there's a strong demand for research and
development related to textiles for military personnel. This research aims to support our
warfighters on the battlefield. In our county, we have a remarkable individual who has made
strides in this field by acquiring a parachute company. He is open to collaboration and willing to
work with us to help established businesses thrive. He not only possesses valuable physical
resources but also has extensive expertise, making him an invaluable partner in this effort.
Member Comments:
Dr. Berryhill informed the board about some social media posts regarding potential
congressional changes related to Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The discussion highlighted
five counties in North Carolina that could be at risk of losing their hospitals. Person County, in
particular, has been positively impacted by being owned by LifePoint, which has greatly assisted
our hospital. There is no secret that the hospital was previously struggling; however, the
expansion of Medicaid and other funding sources has improved our financial situation. We
reached a critical point where, without these additional funds, our bottom line would have been
severely affected. We face many challenges, particularly in recruiting doctors and staff, especially
given our proximity to Duke Medical Center in Durham. Fortunately, we have the support to
help us navigate these challenges.
Mr. Lockhart stated that the Western Sewer Project is currently 11.5% complete from a
budgetary perspective. The progress meeting is held every month on Thursdays.
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Lockhart reminded everyone that the July 4th parade is approaching, and the fireworks will take
place on July 5th. A big thank you to the TDA Board for their contribution; both the city and the
county are funding the majority of the fireworks this year, although the amounts from each are
comparatively lower. We need to work on achieving greater equity in funding for future events.
Next year marks the 250th anniversary, so there may be expectations for a larger fireworks
display, and we will need to plan for that accordingly.
There have been discussions regarding the developer for the Ridge Road subdivision project. It
is correct that the firm that had been developing that project has since withdrawn due to a
change in ownership.
Lastly, Mr. Lockhart wanted to remind everyone to pay attention to Roxboro, as its population
remains lower than it was in the past. In fact, 20 years ago, the overall population was larger.
Chick-fil-A is still planning to come to Roxboro. While we cannot be definitive about the
timeline, all indications suggest that they are continuing to invest in plans for construction,
which implies they are still addressing questions related to stormwater management.
Mr. Blackwell discussed the grant workforce, mentioning that we have three training programs
set to move to the South Campus: the electrical program, the HVAC program, and the plumbing
program. The plumbing facilities are already in place, so we hope to have some classes starting
in the fall at the new South Campus. The CEO is already present, and everything is progressing
well.
Also, Mr. Blackwell reminded the board to mark their calendars for September 10th, when we
will host a regional Career Expo at the South Conference Center. There will be food trucks,
bucket trucks, and various activities designed to engage high school students. The event will
also be open to the general public, with opportunities for on-site interviews available. We have
designated rooms for these interviews to ensure a successful turnout.
Ms. Wilborn would like to congratulate Brandy on completing the economic development
course, earning her certification as a North Carolina Certified Economic Developer. She also
wants to thank Ms. Lynch and Kim for their hard work on the website, which she finds to be very
clean with great imagery. While she believes the content remains largely the same, she
appreciates the fresh design. However, she noted that although there was a mention of the
Carolina Core, there was no reference to RTRP.
Mr. Perry stated that while some people, both residents and non-residents, are concerned about
environmental issues, we need a balance in what can be developed in our county. Currently, 20%
of our approximately 400 square miles cannot be developed due to economic regulations.
The county commissioners predominantly belong to one political party, reflecting the makeup of
the state legislature. We need to advocate for change in Person County and influence those in
power to address the unfair situation where 25% of our land remains undeveloped. It is crucial
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that we push for this issue vigorously. With one of the largest corporations in the world coming
to our county, we are now under a global spotlight. We cannot tell potential investors that we
aren't allowed to develop a quarter of our land. This situation cannot continue as it is; we need
to find a balance.
We must actively engage with our legislators and everyone involved, including Commissioner
Wilborn. It's essential to press hard on both the local and state levels because, apart from the
governor, we have the potential to effect change.
Ms. Cathey mentioned that there is pending legislation that changes some of the rules.
Additionally, there is an ongoing rule-making process that has been underway for some time.
We could consider adding a presentation to a future EDC agenda where staff can discuss the
current rules, their effectiveness, and how they apply to the Falls Watershed in Person County.
This would allow for consideration and feedback on the potential impact these rules may have
on development.
