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09-23-2025 Meeting Minutes EDCEDC Minutes for September 23, 2025 1 of 19 Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting Person County EDC Board Room 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 September 23, 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 Mr. Jay Poindexter The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Voting Board Members Absent: The Honorable Merilyn Newell-Secretary Ex Officios Present: Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager Dr. Kevin Lee, PCC President Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent ED Staff Present: Others Present: Ms. Brandy Lynch, Director Ms. Julie Maybee Ms. Briana Whitt, Specialist (Minutes) Ms. Sallie Vaughn Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Mr. George Willoughby Ms. Dana Blackwell Ms. Kim Strickland Mr. Bo Freeman Ms. Grayson Brann EDC Welcome and Invocation: At 4:00 p.m., Chairman McKinney called the meeting to order. Mr. Phillip Allen gave the invocation. 1 of 19 EDC Minutes for September 23, 2025 2 of 19 Consent Agenda: Chairman McKinney recognized Mr. Phillip Allen for the approval of the August 26, Meeting Minutes and calendar amendments to the consent agenda as presented. A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed for approval of the consent agenda as presented. Motion: The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter Spuntech Celebration: Mr. Eatmon has reached out to Yael Peleg, the plant manager at Spuntech, regarding the company's 20-year anniversary in Person County. It would be ideal to host the celebration at their facility. We discussed having a plaque made to commemorate 20 years of business in Person County. Additionally, we plan to provide hors d'oeuvres and light refreshments. We should arrange for a photo opportunity and invite the local newspaper editor to join us, as this would be a great way to generate positive public relations for them. We are still sorting out the dates for the celebration, but are considering the second half of October. Opportunity Zones: Commissioner Wilborn shared a couple of articles about a speculative industrial park. She believes this is the direction we should take in Granville County and has been working to build a relationship with the developer involved. Last week, at the RTRP event, Ms. Wilborn met the site selector who assisted them in navigating this arrangement. Both the developer and the site selector have agreed to join us for a brief call to provide an overview of the project and explain why they chose to invest outside of the Triangle area for this significant venture. The representative from Trinity Capital Advisors was Matthew Houchins, and Diane Jones from their Charlotte office. Commissioner Wilborn asked the representatives to provide some insight about the project they are planning for Granville County. Mr. Houchins mentioned that they have been active in the Triangle market for approximately 25 years. Over the last five to seven years, their primary focus has been on developing advanced manufacturing, industrial logistics, and distribution. He noted that they have developed around 11 to 15 logistics and distribution facilities, as well as advanced manufacturing spaces in the Triangle region during this time. These facilities typically range in size from 100,000 to 300,000 square feet. Additionally, they have constructed some buildings that are as large as one million square feet in the Carolinas, particularly in Charlotte and other locations. 2 of 19 EDC Minutes for September 23, 2025 3 of 19 Mr. Houchins is exploring development opportunities in Garner, Clayton, Wendell, Butner, Fuquay-Varina, and Holly Springs. As the population increases, available sites in these areas have decreased, pushing the market outward. He targets homeowners of parcels between 50 and 150 acres to see if they're interested in selling. Over six to twelve months, he built a relationship with one property owner through conversations on the porch and phone calls, ultimately securing the land. He plans to develop about 1 million square feet of industrial space across five buildings, which will take approximately three to four years to complete. One of the main challenges in finding development sites in the Triangle area is the lack of infrastructure, particularly near sewer lines. Larger building sites often require significant upgrades, but companies like Trinity Capital are willing to invest in these improvements. For instance, Ms. Jones noted their $5 million investment to extend a sewer line over a mile, benefiting the entire Granville County community. This public-private partnership is crucial, as these investments not only meet project requirements but also positively affect the surrounding area. Furthermore, using tax incentives and grant reimbursements can encourage infrastructure improvements that benefit the community as a whole. During our last meeting, the concept of Opportunity Zones 2.0 was introduced, and examined these zones on a general map, gaining a clear understanding of which areas are included. Sally was able to overlay the census tracts that are eligible to become Opportunity Zones in the next iteration onto our county map. This feature activates layers for water and sewer information, allowing us to zoom in on existing buildings and other economic development assets. Leadership Summit Planning: The contract with the outside consultant has been approved, and the participation of PCBIC and Carolina Core could help offset some of the costs associated with this contract. Commissioner Wilborn and Dr. McKinney are eager to begin working with the consultant. Ms. Morphis, the outside consultant, sent a survey to Commissioner Wilborn yesterday, which will be distributed to three participating boards. The survey is ready to be sent out, and Ms. Wilborn will handle the distribution. The survey will remain open for 10 days, so please be on the lookout for the survey from our facilitator, Crystal Morphis. Two hours have been reserved for the summit. Chairman's Report: Dr. McKinney stated that early voting is now available. Additionally, the board has been asked to consider a letter of support for Person County Schools' needs-based capital grant application. 