04-28-2026 Meeting Agenda Packet EDC
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda
Time Item Leader 4:00 Welcome Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman 4:01 Invocation The Honorable Sherry Wilborn 4:02 Officer Nomination and Vote Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman
4:03 Consent Agenda
• March 24, 2026 Meeting Minutes
• April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes **Request a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman
4:05 Action Plan Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist 4:10 Updates on Opportunity Zones The Honorable Sherry Wilborn 4:20 Update on State of the Region Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager 4:30 Leadership Summit Follow-up The Honorable Sherry Wilborn 4:40 Vice-Chairman Report Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman 4:45 Member Comments Members and Ex Officios 4:55 Departmental Report Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist 5:00 Next Meeting
Set for May 26, 2026, 4:00 pm, EDC
Boardroom
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman
5:00 **Adjourn Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman **Action Requested
Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Person County EDC Board Room
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
March 24, 2026
Voting Board Members Present:
Dr. Claudia Berryhill- Secretary Mr. Kenneth Perry
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Mr. Jay Poindexter
The Honorable Cynthia Petty Mr. Jody Blackwell
Voting Board Members Absent:
Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman
Ex Officios Present:
Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager
Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager
Dr. Kevin Lee, PCC President
Ex Officios Absent:
Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent
ED Staff Present: Others Present:
Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Mr. Bo Freeman
Ms. Briana Whitt, Specialist (Minutes) Ms. Julie Maybee
Ms. Dana Blackwell
Ms. Kim Strickland
Ms. Sonya Carver
Mr. Kelly Snow
Ms. Megan Pociask
Mr. Cornell Watson
EDC Welcome and Invocation:
At 4:00 p.m., Dr. Claudia Berryhill called the meeting to order.
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn gave the invocation.
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Consent Agenda:
Dr. Claudia Berryhill asked for the approval of the February 24, 2026, regular scheduled and
March 10, 2026, Executive Board meeting minutes.
A correction was offered to the February minutes to amend the reference to “special-needs
housing” to the correct term “special use permits.”
A motion was unanimously approved to approve the meeting minutes for February 24, 2026,
regular scheduled and March 10, 2026, Executive Board.
Motion: The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter
Resignation of Board Member:
The Board then considered the resignation of Dr. McKinney. The County Manager clarified that
although the Board did not originally appoint this member, the Board is responsible for
accepting the resignation and thereby declaring the seat vacant for advertisement and
appointment through the proper authority.
A motion was unanimously approved to accept Dr. McKinney’s resignation with regret.
Motion: Mr. Jody Blackwell Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter
Members also noted that his resignation creates a vacancy in the Chair position, which will be
addressed at an upcoming meeting. Commissioners and staff will move forward with soliciting
qualified applicants to fill the existing Board vacancies.
Review of Previous Action Plan:
Staff provided a review of the existing Action Plan, summarizing progress made to date and
identifying areas where work remains ongoing. Mr. Eatmon noted items that have been
completed, initiatives currently in progress, and components that may require updating or
restructuring as the Commission prepares for the next planning cycle.
Goals/ Action Items for Fiscal Year 2027:
Mr. Eatmon presented proposed goals and action items for Fiscal Year 2027. He explained how
the draft items align with the County’s strategic priorities and requested feedback from the
Board regarding additional goals, needed performance measures, and implementation
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expectations. The Board discussed potential additions and requested that a refined version be
returned for consideration at the April meeting.
Member Comments:
During the Member Comments period, several members and ex officio representatives shared
brief updates related to current economic development efforts. Commissioner Wilborn reported
on the NCEDA spring conference, noting discussions on data centers, rural competitiveness, and
workforce trends. She emphasized the importance of improving local messaging around Person
County’s economic development activities. She also highlighted the Spark exhibit at the Person
County Museum, provided an update on the proposed affordable housing project currently
under city review, and reminded members of upcoming Opportunity Zone application deadlines
and Economic Development Week in May. She added that community field visits—such as to
Johnston County—could help the Board learn from peer communities.
Mr. Blackwell reported that a media outlet may feature a major local employer and that the
statewide community college system may spotlight Person County industry success stories. He
also noted the upcoming manufacturing conference, where local partners may receive
recognition.
Dr. Lee provided an update on Piedmont Community College, noting continued enrollment
growth, plans for two graduation ceremonies due to increased participation, and progress on
federal funding requests to support workforce development equipment.
Mr. Lockhart provided updates from the City of Roxboro, including an upcoming March 31
special meeting to review a water and sewer rate analysis and to hear a presentation on creating
a traffic enforcement unit. He also noted that the Uptown Roxboro Director position has been
vacated and is currently being advertised under its updated title, Uptown Roxboro Executive
Director.
Ms. Cathey reported that the Economic Development Director position is now officially vacant
and noted that both the EDC Board and the Board of Commissioners will have opportunities for
input as next steps are determined. She also announced that two Strategic Project Coordinators
from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners will assist with website updates
and a cost-of-service study.
Dr. Berryhill shared insights from the recent statewide tourism conference, emphasizing
tourism’s continued importance to North Carolina’s economy and noting increasing emphasis
on sustainability and stewardship in long-term planning.
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Departmental Report:
Mr. Eatmon presented the departmental report, summarizing recent activities, industry
engagement, project inquiries, and upcoming departmental responsibilities. He noted progress
in business outreach and ongoing coordination with community partners.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting is announced for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County
EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573.
Adjournment:
A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting at
approximately 5:12 p.m.
Motion: The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Second: Mr. Jay Poindexter
_____________________________________ ______________________________________
Date Approved Secretary
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Date: March 24, 2026
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. Claudia Berryhill, Secretary 4:01 Invocation The Honorable Sherry Wilborn
4:02 Consent Agenda
•February 24, 2026 Meeting Minutes
•March 10, 2026 Meeting Minutes**Request a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Secretary
4:03 Resignation of Board Member **Request a motion to approve or deny resignation Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist 4:05 Review of Previous Action Plan Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist 4:20 Goals / Action Items for Fiscal Year 2027 Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist 4:40 Member Comments Members and Ex Officios 4:50 Departmental Report Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist
5:00 Next Meeting
Set for April 28, 2026, 4:00 pm, EDC Boardroom
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Secretary 5:00 **Adjourn Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Secretary **Action Requested
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Person County, North Carolina
2024 Economic Development Action Plan
PERSON COUNlY
-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -
"To create opportunities for families & businesses to prosper &
compete in a global economy"
I.Retain Existing Economic Drivers
Goal: Engage existing economic powerhouses to
support their success and investment in the county
Strategies:
•Identify and support priority partners and industries
•Connect local industry and community institutions
•Ensure future viability of agriculture and agri-tourism
Ill. Foster Opportunity and Growth
Goal: Demonstrate the county potential as a place
for businesses and for working people to prosper
Strategies:
•Advance shared interests with regional ED orgs
•Foster new amenities to attract potential residents
•Cultivate agriculture and agro-tourism capacity
•Support funding for improvements at PCC
II.Strengthen the Local ED Ecosystem
Goal: Bolster local assets to enhance viability and
visibility to future investors and business growth
Strategies:
•Monitor housing and quality of life indicators
•Secure resources for future development
•Develop infrastructure to meet anticipated needs
•Prepare prime development sites for investment
IV.Improve Organizational Efficacy
Goal: Foster an ED Commission and Department that
can fulfill their duties to this community
Strategies: •Report consistent quality of life and economic metrics
•Collaborate on messaging and external materials
•Continue and enhance marketing efforts with WRAL
•Build shared understanding and consensus on goals
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This document aims to stimulate goal ideas and strategies to implement in order to achieve these
goals. The goals listed have been pulled from Person County’s strategic plan. The goals and
strategies listed are not final; they are only suggestions to help spark ideas.