Ms. Cathey announced the county budget was in place for the fiscal year. She also wants to
point out that we are still in need of a planning director. The county currently has an interim
director who is doing a commendable job based on the feedback I’ve received and my own
observations. However, we cannot keep her in this role indefinitely.
Dr. Buchanan mentioned that PCC is currently working on several grants that differ from those
related to the property. We truly appreciate the efforts. Ms. Wilborn, Ms. Cathey, County
Commissioner Kyle Puryear, Phillip Allen, and many others came to show their support. We
learned a lot during those meetings, and it’s always beneficial to demonstrate strong
collaboration among different entities that are all committed to advancing the county and the
college.
Director Report:
Lynch reminded the board that the Honorable Sherry Wilborn had already shared via email that
the Person County website is now live. Ms. Lynch would like to extend a huge thank you to Kim
Strickland, Bryan Eatmon, and Briana Whitt for their incredible help and hard work on the Person
County EDC website. Ms. Strickland has been instrumental in this project. Kim is a department of
one who has dedicated herself to preparing our website for potential upgrades to the county
website. Mr. Eatmon and Ms. Whitt, both of you have a remarkable talent for website
development. Ms. Whitt jumped back in full force after returning from maternity leave, and Mr.
Eatmon has done an outstanding job writing the text for multiple web pages. This has been a
significant achievement given the limited resources available. The situation was especially
challenging after our old website company breached its contract, resulting in the project being
canceled. This breach strained both the staff and the county, as we were unable to share
information about Person County Economic Development. We had only one technician able to
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work on the old platform, with very limited access, which made it difficult. However, I truly
appreciate what they were able to accomplish. It has been a team effort, and although the
website is operational, we still have additional features to implement. In the future, we look
forward to continuing our work on the website to enhance it further. Ms. Lynch handed the
website over to Ms. Strickland for her review of the new website with the board. She explained
many improvements on the new site compared to the prior one and provided more detailed
information on the potential benefits of integrating the ED website with the county website.
Staff participated in several ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the chamber, including an open
house and a job fair with North American Aerodynamics. They are still hiring, and there’s a link
to their website, as well as a link on the economic development website to North American.
PCC has a new small business director who was able to start on a limited basis before June. Mr.
Eatmon spent some time with her before her official start date, and ever since she joined, he has
been taking her around to the businesses and industries that are part of our group. He’s been
sharing insights about the connections he has made.
Ms Lynch explained that although the board thinks the county has no product, that isn’t
necessarily the case. We have been receiving numerous phone calls from various developers
who are either in the process of closing deals or are interested in the area for multiple ventures,
including restaurants and potentially hotels. Ms. Lynch has been providing them with the
necessary data to share with their partners. Additionally, she has been working with developers
on various issues, including infrastructure needs and securing essential assistance to help them
finalize deals.
County staff and elected officials collaborated with PCC and Golden Leaf, and Ms. Lynch
attended the NC EDA conference, participating in several sessions on various relevant topics.
The highlights of these sessions were included in Ms. Lynch's highlights packet.
ED staff and PCC also attended a meeting with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to
discuss career and technical education (CTE) and the workforce pipeline. The meeting was very
informative, and we had the opportunity to connect with representatives from Halifax County.
There are mutual needs that we hope to address together. Furthermore, they are preparing a
2024 workforce pipeline report by surveying local high schools and will share their findings with
us.
The Civics Academy has received positive feedback, highlighted by an excellent article in the
Courier Times on June 12. There is already a waiting list for the fall 2025 session. Additionally,
Governor Stein announced that Person County has received a CAB award to provide high-speed
internet access to 1,014 homes and businesses, as the approved budget has been implemented.
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Mr. Perry asked, Give the board one thing that you learned that and "What do you believe your
achievements will help you with in assisting us, and how can we help you achieve that?"
Ms. Lynch responded, "Honestly, these past two-plus years have been a struggle I’ve fought for
every bit of progress, from completing projects to rebuilding the department. I applied the
knowledge from my classes to our work here. Each class taught me something valuable, which I
reflected in my capstone paper and presentation.
Moving forward, I'm uncertain how to apply all of this because the Commission's situation is, it
is in flux and unpredictable. Lynch agreed with Perry there are, trust issues. I know how I want
to put my knowledge to work and the path that the Action Plan sets forth Economic
development is hard; it’s not for the weak of heart, it is not for everyone, and many developers
have short tenures.
