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Home My WebLink About8-25-2026 Meeting Agenda Packet EDC Date: August 25, 2026 Time: 4:00 pm Location: EDC Boardroom, 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 Regularly-Scheduled Meeting Agenda 4:00 :01 -Chairman :03 June 23, :05 Training :35 :40 y Specialist :55 Set for September 22, 2026, 4:00 pm, EDC The Honorable Sherry Wilborn Adjourn Action Requested Person County Economic Development Commission Ethics Training August 25, 2026 T.C, Morphis, Jr. Person County Attorney Overview of Presentation •Scope of EDC’s Work •Conflicts of Interest •Criminal Self-Dealing Statutes •Quasi-Judicial Procedure, Including Being a Witness •Closed Sessions Scope of the EDC’s Work G.S. § 158-13 and Bylaws Article Two: •“Receive an economic development program” •“Formulate projects” for economic development. •“Conduct industrial surveys” •Advertise •“Furnish advice and assistance” •“Encourage the formation of private business development corporations” •“Carry on such other activities as may be necessary.” Conflicts of Interest The EDC Conflict of Interest Policy 1.General Conflict 2.Financial Interest Conflicts of Interest G.S. 160D-109(b): (b) Appointed Boards. – Members of appointed boards shall not vote on any advisory or legislative decision regarding a development regulation adopted pursuant to this Chapter where the outcome of the matter being considered is reasonably likely to have a direct, substantial, and readily identifiable financial impact on the member. An appointed board member shall not vote on any zoning amendment if the landowner of the property subject to a rezoning petition or the applicant for a text amendment is a person with whom the member has a close familial, business, or other associational relationship. Criminal “Self-Dealing” Statutes NOTE: EDC members are “public officers.” G.S. § 14-234: Public officers benefiting from public contracts[.] G.S. § 14-234.1: Misuse of confidential information. G.S. § 14-234.2: Public Officer benefitting from public position. G.S. § 14-234.3: Nonprofit officials participating in contracts. Quasi-Judicial Decisions in General •These decisions are made by applying the County’s Planning Ordinance to a unique set of facts and involve some discretion by the decision maker. •Quasi-judicial hearings are like miniature court hearings where the Board is the decision maker applying facts to a legal standard. •Due process rights must be preserved. •G.S. § 160D-406(j): “Every quasi-judicial decision shall be based upon competent, material, and substantial evidence in the record.” Quasi-Judicial Procedure Conflicts of Interest G.S. § 160D-109: “A member of any board exercising quasi-judicial functions . . . shall not participate in or vote on any quasi-judicial matter in a manner that would violate affected persons’ constitutional rights to an impartial decision maker. Impermissible violations of due process include, but are not limited to, a member having a fixed opinion prior to hearing the matter that is not susceptible to change, undisclosed ex parte communications, a close familial, business, or other associational relationship with an affected person, or a financial interest in the outcome of the matter.” Closed Sessions Exceptions for Closed Sessions: (1) To prevent the disclosure of confidential information; (2) The award exception; (3) Attorney-client privilege; (4) The economic development exception; (5)Instructions for the terms to acquire real estate or for an employment contract; (6) The personnel exception (7) Criminal misconduct exception; (8) School violence plans; (9) Potential terrorist activities; and (10) Police recording exception. How Polywood built more than a factory in North Carolina More than 800 employees now work at Polywood's manufacturing and distribution operation in Roxboro, N.C. Ray Allegrezza// Editor Emeritus, Furniture Today//August 11, 2026 At a Glance: • Polywood grew workforce from 16 to over 800 employees • Piedmont Community College provided recruiting and customized training • NCEdge Customized Training supported advanced manufacturing skill development ROXBORO, N.C. — When manufacturers announce a major expansion, the story is usually told in numbers: Dollars invested. Square footage added. Jobs promised. But buildings don’t operate machinery. Incentive packages can’t run extrusion lines. And hiring hundreds of people in a community where a company has never operated takes more than posting a few help-wanted ads. It takes a workforce. And that takes some doing. When Polywood decided in 2018 to expand beyond its longtime home in Syracuse, Ind., and establish a manufacturing and distribution operation in North Carolina, the outdoor furniture producer had an attractive building, an ambitious growth plan and a community eager to welcome it. Polywood’s Roxboro, N.C., facility What it lacked was an established local workforce or an employee on the ground to begin building one. That is where Piedmont Community College and the North Carolina Community College System’s NCEdge Customized Training program entered the picture. See also: • Polywood’s omnichannel product strategy pushes into new categories • From landﬁll to lawn, Polywood ﬂips the script on ‘fast furniture’ Ryan Zimmerman The partnership helped Polywood grow from an initial workforce of 16 people to more than 800 employees, according to Ryan Zimmerman, vice president of human resources. The company’s Roxboro campus has also grown from approximately 500,000 square feet to nearly 1 million square feet. Today, Zimmerman said, Polywood is the largest employer in Person County. Path to expansion Those numbers make the expansion impressive. How the company reached them may be even more important. Polywood manufactures outdoor furniture using lumber made from recycled high-density polyethylene plastic. At the Roxboro campus, post-consumer material is processed and extruded into Polywood lumber. That material then moves into furniture production, where CNC equipment, robotics and employees cut, machine and partially assemble the products before they are shipped directly to customers. Building that operation required Polywood to recruit and train people for jobs and processes that were not necessarily common in the immediate area. Zimmerman said North Carolina attracted the company partly because of the building available in Roxboro and the growth opportunities surrounding it. But the willingness of the community and state workforce organizations to become active partners helped separate North Carolina from other possibilities. “We saw the partnership come together as we were starting to have conversations,” Zimmerman