3 of 19 EDC Minutes for September 23, 2025 4 of 19 Dr. Peterson stated that Person County Schools is applying for the needs-based grant, again, for new schools. A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to sign the letter of support for the need-based capital grant application. Motion: Mr. Phillip Allen Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter Dr. McKinney also mentioned that the Board of Adjustment's public hearing is tonight in the Person County Office Building. Member Comments: Mr. Allen emphasized the importance of creating a business-friendly environment to attract investment and promote the economic well-being of our community. He stressed that our measures are clear and that investors know what to expect. He also discussed the significance of the upcoming leadership summit, which will bring together the Economic Development Commission (EDC), the Board of Commissioners, and the City Council—a collaboration that hasn’t occurred in a long time. Promoting Person County, with its single municipality, should foster strong cooperation among our political subdivisions. This summit marks the beginning of improving our livability and appealing to business investors. As mentioned in my invocation, we need to come together and work collaboratively for a better future. Commissioner Wilborn attended a well-organized RTRP event last week, involving the five- member counties in the Kerr-Tar region, led by Barbara from Franklin County. Dr. Berryhill announced that the wayfinding sign project is still in progress. She also invites everyone to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Person Memorial Hospital on October 23. Additionally, Dr. Berryhill expressed gratitude to our extension office for their hard work for the upcoming Farm City week, the week of November 3rd. Dr. Lee noted the job fair at South Campus had an impressive turnout with cars lined almost to Highway 501 and over 50 vendors present. Progress is being made on multiple projects on the south campus. Recently, Piedmont Community College (PCC) received a $475,000 National Science Foundation grant for our artificial intelligence and cybersecurity initiatives at the Person County campus. Additionally, we joined the Carolina Cyber Network, which secured us $75,000 to upgrade our computer labs. PCC enrollments are up about 10%, which is encouraging compared to other colleges that are seeing fluctuations between a decrease of 2% and an increase of 3%. PCC is introducing new programs and expect a decision on one of our grants by October 2. 4 of 19 EDC Minutes for September 23, 2025 5 of 19 Dr. Lee recently met with the design team for the South Campus, to discuss goals and budget. PCC aims to start projects focused on skilled trades. This Thursday, PCC will be hosting a Counselor Appreciation Breakfast for Person County Schools, with the goal that all counselors will leave with a clear understanding of our college offerings. Dr. Lee also stated that they are still waiting on the full state budget. Dr. Peterson stated that Person County Schools has achieved the highest graduation rate ever, at 91.3%. Mr. Lockhart reported that the city has approximately 120 voters so far. He also updated on the wastewater project. Ms. Cathey noted that state-level processes are ongoing. Governor Stein has requested funds from the General Assembly to match federal dollars, and we are working hard to secure recovery funding for the city. Additionally, we are requesting Department of Transportation needs and county cleanup costs. Ms. Cathey is pleased to announce that Nishith Trivedi will become our new planning director starting next Thursday, October 2. Trivedi is the current Transportation Director for Orange County. Noting he has a solid planning background The Interim Director, Margaret, will assist during the transition. Director Report: Ms. Lynch provided more information at the job fair and received positive feedback. The Economic Development Department was invited to Vance-Granville’s career fair on October 22. The goal is to make the job fair an annual event. Lynch informs the board that the County Manager submitted both the PCC and Person Family Medical Centers projects to Golden Leaf, which the Person County Board of Commissioners decided to move forward with for the Golden Leaf program grant. Ms. Lynch was invited to speak at the Kiwanis meeting again, indicating they still had questions from the previous meeting Ms. Whitt attended a community health roundtable at Person Memorial Hospital Lynch informed the board of the upcoming manufacturing week and the route they were invited to attend. Mr. Eatmon also attended the Vance County Housing Summit Lynch was able to present at the RTRP Summit, which aimed to promote the region outside the Triangle. Lynch received positive feedback on the event and its impact on businesses interested in relocating here. RTRP is considering making this a yearly event. 