A key takeaway for me has been that small businesses are just as important as larger
corporations, and I've made it a priority to help the county recognize this. Additionally,
economic development is not just about introducing new things to the county; it is all-
encompassing. I've worked to bring together various partners, such as the chamber and PCC. At
the Southwestern Summit, Dr. B and I both emphasized that our workforce is hardworking,
which is essential for attracting industries. So, my main insights are that small businesses matter
and that economic development is an interconnected ecosystem."
Next Meeting:
The next meeting is proposed for Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County EDC
Board Room, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC.
Adjournment:
A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting at
approximately 5:40 p.m.
Motion: Mr. Jody Blackwell Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter
_____________________________________ ______________________________________
Date Approved Secretary
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Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda
Time Item Leader 4:00 Welcome Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:01 Invocation Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman 4:02 Approval of the Minutes **Request a motion to approve the February 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:03 Golden Leaf-Potential Projects Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager 4:15 EDC Board Vacancy Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager 4:20 EDC Board Responsibility’s Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager The Honorable Sherry Wilborn, Commissioner Representative 4:30 ED Summit Update Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:40 Chairman Report Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:45 Member Comments Members and Ex Officios 4:55 Director Report Ms. Brandy Lynch, ED Director 5:00 Next Meeting
Set for July 22, 2025, 4:00 pm, EDC Boardroom,
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 5:00 **Adjourn Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman **Action Requested
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Golden LEAF Community Based Initiative
Person County Application Process
Introduction
The Golden LEAF Foundation Community Based Grants Initiative (CBGI) is now underway in the North
Central Prosperity Zone. A total of $11 million is available to support projects in the region. Awards are
limited to no more than three projects in any county and may total no more than $1.5 million in any
county. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or governmental entities (county and municipal
governments, community colleges, universities, etc.). Funds do not have to be administered or
implemented by the county government.
Person County will solicit project proposals over the coming weeks for consideration by county
management, the Economic Development Commission and the Board of Commissioners before official
submittal to the Golden LEAF Board of Directors. Up to four projects that total up to $2 million may be
selected for submittal. No single project may exceed $1.5 million in Golden LEAF funds.
The CBGI is designed to identify projects with the potential to have a significant impact. It is a focused
process with grants targeted toward investments in the building blocks of economic growth. Funds are
limited to projects that address Golden LEAF priorities of job creation and economic
investment, agriculture, and workforce preparedness.
The primary point of contact for this process will be Brandy Lynch, Economic Development Director,
336-597-1752, blynch@personcountync.gov.
Visit Golden LEAF’s website for more information.
Grant Timeline
July 21: Project worksheets due to county staff for initial review and comment. It is advised to contact
staff beforehand to ensure the project meets minimum requirements for consideration. Projects will be
reviewed as soon as possible with any proposed changes provided to the organization for comment.
Aug 4: Project worksheets submitted to Golden LEAF for review and feedback. Meetings to provide
feedback to county staff will be held on Aug. 9 and Aug. 14.
Aug. 26: Economic Development Commission provides feedback on submitted projects.
Sept. 2: Board of Commissioners approves list of projects to submit to Golden LEAF.
Sept. 8: Final list of endorsed projects submitted to Golden LEAF.
Nov. 20: Applications due to Golden LEAF via online application portal.
November through January: Golden LEAF staff reviews applications and conducts due diligence. Golden
LEAF anticipates that in person site visits will be scheduled in December and early January.
Feb. 5, 2026: Golden LEAF Board reviews applications and makes decisions regarding funding.
Attachment
Project Worksheet – This form is required to be completed for all projects to be considered.
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Food Distribution Assistance Program Committee
November 30, 2023
Community-Based Grants Initiative
North Central Prosperity Zone
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• To increase job creation and economic investment in rural, economically
distressed, and tobacco-dependent communities
• To improve workforce preparedness in rural, economically distressed, and
tobacco-dependent communities
• To increase the value of North Carolina’s agriculture industry
• To improve the competitiveness and capacity of targeted communities
• To have, and be recognized for, excellence in organizational collaboration,
innovation, and impact
Golden LEAF Strategic Priorities FY 2022-2026
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Golden LEAF Priority Funding Areas
Workforce
Preparedness Agriculture
Job Creation
and
Economic Investment
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Golden LEAF Priority Area Outcomes
Workforce
Preparedness
●Courses or programs
completed
●Industry credentials earned
●Students employed in field of
study
Agriculture
●Participants at agricultural
trainings
●Publications directed towards
farmers
●Use of facilities
Job Creation and
Economic Investment
●Private capital investment
●New jobs created
●Average annual wage of new
jobs
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Characteristics of Competitive Projects
Strategic.
