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Home My WebLink About06-23-2026 Meeting Agenda EDC Packet Date: June 23, 2026 Time: 4:00 pm Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda 4:00 :01 -Chairman :03 May 20, :05 :30 :40 :50 y Specialist Set for July 28, 2026, 4:00 pm, EDC Boardroom The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Adjourn Action Requested EDC Minutes for May 20, 2026 Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting Person County EDC Board Room 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 May 20, 2026 Voting Board Members Present: Dr. Claudia Berryhill- Secretary Mr. Kenneth Perry Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman Mr. Jody Blackwell The Honorable Sherry Wilborn- Chair Ms. Allison Satterfield The Honorable Cynthia Petty Voting Board Members Absent: Mr. Gordon Carver Mr. Jay Poindexter Ex Officios Present: Ms. Katherine Cathey, County Manager Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager Ex Officios Absent: Others Present: Dr. Kevin Lee, PCC President Mr. Nishith Trivedi Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent Mr. Bryan Garrett Mr. Courtney Bird ED Staff Present: Ms. Sally Vaughn Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Ms. Lauren Johnson Ms. Briana Whitt, Specialist (Minutes) Ms. Kim Strickland EDC Welcome and Invocation: At 2:00 p.m., Chair Sherry Wilborn called the meeting to order. Mr. Phillip Allen gave the invocation. Approval of the Minutes: Chair Wilborn asked for the approval of the April 28, 2026, regularly scheduled meeting minutes. A motion was unanimously approved to approve the meeting minutes for April 28, 2026, regularly scheduled. Motion: Dr. Claudia Berryhill Second: Mr. Jody Blackwell EDC Minutes for May 20, 2026 Overview & Why it Matters: i. Administrative Update An update was provided regarding recent amendments adopted by the Board of Commissioners to clarify that the County is responsible for setting program direction for the Economic Development Director. It was explained that the County desired to explicitly reference the EDC-approved Action Plan as a component of that program direction. For the June meeting, members were advised that time should be reserved to establish an annual planning calendar, including the annual adoption of the Action Plan. This will support alignment between the EDC’s goals and the Director’s work plan. The annual ethics training will also occur at the June meeting, with anticipated modifications to expand its scope. ii. Opportunity Zone Update Members were briefed on the Opportunity Zone application timeline. It was noted that information from the State had not initially been available; however, following a gubernatorial listening session, the State released updated Opportunity Zone guidance the same afternoon. The filing deadline is in June, and staff and partners are working collaboratively to complete the submission. Members were also encouraged to identify individuals or agencies who should be included in the upcoming Johnston County visit, which will include briefings on airport development, school construction funding, and residential development initiatives. Suggestions for attendees were requested to be sent to staff for planning purposes. iii. Regional Meetings & Infrastructure Coordination A report was provided regarding attendance at the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) State of the Region event. The event was heavily attended and included participation from multiple elected officials. The discussion emphasized the importance of city-county collaboration in matters such as residential development approvals and infrastructure investment. A historical overview was shared regarding the Western Sewer Project. Six years prior, the EDC and PCC had identified sewer access as a major barrier to development, prompting the County Commissioners to fund engineering work. Significant state grant funding has subsequently been awarded. Members were informed that a recent City Council vote on a project change order resulted in a split vote, which required the Mayor to break the tie in order for the project to continue. Members discussed the concerns expressed by those who opposed the change order, which centered primarily on cost escalation due to rock excavation. The discussion noted that the project area included several known rocky areas, resulting in higher-than-anticipated excavation challenges. EDC Minutes for May 20, 2026 iv.Job Description Update A draft revision of the Economic Development Director job description was distributed electronically. Members were asked to submit comments or suggested edits by week’s end. The County Manager intends to post the position publicly the following week. v.Industrial Development Overview Staff presented the 2023–2025 EDPNC Real Estate Reports and provided a summary of statewide and regional industrial trends. The reports indicated that manufacturing and assembly projects continue to represent the majority of industrial activity across North Carolina. Staff explained that demand for industrial sites remains high, particularly as more projects require heavy utilities, large acreage, and advanced manufacturing capabilities. It was noted that significant growth is occurring in the energy and clean-energy sectors, EV-related manufacturing, food and beverage processing, aerospace, defense, and data center development. Foreign direct investment remains strong, with Canada currently serving as the leading source of such investment. Staff further explained that statewide trends show a shift away from very large “mega-site” projects and toward mid-sized, speed-to-market sites and existing buildings. Staff also reviewed local employment and commuting data. The information demonstrated that employment levels in the county have fluctuated in recent years due to plant closures, consolidations, and offshoring decisions made by companies. The county continues to experience a high outbound commuter rate. Several long-standing employers have recently closed or announced reductions, underscoring the importance of maintaining an adequate supply of industrial product to support recruitment and retention efforts. Members discussed the longstanding principle of “No product, no project,” emphasizing that the county cannot attract new industry without sites or buildings that meet modern industrial specifications. vi.Industrial Requirements and Market Trends Staff provided preliminary project request data for 2026 and reported that approximately 84 percent of current industrial inquiries are for manufacturing operations. Staff stated that most prospects are requesting buildings with clear heights ranging from 26 to 36 feet and building sizes ranging from 50,000 to 300,000 square feet. Many prospects continue to express a preference for existing buildings to support accelerated timelines and speed-to-market needs. Staff also reported that rail access remains a requirement for only a limited portion of project requests, although some companies still list it as a preferred feature. Data center activity continues to grow, and these projects typically involve substantial power requirements. Members discussed the importance of ensuring that any future industrial development areas have sufficient electric utility redundancy, water and wastewater capacity, and overall infrastructure readiness to support advanced manufacturing and related sectors. EDC Minutes for May 20, 2026 Closed Session: Chair Wilborn requested a motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to NC General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(4) A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to go into closed session. Motion: Mr. Phillip Allen Second: Dr. Claudia Berryhill Closed Session was entered into at 2:50 pm. A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to come out of closed session. Motion: Ms. Cynthia Petty Second: Mr. Phillip Allen Closed Session was exited at 3:57 pm. Next Meeting: The next meeting is announced for Tuesday, June 23, 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 3:57 p.m. Motion: Mr. Phillip Allen Second: Mr. Jody Blackwell _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Date Approved Secretary Date: May 20, 2026 Time: 2:00 pm Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda 2:00 Welcome The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Invocation Mr. G. Phillip Allen, Vice-Chairman **Request a motion to approve the April 28, The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Overview & Why It Matters The Honorable Sherry Wilborn **Request motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to NC General Statutes 143- The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Set for June 23, 2026, 4:00 pm, EDC Boardroom The Honorable Sherry Wilborn **Adjourn The Honorable Sherry Wilborn **Action Requested