5 of 19 EDC Minutes for September 23, 2025 _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Date Approved Secretary Ms. Lynch was invited by Bob Brauer of the Person County Environmental Issues Advisory Committee to discuss the Microsoft property and other questions. She has also reached out to Person Memorial Hospital regarding vacant buildings owned by the hospital. Dr. Old’s former office has been purchased and transformed for a medical practice, making it adaptable for office space. Also, Dr. Short's practice is for sale; however, they prefer not to sell the building separately. If anyone is interested in a full medical practice, it’s available. The Kerr-Tar Summit is scheduled for October 9th, with approximately 150 people registered. Recently, a Veteran Services Officer approached the department to request a donation of bags for distributing materials at a veterans' banquet. Ms. Lynch took this opportunity to share our information with the veterans, which led to a positive conversation and a thank-you letter. The event had over 100 attendees, which is impressive. Dr. McKinney and Ms. Lynch discussed some unfortunate news: Blue Ridge Power is laying off 517 workers in Asheville and Fayetteville, including 169 in Asheville. This comes as the governor is pushing for more job investment in western North Carolina, which makes the layoffs particularly unfortunate. Blue Ridge has developed seven gigawatts of solar infrastructure across 14 states, but this is still a setback for the region. On a positive note, developers have been reaching out about the need for a hotel. They have expressed interest and confirmed that specific parcels of land are could be a fit for development Lynch is providing developers with data and a presentation she gave at RTRP, they were pleased with the information. Next Meeting: The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County EDC Board Room, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC. This will be a meeting of the Person County Economic Development Commission Leadership Committee. Adjournment: A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting at approximately 5:23 p.m. Motion: Mr. Phillip Allen Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter 6 of 19 *Approved at the EDC Meeting on November 18, 2025. 6 of 19 Date: September 23, 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 Consent Agenda Approval of the Minutes for August 26, 2025 Calendar Amendments **Request a motion to approve the consent Agenda as presented.Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:05 Spuntech Celebration Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:10 Opportunity Zones The Honorable Sherry Wilborn 4:30 Leadership Summit Planning Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:35 Chairman Report Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:40 Member Comments Members and Ex Officios 4:45 Director Report Ms. Brandy Lynch, ED Director 4:50 Next Meeting Set for October 16, 2025, 3:30 pm, EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman 4:50 **Adjourn Dr. Scott McKinney, Chairman **Action Requested 7 of 19 8 of 19 *The EDC meets on 4th Tuesdays of every month. Because the 4th Tuesday of December 2025 falls on the week of a major holiday, the Commission will determine at its November meeting whether to hold a December meeting. **Person County Transit & Development Center is located at 303 S. Morgan St. Roxboro, NC 27573 *** The November meeting will be on the 3rd Tuesday. For more information, please contact the ED Office at 336.597.1752. ««Notice: For Emergency and/or Special Called Meetings of the EDC, please check the EDC Meeting Materials section of the EDC website.»» Upcoming 2025 Meeting Dates for the Person County Economic Development Commission Date: Time: Location: January 28, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** February 25, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** March 25, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** April 22, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** May 27, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** June 24, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** July 22, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** August 26, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** September 23, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** October 16, 2025 Additional 3:30 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building Executive Board Meeting October 28, 2025 Rescheduled 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building** October 30, 2025 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Person County Auditorium Building Leadership Summit November 18, 2025 4:00 p.m. Person County Transit & Development Building*** December 2025* TBD TBD 8 of 19 9/22/25, 4:16 PM Trinity Capital Advisors plans 1M-square-foot industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 9 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/01/butner-industrial-project-trinity-capital-advisors.html 1/4 FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF SHERRYWILBORN@RURALADVANTAGENC.COM From the Triangle Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/01/butner-industrial- project-trinity-capital-advisors.html SUBSCRIBER CONTENT: BREAKING Owner of historic inn