Leverage additional funds
or investment.
For prior grantees,
performance and track record
managing
Golden LEAF projects.
Demonstrate immediate need
and the ability to put funds to
work quickly.
Moves the economic needle
in the community.
Community buy-in and strong
support from a variety of
citizens and organizations.
Focused on action,
not planning.
Builds on previous community
planning processes.
Sustainable.
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Characteristics of Low Priority Projects
●Tourism, arts, or cultural resources
●Emergency services including fire departments
●General social services
●Reimbursement for prior expenditures
●Capital campaign or endowments
●General maintenance and operational support
●Infrastructure not related to economic development
●Repair or replacement of existing equipment and infrastructure
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Leveraging Funds
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Golden LEAF Community-Based Grants Initiative
It is a focused process targeted toward investments in the building blocks of economic
growth. It is competitive among all counties within a Prosperity Zone.
Projects are reviewed and awarded funds through a two-stage process that begins in
spring 2025 and concludes in February 2026.
Awards are limited to no more than three projects in any county and may total no more
than $1.5 million in any county. Regional projects are not included in those county limits.
The total budget for the Initiative is $11 million, including any regional projects.
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Golden LEAF Community-Based Grants Initiative
The 15 counties from the North Central Prosperity Zone are invited to participate in our
Community-Based Grants Initiative (CBGI).
The counties in the North Central Prosperity Zone are Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe,
Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren,
and Wilson.
The process is competitive, but organizations from all counties within the North Central
Prosperity Zone will have an opportunity to participate.
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Role of County Manager
The County Manager plays a critical role in the process by endorsing up to four
projects to submit an application through this initiative.
The purpose of this endorsement is to reflect the county’s needs and priorities.
Each county will establish its own process for gathering projects. You are encouraged to
reach out to your county manager to understand your county’s process.
Awards are not required to be administered by the county unless the county is the
grantee.
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Regional Projects
Eligible entities may submit regional projects for consideration.
Regional projects are not required to receive a county manager endorsement but must
reach out to discuss with Golden LEAF staff to ensure the project meets the eligibility
requirements for regional projects.
We would not expect regional projects to exceed awards of $2m.
Awards for regional projects come from the $11 million budget for the program.
Regional projects must meet all of the following criteria:
• Collaboration of entities in at least three counties
• Collaboration outside of entities’ traditional service area
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Contact Golden LEAF
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Golden LEAF to discuss project ideas
early in the process to ensure alignment with Golden LEAF priority areas.
Please use the form on our website --
https://goldenleaf.org/funding-opportunities/contact-programs/
Golden LEAF will review the information provided and match you with a member of our
team to follow up.
Interested applicants can request to meet to:
• Get clarification about CBGI and the application and selection process
• Discuss a project idea
• Review for designation as a regional project.
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CBGI Process and Timeline
Fall 2025
Applications from projects
endorsed by the county
will be due in November
February 2026
Applications reviewed by
Golden LEAF Board and
awards made
Spring & Summer 2025
Gathering held to share
information and discuss
potential projects
County managers submit initial
project ideas, receive feedback
from Golden LEAF, and finalize
list of four projects to apply
See detailed timeline posted on the Golden LEAF website28 of 48
Requirements
●Eligible Applicant
✔501(c)(3) nonprofit
✔Governmental entity
●Eligible Uses of Funds
✔Must be charitable – no impermissible private benefit
✔May not be used for purchase of land or buildings
✔May not be used for grant administration
●Projects are subject to due diligence by Golden LEAF staff, Board, and legal counsel as
necessary.
●Golden LEAF Board of Directors makes final funding decisions.
●Funded projects are subject to all reporting requirements of Golden LEAF Foundation, the State
Auditor, and Office of Budget and Management as applicable. Grantees must comply with all
conditions and requirements in the grantee agreement.
●All correspondence/communications to and from Golden LEAF are subject to the North Carolina
Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
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15
Questions?
CBGI@goldenleaf.org
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1
May 2025
Golden LEAF Community-Based Grants Initiative
Project Worksheet
The purpose of this worksheet is to gather a high-level overview of potential Golden LEAF projects that will
allow Golden LEAF staff to provide feedback on a project idea. It is not an application form and does not
require the detailed level of information that would be expected in an application. This worksheet includes
three parts: Project Overview, Project Budget, and Project Outcomes. Please complete all three parts or
indicate that the information is not available. If necessary, in your responses you can include links to outside
resources, or you may attach additional information.