Goal 1: Recruit, grow, and retain business and industry
• Attract new businesses that create well-paying jobs, add to the tax base and provide
valued services and products
o Work with property owners of available sites to find a path forward to
maximizing the use of the property
o Identify potential sites for development with partner organizations (City of
Roxboro, Duke Energy, Enbridge, Norfolk Southern)
o Gain site control and develop a shovel ready site or speculative building
• Expand and support existing businesses
o Perform a minimum number of BRE visits to major employers with EDC
members/stakeholders
o Perform a minimum number of BRE visits
o Creation and distribution of a BRE survey
o Encourage nominations and/or nominate industries for NC Manufacturing
Extension Partnership awards
o Host or co-host a minimum number of programs/workshops to support existing
businesses (access to capital, technical support for industry, networking, etc.)
• Work with partners to create and support opportunities for the current and future
workforce to learn and develop new skills
o Continue collaboration with Person County Schools and Piedmont Community
College to ensure current and future workforce training is aligned with industry
needs
o Support and encourage local employers to utilize work-based learning,
internships, apprenticeships, and engage with educational partners.
• Promote the county’s assets locally, regionally, and nationally through online, social,
and print media platforms and in-person marketing and recruitment
o Attend a minimum number of conferences, trade shows, and site selector events
o Create and post weekly or biweekly content on LinkedIn highlighting Person
County’s assets (quality of life, industry, available property, partner
organizations, etc.)
o Create marketing materials (digital and print) to attract new business
o Develop a new marketing video
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Goal 2: Develop and maintain infrastructure that enhances quality of life
• Evaluate water and sewer capacity and city/county needs for future growth, revisit
interlocal agreement
o Engage in regular communication (quarterly) with City of Roxboro to ensure
adequate capacity for immediate need and short-term growth
o Hold a stakeholder meeting to review water and sewer capacity, evaluate current
challenges and opportunities, and plan ahead for future growth
o Review interlocal agreement to determine if edits or revisions are necessary
• Evaluate transportation and rail capacity for current and future growth
o Continue supporting Raleigh Regional Airport improvements
Goal 3: Ensure the 6-14 Workforce Pipeline remains strong
o Facilitate interactions between students and industry through field trips to industries
and bringing industry into the classroom
o Take a partnership role in the planning and execution of Manufacturing Day
o Continue active participation and collaboration with Person County Schools CTE and
Piedmont Community College
Goal 4: Promote agribusiness and agritourism
o Offer a minimum number of programs/workshops to assist the development and
growth of agribusiness and agritourism
o Complete a minimum number of BRE visits to this industry sector
o Search for and connect agribusiness and agritourism businesses with resources in
areas to include workforce development, access to capital, and marketing
o Work with partners to preserve farmland and maintain rural character
o Highlight successes and promote agribusiness and agritourism industries
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Person County Economic Development FY26 Action Plan Report
I. Retain Existing Economic Drivers
Goal: Engage existing economic powerhouses to support their success and investment in the
county.
Strategies:
• Identify and support priority partners and industries
o Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce
- Ex officio seat on the Board
- Attended 16 Ribbon Cuttings and Business After Hours
- Attended nine Good Morning Coffee Hours
- Participated in Leadership Person County
- Participated in National Night Out
- Assisted in planning Personality Festival, Alive After 5 , Golf Tournament
o Uptown Roxboro Group
- Seat on the Board
- Assisted in planning and participated in Jingle in July, Touch a Truck, Fall
& Spring Planting, Food Truck Rodeos, Cruise Ins, and Jingle on Main.
- Assisting with URG website in absence of the Director
o Person County Tourism Development Authority
- Working with PCTDA to develop “welcome bags” for industries to give
out to out-of-town employees.
- Ongoing communication and collaboration to market Person County.
o Piedmont Community College and Piedmont Community College Small Business
Center
- Member of the Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Committee
- Routinely communicate and collaborate with PCC regarding workforce
development needs to assist existing industry.
- Collaborated to hold the Person County Career Expo at PCC South
Campus
- Small business visits with PCC SBC and sharing of information and
resources
- Planned and participated in PCC Marketing Summit
o Small Business and Technology Development Center
- Introduced SBTDC staff to area banks to assist in awareness of services
- Recommended SBTDC services to local businesses
- Ongoing collaboration through sharing of information and resources
o Kerr Tar Council of Governments
- Attended Housing Summit
- Attended Regional Summit
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- Collaborated to hold Person County Career Expo
- Ongoing communication and collaboration with KTCOG staff
- Promote revolving loan fund and micro loan fund to area businesses
o Research Triangle Regional Partnership
- Attended site selector meeting
- Attended annual banquet
o NC Carolina Core
- Attended Networking Event in Raleigh with EDPNC staff and local
economic developers
- Information sharing to increase visibility of Person County
o Local Industry
- 61 BRE visits as of 3/19/26
- Regular correspondence with industry and business regarding workforce
needs, access to capital, and assistance with community connections.
• Connect local industry and community institutions
o Ongoing efforts to connect local industry with resources available locally for
workforce needs, access to capital, technical expertise, and procurement
o Work is done through BRE visits, email, and phone calls.