hits bankruptcy Sign up for breaking news alerts Commercial Real Estate Charlotte firm eyes I-85 corridor for 1M- square-foot industrial project 9 of 19 9/22/25, 4:16 PM Trinity Capital Advisors plans 1M-square-foot industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 10 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/01/butner-industrial-project-trinity-capital-advisors.html 2/4 Listen to this article 4 min Story Highlights Trinity Capital Advisors seeks to build 1.1 million sq ft industrial park in Butner. Project aims to bring jobs and growth to Butner's stagnant population. Construction may start fall 2025, pending Town Council approval. Plans call for a multi-building industrial park in Butner. SCREENSHOT OF TOWN OF BUTNER DOCUMENTS By Ben Tobin – Reporter, Triangle Business Journal Jul 1, 2025 Updated Jul 1, 2025 8:41am EDT A small town north of Durham may soon be getting a huge industrial park that could bring major growth. Charlotte-based real estate firm Trinity Capital Advisors is seeking to rezone 157 acres off I-85 Service Road in Butner to pave the way for over 1 million square feet of industrial development, according to plans submitted to the town in Granville County. The land is owned by the Bradsher family and has a market value of just shy of $2.3 million, according to county deed records. Trinity Capital Advisors did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment about its plans for the industrial park. The land is zoned for residential-agricultural (RA) use, and Trinity Capital Advisors is seeking to rezone it to non-residential conditional zoning. The group is also requesting that the land be annexed into the Town of Butner. Per town documents, the project, called the "Falls Lake Industrial Park," will consist of five speculative industrial buildings that cover a combined total of 10 of 19 9/22/25, 4:16 PM Trinity Capital Advisors plans 1M-square-foot industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 11 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/01/butner-industrial-project-trinity-capital-advisors.html 3/4 36°05'57.0"N 78°45'41.9"W roughly 1.1 millions square feet. The buildings would be for light manufacturing and warehousing. Trinity Capital Advisors anticipates starting construction in fall 2025, assuming the project is approved by the Butner Town Council, according to a project summary. The Butner Planning Board recommended approval of the rezoning during a June 12 meeting. The Triangle's industrial real estate market remains red hot, with demand not showing any signs of slowing down. In its application for the rezoning, Trinity Capital Advisors said "the proposed industrial park would attract a wide range of potential tenants that would bring many jobs and economic growth to the area." Per the application, construction 11 of 19 9/22/25, 4:16 PM Trinity Capital Advisors plans 1M-square-foot industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 12 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/01/butner-industrial-project-trinity-capital-advisors.html 4/4 would be done in two phases, with the first three buildings in the first phase and the last two in the second. The project proposal comes as Butner, which has struggled with new construction due to water issues that have plagued southern Granville County, is poised to capitalize on new sewer capacity to support development. The South Granville Water and Sewer Authority (SGWASA) broke ground in March on a $75 million project that will address problems with the utility and increase capacity for future growth. That project is set to wrap up in 2027 or 2028. Per town materials for the proposed industrial project, "SGWASA is in conversation with this developer about the placement of the water and sewer lines and ownership. They have not seen construction plans for this, other than the preliminary plans, and can’t make further comments as it relates to utilities. Additional comments may be forthcoming during permit review." Butner's population sits at just above 8,100 and hasn't grown much over the past 15 years, according to U.S. Census data. The land proposed for the industrial park is just south of the Gate 2 Road exit off Interstate 85. Butner leaders are studying potential changes to this road, which is the main thoroughfare of the town, to promote future residential, industrial and commercial development. Ben Tobin covers real estate and economic development in the Greater Triangle, focusing on the counties outside Wake, Durham and Orange. Have a tip? Reach him at btobin@bizjournals.com or (919) 327-1012. 12 of 19 9/22/25, 4:18 PM Trinity Capital to build $130M industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 13 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/08/butner-nc-industrial-park-trinity-capital-advisors.html 1/5 FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF SHERRYWILBORN@RURALADVANTAGENC.COM From the Triangle Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/08/butner-nc-industrial- park-trinity-capital-advisors.html SUBSCRIBER CONTENT: BREAKING Owner of historic inn hits bankruptcy Sign up for breaking news alerts CRANE WATCH Commercial Real Estate Industrial park could bring 500 jobs to North Carolina town 13 of 19 9/22/25, 4:18 PM Trinity Capital to build $130M industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 14 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/08/butner-nc-industrial-park-trinity-capital-advisors.html 2/5 Listen to this article 3 min Story Highlights