Golden LEAF understands that potential applicants may not have answers to all of the questions at this time.
Responses to these questions should be brief and focused.
If you have any questions about this form, please contact CBGI@GoldenLEAF.org. This worksheet is due to
your county manager at their specified deadline and should not be sent directly to Golden LEAF unless your
organization has been designated as a regional project.
Organization
County
Project Contact Name
Project Contact Role
Project Contact Email
You will have the opportunity to list additional key staff later in this document.
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2
May 2025
Project Overview
What is the issue that your project addresses? What is the need or demand in your community
for the services you will provide? If available, include data or documentation of demand that
helps define the issue. (limited to 1500 characters)
How does your project align with the Golden LEAF priorities of job creation and economic
investment, workforce preparedness, or agriculture? (limited to 1500 characters)
Complete the table at the end of this document with the Golden LEAF priority outcomes you
expect to achieve, if you know them. (Projects are not expected to address all priority outcomes.)
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3
May 2025
Describe your project. What are the key elements and what steps will you take to implement
them? Provide an overview of the major project activities and a timeline. (limited to 1500
characters)
Who will you serve with this effort? Describe the support you have from the people or
organizations that you plan to serve with the project. For example, if you are planning a
workforce development project, do you have engagement of employers? from the potential
trainees? If you are considering an agriculture project, have farmers expressed interest in your
work? (limited to 1500 characters)
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4
May 2025
Why is your organization particularly suited to implement this project? What background,
resources, connections, and experience does your organization offer? (limited to 1500
characters)
Who else is working on this issue or similar issues in your community? Who are potential
partners? List organizations that are collaborating with you.
Organization County Contact Person Name Contact Person Email
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5
May 2025
Project Budget
Complete the project budget form below by inserting a dollar amount in the appropriate cells. The budget
does not have to be final, but should give a general idea of the amount to be requested of Golden LEAF and
the amount needed from other sources. Please enter the totals at the bottom.
The form includes a few high-level budget categories for your use. More detailed information is not required.
You may add other categories in the remaining cells on the Budget Category column if needed.
Budget Category
Golden LEAF
Request
(in dollars)
Other Funding
Sources
(Committed)
(in dollars)
Other Funding
Sources
(Requested)
(in dollars)
Total
(All Sources)
(in dollars)
Equipment/Supplies $ $ $ $
Construction $ $ $ $
Design/Engineering $ $ $ $
Services $ $ $ $
Personnel $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $
$ $ $ $
$ $ $ $
TOTAL $ $ $ $
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6
May 2025
Project Outcomes
What specific Golden LEAF priority area outcomes will you address? Complete the table below with the Golden
LEAF priority outcomes you expect to achieve, if you know them, and the source of data you will use to track
them. Projects are not expected to address all priority outcomes.
Information about outcomes is available here: https://www.goldenleaf.org/priority-area-outcomes/
Outcome
Choose any that your project will achieve
Goal
(Input a number) Source of Data
Job Creation and Economic Investment
New full-time jobs created
New investment in privately owned property,
plant, and equipment $
Investment in publicly owned infrastructure $
Average annual wage of new full-time jobs $
Business start-ups
New housing units
Workforce Preparedness
Increase in students earning at least one academic
credential (curriculum diploma, certificate, or associate
degree/con ed certificate) in the area funded.
Increase in students earning at least one industry/third
party certification, license, or other credential
(nonacademic) in the area funded.
Increase in high school students completing CTE
pathways in the area funded.
Increase in secondary or post-secondary students
participating in work-based learning.
Increase in secondary students receiving meaningful
exposure and opportunities to explore local career
opportunities.
Agriculture
Number of participants at agricultural trainings
New publications directed towards farmers
Monthly use of agricultural facilities that benefit
farmers
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AGENDA ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:
June 16, 2025
Agenda Title:
Golden LEAF Community-Based Grants Initiative
Summary of Information:
The Golden LEAF Foundation Community Based Grants Initiative (CBGI) is now underway
in the North Central Prosperity Zone. Golden LEAF offers CBGI each year in one of the eight
prosperity zones in North Carolina. The counties in the North Central Prosperity Zone are
Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange,
Person, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilson.