• Ensure future viability of agriculture and agritourism
o Maintaining a good working relationship with NC Cooperative Extension, Soil
and Water, and NCSU CALS
o Assisted agribusinesses with workforce development through relationships with
NCSU
II. Strengthen the Local ED Ecosystem
• Monitor housing and quality of life indicators
o Ongoing and regular monitoring of housing in Person County
o Ongoing and regular monitoring of demographic data
o Held Housing Summit
• Secure resources for future development
• Develop infrastructure to meet anticipated needs
o Ongoing support for City of Roxboro Western Sewer Expansion Project
o In progress evaluation of water and sewer extensions to serve Raleigh Regional
Airport
o Ongoing support for Raleigh Regional Airport improvements, including runway
extension project, terminal design, and development of old asphalt plant property
• Prepare prime development sites for investment
o In progress negotiations for site control to support Raleigh Regional Airport
improvements
III. Foster Opportunity and Growth
• Advance shared interests with regional ED orgs
o Ongoing collaboration with RTRP and KTCOG
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• Foster new amenities to attract potential residents
o Ongoing support and information sharing with Parks and Rec, Chamber, URG,
PCS and PCC
• Cultivate agriculture and agritourism capacity
o Ongoing working relationship with NC Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water,
PCTDA, and NCSU CALS to support agriculture and agritourism
• Support funding for improvements at PCC
o Facilitated and provided support for Golden Leaf’s Community-Based Grants
Initiative (CBGI), resulting in $1M in funding for PCC’s South Campus
o Drafted letters of support to assist in applications for funding
o Vocal support for PCC to community members, stakeholders, regional and state
economic development officials
IV. Improve Organizational Efficacy
• Report consistent quality of life and economic metrics
o Monthly reports provided to the EDC for some metrics (work in progress to
enhance reporting)
• Collaborate on messaging and external materials
o Collaborate with partners and industry to provide clear, consistent messaging
• Continue and enhance marketing efforts with WRAL
o Some conversations have taken place regarding the creation of a new promotional
video, but not with WRAL
• Build shared understanding and consensus of goals
o Approved Action Plan in place
o Monthly reports shared and discussions held with EDC
o Action Plan update in progress
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Departmental Report
February 2026 – March 2026
• Attended GMCH with Person County Human Services and Substance Use
Disorder Subcommittee
• Attend Ribbon Cuttings/Business After Hours with American Legion,
Bakery Boxing Club, and Timberlake Community Center Food Pantry
• Attended UNC SOG webinar: Understanding Affordable Housing Pro
Formas: A Case Study from an NC Community
• Job Shadowing Day with PCS CTE was on February 27th
• Attended NCEDA Spring Conference on March 10th
• Uptown Roxboro Group update: April Spencer is no longer leading the
Uptown Roxboro Group; the position is posted
o Person County Economic Development is helping fill the gap until a
new Director is hired
• Attended a meeting with Enbridge on March 20th
• Attend the Installation Ceremony for Dr. Lee on March 20th
• Hosted a Lunch and Learn with Person County Public Library on March 23rd
• Attended Uptown Roxboro business meeting on March 23rd
Upcoming Events of Interest
• Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament on April 24th, 2026
• Person County Spring 2026 Civics Academy registration is now open
• RTRP State of the Region on May 13th, 2026
• SBTDC Small Business Day on May 6th from 10:00AM to 2:00PM
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Available Properties
1803 N. Main St.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 45,000 sqft
Ceiling Height: 10-14 ft
601 N Madison Boulevard
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Commercial
Square Footage: 19,509 sqft
Ceiling Height: Unknown
4080 Durham Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27574
Type of Space: Commercial
Size: 40.10 Acres
2473 Durham Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 88,000 sqft
Ceiling Height: 18 ft
415 Semora Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Office
Square Footage: 3,100 sqft
Ceiling Height: 9-10 ft
50 Providence Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 260,000 sqft
Ceiling Height: 15 ft
385 Memorial Dr.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Commercial and Industrial
Size: 183.90 Acres
2300 Old Durham Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 138,458 sqft
Ceiling Height: 18.90-28 ft
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March 2026
Project Request: 12
Projects Submitted for the Year 2026: 2
Building/Site Size Ceiling
Height
Natural Gas Electric Water DNS Reasons
Existing
Building
35,000-
70,000sqft
33ft Not Needed 1 MW 1,000
gallons/day
Building Size and
Ceiling Height
Existing
Building
30,000sqft 16ft Not
Required
1-5 MW Minimal
Usage
Expandable to
100,000sqft, Ceiling
Height
Greenfield 250-600
acres
Not
Required
15-35
MW
500k-1M
gallons/day
Site size, rail required,
within 10 miles of
interstate/highway
Greenfield 75-100 acres 1500
MCF/minute
7.5-15
MW
500,000
gallons/day
Site size,
government/publicly
owned
Existing
Building or
Greenfield
430,000-
560,000sqft
or 35-50
acres
40ft TBD 2.5 MW TBD Building/site size,
ceiling height, rail
access, within 5 miles
of interstate/highway
Existing
Building or
Greenfield
300-400
acres
Unknown Unknown Unknown Site size, rail access,
within 15 miles of
interstate/highway
Existing
Building
250,000-
500,000sqft/
30-50 acres
30ft Not required Standard
amount
Modest
amount
Building size with
additional acreage,
ceiling height, rail spur
required
Existing
Building
50,000-
150,000sqft
20ft Heating
building
only
35-40
MW
Domestic
Use Only
Ceiling height, 10
truck/dock doors,
within 5 miles of
interstate/highway,
within 100 miles of
deep seaport
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Building/Site Size Ceiling
Height
Natural Gas Electric Water DNS Reasons
Existing
Building
200,000sqft/
18-20 acres
28ft 5,200 MCF 10-12
MW
6,000 -
15,000
gallons/day
Building size along
with additional
acreage, expansion
capability, ceiling
height, and 10 miles
within interstate
Greenfield 150-
200acres
660 MCF 300 MW 1.4million
gallons/day
385 Memorial Drive
Roxboro, NC 27573
Existing
Building
40,000-
65,000sqft
18ft 12 MCF 550 MW 2,000
gallons/day
Building size, ceiling
height, and required 3
dock doors
Existing
Building or
Greenfield
200,000-
400,000sqft
12ft Not required 100 MW 5,000
gallons/day
Rail required
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Person County
myFutureNC 2026 Attainment ProfilesThis profile reflects the county as a whole, not any single institution.
Raleigh-Durham
Prosperity Zone Sub-Region
Peer County Type: Rural - Metro
Click to view peer counties
Have Degree or Credential3,38939.6%
No Degree5,16460.4%
Residents Ages 25-448,553
Educational Attainment
Person County residents ages 25-44, 2024
Educational Attainment Trend
Note: 2020 data not shown due to inconsistency *ACS excludes non-degree certificates; a 7.5% estimate is used for all counties.
Educational Level Breakdown, 2024
2024 Person County Attainment Progress (ages 25-44)-2,482 more residents needed to meet 2030 goal 2030 Goal: 5,871
2.7%County
vs.5.8%State
Growth Rate
Population Spotlight
2020 Census: 39,085
2024 Estimate: 40,143
Change: 1,058
Race/Ethnicity
$60,520
MedianHouseholdIncome (2024)
State: $74,055
77.3%
Home Owners(2024)
State: 66.8%
69.1%
Householdswith Broadband(2024)
State: 77.8%
28.6%
Child Poverty Rate(2024)
State: 16.5%
19.6%
Single ParentHouseholds(2024)
State: 17.0%
3.1%
Foreign Born(2024)
State: 9.9%
Top Opportunities
for Growth
Opportunity Youth
19% of Person County youth ages 16-24 are not working and not in school, above the rural - metro county average of 15%.
82.3%
of postsecondary degrees and
certificates conferred by
regional institutions are
aligned with labor market
needs.
Top Misalignments
Job Openings vs. Degrees/Certificates
Management & Entrepreneurship Jobs >
Creds
Education Jobs < Creds
Healthcare & Human Services Jobs >
Creds
In Raleigh-Durham Prosperity Zone Sub-Region:
Person County Resident ApprenticeshipNC Program Enrollment
0
0
residents enrolled in registered pre-apprenticeships in 2024
residents enrolled in ApprenticeshipNC program in 2024
Raleigh-Durham PZ-Sub Region UNC and NCCC Outcomes
20,956 graduates in 2023
64.8%of 2019 graduates were employed in NC in 2024
$59,913 annual average earnings of graduates employed in NC
(includes both part-time and full-time jobs), 2024
53.9%of adults (ages 25-44) in Person County earned a family
sustaining wage. Peer: 48.0% | State: 57.8%, 2024
18.8%of youth (ages 16-24) in Person County were Opportunity
Youth. Peer: 14.8% | State: 10.3%, 2023
84.4%of adults (ages 25-44) in Person County participated in the labor
force. Peer: 81.0% | State: 84.4%, 2024
Top 3 5-Star Jobs in
Raleigh-Durham PZ Sub-Region
Job Title Annual Growth
Nurse Practitioners 4.59%
Data Scientists 3.70%
Medical and Health Services
Managers 3.52%
Click to view complete list for above table
Top 3 Employers in
Person County
Employer Employment Range
Person County Board of
Education 500-999
Poly Wood LLC 500-999
County of Person 500-999
Click to view complete list for above table
Top 3 Industries in
Person County
Industry Jobs | Percent
Retail Trade 1,566 | 16.8%
Health Care and Social
Assistance 1,108 | 12.9%
Manufacturing 996 | 12.7%
Click to view complete list for above table
Person County Residents Enrolled in
NC Colleges & Universities (2017-
2024)
Person County Residents Enrolled in
NCCCS, Fall 2024
Person County is served by:
Kerr-Tar Workforce Development
Board
Kerr-Tar Council of Governments
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Updated: Feb 10 2026
Top Opportunities
for Growth
Postsecondary Completion
42% of Person County high school graduates who enroll in postsecondary education earn a degree or certificate within 6 years, below
the rural - metro county average of 57%.