said. “The way the state of North Carolina works with the colleges, in partnership with businesses, is like we haven’t experienced in Indiana.” That model is built around NCEdge Customized Training, the state’s workforce training incentive administered through the North Carolina Community College System. Sara Lloyd Sara Lloyd, regional director for NCEdge Customized Training, said the program differs from incentives that simply provide a company with money and leave it to ﬁnd and purchase training on its own. “We didn’t just give Polywood a check and say, ‘Here’s some money from the state. Go ﬁnd some training,’” Lloyd said. Instead, NCEdge funding is used through local community colleges to identify what a company needs, develop the training and connect the employer with additional workforce resources. Community college partner In Polywood’s case, Piedmont Community College became the local partner responsible for helping turn a manufacturing plan into an operating workforce. The ﬁrst challenge was recruiting. When Polywood began accepting applications, Zimmerman said the company received hundreds of responses. But it had no established human resources staff at the Roxboro location to screen applicants, evaluate skills or organize the initial hiring process. Piedmont Community College helped ﬁll that gap. Jody Blackwell Jody Blackwell, dean of technical & manufacturing programs at the college, said PCC assisted with recruiting, WorkKeys assessments and applicant screening. By the time candidates met with Polywood, the company had organized information and test results it could use to make hiring decisions. “We brought people into the room, and they had their WorkKeys scores and everything ready to go,” Blackwell said. “Polywood could interview them.” For Zimmerman, the arrangement required trust. Polywood generally handles its recruiting internally and makes limited use of outside recruiters or contract labor. In Roxboro, however, the company needed a local partner capable of understanding the positions, identifying the necessary skills and screening applicants accordingly. “We had to build the trust with the college that they were screening the way we wanted them to screen and ﬁltering people into the positions and skill sets we were looking for,” Zimmerman said. That relationship became particularly important during the ﬁrst six months, when Zimmerman and Blackwell sometimes spoke almost daily. But hiring the initial workforce was only the beginning. Expanded list of resources As Polywood’s Roxboro operation grew, the role of Piedmont Community College and NCEdge grew with it. What began with recruiting and WorkKeys testing expanded into forklift instruction, maintenance training, leadership development and technical programs supporting robotics and other advanced manufacturing equipment. When Polywood added extrusion operations, the company needed employees with a skill set that was not widely available in Person County. The partnership helped connect Polywood with the Polymers Center in Charlotte for specialized plastics and extrusion training. “The relationship went from assisting with the hiring process to more in-depth technical training,” Blackwell said. “We customize it to their needs.” That is the key word: customize. The college was not attempting to ﬁt Polywood into an existing, off-the-shelf training program. As the company’s equipment, processes and workforce needs changed, the training changed with them. The approach also allowed Polywood to develop much of its management and technical talent from within. Zimmerman said a signiﬁcant number of employees hired during the company’s ﬁrst year in Roxboro remain with the company. “We’ve got a large population that we hired in the ﬁrst year that is still there,” he said. “They’ve moved up into more leadership roles, and we’ve taken the training the college provided and developed it internally for the betterment of the company.” Careers and community That ability to create career paths has been especially important in a rural market. Lloyd said the success of customized training cannot always be captured by simply counting the number of employees trained or the number of classroom hours delivered. The more meaningful measurement is what happens afterward. In Person County, that means people ﬁnding careers close to home, developing new skills, moving into higher-paying positions and seeing manufacturing as a profession with room for advancement. “The metrics don’t tell the whole story,” Lloyd said. “It is the impact on the company, the employees and the community.” Blackwell sees that impact from two perspectives: as a college administrator responsible for workforce development and as a member of the Person County community. Polywood’s growth has created jobs paying livable wages while giving local residents opportunities that might otherwise have required leaving the area. “When they are providing great, livable wages, it changes people’s lives,” Blackwell said. “That is exactly our college mission. Polywood ﬁt into the college mission of changing and transforming lives.” The relationship has not been one-sided. Blackwell said Polywood employees have participated in college panels, assisted with student interviews and supported work-based learning opportunities. The company has contributed products to college events and helped PCC connect students in industrial systems, mechatronics and other technical programs with real manufacturing careers. Even seemingly small requests demonstrate the depth of the relationship. When Polywood wanted food and dessert trucks for an employee appreciation event, company representatives called Blackwell. Because PCC is rooted in the community, the college knew whom to contact. That may sound far removed from workforce training, but it illustrates what Lloyd and Blackwell say makes the system work. The college does not disappear after a class ends or the initial group of employees is hired. It remains available as the company and community grow together. Zimmerman believes that support contributed directly to Polywood’s ability to expand so rapidly. “If we didn’t see success in building out this location and getting the resources we did through this partnership, I don’t know that we would have grown this rapidly,” he said. “Going from zero to over 800 employees in six or seven years is pretty signiﬁcant. A lot of companies don’t experience that over a lifetime.” His advice to other companies considering a North Carolina expansion is equally direct: Find out what workforce resources are available and do not assume everything must be handled internally. “It is understanding what your resources are, determining