The CBGI is designed to identify projects with the potential to have a significant impact. It is a
focused process with grants targeted toward investments in the building blocks of economic
growth. Funds are limited to projects that address Golden LEAF priorities of job creation and
economic investment, agriculture, and workforce preparedness.
Each county determines how projects will be prioritized and may submit up to four projects
that total up to $2 million, though no single project may exceed $1.5 million, and Golden
LEAF will make no more than three awards totaling $1.5 million in a county. Applicants must
be 501(c)(3) organizations or governmental entities (county and municipal governments,
community colleges, universities, etc.). Funds do not have to be administered or implemented
by the county government.
County managers may designate a primary contact to facilitate this process with Golden LEAF
and serve as a liaison to potential applicants. County managers may submit project worksheets
(template attached) to Golden LEAF for review and feedback by Aug. 4. There is no cap on
the number of project worksheets managers may submit. County managers must submit the
final list of projects endorsed to apply to Golden LEAF by Sept. 8. Applications from projects
endorsed by the county will be due to Golden LEAF by Nov. 20 for consideration by the
Golden LEAF Board at their Feb. 5, 2026 meeting.
The attached Golden LEAF Foundation presentation provides more information about the
CBGI. The proposed Person County Application Process is attached for the board’s
consideration.
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Financial Impact:
None
Recommended Action:
Approve Person County application process and begin soliciting project proposals.
Submitted By:
Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager
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BY-LAWS
OF THE
PERSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION ARTICLE ONE
Organization
The Person County Economic Development Commission, Person County, North Carolina shall conduct
its business in a precise and uniform manner. Proceedings of meetings shall be accurately
recorded as valuable records and as a means of avoiding misunderstandings.
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section5.
Section6.
The authority for creation of this organization is Article 2, "Economic Development
Commission" of Chapter 158 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
The name of the organization shall be the Person County Economic Development
Commission, hereinafter referred to as Commission.
The County of Person, North Carolina, and its trade area shall constitute the
Person County Economic Development Area.
The location of the principal office of the Commission shall be within the bounds
of the City of Roxboro, North Carolina, and such other places as the business of
the Commission may require.
The fiscal year of the Commission shall commence on the 1st day of July and end
on the 30thday of June.
The Commission shall be considered a Public Authority within the meaning of State
Law, Chapter 159, unless specified to the contrary by the creating governmental body.
ARTICLE TWO
Purposes and Objectives
The purpose of this Commission is to assist the County of Person in promoting economic
development, and to establish a framework for local, state and federal efforts toward providing
the basic facilities essential to the growth of the area. Specific objectives of the Commission are,
through coordinated and concerted efforts, to secure full potential development of Person
County's resources, including, but not limited to:
Section 1. Receive from any municipal, county, joint or regional planning board or commission with
jurisdiction within its area an economic development program for part or all of
the area.
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Section 2.
Section3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
\
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 1.
Section 2.
Formulate projects for carrying out such economic development program, through
attraction of new industries, encouragement of agricultural development,
encouragement of new business and industrial ventures by local as well as
foreign capital, and other activities of a similar nature.
Conduct industrial surveys as needed, advertise in periodicals or other
communications media, furnish advice and assistance to business and industrial
prospects which may locate in the area, furnish advice and assistance to existing
businesses and industries, furnish advice and assistance to persons seeking to establish new
businesses or industries, and engage in related activities.
Encourage the formation of private business development corporations or
associations which may carry out such projects as securing and preparing sites for
industrial development, constructing industrial buildings, or rendering financial or
managerial assistance to businesses and industries; furnish advice and assistance to such
corporations or associations.
Carry on such other activities as maybe necessary in the proper exercise of the
functions described herein.
Encourage the enrichment of curriculum to achieve appropriate occupational
training, including pertinent technical and vocational training within the school
systems serving the area; to assist in securing training programs for industry, business
and related entities.
Encourage development of programs designed to further health efforts, tourism,
transportation facilities, housing, recreation and related needs for the promotion of the
general economic well-being of Person County.
Recommend the employment of an Economic Development Director, who shall be
the Director of the Commission, and other staff as may be required.
ARTICLE THREE
Membership
The composition of the Commission and terms of members shall be as determined by
the Person County Board of Commissioners as the appointing authority and as
amended pursuant to law from time to time. ‘Member’ is defined to include only those
appointed as regular members and not NON-VOTING EX OFFICIO members since
the statutes provide for an absolute maximum number of members of the board of
directors of the EDC. Only members should be allowed to vote. NON-VOTING EX
OFFICIO or other appropriate PERSON may be allowed to participate, BUT NOT
vote, or to attend executive sessions (CLOSED MEETINGS) upon approval of the
members.