Degree Certificates Awarded in PZ Sub-Region, 2024
5,899 Certificate 5,631 Associate 16,882 Bachelor’s
37 Basic Skills
589 Continuing Education
266 Curriculum
21.2% of residents (aged 25-44) have some college but no
degree. Peer: 15.5% | State: 11.1%, 2024
11.5% of Person County residents have student loan debt; 2.8% of
debt holders had student loans in default. 2024
Adult Learners
Person County Residents Aged 25+ enrolled in
NC Community Colleges, Fall 2024
69.4% of 2022 high school graduates who enrolled persisted to their
second year. Peer: 77.1% | State: 81.9%, 2024
42.1% of 2017 high school graduates who enrolled earned a degree or
certificate within 6 years. Peer: 57.5% | State: 60.2%, 2024
Success of Person County High School Graduates
Top College Destinations of Person County Residents
(Enrolled in Fall 2024)
• 1,318 of all college-goers attended Piedmont CC
• 157 of all college-goers attended Durham Tech
• 80 of all college-goers attended East Carolina University
Top Opportunities
for Growth
FAFSA Completion
52% of Person County high school seniors complete the FAFSA, below the rural - metro county average of 56%.
51.9% of 2025 high school class completed the FAFSA as of Sept. 26, 2025.
79 more needed to complete in 2025 to meet state goal of 80%.
Peer: 56.3% | State: 60.8%
Class of 2024 Traditional Public High
School Graduate Intentions
54.2% of children 0-17 have
parents with no college degree
(2- or 4-year). 2023
Peer: 55.2% | State: 45.1%
91.0% of 9th graders graduated within four years. 12 more needed to meet
state goal of 95%. Peer: 85.7% | State: 88.0% 2024
50.7% of 2023 graduates enrolled in a postsecondary institution within 12
months. Peer: 52.5% | State: 59.7% 2024
Person County Class of 2023 Traditional High-School Graduates Who Enrolled in
College Within 12 Months
Note: Outcomes for groups with less than 10 students, <5% or >95% are not displayed.
Top Opportunities
for Growth
NC Pre-K Enrollment
61% of Person County eligible 4-year-olds are enrolled in NC Pre-K, below the rural - metro county average of 65%.
60.8% of eligible 4-year-olds enrolled in NC Pre-K program in 2025. 32 more
needed to meet state goal of 75%. Peer: 64.6% | State: 58.5%
Note: Enrollment numbers only include students served by the NC Pre-K Program and may notrepresent all Pre-K offerings available.
24.4% of 3-8 graders earned college-and-career-ready scores in reading in
2025. 991 more needed to meet state goal of 73%.
Peer: 25.3% | State: 30.8%
36.6% of 3-8 graders earned college-and-career-ready scores in math in
2025. 1,009 more needed to meet state goal of 86%.
Peer: 32.3% | State: 37.3%
23.0% of students were chronically absent from school in 2024. 546 fewer
needed to meet state goal of 11%. Peer: 27.4% | State: 25.7%
Person County has a student-to-school counselor ratio of 350:1
compared to 365:1 in peer counties. 2025
2.5% of students drop out of high school (34 total students), compared
to 2.0% statewide. 2024
Person County Traditional Public Schools students:
School & Student Overview (2025 school year)
Traditional Public School District(s): 1
Traditional Public School(s): 12
Charter School(s): 3
Private School(s): 2
Home School(s): 275
6,327 total K-12 students enrolled in
schools.
Students in traditional public schools completed 1,470 Career & Technical Education
(CTE) certificates and 426 concentrations (industry-valued credential data to be
updated spring 2026). The top three CTE concentrations: Architecture and Construction;
Health Science; and Human Services, 2024
75 (5.8%) high school
students took at least one
AP, IB, or CIE exam. State:
18.4% (2024).
159 (52.1%) high school graduates
participated in Career & College
Promise programs. State: 36.0%
(2024).
Pathways to College and Career
Person County 2026 Attainment Profile (all data pertaining to K-12 represents traditional public school students)
For more information about each indicator, including data sources and methodology, visit:
dashboard.myfuturenc.org/county-data-and-resources/
17 of 19
Demystifying Data Centers
This discussion will examine the role of data centers in North Carolina communities,
including what they are, why they matter, and how to evaluate projects – covering
economic impacts, infrastructure and zoning considerations, community engagement, and
implications for taxes, jobs, and wages
Overview
Data centers fall into two main categories: cloud computing (large enterprise workloads
hosted near major network hubs) and inference/edge computing (ultra-low-latency
processing near end users). Cloud computing relies on proximity to carrier hotels—major
fiber interconnection hubs—which the Carolinas currently lack, pushing many cloud
deployments to regions like Northern Virginia, Chicago, and Columbus. Edge computing,
however, presents a growing regional opportunity as AI and real-time applications expand.
Network + Location Realities
Carrier hotels operate like “airports for fiber,” concentrating global connectivity. Without
cloud onramps in the Carolinas, some enterprise users must locate workloads where
connectivity is already dense. Future opportunity exists as demand increases for
low-latency nodes supporting autonomous vehicles, healthcare technology, and real-time
AI.
Power + Utility Requirements
Large-load customers (100+ MW) engage Duke Energy early. Duke follows a regulated
large-load process including:
• $100K system impact study
• Verification of site control and zoning
• Customer-funded, refundable capital for substation and transmission upgrades
• Minimum billing requirements and load-curtailment capability
These requirements ensure grid reliability and protect ratepayers. Timelines for new
substations often run 3+ years, and some high-load sites may require up to 8 years when
transmission upgrades are substantial.
Site Selection Factors
The two biggest hurdles: zoning and power readiness. Developers prioritize sites already
zoned for data centers or heavy industrial and those with confirmed transmission access.
Financially strong developers who can fund utility deposits signal serious, viable projects.
Water use is less prominent than in past generations as cooling technologies evolve and
recycling increases, though community perception must be addressed proactively.
18 of 19
Community Considerations
Rates are set at the state level, not by proximity to data centers. Long-term local benefits—
as seen in communities like Maiden—can include tax stability, new public facilities, and
infrastructure investment. Incent systems and ions are shifting: some major operators now
promote “community-first” models focusing on paying for water, minimizing strain on local
systems, and strengthening local supply chains rather than relying heavily on local
incentives.
On -Site Generation & Reliability
Growing interest exists in on-site gas or backup generation to bridge long utility timelines,
though feasibility depends on permitting, lead times, and interconnection studies.
Reliability remains a key value proposition, and data centers typically support grid stability
through load curtailment and backup generation.
Future Outlook
Demand will continue rising as AI usage expands and automation accelerates. Moore’s Law
and efficiency gains may help, but not enough to flatten overall need. The Carolinas will
likely see continued data center interest, especially as power availability for the next wave
of AI loads comes online around 2027–2028.