Butner Town Council approves Falls Lake Industrial Park development. Trinity Capital Advisors plans to invest $130 million, creating 500 jobs. Plans for construction of five buildings totaling 1.1 million square feet. A Charlotte firm is planning more than 1 million square feet of industrial space in Granville County. SCREENSHOT OF TOWN OF BUTNER DOCUMENTS By Ben Tobin – Reporter, Triangle Business Journal Jul 8, 2025 A new industrial park that could bring hundreds of jobs to a small town north of Durham officially has the green light. Butner Town Council, located in Granville County, voted last week to approve annexation and rezoning for the "Falls Lake Industrial Park" development on 14 of 19 9/22/25, 4:18 PM Trinity Capital to build $130M industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 15 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/08/butner-nc-industrial-park-trinity-capital-advisors.html 3/5 157 acres off Interstate 85 Service Road. The project is led by Charlotte-based real estate firm Trinity Capital Advisors. Plans call for the construction of five speculative industrial buildings totaling about 1.1 million square feet of space. It would add to the region's supply of industrial and warehouse space, a sector that continues to see high demand as new space is delivered. Mark Frederick, an attorney with the Raleigh office of Parker Poe who is representing Trinity on this project, said during last week's meeting that the project is a "substantial investment into the town." "In terms of job creation, Trinity is expecting about 500 jobs with this project, or about 100 jobs per building," Frederick said during the meeting. "Depending on the tenant mix, this will range from entry-level roles up to high-skill positions. But the direct benefit there is employment opportunities for local residents in the area.” 15 of 19 9/22/25, 4:18 PM Trinity Capital to build $130M industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 16 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/08/butner-nc-industrial-park-trinity-capital-advisors.html 4/5 Frederick added that Trinity plans to invest up to $130 million in the development. The land is owned by the Bradsher family and has a market value of just shy of $2.3 million, according to county deed records. According to materials submitted to the town, construction will start this fall and will be done in two phases, with the first three buildings in the first phase and the last two in the second. Representatives of Trinity did not respond to requests seeking comment about a full construction timeline. The Butner Town Council voted unanimously for the rezoning and annexation. "The rezoning makes sense. I think that’s what needs to be there," Councilman Thomas Lane said during the meeting. "It gives us the opportunity to make good use of that land. It would be difficult for a lot of other kinds of function on that property. This just fits naturally well within the natural part of the land, 36°05'57.0"N 78°45'41.9"W Directions Map data ©2025 Report a map error 16 of 19 9/22/25, 4:18 PM Trinity Capital to build $130M industrial park in Butner - Triangle Business Journal 17 of 19 https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/07/08/butner-nc-industrial-park-trinity-capital-advisors.html 5/5 and I see lots of opportunities to protect the land with all of the holding ponds and the natural water sites." This project could be transformative for the Granville County town. Butner's population sits at just above 8,100 and hasn't grown much over the past 15 years, according to U.S. Census data. The land proposed for the industrial park is just south of the Gate 2 Road exit off Interstate 85. Butner leaders are studying potential changes to this road, which is the main thoroughfare of the town, to promote future residential, industrial and commercial development. Ben Tobin covers real estate and economic development in the Greater Triangle, focusing on the counties outside Wake, Durham and Orange. Have a tip? Reach him at btobin@bizjournals.com or (919) 327-1012. 17 of 19 18 of 19 Highlights August 2025-September 2025 - The Person County Job Fair and Resource Expo was held on September 10. It was a huge success, with 56 resources and employers attending. - New pictures were put in the boardroom and office space. - The County Manager sent two project requests to Golden Leaf for grant funding. - Brandy was invited to speak at the Kiwanis meeting - Bri attended the community health round table at Person Memorial Hospital - Bryan attended the Kerr-Tar Housing Summit at Vance Granville Community College Civic Center - RTRP hosted a Region Summit for brokers and developers - Brandy was asked to meet with Robert Brauer, Chairman of the Person County Environmental Issues Advisory Committee Upcoming Events of Interest - Ribbon Cutting for Wayfinding Signs will be on October 2 - Manufacturing Day is on October 3 - Personality is scheduled for October 3 and 4 - The Kerr Tar Summit is set for October 9, 2025. - Economic Development will host the Civics Academy on October 16. - The NCEDA Fall conference is scheduled for October 20-21 in Asheville. - Vance Granville Career Fair will be on October 22 - Good morning coffee hours on September 24, October 8, and October 22 18 of 19 19 of 19 Information for the EDC Advisory Board - At the October 6th Person County Board of Commissioners meeting, there will be a public hearing on the Solar Ordinance and the SUP for PEMC’s Bowen Road Substation Expansion 19 of 19