Both Members and Non-Voting Ex Officios will be required to participate annually in
Ethics Training within the first 90 days of appointment to the Commission, as is feasible,
and within 90 days after each annual meeting, thereafter, at which time Conflict of
Interest Policies will be reviewed and signed. The training shall be conducted by means
approved by the County Attorney.40 of 48
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
ARTICLE FOUR
Authority of Commission Members
Section 4.
Section 1.
The government, business and property of the Commission shall be managed by the
Members. The Members shall only act in the name of the Commission when it shall
be regularly convened by its Chairman, or acting Chairman, after due notice to all
Members of such meeting. Each Member, as applicable, shall serve for the term
appointed, or until death, resignation, retirement, removal, replacement,
disqualification, or until a successor is appointed or qualified.
At the annual meeting held each January, after the organizational meeting of the
Person County Commissioners, the Members shall elect officers, which shall be
Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary. The officers of the Commission shall be
the Executive Board.
The term of such officer shall be for one (1) year. They shall assume office upon ,
election by a majority, as defined herein, and continue until replacement or re-
election at the next annual meeting. Officers may be elected to succeed
themselves or be elected to any other office.
Vacancies in the Executive Board arising from any cause may be filled by the
Commission for the unexpired term of the office creating the vacancy.
ARTICLE FIVE
Duties of Officers
The general duties of the Chairman of the Commission are:
A. The Chairman shall preside at all regular, special and emergency meetings
of the Commission and the Executive Board.
B. The Chairman may appoint such committees as the work of the
Commission may require, subject to the approval of the Commission, and shall
guide and direct the efforts of said committees.
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C. Disbursement of funds shall at all times conform with the policies as
promulgated by the County and with general and special terms and conditions of
appropriated funds in compliance with any local, state, or federal grants.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 1.
Section 1.
The Vice-Chairman of the Commission shall perform the duties of the Chairman in
his/her absence,
The general duties of the Secretary are:
A. The Secretary shall verify and authenticate all the records
of the Commission and the Executive Board.
B. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned
by the Commission.
The Director shall be the chief staff officer of the Commission. The Director shall
be an ex-officio member of all functional and standing committees. The Director's
scope of work shall be as established by the County.
The Executive Board shall carry out such functions as the Members may authorize
or direct.
ARTICLE SIX
Compensation
Compensation for Commission travel expenses and allowances applicable to the
Commission staff, officers, and Members shall be in accordance with the policies adopted
by the County.
ARTICLE SEVEN
Commission Panels and Task Forces
The Chairman may from time to time appoint qualified individuals to serve on
bodies created to achieve specific objectives and purposes of the Commission,
subject to the approval of the Commission. The creation of appropriate panels and
taskforces as operating entities is hereby authorized.
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ARTICLE EIGHT
Meetings
The Commission shall meet regularly, at least every three (3) months.
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 9.
Section 10.
The annual meeting of the Commission shall be held in Person County, North
Carolina at a location approved by the Chairman or Director.
Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held as announced in accordance
with NC Open Meetings Law per NCGS 143-318.12. The regular meetings shall
be held in Person County, North Carolina at a location approved by the Chairman or
Director.
Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or the Director, or by any three
(3) Members, at any time or place by giving forty-eight (48) hours written
notice, providing such notice states purpose for which the special meeting is
called.
Emergency meetings may be called by the Chairman or the Director, or by any
three (3) Members, at any time or place by giving as much notice as is reasonably
possible, providing such notice states the purpose for which the emergency meeting is
called.
Notification of emergency meetings may be by telephone or electronic mail.
Whenever there is no business for the Commission, the Chairman may dispense
with a regular meeting in accordance with Open Meetings Law, provided the
Commission must meet every three (3) months.
A majority of the board membership shall constitute a quorum. The number required
for a quorum is not affected by vacancies. If a member has withdrawn from a
meeting without being excused by majority vote of the remaining members present,
he or she shall be counted as present for the purposes of determining whether a
quorum is present. If no quorum is present at the annual meeting, a regular, special,
or emergency meeting, there shall be no official meeting.
At Commission meetings, each of the Members present shall have one vote.
All Commission actions shall require a majority vote, except as otherwise required
by applicable law.