NCEDA Panelists:
Leigh Cockram, moderator - Director – Rockingham County Economic Development
NCEDA Board of Directors
Danielle Buckins - Director, North Carolina Economic Development – Duke Energy
Scott Millar - President – Catawba County Economic Development Corporation NCEDA
Past President
Ben Rojahn - Vice President, Data Center Solutions - CBRE
19 of 19
EDC Minutes for April 14, 2026
Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Executive Board Meeting
Person County EDC Board Room
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
April 14, 2026
Voting Board Members Present:
The Honorable Sherry Wilborn
Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman
Dr. Claudia Berryhill- Secretary
ED Staff Present: Others Present:
Ms. Briana Whitt, Specialist (Minutes) Ms. Katherine Cathey
Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist
EDC Welcome and Invocation:
At 9:04 a.m., Vice-Chairman Allen called the meeting to order.
Vice-Chairman Allen asked Dr. Berryhill to give the invocation.
Agenda Prep for April EDC Meeting:
The Committee reviewed agenda needs for the upcoming April EDC meeting. Members noted
that an election for Chair will take place in April, and it was reported that one member has
agreed to be considered for the position. The Committee emphasized the importance of
maintaining continuity in leadership during the transition period.
The Committee also discussed two current vacancies on the EDC Board. Two prospective
applicants submitted materials in time for consideration by the Board of Commissioners at their
upcoming meeting. Members noted the importance of recruiting qualified individuals with
demonstrated commitment to economic and community development.
Committee members expressed support for having the updated EDC Action Plan ready for
review and adoption at the April meeting. There was also interest in scheduling industry visits
and identifying three priority employers for early engagement. Members requested that these
visits begin as soon as feasible.
1 of 4
EDC Minutes for April 14, 2026
Questions were raised regarding the status of the Opportunity Zone application process and
participation in the upcoming State of the Region event. Members discussed confirming
attendance and ensuring the event is on participants’ calendars.
The Committee agreed that Economic Development Week (May 4–8) should be recognized with
proactive messaging, including a proclamation request to the Board of Commissioners and daily
public communications highlighting existing industries.
The Committee discussed the need for coordinated public messaging regarding data centers
due to increasing statewide attention and public questions. Members expressed interest in
planning a structured, fact-based community information session led by the EDC, with attention
to timing and alignment with information expected from project partners.
There was consensus that the full Board should discuss messaging strategy at an upcoming
meeting, though some members recommended waiting until after the April election to schedule
an in-depth discussion.
An update was provided announcing that one local manufacturer has notified employees that it
will be closing operations in phases over the next 12–18 months. The Committee discussed the
importance of coordinating support services, assisting with workforce transitions, and identifying
opportunities for affected employees with other employers preparing to hire. The facility's future
use was also briefly discussed as a potential opportunity for recruitment.
The Committee agreed that Board members should be notified of such developments in a
timely manner, once employees have been informed and information may be appropriately
shared.
County leadership provided an update that the Economic Development Director position is
formally vacant. The Committee was informed that the Board of Commissioners will soon hold a
discussion on the future structure of the Economic Development department to determine the
most effective model moving forward.
Members shared perspectives on long-term structure options, including public, private, or
hybrid approaches, and discussed the importance of stability, communication, and coordinated
leadership. No action was taken, and the Vice-Chair noted that further discussion will occur
following Board of Commissioners guidance.
The discussed re-establishing a structured industrial relations program to facilitate
communication among major employers, educators, and workforce partners. Members
supported hosting facilitated industry discussions on a quarterly basis and discussed several
2 of 4
EDC Minutes for April 14, 2026
models used in neighboring counties. The Committee agreed to begin planning a convening
modeled after previous local and regional efforts.
The Committee revisited the idea of a field visit to a peer county to observe best practices in
growth management, airport development, and industrial site strategies. Johnston County was
again identified as a strong option. Members agreed to consider scheduling a visit in May,
pending coordination with local partners.
The Committee discussed upcoming work related to industrial site inventory and mapping. A
larger closed-session meeting is anticipated for May to review site information with key utility
and infrastructure partners. The Committee agreed to reserve this topic for a dedicated meeting
rather than include it on the April agenda.
The Committee agreed on the following items for the April EDC meeting agenda:
• Election of Officers
• Action Plan presentation and adoption
• Updates on Opportunity Zones
• Updates on State of the Region participation
• Discussion of next steps from recent leadership initiatives, including field visit planning
Next Meeting:
The next meeting is announced for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County
EDC Board Room, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC.
Adjournment:
Vice-Chairman Allen adjourned the meeting at 10:25 a.m.
_____________________________________ ______________________________________
Date Approved Secretary
3 of 4
Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 am
Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
Executive Committee Meeting Agenda
Time Item Leader 9:00 am Welcome Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman 9:01 am Invocation Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman 9:03 am Agenda Prep for April EDC Meeting Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman 10:00 am Next Meeting
Set for April 28, 2026, EDC Board Room, at 4:00 pm
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman 10:00 am **Adjourn Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman **Action Requested
4 of 4
2025
Sponsored by
Primary Activity
All Projects
434 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
Business Recruitment Projects – 355
Existing Industry Projects – 79
Manufacturing/Assembly – 343 (79%)
Corporate HQ – 27 (6%)
Warehouse/Distribution – 19 (5%)
Service/Sales – 15 (5%)
Back Office/Shared Services – 13 (3%)
R&D – 9 (1%)
Data Center – 8 (1%)79%
6%5%
5%
*In addition to Business Recruitment and Existing Industry projects, there were also three Business Development initiated loc al partner wins
Project Type
All Projects
434 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
New Location
Projects, 368 (85%)
On Site Expansion
Projects, 66 (15%)
New Location Projects
368 Projects
Median Jobs - 120
Median Investment - $30 million
Median Wages - $92,000
On Site Expansion Projects
66 Projects
Median Jobs - 80
Median Investment - $5 million
Median Wages - $53,735
Primary Activity
New Location Projects
368 NEW LOCATION PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Manufacturing/Assembly – 290 (79%)
Corporate HQ – 22 (6%)
Warehouse/Distribution – 17 (5%)
Back Office/Shared Services – 13 (3%)
Service/Sales – 10 (3%)
Data Center – 8 (2%)
R&D – 8 (2%)
79%
6%5%
3%
3%
Primary Activity
New Location Projects
368 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
Data Centers
13 Projects
Median Jobs - 340
Median Investment - $10.6 million
Median Wages - $133,441
Service/
Sales
10 Projects
Median Jobs - 27
Median Investment - $3.3 million
Median Wages - $113,189
Warehouse/
Distribution
8 Projects
Median Jobs - 25
Median Investment - $450 million
Median Wages - $77,987
Back Office/
Shared Services
290 Projects
Median Jobs - 120
Median Investment - $38 million
Median Wages - $62,754
Corporate
Headquarters
22 Projects
Median Jobs – 225
Median Investment - $15 million
Median Wages - $109,222
Manufacturing/
Assembly
17 Projects
Median Jobs - 30
Median Investment - $12 million
Median Wages - $57,663
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Project Source