how you can leverage those resources and not being afraid not to do it on your own,” Zimmerman said. A lesson about people For the furniture industry, the Polywood story offers a lesson that extends beyond one company or one North Carolina county. Manufacturing expansions are often treated as real estate and capital investment projects. But buying a building and installing equipment may be the relatively easy part. The harder job is ﬁnding people, teaching new skills, developing supervisors, retaining employees and creating a workforce capable of growing with the operation. Polywood brought the product, processes, investment and opportunity. NCEdge brought the statewide training structure and funding. Piedmont Community College brought local knowledge, recruiting assistance, technical training and a continuing presence in the community. Together, they created something none of the three could have built as effectively alone. The lesson is simple: Square footage can be bought. Machinery can be installed. Incentives can help close the deal. But none of those things builds a successful operation; people do. And when a company and a community are supported by a local college and a statewide workforce partner such as NCEdge, they do more than create jobs. They create opportunity, stability and a future that can be shared. Tags: Polywood, Workforce training, NCEdge, extrusion, Manufacturing, Outdoor furniture, Person County, Piedmont Community College, plastics, advanced manufacturing Visit North Carolina · Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Page 1 of 3 V I S I T N O R T H C A R O L I N A · E C O N O M I C I M P A C T O F T R A V E L Visitor Spending by County — 2025 North Carolina — All 100 Counties $37.2B Total visitor spending 230,997 Tourism employment $1.39B State taxes generated $1.33B Local taxes generated $243.67 State/local tax savings per resident Counties ranked by spending growth, 2025 vs. 2024 (high to low). Dollar figures in $ millions, except Tax Savings per Resident (dollars per resident). * Lodging includes second-home spending. ** Transport includes ground and air travel. County Lodging* F&B Recreation Retail Transport** Total Spending Share of State (Spend) Spending Growth (2025/2024) Employment Share of State (Jobs) Personal Income State Taxes Local Taxes Tax Savings per Resident Cherokee $31.83 $36.51 $13.80 $10.03 $24.50 $116.67 0.3% 13.9% 631 0.3% $23.45 $3.61 $4.76 $276.30 Macon $97.16 $117.94 $58.68 $33.78 $78.43 $386.00 1.0% 11.1% 1,810 0.8% $96.16 $12.83 $20.67 $1,520.51 Richmond $13.77 $22.60 $10.50 $5.26 $14.03 $66.15 0.2% 9.7% 438 0.2% $17.49 $2.62 $1.86 $106.24 Chatham $19.66 $33.53 $12.97 $7.98 $19.45 $93.59 0.3% 8.9% 721 0.3% $28.70 $3.89 $3.54 $88.22 Bertie $7.34 $8.02 $3.45 $2.12 $6.53 $27.47 0.1% 8.8% 99 0.0% $4.33 $1.02 $1.08 $126.05 Johnston $70.03 $119.49 $46.03 $28.58 $73.17 $337.30 0.9% 7.2% 2,180 0.9% $89.51 $13.98 $10.65 $96.99 Caldwell $16.75 $27.21 $9.53 $6.20 $21.50 $81.20 0.2% 6.5% 489 0.2% $19.16 $3.12 $2.80 $72.26 New Hanover $311.46 $383.10 $154.08 $89.89 $267.57 $1,206.11 3.2% 5.8% 7,250 3.1% $316.97 $40.21 $45.13 $344.60 Burke $40.27 $57.10 $21.72 $12.44 $31.35 $162.88 0.4% 5.6% 970 0.4% $35.61 $6.25 $4.91 $123.82 Yancey $18.87 $23.12 $11.25 $7.20 $16.19 $76.64 0.2% 5.5% 343 0.1% $15.99 $2.45 $3.80 $333.84 Montgomery $13.10 $17.64 $8.93 $5.25 $15.14 $60.06 0.2% 5.2% 259 0.1% $11.84 $1.93 $3.77 $217.03 Jackson $115.60 $149.16 $76.59 $42.40 $103.10 $486.85 1.3% 5.1% 2,643 1.1% $130.92 $15.99 $16.46 $726.74 Hoke $3.33 $4.02 $2.28 $1.35 $4.91 $15.88 0.0% 5.0% 101 0.0% $3.87 $0.65 $0.43 $19.11 Franklin $8.20 $16.38 $6.39 $3.20 $9.93 $44.10 0.1% 4.9% 228 0.1% $10.92 $1.72 $1.22 $35.30 Moore $228.23 $269.19 $133.96 $78.29 $191.74 $901.41 2.4% 4.9% 6,528 2.8% $274.18 $34.20 $30.19 $578.68 Cleveland $38.53 $61.18 $24.83 $14.11 $39.99 $178.64 0.5% 4.6% 1,016 0.4% $43.46 $6.91 $4.36 $112.98 Ashe $32.87 $36.29 $19.95 $12.18 $27.59 $128.88 0.3% 4.0% 598 0.3% $25.47 $4.20 $5.03 $353.47 Pitt $70.63 $122.95 $41.59 $24.88 $72.43 $332.47 0.9% 3.9% 2,132 0.9% $77.68 $12.40 $10.19 $122.52 Henderson $103.69 $148.17 $64.24 $36.70 $100.54 $453.34 1.2% 3.6% 2,813 1.2% $126.69 $16.27 $18.13 $278.38 Catawba $74.96 $130.81 $49.58 $28.71 $79.35 $363.42 1.0% 3.5% 2,551 1.1% $90.77 $14.58 $12.89 $161.56 Union $45.50 $82.47 $29.71 $17.34 $52.91 $227.92 0.6% 3.3% 1,397 0.6% $51.99 $8.78 $5.77 $53.44 Caswell $2.39 $7.83 $3.30 $1.85 $5.14 $20.50 0.1% 3.3% 94 0.0% $3.66 $0.67 $0.94 $73.64 Surry $38.02 $57.35 $17.55 $13.30 $39.83 $166.05 0.4% 3.2% 936 0.4% $42.20 $6.71 $4.88 $162.38 Tyrrell $1.73 $2.23 $1.05 $0.72 $1.49 $7.22 0.0% 3.1% 30 0.0% $1.33 $0.23 $0.41 $185.04 Watauga $143.80 $160.11 $75.27 $44.64 $107.97 $531.78 1.4% 3.1% 2,984 1.3% $134.88 $17.78 $19.56 $666.65 Craven $42.44 $68.41 $27.06 $14.90 $36.17 $188.97 0.5% 3.1% 1,315 0.6% $47.93 $7.28 $5.55 $119.04 Avery $60.99 $83.37 $40.66 $22.27 $51.69 $258.97 0.7% 3.0% 1,569 0.7% $72.02 $8.64 $9.58 $1,028.12 Guilford $407.13 $550.45 $232.20 $133.03 $523.81 $1,846.62 5.0% 2.9% 12,080 5.2% $568.53 $68.00 $55.10 $220.45 Visit North Carolina · Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Page 2 of 3 County Lodging* F&B Recreation Retail Transport** Total Spending Share of State (Spend) Spending Growth (2025/2024) Employment Share of State (Jobs) Personal Income State Taxes Local Taxes Tax Savings per Resident Iredell $106.21 $140.90 $66.76 $31.99 $95.52 $441.37 1.2% 2.8% 2,564 1.1% $101.29 $16.19 $14.38 $143.39 Carteret $204.72 $237.53 $110.62 $63.75 $147.32 $763.93 2.1% 2.8% 3,921 1.7% $157.00 $23.00 $30.78 $744.30 Jones $1.46 $1.85 $0.80 $0.53 $1.75 $6.37 0.0% 2.5% 30 0.0% $1.47 $0.26 $0.21 $50.82 Wake $903.17 $1,020.60 $697.66 $602.99 $402.44 $3,626.86 9.7% 2.4% 27,470 11.9% $1,006.95 $167.88 $180.38 $276.32 Rowan $49.84 $78.56 $30.01 $17.78 $63.84 $240.03 0.6% 2.2% 1,579 0.7% $58.85 $9.37 $8.54 $115.54 Stokes $4.31 $23.64 $7.75 $5.76 $17.88 $59.35 0.2% 2.1% 303 0.1% $12.92 $2.17 $1.98 $90.70 Graham $13.99 $16.84 $6.53 $4.53 $10.58 $52.47 0.1% 1.9% 307 0.1% $11.31 $1.58 $2.57 $521.21 Wilson $32.08 $56.42 $20.01 $11.58 $38.97 $159.05 0.4% 1.9% 1,024 0.4% $36.99 $6.44 $4.33 $132.77 Stanly $10.91 $44.95 $21.35 $11.04 $29.49 $117.74 0.3% 1.6% 678 0.3% $24.70 $4.63 $3.79 $124.39 Robeson $37.34 $60.25 $21.45 $14.44 $37.01 $170.48 0.5% 1.6% 1,058 0.5% $39.36 $6.89 $5.01 $100.91 Gaston $89.62 $128.64 $47.73 $26.88 $102.35 $395.22 1.1% 1.6% 2,487 1.1% $95.79 $15.66 $9.91 $103.06 Granville $13.24 $21.31 $9.64 $4.76 $13.64 $62.59 0.2% 1.5% 333 0.1% $14.72 $2.56 $1.98 $73.78 Mecklenburg $1,535.92 $1,923.44 $872.60 $443.79 $1,691.92 $6,467.67 17.4% 1.5% 38,380 16.6% $2,193.28 $225.21 $205.17 $353.00 Pasquotank $17.94 $35.29 $11.22 $8.51 $19.65 $92.61 0.2% 1.3% 545 0.2% $20.78 $3.71 $2.81 $156.27 Brunswick $306.29 $383.71 $185.40 $113.57 $256.91 $1,245.89 3.3% 1.3% 6,035 2.6% $259.28 $37.91 $52.61 $509.37 Northampton $7.35 $8.23 $3.82 $2.52 $6.34 $28.26 0.1% 1.0% 98 0.0% $4.45 $0.80 $1.50 $140.87 Durham $242.28 $324.59 $144.78 $73.91 $384.60 $1,170.15 3.1% 0.9% 7,779 3.4% $319.31 $41.14 $41.25 $239.06 Camden $0.88 $1.35 $0.56 $0.35 $0.98 $4.12 0.0% 0.8% 25 0.0% $1.03 $0.14 $0.22 $32.83 Halifax $30.42 $45.09 $17.19 $10.74 $29.38 $132.83 0.4% 0.8% 756 0.3% $32.04 $5.54 $4.40 $215.38 McDowell $23.77 $32.32 $14.03 $8.46 $31.01 $109.60 0.3% 0.7% 648 0.3% $28.03 $3.87 $4.07 $204.72 Lincoln $22.61 $39.05 $12.54 $8.07 $23.49 $105.75 0.3% 0.7% 643 0.3% $26.33 $4.21 $3.34 $77.11 Mitchell $10.33 $14.09 $6.74 $3.69 $10.51 $45.36 0.1% 0.5% 232 0.1% $10.46 $1.42 $1.59 $206.09 Transylvania $45.59 $58.08 $26.64 $17.35 $40.35 $188.01 0.5% 0.5% 1,138 0.5% $47.52 $5.57 $7.64 $391.24 Cabarrus $167.84 $225.38 $111.66 $51.95 $125.98 $682.81 1.8% 0.5% 5,069 2.2% $186.44 $26.55 $17.94 $177.88 Pender $51.17 $63.98 $31.11 $17.68 $39.14 $203.08 0.5% 0.4% 1,051 0.5% $44.11 $6.64 $9.48 $230.46 Chowan $6.64 $10.67 $4.50 $3.07 $6.75 $31.63 0.1% 0.4% 182 0.1% $7.50 $1.16 $1.69 $207.30 Alamance $58.87 $106.26 $34.47 $23.49 $60.82 $283.91 0.8% 0.4% 1,889 0.8% $66.42 $11.44 $7.23 $99.46 Davidson $23.69 $115.94 $48.26 $27.38 $100.55 $315.83 0.8% 0.3% 1,651 0.7% $73.72 $12.30 $10.02 $123.52 Haywood $89.55 $109.54 $48.19 $30.49 $80.51 $358.29 1.0% 0.3% 2,202 1.0% $93.36 $13.09 $12.42 $396.77 Bladen $8.90 $19.89 $8.55 $4.96 $13.96 $56.27 0.2% 0.2% 269 0.1% $11.19 $2.27 $1.87 $140.79 Perquimans $4.23 $9.44 $2.77 $1.77 $3.38 $21.58 0.1% 0.2% 98 0.0% $4.20 $0.70 $1.35 $150.91 Onslow $97.57 $137.47 $51.32 $27.50 $100.87 $414.74 1.1% -0.1% 2,413 1.0% $95.31 $14.52 $14.80 $134.68 Hertford $5.98 $11.11 $4.38 $2.46 $8.34 $32.27 0.1% -0.3% 195 0.1% $7.40 $1.33 $1.08 $126.53 Gates $2.57 $2.91 $1.43 $0.89 $2.18 $9.98 0.0% -0.3% 44 0.0% $1.73 $0.42 $0.34 $76.17 Madison $18.45 $22.98 $10.53 $7.36 $20.75 $80.06 0.2% -0.3% 382 0.2% $16.40 $2.73 $2.90 $265.54 Wayne $43.31 $71.21 $26.16 $15.88 $50.01 $206.57 0.6% -0.4% 1,251 0.5% $46.92 $8.68 $5.15 $115.61 Hyde $16.90 $19.48 $8.01 $5.40 $11.36 $61.15 0.2% -0.4% 378 0.2% $12.71 $1.93 $2.50 $967.71 Visit North Carolina · Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Page 3 of 3 County Lodging* F&B Recreation Retail Transport** Total Spending Share of State (Spend) Spending Growth (2025/2024) Employment Share of State (Jobs) Personal Income State Taxes Local Taxes Tax Savings per Resident Warren $18.91 $22.68 $11.22 $6.19 $16.68 $75.69 0.2% -0.4% 249 0.1% $12.40 $2.04 $3.71 $304.78 Orange $64.61 $100.57 $40.91 $20.36 $52.11 $278.58 0.7% -0.5% 1,999 0.9% $76.04 $10.55 $8.64 $124.25 Dare $556.12 $647.25 $295.82 $184.37 $404.00 $2,087.56 5.6% -0.6% 12,073 5.2% $465.63 $68.11 $79.26 $3,808.98 Greene $2.28 $3.99 $1.59 $0.97 $2.28 $11.11 0.0% -0.7% 67 0.0% $2.61 $0.44 $0.44 $42.91 Currituck $273.23 $120.49 $61.22 $37.15 $85.53 $577.62 1.6% -0.7% 2,435 1.1% $99.45 $15.85 $22.49 $1,163.76 Forsyth $208.51 $345.57 $132.85 $79.50 $316.42 $1,082.86 2.9% -0.8% 6,524 2.8% $264.82 $43.98 $29.73 $183.67 Clay $7.38 $9.80 $4.03 $2.83 $7.03 $31.08 0.1% -0.8% 129 0.1% $6.27 $0.91 $1.99 $233.72 Edgecombe $5.33 $25.11 $10.52 $6.01 $24.52 $71.49 0.2% -1.1% 347 0.2% $11.99 $2.55 $1.77 $89.01 Davie $9.25 $15.63 $6.22 $3.53 $13.12 $47.75 0.1% -1.4% 335 0.1% $12.79 $1.83 $1.29 $68.69 Harnett $21.29 $45.55 $19.27 $9.71 $31.22 $127.04 0.3% -1.5% 799 0.3% $28.33 $4.92 $3.55 $57.90 Swain $82.14 $100.78 $46.63 $31.18 $75.92 $336.65 0.9% -1.5% 1,958 0.8% $91.35 $13.24 $8.92 $1,622.51 Pamlico $7.44 $12.58 $6.58 $2.89 $7.44 $36.93 0.1% -1.5% 193 0.1% $6.66 $1.09 $2.24 $252.23 Person $11.63 $19.63 $6.75 $4.60 $14.08 $56.69 0.2% -1.6% 314 0.1% $11.99 $2.22 $1.64 $97.52 Polk $12.41 $16.62 $8.07 $5.38 $13.28 $55.76 0.1% -1.7% 288 0.1% $9.97 $1.70 $2.27 $200.02 Nash $71.94 $113.58 $44.85 $26.02 $78.29 $334.69 0.9% -1.8% 2,518 1.1% $91.18 $12.87 $10.98 $235.43 Wilkes $28.46 $36.98 $14.34 $9.32 $25.66 $114.75 0.3% -1.8% 672 0.3% $26.77 $4.37 $3.53 $120.63 Yadkin $11.23 $17.33 $7.11 $4.68 $12.20 $52.55 0.1% -2.0% 375 0.2% $14.76 $2.06 $1.55 $95.18 Lee $21.28 $42.87 $15.35 $9.16 $23.59 $112.24 0.3% -2.1% 734 0.3% $29.23 $4.58 $3.14 $111.34 Buncombe $755.68 $712.01 $320.64 $487.54 $314.29 $2,590.15 7.0% -2.1% 17,211 7.5% $582.03 $113.19 $102.23 $764.50 Cumberland $128.47 $241.41 $84.42 $53.47 $174.84 $682.60 1.8% -2.2% 4,786 2.1% $176.59 $26.50 $19.97 $136.39 Vance $14.89 $23.93 $8.80 $5.88 $15.49 $68.99 0.2% -2.2% 427 0.2% $15.05 $2.72 $2.28 $120.25 Randolph $42.78 $68.75 $24.52 $16.60 $42.53 $195.19 0.5% -2.3% 1,167 0.5% $45.21 $8.48 $5.10 $92.16 Lenoir $22.47 $39.97 $15.57 $8.47 $24.94 $111.42 0.3% -2.4% 719 0.3% $27.15 $4.43 $3.02 $136.57 Duplin $6.87 $14.99 $4.55 $3.01 $14.27 $43.69 0.1% -2.4% 269 0.1% $10.41 $1.80 $1.64 $69.09 Beaufort $33.73 $50.37 $21.39 $11.50 $31.30 $148.29 0.4% -2.4% 760 0.3% $31.47 $5.50 $6.46 $269.63 Rockingham $17.87 $33.28 $11.96 $6.61 $21.31 $91.02 0.2% -2.5% 692 0.3% $24.37 $3.69 $3.07 $72.59 Columbus $11.16 $22.85 $7.61 $5.31 $13.84 $60.78 0.2% -2.8% 379 0.2% $13.74 $2.55 $2.10 $93.29 Anson $2.26 $9.59 $3.19 $1.78 $7.33 $24.15 0.1% -3.2% 175 0.1% $3.37 $1.00 $0.57 $71.85 Alleghany $11.35 $16.71 $7.69 $4.31 $10.34 $50.40 0.1% -3.8% 277 0.1% $11.31 $1.62 $2.25 $336.97 Scotland $10.39 $18.29 $7.15 $4.43 $13.95 $54.21 0.1% -4.4% 375 0.2% $12.85 $2.03 $1.33 $103.13 Sampson $13.29 $23.08 $8.74 $5.10 $15.18 $65.39 0.2% -4.5% 344 0.1% $14.66 $2.66 $2.29 $82.16 Washington $4.06 $5.54 $2.24 $1.42 $4.14 $17.39 0.0% -5.0% 83 0.0% $3.39 $0.65 $0.70 $129.28 Martin $7.30 $11.23 $4.05 $2.42 $7.34 $32.34 0.1% -6.1% 266 0.1% $8.94 $1.29 $1.11 $54.27 Alexander $4.96 $11.23 $4.00 $2.79 $7.56 $30.54 0.1% -7.5% 191 0.1% $7.05 $1.22 $1.16 $66.05 Rutherford $60.85 $83.32 $30.77 $22.43 $58.50 $255.87 0.7% -8.2% 1,559 0.7% $61.39 $10.33 $8.97 $296.37 State $8,926.07 $11,503.16 $5,224.90 $3,492.81 $8,077.48 $37,224.42 100% 1.3% 230,997 100% $9,848.17 $1,389.84 $1,332.30 $243.67 Source: Tourism Economics, 2026. Visit North Carolina · Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Page 1 of 3 V I S I T N O R T H C A R O L I N A · E C O N O M I C I M P A C T O F T R A V E L Visitor Spending by County — 2025 North Carolina — All 100 Counties $37.2B Total visitor spending 230,997 Tourism employment $1.39B State taxes generated $1.33B Local taxes generated $243.67 State/local tax savings per resident Counties ranked by total visitor spending, 2025 (high to low). Dollar figures in $ millions, except Tax Savings per Resident (dollars per