The Commission may authorize in extraordinary circumstances for action to be taken
by a committee of no less than three (3), only for the task appointed.
All Commission meetings shall be open to the public and shall conform with the
Open Meeting Law.
The question of parliamentary procedure shall be decided according to Roberts
Rules of Order.
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' '
ARTICLE NINE
Budget
Section l.
Section 1.
Section 2.
The budget for the Commission shall be as authorized by the Person County Board
of Commissioners and shall be executed pursuant to County and State rules.
ARTICLE TEN
Records
The Commission staff shall maintain a file of all studies, plans, reports,
and recommendations made by the Commission in the discharge of its
duties and responsibilities.
An annual report shall be given to the governing body of Person County.
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ARTICLE ELEVEN
Amendments
The Members, by the affirmative vote of a majority thereof, provided a quorum is present, may
make, alter, amend, add to or repeal, or otherwise modify these by-laws at any regular or special
meeting. Prior written notification of a minimum of seven (7) days shall be accorded Members
relative to amendments or changes. The notice shall list the proposed change(s).
ARTICLE TWELVE
Dissolution and Liquidation
In the event of dissolution and liquidation of the Commission, the Members shall, after paying or
making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities, debts and obligations of the Commission,
dispose and distribute all assets of the Commission exclusively for the purposes of the Commission,
subject to the approval of the County. Said actions may be subject to Section 50l(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954 as amended from time to time.
Revised May, 2011; September 20, 2012; May 2013; August 30, 2017; October 22, 2019, May 28,
2020
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Highlights
May 2025 - June 2025
- The New Person County Economic Development Website is live.
- Staff participate in several ribbon-cutting ceremonies:
o Morgan Mercantile
o American Patriots Gym
o State Farm -Ron Corlew
- North American Aerodynamics held an Open House and Job Fair.
- Bryan has introduced the new PCC Small Business Director to many
local small businesses and provided background information to help
her understand some of the needs of small businesses.
- Brandy has received phone calls this month from various developers
either planning to or interested in coming to the area.
- Brandy has also worked with developers and brokers with various
needs.
- Person County staff and elected officials participated in a meeting
with PCC and Golden Leaf to discuss some of PCC's funding needs.
- Brandy attended the NCEDA Annual Conference. Sessions took place
on
o Commerce and EDPNC Teamwork
o Tourism Recovery Western NC
o Retail's Role in Economic Development
o Downtown Wilson Development
o 2050 Forecasting Future Growth
o Burnout
o ParkEast
o Navigating ED Storms
- Person County ED staff and PCC representatives attended a meeting
at Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to discuss CTE and the workforce
pipeline.
- Bryan participated in the Health Industry Roundtable.
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Upcoming Events of Interest
- The Kerr Tar Summit is October 9, 2025
- Person County Job Fair and Resource Expo, September 10, 2025
- Person County Parks and Recreation Ribbon Cutting for Huck Sansbury,
June 26, 2025, at 5:30
Information for the EDC Advisory Board
- The Civic Academy has received positive praise and feedback.
o An article about it appeared in the Courier Times on June 12, 2025.
o There is now a waiting list for the fall 2025 session.
o Special thanks to Kim Strickland for her contributions to inform
Person County residents about Person County government.
- Governor Stein announced that Person County is among 26 counties to
receive a CAD award, which will provide high-speed internet access to
1,014 homes and businesses.
- On June 16, the Person County Board of Commissioners approved the
budget for 2025-2026.
- Wolfspeed announced its intention to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on
June 22.
Thanks
I want to extend a huge thank you to Kim Strickland, Bryan Eatmon, and Briana
Whitt for their incredible help and hard work on the new Person County EDC
website. Kim has been instrumental in this project; she is a department of one
who has dedicated herself to preparing our website for potential upgrades to
the county website.
Bryan and Bri, both of you have a remarkable talent for website development.
Bri jumped back in full force after returning from maternity leave, and Bryan has
done an outstanding job writing the text for multiple webpages. This has been a
significant achievement given the limited resources available.
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The situation was especially challenging after the old website company
breached its contract, resulting in the project being canceled. This breach
strained both the staff and the county, as we were unable to share information
about Person County Economic Development. Having only one technician able
to work on the old platform, and with very limited access, made it difficult, but I
truly appreciate what they were able to accomplish.
It has been a team effort, and although the website is now operational, we still
have additional features to implement in the future. We look forward to
continuing our work on the website to improve it further.
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