New Location Projects
368 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
Site Selection Consultant – 126 (34%)
EDPNC Leads & Internal Referrals – 99 (27%)
Direct Call from Company – 54 (15%)
Local County/Developer – 44 (12%)
Statewide Agency/Partner – 20 (5%)
Other – 18 (5%)
Regional ED Partnership – 7 (2%)
34%
27%
15%
12%5%
5%
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
368 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
Industry Sectors
New Location Projects
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
6 (2%)
6 (2%)
8 (2%)
8 (2%)
10 (3%)
10 (3%)
12 (3%)
12 (3%)
13 (4%)
14 (4%)
17 (5%)
22 (6%)
23 (6%)
25 (7%)
31 (8%)
32 (9%)
32 (9%)
35 (10%)
Boating & Marine
Waste/Recycling
Transportation & Logistics
Medical Equipment
Wood/Paper Products
Unknown
Aerospace/Aviation
Textiles, Apparel & Sporting Goods
Furniture & Home Furnishings
Information Technology
Business & Financial Services
Construction Materials
Food, Beverage & Agriculture
Computers & Electronics
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber
Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences
Automotive/Motor Vehicles
Other
Energy 52 (14%)
Top Industry Sectors
New Location Projects 368 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
Chemicals, Plastics, & Rubber
Food, Beverage & Agriculture
Waste/Recycling
Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences
Energy
Textiles, Apparels & Sporting Goods
Aerospace/Aviation
Computers and Electronics
Furniture & Home Furnishings
Automotive/Motor Vehicles
Construction Materials
Information Technology
INDUSTRY MEDIAN JOBS MEDIAN INVESTMENT MEDIAN WAGES PROJECTS
200
119
184
100
110
77
75
501
50
75
100
80
$121M
$30.6M
$125M
$35M
$24M
$28.7M
$19.5M
$14.7M
$17.4M
$30M
$15M
$27.5M
$63,652
$56,660
$110,105
$57,934
$65,395
$54,375
$61,500
$133,690
$80,000
$49,000
$58,147
$100,961
52
35
32
31
25
23
22
17
14
13
12
12
Boating and Marine
Unknown
Business and Financial Services
Medical Equipment
Transportation & Logistics
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Real Estate Requests
In Top Industry Sectors – New Location Projects
52 Projects Worked
40 Total Real Estate Assists (77% of projects)
Building or Site – 11 projects (27%)
Building – 19 projects (48%)
•Average Square Footage Request –
196,905 SF
•Average Ceiling Height Request – 25
feet
Site – 10 projects (25%)
•Average Acreage Request – 145 acres
ENERGY
Utility Requirements
Power Needs
• Average 23 MW requirement
Water Needs
•Median 60,000 gallons per day
Wastewater Needs
•Median 40,480 gallons per day
Rail Needs
•8 projects required rail
•6 projects preferred rail
New Location Projects
Military/Defense Sub-Sector – New Location Projects
29 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025 WERE DESIGNATED AS MILITARY/DEFENSE OPPORTUNITIES
•This is double the amount of military/defense projects compared to 2024
Aerospace/Aviation – 11 (39%)
Automotive/Motor Vehicles – 4 (14%)
Other – 3 (11%)
Boating and Marine – 3 (11%)
Textiles, Apparel, and Sporting Goods – 2 (7%)
Energy – 2 (7%)
Computers and Electronics – 2 (7%)
Information Technology – 1 (4%)
39%
14%
11%
11%
7%
7%7%
4%
BY INDUSTRY
TOP MILITARY/DEFENSE
SECTORS
Aerospace/Aviation
Median Jobs - 79
Median Investment - $25 million
Median Wages - $111,923
11 Projects
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
3%
New Location Projects
Trends
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Office & Headquarters Projects
•35 projects created in 2025 were designated as corporate
headquarters or back-office projects, more than double the
amount in 2024.
•EDPNC did not assist with the real estate search for 25 of the
35 projects.
•12 of these projects were with companies with existing
operations in North Carolina
•16 of the 35 projects were related to business and financial
services industry
•Median jobs – 284
•Median Investment - $15 million
•Median Wages - $115,227
Foreign Direct Investment
New Location Projects
368 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
International Projects - Includes any project where the
parent company is international.
•International projects increased from 42% in 2024 to 47%
in 2025
Unknown: Project never progressed to the point where the
country was disclosed
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
International Projects -
173 (47%)
Domestic Projects -
170 (46%)
Unknown -
25 (7%)
19
7
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
8
13
16
Other
Unknown
Brazil
Poland
Spain
Sweden
Austria
Belgium
Korea
Taiwan
Singapore
Switzerland
Japan
Australia
France
Turkey
United Kingdom
India
Italy
Germany
China
Canada
21
22
173 FDI OPPORTUNITIES CREATED IN 2025
Foreign Direct Investment
New Location Projects
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Real Estate Assistance
New Location Projects
368 PROJECTS CREATED IN 2025
88% of the real estate requests EDPNC
assisted with in 2025 were for manufacturing
locations (210 projects)
DID THE EDPNC ASSIST IN THE COMPANY’S REAL ESTATE SEARCH?
No,
128 Projects (35%)
Yes, EDPNC assisted
with Real Estate Search
240 Projects (65%)
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Manufacturing – 210 (88%)
Other Industries – 30 (12%)
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Projects Only – Building v. Site
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 REAL ESTATE REQUESTS FOR MANUFACTURING PROJECTS
2025 REQUESTS FOR BUILDING OR SITE:
Building Projects -
108 (51%)
Site Projects -
60 (29%)
Building or Site -
42 (20%)
38%
37%
25%
2023 DATA
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
48%
27%
25%
2024 DATA
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Buildings – Square Footage
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS
150 projects specified need for either a building or were open to both building and site options:
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Buildings – Ceiling Height
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS
150 projects specified need for either a building or were open to both building and site options:
7 6
26 (17%)
4
2
24 (13%)
1
5
3
13 (8%)
5 5
3 4
1
27 (19%)
6
1
7 Number of ProjectsClear Ceiling Height
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Sites – Acreage Requests
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS
102 projects specified need for either a site or were open to both building and site options:
15 (15%)16 (15%)
9 (9%)
14 (14%)
22 (21%)
5 (5%)4 (3%)
7 (5%)
5 (5%)
≤ 10 11 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 50 51 - 100 101 - 150 151 - 250 251 - 500 501 - 999Number of ProjectsAcreage Target
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Projects Only – Buy or Lease
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 REAL ESTATE
REQUESTS FOR MANUFACTURING PROJECTS
Buy – 22 (10%)
Lease – 50 (24%)
Buy or Lease – 78 (37%)
Not Specified – 60 (29%)
PROJECT REQUESTS FOR BUY OR LEASE:
10%24%
37%
29%
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Projects Only – Natural Gas
Yes – 57 (38%)
No – 61 (41%)
Preferred – 32 (21%)
BUILDING REQUESTS:
REQUIREMENT FOR NATURAL GAS:
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS
108 projects specified need for a building
60 projects specified need for a site
42 projects were open to both building and site options
38%
41%
21%
Yes – 57 (56%)
No – 23 (23%)
Preferred – 22 (21%)
SITE REQUESTS:
REQUIREMENT FOR NATURAL GAS:
56%
23%
21%
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Projects Only – Rail Service
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Yes – 29 (19%)
No – 108 (72%)
Preferred – 13 (9%)
BUILDING REQUESTS:
REQUIREMENT FOR RAIL SERVICE:
19%
72%
13%
Yes – 28 (27%)
No – 54 (53%)
Preferred – 20 (20%)
SITE REQUESTS:
REQUIREMENT FOR RAIL SERVICE:
27%
53%
20%
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS
108 projects specified need for a building
60 projects specified need for a site
42 projects were open to both building and site options
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Projects Only – Port Service
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Yes – 36 (21%)
No – 114 (79%)
BUILDING REQUESTS:
REQUIREMENT FOR PORT SERVICE:
21%
79%Yes – 21 (20%)
No – 81 (80%)
SITE REQUESTS:
REQUIREMENT FOR PORT SERVICE:
20%
80%
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210 MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE REQUESTS
108 projects specified need for a building
60 projects specified need for a site
42 projects were open to both building and site options
Real Estate Requests
Manufacturing Projects Only – Site Certification Interest
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
WAS THERE AN INTEREST IN A SITE THAT HAD
BEEN THROUGH A SITE CERTIFICATION OR
READINESS PROGRAM?