resident). * Lodging includes second-home spending. ** Transport includes ground and air travel. County Lodging* F&B Recreation Retail Transport** Total Spending Share of State (Spend) Spending Growth (2025/2024) Employment Share of State (Jobs) Personal Income State Taxes Local Taxes Tax Savings per Resident Mecklenburg $1,535.92 $1,923.44 $872.60 $443.79 $1,691.92 $6,467.67 17.4% 1.5% 38,380 16.6% $2,193.28 $225.21 $205.17 $353.00 Wake $903.17 $1,020.60 $697.66 $602.99 $402.44 $3,626.86 9.7% 2.4% 27,470 11.9% $1,006.95 $167.88 $180.38 $276.32 Buncombe $755.68 $712.01 $320.64 $487.54 $314.29 $2,590.15 7.0% -2.1% 17,211 7.5% $582.03 $113.19 $102.23 $764.50 Dare $556.12 $647.25 $295.82 $184.37 $404.00 $2,087.56 5.6% -0.6% 12,073 5.2% $465.63 $68.11 $79.26 $3,808.98 Guilford $407.13 $550.45 $232.20 $133.03 $523.81 $1,846.62 5.0% 2.9% 12,080 5.2% $568.53 $68.00 $55.10 $220.45 Brunswick $306.29 $383.71 $185.40 $113.57 $256.91 $1,245.89 3.3% 1.3% 6,035 2.6% $259.28 $37.91 $52.61 $509.37 New Hanover $311.46 $383.10 $154.08 $89.89 $267.57 $1,206.11 3.2% 5.8% 7,250 3.1% $316.97 $40.21 $45.13 $344.60 Durham $242.28 $324.59 $144.78 $73.91 $384.60 $1,170.15 3.1% 0.9% 7,779 3.4% $319.31 $41.14 $41.25 $239.06 Forsyth $208.51 $345.57 $132.85 $79.50 $316.42 $1,082.86 2.9% -0.8% 6,524 2.8% $264.82 $43.98 $29.73 $183.67 Moore $228.23 $269.19 $133.96 $78.29 $191.74 $901.41 2.4% 4.9% 6,528 2.8% $274.18 $34.20 $30.19 $578.68 Carteret $204.72 $237.53 $110.62 $63.75 $147.32 $763.93 2.1% 2.8% 3,921 1.7% $157.00 $23.00 $30.78 $744.30 Cabarrus $167.84 $225.38 $111.66 $51.95 $125.98 $682.81 1.8% 0.5% 5,069 2.2% $186.44 $26.55 $17.94 $177.88 Cumberland $128.47 $241.41 $84.42 $53.47 $174.84 $682.60 1.8% -2.2% 4,786 2.1% $176.59 $26.50 $19.97 $136.39 Currituck $273.23 $120.49 $61.22 $37.15 $85.53 $577.62 1.6% -0.7% 2,435 1.1% $99.45 $15.85 $22.49 $1,163.76 Watauga $143.80 $160.11 $75.27 $44.64 $107.97 $531.78 1.4% 3.1% 2,984 1.3% $134.88 $17.78 $19.56 $666.65 Jackson $115.60 $149.16 $76.59 $42.40 $103.10 $486.85 1.3% 5.1% 2,643 1.1% $130.92 $15.99 $16.46 $726.74 Henderson $103.69 $148.17 $64.24 $36.70 $100.54 $453.34 1.2% 3.6% 2,813 1.2% $126.69 $16.27 $18.13 $278.38 Iredell $106.21 $140.90 $66.76 $31.99 $95.52 $441.37 1.2% 2.8% 2,564 1.1% $101.29 $16.19 $14.38 $143.39 Onslow $97.57 $137.47 $51.32 $27.50 $100.87 $414.74 1.1% -0.1% 2,413 1.0% $95.31 $14.52 $14.80 $134.68 Gaston $89.62 $128.64 $47.73 $26.88 $102.35 $395.22 1.1% 1.6% 2,487 1.1% $95.79 $15.66 $9.91 $103.06 Macon $97.16 $117.94 $58.68 $33.78 $78.43 $386.00 1.0% 11.1% 1,810 0.8% $96.16 $12.83 $20.67 $1,520.51 Catawba $74.96 $130.81 $49.58 $28.71 $79.35 $363.42 1.0% 3.5% 2,551 1.1% $90.77 $14.58 $12.89 $161.56 Haywood $89.55 $109.54 $48.19 $30.49 $80.51 $358.29 1.0% 0.3% 2,202 1.0% $93.36 $13.09 $12.42 $396.77 Johnston $70.03 $119.49 $46.03 $28.58 $73.17 $337.30 0.9% 7.2% 2,180 0.9% $89.51 $13.98 $10.65 $96.99 Swain $82.14 $100.78 $46.63 $31.18 $75.92 $336.65 0.9% -1.5% 1,958 0.8% $91.35 $13.24 $8.92 $1,622.51 Nash $71.94 $113.58 $44.85 $26.02 $78.29 $334.69 0.9% -1.8% 2,518 1.1% $91.18 $12.87 $10.98 $235.43 Pitt $70.63 $122.95 $41.59 $24.88 $72.43 $332.47 0.9% 3.9% 2,132 0.9% $77.68 $12.40 $10.19 $122.52 Davidson $23.69 $115.94 $48.26 $27.38 $100.55 $315.83 0.8% 0.3% 1,651 0.7% $73.72 $12.30 $10.02 $123.52 Visit North Carolina · Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Page 2 of 3 County Lodging* F&B Recreation Retail Transport** Total Spending Share of State (Spend) Spending Growth (2025/2024) Employment Share of State (Jobs) Personal Income State Taxes Local Taxes Tax Savings per Resident Alamance $58.87 $106.26 $34.47 $23.49 $60.82 $283.91 0.8% 0.4% 1,889 0.8% $66.42 $11.44 $7.23 $99.46 Orange $64.61 $100.57 $40.91 $20.36 $52.11 $278.58 0.7% -0.5% 1,999 0.9% $76.04 $10.55 $8.64 $124.25 Avery $60.99 $83.37 $40.66 $22.27 $51.69 $258.97 0.7% 3.0% 1,569 0.7% $72.02 $8.64 $9.58 $1,028.12 Rutherford $60.85 $83.32 $30.77 $22.43 $58.50 $255.87 0.7% -8.2% 1,559 0.7% $61.39 $10.33 $8.97 $296.37 Rowan $49.84 $78.56 $30.01 $17.78 $63.84 $240.03 0.6% 2.2% 1,579 0.7% $58.85 $9.37 $8.54 $115.54 Union $45.50 $82.47 $29.71 $17.34 $52.91 $227.92 0.6% 3.3% 1,397 0.6% $51.99 $8.78 $5.77 $53.44 Wayne $43.31 $71.21 $26.16 $15.88 $50.01 $206.57 0.6% -0.4% 1,251 0.5% $46.92 $8.68 $5.15 $115.61 Pender $51.17 $63.98 $31.11 $17.68 $39.14 $203.08 0.5% 0.4% 1,051 0.5% $44.11 $6.64 $9.48 $230.46 Randolph $42.78 $68.75 $24.52 $16.60 $42.53 $195.19 0.5% -2.3% 1,167 0.5% $45.21 $8.48 $5.10 $92.16 Craven $42.44 $68.41 $27.06 $14.90 $36.17 $188.97 0.5% 3.1% 1,315 0.6% $47.93 $7.28 $5.55 $119.04 Transylvania $45.59 $58.08 $26.64 $17.35 $40.35 $188.01 0.5% 0.5% 1,138 0.5% $47.52 $5.57 $7.64 $391.24 Cleveland $38.53 $61.18 $24.83 $14.11 $39.99 $178.64 0.5% 4.6% 1,016 0.4% $43.46 $6.91 $4.36 $112.98 Robeson $37.34 $60.25 $21.45 $14.44 $37.01 $170.48 0.5% 1.6% 1,058 0.5% $39.36 $6.89 $5.01 $100.91 Surry $38.02 $57.35 $17.55 $13.30 $39.83 $166.05 0.4% 3.2% 936 0.4% $42.20 $6.71 $4.88 $162.38 Burke $40.27 $57.10 $21.72 $12.44 $31.35 $162.88 0.4% 5.6% 970 0.4% $35.61 $6.25 $4.91 $123.82 Wilson $32.08 $56.42 $20.01 $11.58 $38.97 $159.05 0.4% 1.9% 1,024 0.4% $36.99 $6.44 $4.33 $132.77 Beaufort $33.73 $50.37 $21.39 $11.50 $31.30 $148.29 0.4% -2.4% 760 0.3% $31.47 $5.50 $6.46 $269.63 Halifax $30.42 $45.09 $17.19 $10.74 $29.38 $132.83 0.4% 0.8% 756 0.3% $32.04 $5.54 $4.40 $215.38 Ashe $32.87 $36.29 $19.95 $12.18 $27.59 $128.88 0.3% 4.0% 598 0.3% $25.47 $4.20 $5.03 $353.47 Harnett $21.29 $45.55 $19.27 $9.71 $31.22 $127.04 0.3% -1.5% 799 0.3% $28.33 $4.92 $3.55 $57.90 Stanly $10.91 $44.95 $21.35 $11.04 $29.49 $117.74 0.3% 1.6% 678 0.3% $24.70 $4.63 $3.79 $124.39 Cherokee $31.83 $36.51 $13.80 $10.03 $24.50 $116.67 0.3% 13.9% 631 0.3% $23.45 $3.61 $4.76 $276.30 Wilkes $28.46 $36.98 $14.34 $9.32 $25.66 $114.75 0.3% -1.8% 672 0.3% $26.77 $4.37 $3.53 $120.63 Lee $21.28 $42.87 $15.35 $9.16 $23.59 $112.24 0.3% -2.1% 734 0.3% $29.23 $4.58 $3.14 $111.34 Lenoir $22.47 $39.97 $15.57 $8.47 $24.94 $111.42 0.3% -2.4% 719 0.3% $27.15 $4.43 $3.02 $136.57 McDowell $23.77 $32.32 $14.03 $8.46 $31.01 $109.60 0.3% 0.7% 648 0.3% $28.03 $3.87 $4.07 $204.72 Lincoln $22.61 $39.05 $12.54 $8.07 $23.49 $105.75 0.3% 0.7% 643 0.3% $26.33 $4.21 $3.34 $77.11 Chatham $19.66 $33.53 $12.97 $7.98 $19.45 $93.59 0.3% 8.9% 721 0.3% $28.70 $3.89 $3.54 $88.22 Pasquotank $17.94 $35.29 $11.22 $8.51 $19.65 $92.61 0.2% 1.3% 545 0.2% $20.78 $3.71 $2.81 $156.27 Rockingham $17.87 $33.28 $11.96 $6.61 $21.31 $91.02 0.2% -2.5% 692 0.3% $24.37 $3.69 $3.07 $72.59 Caldwell $16.75 $27.21 $9.53 $6.20 $21.50 $81.20 0.2% 6.5% 489 0.2% $19.16 $3.12 $2.80 $72.26 Madison $18.45 $22.98 $10.53 $7.36 $20.75 $80.06 0.2% -0.3% 382 0.2% $16.40 $2.73 $2.90 $265.54 Yancey $18.87 $23.12 $11.25 $7.20 $16.19 $76.64 0.2% 5.5% 343 0.1% $15.99 $2.45 $3.80 $333.84 Warren $18.91 $22.68 $11.22 $6.19 $16.68 $75.69 0.2% -0.4% 249 0.1% $12.40 $2.04 $3.71 $304.78 Edgecombe $5.33 $25.11 $10.52 $6.01 $24.52 $71.49 0.2% -1.1% 347 0.2% $11.99 $2.55 $1.77 $89.01 Vance $14.89 $23.93 $8.80 $5.88 $15.49 $68.99 0.2% -2.2% 427 0.2% $15.05 $2.72 $2.28 $120.25 Richmond $13.77 $22.60 $10.50 $5.26 $14.03 $66.15 0.2% 9.7% 438 0.2% $17.49 $2.62 $1.86 $106.24 Visit North Carolina · Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Page 3 of 3 County Lodging* F&B Recreation Retail Transport** Total Spending Share of State (Spend) Spending Growth (2025/2024) Employment Share of State (Jobs) Personal Income State Taxes Local Taxes Tax Savings per Resident Sampson $13.29 $23.08 $8.74 $5.10 $15.18 $65.39 0.2% -4.5% 344 0.1% $14.66 $2.66 $2.29 $82.16 Granville $13.24 $21.31 $9.64 $4.76 $13.64 $62.59 0.2% 1.5% 333 0.1% $14.72 $2.56 $1.98 $73.78 Hyde $16.90 $19.48 $8.01 $5.40 $11.36 $61.15 0.2% -0.4% 378 0.2% $12.71 $1.93 $2.50 $967.71 Columbus $11.16 $22.85 $7.61 $5.31 $13.84 $60.78 0.2% -2.8% 379 0.2% $13.74 $2.55 $2.10 $93.29 Montgomery $13.10 $17.64 $8.93 $5.25 $15.14 $60.06 0.2% 5.2% 259 0.1% $11.84 $1.93 $3.77 $217.03 Stokes $4.31 $23.64 $7.75 $5.76 $17.88 $59.35 0.2% 2.1% 303 0.1% $12.92 $2.17 $1.98 $90.70 Person $11.63 $19.63 $6.75 $4.60 $14.08 $56.69 0.2% -1.6% 314 0.1% $11.99 $2.22 $1.64 $97.52 Bladen $8.90 $19.89 $8.55 $4.96 $13.96 $56.27 0.2% 0.2% 269 0.1% $11.19 $2.27 $1.87 $140.79 Polk $12.41 $16.62 $8.07 $5.38 $13.28 $55.76 0.1% -1.7% 288 0.1% $9.97 $1.70 $2.27 $200.02 Scotland $10.39 $18.29 $7.15 $4.43 $13.95 $54.21 0.1% -4.4% 375 0.2% $12.85 $2.03 $1.33 $103.13 Yadkin $11.23 $17.33 $7.11 $4.68 $12.20 $52.55 0.1% -2.0% 375 0.2% $14.76 $2.06 $1.55 $95.18 Graham $13.99 $16.84 $6.53 $4.53 $10.58 $52.47 0.1% 1.9% 307 0.1% $11.31 $1.58 $2.57 $521.21 Alleghany $11.35 $16.71 $7.69 $4.31 $10.34 $50.40 0.1% -3.8% 277 0.1% $11.31 $1.62 $2.25 $336.97 Davie $9.25 $15.63 $6.22 $3.53 $13.12 $47.75 0.1% -1.4% 335 0.1% $12.79 $1.83 $1.29 $68.69 Mitchell $10.33 $14.09 $6.74 $3.69 $10.51 $45.36 0.1% 0.5% 232 0.1% $10.46 $1.42 $1.59 $206.09 Franklin $8.20 $16.38 $6.39 $3.20 $9.93 $44.10 0.1% 4.9% 228 0.1% $10.92 $1.72 $1.22 $35.30 Duplin $6.87 $14.99 $4.55 $3.01 $14.27 $43.69 0.1% -2.4% 269 0.1% $10.41 $1.80 $1.64 $69.09 Pamlico $7.44 $12.58 $6.58 $2.89 $7.44 $36.93 0.1% -1.5% 193 0.1% $6.66 $1.09 $2.24 $252.23 Martin $7.30 $11.23 $4.05 $2.42 $7.34 $32.34 0.1% -6.1% 266 0.1% $8.94 $1.29 $1.11 $54.27 Hertford $5.98 $11.11 $4.38 $2.46 $8.34 $32.27 0.1% -0.3% 195 0.1% $7.40 $1.33 $1.08 $126.53 Chowan $6.64 $10.67 $4.50 $3.07 $6.75 $31.63 0.1% 0.4% 182 0.1% $7.50 $1.16 $1.69 $207.30 Clay $7.38 $9.80 $4.03 $2.83 $7.03 $31.08 0.1% -0.8% 129 0.1% $6.27 $0.91 $1.99 $233.72 Alexander $4.96 $11.23 $4.00 $2.79 $7.56 $30.54 0.1% -7.5% 191 0.1% $7.05 $1.22 $1.16 $66.05 Northampton $7.35 $8.23 $3.82 $2.52 $6.34 $28.26 0.1% 1.0% 98 0.0% $4.45 $0.80 $1.50 $140.87 Bertie $7.34 $8.02 $3.45 $2.12 $6.53 $27.47 0.1% 8.8% 99 0.0% $4.33 $1.02 $1.08 $126.05 Anson $2.26 $9.59 $3.19 $1.78 $7.33 $24.15 0.1% -3.2% 175 0.1% $3.37 $1.00 $0.57 $71.85 Perquimans $4.23 $9.44 $2.77 $1.77 $3.38 $21.58 0.1% 0.2% 98 0.0% $4.20 $0.70 $1.35 $150.91 Caswell $2.39 $7.83 $3.30 $1.85 $5.14 $20.50 0.1% 3.3% 94 0.0% $3.66 $0.67 $0.94 $73.64 Washington $4.06 $5.54 $2.24 $1.42 $4.14 $17.39 0.0% -5.0% 83 0.0% $3.39 $0.65 $0.70 $129.28 Hoke $3.33 $4.02 $2.28 $1.35 $4.91 $15.88 0.0% 5.0% 101 0.0% $3.87 $0.65 $0.43 $19.11 Greene $2.28 $3.99 $1.59 $0.97 $2.28 $11.11 0.0% -0.7% 67 0.0% $2.61 $0.44 $0.44 $42.91 Gates $2.57 $2.91 $1.43 $0.89 $2.18 $9.98 0.0% -0.3% 44 0.0% $1.73 $0.42 $0.34 $76.17 Tyrrell $1.73 $2.23 $1.05 $0.72 $1.49 $7.22 0.0% 3.1% 30 0.0% $1.33 $0.23 $0.41 $185.04 Jones $1.46 $1.85 $0.80 $0.53 $1.75 $6.37 0.0% 2.5% 30 0.0% $1.47 $0.26 $0.21 $50.82 Camden $0.88 $1.35 $0.56 $0.35 $0.98 $4.12 0.0% 0.8% 25 0.0% $1.03 $0.14 $0.22 $32.83 State $8,926.07 $11,503.16 $5,224.90 $3,492.81 $8,077.48 $37,224.42 100% 1.3% 230,997 100% $9,848.17 $1,389.84 $1,332.30 $243.67 Source: Tourism Economics, 2026. Departmental Report July 2026 – August 2026 • Kerr-Tar Summit Planning is progressing • Planning for Manufacturing Day with PCS CTE is progressing • Site identification with Duke Energy is progressing o An update from Duke Energy regarding timeline has been requested • Attend Jingle in July & Touch a Truck with Uptown Roxboro Group on July 31st • Continuing to meet with real estate brokers and developers • Microsoft Update o The Person County Data Center development is projected to be constructed in three phases over a six-year period, beginning in 2028 o Phase 1: Grading, substation construction, and early site preparation o Phase 2: Vertical construction o Phase 3: Transition to full operations • Existing industries update o Open Book Extracts conducted a RIF on July 22nd impacting 20 employees o Voltage, CertainTeed, P&A, Louisiana-Pacific, North American Aerodynamics, Zachry, Eaton are all hiring o CertainTeed is adding a 3rd shift o Southern States is closing their Roxboro location  Consolidating operations to Creedmoor Upcoming Events of Interest • Arts, Eats, and Beats in Uptown Roxboro on September 4th • Person County Job Fair & Resource Expo on September 10th from 10:00am – 2:00pm at Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex • Good Morning Coffee Hour with Person County EMS on August 26th and Good Morning Coffee Hour with Person County Veterans Council on September 9th at 8:00am • Manufacturing Day on October 2nd o Person County CTE will be conducting site visits to manufacturers on Oct 1st and Oct 2nd • Manufacturing Week is October 2-9, 2026 • Personality Festival on October 3rd in Uptown Roxboro • Save the Date: Person Family Medical Center – The 50 Shades of Cancer on October 23rd • Kerr-Tar Summit on October 8th from 10:00am – 3:30pm in Henderson, NC • Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 18-24, 2027 • Small Business Week is May 2-8, 2027 • Economic Development Week is May 3-7, 2027 • RTRP State of the Region on May 12th, 2027 Minutes of the PCEDC Regularly Scheduled Meeting Person County EDC Board Room 303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573 June 23, 2026 Voting Board Members Present: Dr. Claudia Berryhill- Secretary Mr. Kenneth Perry The Honorable Sherry Wilborn- Chair Ms. Allison Satterfield The Honorable Cynthia Petty Mr. Jay Poindexter Mr. Gordon Carver Voting Board Members Absent: Mr. Phillip Allen- Vice-Chairman Mr. Jody Blackwell 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: Mr. Bryan Eatmon, Existing Industry Specialist Mr. Bo Freeman Ms. Briana Whitt, Specialist (Minutes) Ms. Megan Pociask Ms. Grayson Brann EDC Welcome and Invocation: At 4:00 p.m., Chair Sherry Wilborn called the meeting to order. Dr. Claudia Berryhill gave the invocation. Approval of the Minutes: Chair Wilborn asked for the approval of the May 20, 2026, regularly scheduled meeting minutes. A motion was unanimously approved to approve the meeting minutes for May 20, 2026, regularly scheduled. Motion: Dr. Claudia Berryhill Second: Mr. Kenneth Perry 1 of 11 Event Calendar: The Commission discussed the development of an annual planning calendar to guide recurring EDC responsibilities and ensure proactive coordination between staff and the Board. The purpose of the calendar is to maintain momentum throughout the year, avoid missed deadlines, and ensure adequate time for items requiring budget consideration. It was noted that certain items—such as action plan review, Manufacturing Week, Economic Development Week, Small Business Week, Farm City Week, and the RTRP annual event—should be scheduled well ahead of budget deadlines. The Commission agreed that the action plan should be reviewed in November and adopted in January to align with budget entry timelines. Members also discussed the potential inclusion of sponsorship decisions, participation in community events, and membership in relevant associations. Staff will integrate reminders into agenda planning to ensure timely discussion of these recurring responsibilities. Chair Report: The Chair reported that the Economic Development Director position was posted the previous day and will remain open for three weeks. The Chair reviewed logistics for the upcoming Johnston County field visit scheduled for the following Tuesday. A quorum is expected to attend, and a meeting notice will be issued noting that members will be participating for educational purposes only and that no EDC business will be conducted. Transportation options are being evaluated, and members will meet at 8:30 AM at the EDC office before departure. Updates were provided regarding the recent Opportunity Zone application. Staff utilized mapping resources to evaluate assets and prioritize proposed zones. The application was submitted before the initial deadline and is expected to reflect positively on the County’s planning efforts. The Chair also noted that the Board of Commissioners recently reappointed three EDC members, providing continuity. Ethics training was rescheduled to July due to presenter availability and will be conducted by an attorney with economic development expertise. The Chair expressed appreciation for community programs such as the CTE Camp Fusion initiative and acknowledged its value in engaging youth with local career pathways. The Chair also announced that volunteer appreciation tokens would be distributed. Additional updates were provided on city and county budget discussions, ongoing infrastructure matters, and water management issues. The Chair also shared that the Commission’s previous site selection discussion led to an opportunity for participation in Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program. 2 of 11 The Chair concluded by congratulating the staff member who recently earned certification as a North Carolina Certified Economic Developer. Member Comments: Members provided updates from their respective organizations and areas of responsibility. Several educational representatives reported that they were completing end-of-year activities and preparing for upcoming program expansions. Updates were shared regarding new grant awards, including a significant award from the Golden LEAF Foundation that will support student programs and equipment. Additional progress was noted in CDL training capacity and instructional space improvements. Career and Technical Education staff reported strong engagement from middle and high school students participating in summer programming, including multi-week career exploration camps. Members expressed appreciation for the continued partnership between schools, businesses, and the EDC to support workforce development initiatives. City representatives reported that municipal operations were focused primarily on budget adoption and ordinance updates. They noted continued investment in the uptown district and ongoing planning for future development. The City also described recent increases in utility operating costs, influenced by rising material and energy expenses, and provided an update on water system conditions, including active pumping between lakes and infrastructure assessments. The County Manager provided an update regarding the recruitment process for the Economic Development Director position, explaining that interviews would be conducted in multiple rounds—beginning with virtual screenings and followed by in-person panel interviews. Members were invited to express interest in serving on an interview panel or submitting proposed interview questions. Agricultural representatives reported that ongoing drought conditions had significantly affected hay production and grain harvests, leading to concerns among local farmers. Planning for Farm City Week was underway, with a full week of activities anticipated. Members also noted the recent recognition of a local family receiving a state conservation award for their contributions to agriculture and community leadership. Members discussed community concerns related to regional water usage, including monitoring unauthorized water access and ensuring accurate public communication about system capacity. Staff confirmed that industry partners remain engaged with local officials and are communicating projected utility needs. Additional comments were shared regarding healthcare service transitions in the community, including changes in medical practice ownership and continued availability of local providers. 