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 210
MANUFACTURING REAL ESTATE
REQUESTS
102 projects specified need for either a
site or were open to both building and
site options.Yes,
28 Projects
27%
No,
74 Projects
73%
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences
6 projects (30%)
Energy
4 projects (22%)
Automotive/Motor Vehicles
3 projects (17%)
Chemicals, Plastics, and Rubber
2 project (9%)
Boating and Marine
1 project (7%)
Other
2 projects (7%)
BY INDUSTRY
Biotech, Pharma & Life Sciences
Energy
4 Projects
Average Jobs – 1,470
Average Investment - $1.66 billion
Average Acreage Request – 492 acres
Average Power Need – 91 MW
Average Water Need – 206,000 gallons/day
Average Wastewater Need – 58,000 gallons/day
$1B+ Manufacturing Projects
Manufacturing Projects Only
IN 2025, EDPNC ASSISTED WITH 18 MANUFACTURING PROJECTS EXCEEDING $1
BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT
This is a 28% increase from projects of this size EDPNC assisted with in 2024
17 of the 18 large project requests were for sites
6 Projects
Average Jobs – 552
Average Investment - $1.80 billion
Average Acreage Request – 105 acres
Average Power Need – 12.5 MW
Average Water Need – 372,000 gallons/day
Average Wastewater Need – 350,000 gallons/day
33%
22%
17%
11%
6%
11%
*These are projects that include only companies that were considering a new facility to the state. No same-site expansions are included in this data.
Lack of Suitable Building/Site – 32 (44%)
Proximity to Supply Chain/Customers – 9 (12%)
Outside of Search Area – 8 (11%)
Inadequate Infrastructure – 6 (9%)
Expanded at Current Location – 5 (7%)
Incentives – 4 (6%)
Transportation/Logistics Issues – 3 (5%)
Local Issues – 2 (3%)
Excessive Land/Building Costs – 2 (3%)
REASON LOST
2025 Project Losses
Reason Given for Projects Lost
IN 2025, NORTH CAROLINA LOST 72 PROJECTS TO OTHER LOCATIONS
As in previous years, the majority (44%) of our projects lost in 2025 were due to lack of suitable real estate options
44%
12%
11%
9%
7%
6%
5%3%3%
National Site Selection Trends
•The best sites are the ones with answers already
•28 – that is the number of months most manufacturers target for delivery.
•Infrastructure is now the gatekeeper
•In 2025, we saw infrastructure, especially power and water, go from a more supporting role in
location choices to now becoming the gatekeeper in site decision -making.
•Workforce readiness is still a major problem
•Workforce development can no longer be reactive. Communities that invest early by aligning
education, employers, and infrastructure will be better positioned to absorb demand when it
arrives.
•Incentives relevancy
•Incentives do not close gaps in site infrastructure issues, permitting timelines, specialized
workforce needs, etc. instead functioning as a “tiebreaker” - meaningful only once a location
has demonstrated the ability to execute.
•Competitive Advantage = Execution Certainty
Greiner, A. (2026, January 9).Speed Built In—The Real Differentiator for 2026 Site Selection Projects - Area Development. Area Development. https://www.areadevelopment.com/corporate -site-selection-
factors/q1-2026/the-real-differentiator-for-2026-site-selection-projects.shtml
Migdal, Bradley. “Site Readiness Is Broken: What Manufacturers Should Demand from Their Locations - Area Development.” Area Development, 4 Dec. 2025, www.areadevelopment.com/corporate -site-
selection-factors/q3-2025/site-readiness-is-broken-what-manufacturers-should-demand-from-their-locations.shtml. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
919.447.7777 | EDPNC.COM
150 FAYETTEVILLE ST. | STE 1200
RALEIGH, NC 27601
We appreciate the support of
$481.2M
Total AG Value Added
2,687
Agriculture
Employment
$0.08B
In Wages & Salary
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%
Fiber and Related Industries Food and Related Products Forestry and Related
Products Green Industry Pharmaceutical Preparation
Manufacturing
Tobacco and Related
Products
63.3%0.0%1.8%12.5%20.8%1.6%
Fiber and Related Industries
Food and Related Products Forestry and Related Products
Green Industry
Pharmaceutical Preparations
Tobacco and Related Products
Agriculture's Impact on Our County
Agriculture in Person County
Person
Restaurants/
Food Service
Food
Production A..
Food
Wholesaling ..
Food
Processing $8.2M
$12.8M
$38.8M
$40.1M
$3.1M
$6.5M
-$4.3M
$24.0M
68.5
289.8
373.1
1,047.7
Textile Manu
facturing
Textile
Wholesaling
and Retailing
Cotton and
Wool
Production
$0.0M
$1.5M
$6.4M
$0.0M
$0.6M
$4.7M
0.00
34.30
76.17
Wholesaling
and Retailing
Wood Product
Manufacturing
Timber
production $12.9M
$15.3M
$32.1M
$1.3M
$4.7M
$13.5M
35.6
74.3
285.3
Production
of Plants and
Plant
Materials
Wholesaling,
Retailing and
Landscaping
$2.6M
$5.8M
$0.8M
$1.8M
29.97
9.69
Value Added
$0.0M
Wages & Salary
$0.0M
Employment
0
Tobacco Man
ufacturing,
Whole..
Tobacco
Production $25.3M
$279.3M
$4.8M
$14.0M
115.2
247.2
Value
Added
Salary &
Wages
Employmen
t
Value
Added
Salary &
Wages
Employmen
t
Value
Added
Salary &
Wages
Employmen
t
Value
Added
Salary &
Wages
Employmen
tValue Added Salary & W..Employme..
Project Sonsored by:
North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund
Commission
In partnership with:
The North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation
Available Properties
1803 N. Main St.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 45,000 sqft
Ceiling Height: 10-14 ft
601 N Madison Boulevard
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Commercial
Square Footage: 19,509 sqft
Ceiling Height: Unknown
4080 Durham Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27574
Type of Space: Commercial
Size: 40.10 Acres
2473 Durham Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 88,000 sqft
Ceiling Height: 18 ft
415 Semora Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Office
Square Footage: 3,100 sqft
Ceiling Height: 9-10 ft
50 Providence Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 260,000 sqft
Ceiling Height: 15 ft
385 Memorial Dr.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Commercial and Industrial
Size: 183.90 Acres
2300 Old Durham Rd.
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Industrial
Square Footage: 138,458 sqft
Ceiling Height: 18.90-28 ft
April 2026
Project Request for the month of April: 12
Projects Submitted for the Year 2026: 2
Building/Site Size Ceiling
Height
Natural
Gas
Electric Water DNS Reasons
31 Greenfield 1,500 acres TBD 3-5MW Not for
Production
Site size,
predominantly flat,
Environmental study
completed, rail-
served site
32 Existing
Building
25,000-
40,000 sqft
26’-30’ TBD 0.3-
0.5MW
200GPD Building size, ceiling
height, 2 dock doors
33 Existing
Building
150,000-
250,000 sqft
30’ Minimal 4MW Minimal Building size, ceiling
height
34 Greenfield 49 acres 7,063
MCF/year
30MW 506,632
GPD
Site size,
interstate/highway
within 10 miles of
site
35 Greenfield 25 acres Required 10-
50MW
47,000GPY Site size, pad ready
with utilities ready,
expandable, within
10 miles of rail
36 Existing
Building or
Greenfield
180,000-
200,000 sqft
or 10 acres
24’ Required 1MW TBD Building/ site size,
ceiling height, four
lane highway within
5 miles of site
423 S Madison Boulevard
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Office/Retail
Square Footage: 1,100 sqft
Ceiling Height: 8 ft
117 N Main Street
Roxboro, NC 27573
Type of Space: Office/Retail
Square Footage: 2,970 sqft
Ceiling Height: 15 ft
Building/Site Size Ceiling
Height
Natural Gas Electric Water DNS Reasons
37 Existing
Building
100,000-
200,000
sqft
26’ Only
confirmation
of service
5MW TBD Building size,
ceiling height, 12T
crane required,
minimum 5-7
dock doors
38 Existing
Building or
Greenfield
500,000
sqft or 40-
50 acres
32’ Not required 8.5MW 112,700GPD Building/site size,
ceiling height,
interstate/highway
access within 5
miles, expandable
39 Existing
Building
75,000-
100,000
sqft
24’ Only
confirmation
of service
28,000-
38,000
kWh/month
TBD Building size,
ceiling height,
showroom and
office space, 8
dock doors and 2
drive-in doors,
within 5 miles of
four-lane highway
and 10 miles of
interstate/major
highway
40 Existing
Building or
Greenfield
5,000-
10,000 sqft
or 1-5
acres
20’
Required 50,000-
70,000
kWh/month
3,000-
4,000GPD
Building/site size,
ceiling height,
zoning, rail
preferred
41 Existing
Building
40,000-
70,000 sqft
28’ 20,000 3-6MW 30,000-
40,000GPD
Building size,
ceiling height,
standalone, 4
truck/dock doors
42 Greenfield 200 acres Required 0.5MW 110,000GPD Site size, rail less
than 2.5 miles
from site,
interstate/highway
access no closer
than ¼ miles away
MEMO: PENDING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
April 20, 2026
This document serves as an update to the report shared at the end of December 2025:
• Satterfield Farm Subdivision (off Lucy Garrett Road and US 501) – 314 single-family dwelling lots
were originally approved in three phases. The work to build out the roads and infrastructure for the
approved Phase 2 is underway. Staff continues to work with the LGI team on details for the private
amenities area in Phase 2.
• Highland Place Subdivision (off Allie Clay Road) – 89 single-family dwelling lots were accepted as a
vested plan from County approval in the early 2000s. These lots constitute three phases of the
existing Highland Place subdivision. Home construction continues in final phase of project.
• Farrah Farms Subdivision (off Billy Hicks Road) – 312 single-family dwelling lots approved in three
phases. Construction Drawings were reviewed and a Development Agreement is needed for the
required pump station improvements. No change since last report.
• Tate Ridge Subdivision (off Wesleyan Heights/Winhaven St) – 71 single-family lots were approved as
part of Phase 1 of this project. Construction Drawings were reviewed. Additional communications
underway to finalize plans for construction. Staff will need to hold a pre-construction meeting with
the developer whenever they are ready to begin site work.
• Willow Estates Subdivision (off Ridge Road at Windsor Drive) – 239 single-family dwelling unit lots
originally approved in three phases. No request for extension of the project approval was received by
the deadline (April 16), so the project will expire on May 14, 2026. There have been a handful of
inquiries from others about submitting a similar project in the future.
• Mountain Road Planned Unit Development (off Mountain Road, east of Allgood Street) – 257 single-
family lots, 56 townhome lots, and 2 non-residential lots were approved during a Special Use Permit
public hearing proceeding in July 2025. Staff received communication from the family owning the
property that the developer signed termination documents and do not plan to move forward with
the project. The adopted Master Plan will remain vested until July 2027.
• Carson Crossing Subdivision (end of Somerset Drive) – 74 single-family lots approved in Phase 1 and
an additional 64 single-family lots were approved in Phase 2 in July 2025. Staff received
communication from the project engineer that the developer is currently looking for a builder before
finalizing the CDs and performance sureties to begin construction.
• Marlowe Creekside Subdivision (at the corner of Broad Road and Henry Street) – 90 single-family
lots were approved in June 2025. Construction Drawing review continues.
• Memorial Drive Subdivision (off Memorial Drive and spanning over to Perkins Drive) – This property
has been the subject of multiple development conversations. It appears the current owner is now
interested in commercial development, as opposed to residential. If this remains true, this will rotate
off this list in the next update.
• Boulder Creek Subdivision (off Harewood Lane/Todd Court) –50 single-family dwelling lots were
approved at the January 2026 meeting of the City Council. Additional conversations have taken place
regarding utility upgrades necessary to serve the site. Construction Drawings and a Developer
Agreement will be necessary to proceed.
• Concord Ridge Apartments (Barden Street) – 68 apartment units were approved as part of a Special
Use Permit hearing in April 2026. A revised site plan is needed to reflect the conditions of approval,
then Construction Drawings and performance sureties will be needed before a Notice to Proceed
with Site Work can be issued.
• Additional inquiries – While staff continues to receive inquiries about various properties, there have
been no submittals that warrant notation in this report at this time.
Some projects were listed on a previous iteration of this report, but are not included in this version.
Those are projects for which staff have received no additional inquiries/submittals or that have been
completed.
In light of the recently completed Growth Study Analysis and Long-Range Planning Report prepared for
the City of Roxboro by Kimley-Horn, staff will no longer provide estimates on the potential dwelling unit
increase or population increase in these residential development summaries. That report shows
conservative, moderate, and aggressive growth trends for both sets of data, which may be referenced for
planning purposes.
**Information based on existing application and plan review details submitted to the City of Roxboro Planning &
Development Department. Utility service details based upon assessments made by the City of Roxboro Public
Services Department.
Departmental Report
March 2026 – April 2026
• Collaborating with URG, TDA, and Uptown businesses for Arts, Eats, &
Beats – First Friday Summer Series
o Awarded $7,100 from PCTDA for marketing and artists/musicians
• Continuing to work with City of Roxboro Planning and Development on
their Unified Development Ordinance update.
• Attended Good Morning Coffee Hour with RACC featuring CrossRoads
• CTE Advisory Meeting on April 2nd
• Showcased Economic Development at the Person County Civics Academy
• RTRP Meeting on April 8th
• Airport Commission Meeting on April 9th
• Assisted Uptown Roxboro Group with the Food Truck Rodeo on April 12th
• Attended NC Chamber “Building NC” Conference with NC Carolina Core
on April 21st
• Working with KTCOG to plan upcoming Summit in October
• Assisted RACC with annual golf tournament on April 24th
Upcoming Events of Interest
• Small Business Week May 3rd – 9th
• Economic Development Week May 4th – 8th
• RTRP State of the Region on May 13th, 2026
• SBTDC Small Business Day on May 6th from 10:00AM to 2:00PM
• Manufacturing Day on October 2nd
• Kerr-Tar Summit on October 8th