3 of 11 Observations were also made on the rapid growth of the housing market, the increase in residential sales activity, and the challenges associated with rising rental costs. Members concluded by highlighting upcoming departmental work, community events, and year-end planning efforts within their respective organizations. Departmental Report: Staff reported that the department recently hosted a workshop in partnership with the Small Business Technology Development Center focused on building and contracting. Although attendance was limited, the smaller group size allowed participating businesses to receive individualized guidance and in-depth support. Staff noted that follow-up communication has already taken place, and several businesses are now actively engaging with the SBTDC to pursue available resources. Staff also shared that they met with economic development professionals from neighboring counties to exchange best practices for Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) programs. This collaboration is expected to strengthen the department’s approach and enhance local outreach efforts. Several BRE visits were conducted during the month, including productive visits with major employers. Certain industries that had previously been reluctant to participate in workforce or community initiatives have now expressed increased interest in partnering with the EDC and local workforce agencies. Updates were provided on downtown initiatives, including the “Arts and Beats” First Friday series, which has received positive feedback from participating businesses. Staff anticipate increased turnout for the upcoming July event due to its alignment with local Independence Day activities. Staff also reported progress on Opportunity Zone outreach and ongoing communication with Microsoft regarding community engagement and project planning. In addition, staff attended multiple community-based events, including morning coffee gatherings, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and business-after-hours functions, all of which supported local networking and visibility for the department. The department is working with the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments to prepare a grant application for a regional biofuel development readiness assessment. This initiative would provide an independent rating of the region’s suitability for biofuel manufacturing and could enhance long-term recruitment opportunities at no financial cost to the County. Staff attended the NCEDA annual conference, which provided valuable information regarding emerging funding sources and methods to support site development without relying on local tax dollars. The department continues to explore these opportunities as part of its long-term strategy. 4 of 11 Finally, staff announced that the EDC was selected to participate in Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program. Work with the assigned consultant is expected to begin in July, with a quick turnaround anticipated for the initial phases of the program. Staff concluded by noting that project submissions continued throughout June and that new property owners have expressed interest in having their sites added to the EDC’s available properties inventory. Next Meeting: The next meeting is announced for Tuesday, July 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 4:55 p.m. Motion: Dr. Claudia Berryhill Second: Ms. Cynthia Petty _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Date Approved Secretary 5 of 11 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 6 of 11 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 50 Providence Rd. Roxboro, NC 27573 Type of Space: Industrial Square Footage: 260,000 sqft Ceiling Height: 15 ft Roxboro, NC 27573 Type of Space: Commercial and Industrial Roxboro, NC 27573 Type of Space: Industrial Square Footage: 138,458 sqft Ceiling Height: 18.90-28 ft 7 of 11 June 2026 Project Request for the month of June: 4 Projects Submitted for the Year 2026: 3 • As of 2025 the region's population increased by 2.9% since 2020, growing by 1,145. Population is expected to increase by 1.8% between 2025 and 2030, adding 718. • From 2020 to 2025, jobs declined by 1.0% in Person County, NC from 10,865 to 10,761. This change fell short of the national growth rate of 10.6% by 11.6%. As the number of jobs declined, the labor force participation rate increased from 61.5% to 61.5% between 2020 and 2025. • Concerning educational attainment, 13.1% of Person County, NC residents possess a Bachelor's Degree (8.7% below the national average), and 12.1% hold an Associate's Degree (3.2% above the national average). • The top three industries in 2025 are Restaurants and Other Eating Places, Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals, and Education and Hospitals (Local Government). Building/Site Size Ceiling Height Natural Gas Electric Water Reasons 72 Existing Building 237,000- 1,000,000sqft 26 490 SCFH 20- 80MW Water: 3,800GPD Sewer: 1,850 GPD DNS: Existing Building size, ceiling height, accommodating 3- 4 overhead cranes at 4 tons each 73 Existing Building 12,000- 18,000sqft 26’ Boiler System Less than TBD DNS: Existing building size, 74 Existing Building 30,000- 50,000sqft Unknown TBD TBD TBD Submitted: 1803 N. Main St 75 Existing Building 30,000- 50,000sqft 20’-30’ Heating Only 110V / 220V Water/Sewer: Domestic DNS: Ceiling Height, 2 dock doors and lease budget of $10- 8 of 11 Departmental Report May 2026 – June 2026 • Hosted Workshop on Government Contracting for small businesses with Small Business and Technology Development Center on May 21st. • Met with neighboring economic developers to discuss Business Retention and Expansion best practices • BRE visits with North American Aerodynamics, Footwear Plus, Eaton, and Polywood o Visits were in collaboration with SBTDC, NCSU IES, and NCDAC • Working with Uptown Roxboro Group to promote Arts, Eats, and Beats o First event was a success with positive feedback from Uptown businesses • Roundtable with Kerr Tar Council of Governments and the Economic Development Administration • Submitted Opportunity Zone Nominations • Continuing to work with Microsoft • Attended Good Morning Coffee Hours: NC Community Foundation (6/3), Timberlake Community Food Bank (6/10). • Attended Ribbon Cutting and Business After Hours for Tru Soul Food Kitchen (6/11) • Working with Kerr Tar Council of Governments to submit grant for The Biofuel Development Opportunity Zone Initiative • Attended “Conservation Farm Family of the Year Celebration” for the Thomas Family Farm on 6/5 • Attended “Farmer Field Day” with Plantd on 6/12 • Attended NCEDA Annual Conference from 6/17-6/19 - Bryan received his North Carolina Certified Economic Developer certification • Duke Energy has accepted Person County for their Site Selection Program Upcoming Dates of Interest • NCWorks Job Fair on June 25th at the NCWorks Career Center – Henderson, NC • Johnston County Airport Visit on June 30th • Arts, Eats, and Beats on July 3rd in Uptown Roxboro • America 250 Celebration on July 3rd in Uptown Roxboro • Independence Day Parade on July 4th in Uptown Roxboro • Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 18-24, 2027 • Small Business Week is May 2-8, 2027 • Economic Development Week is May 3-7, 2027 • Manufacturing Day on October 2nd • Personality Festival on October 3rd in Uptown Roxboro • Kerr-Tar Summit on October 8th 9 of 11 BDO Zones work. They turn biomass-rich regions into investable, low-risk destinations for private capital—over $10 billion is being raised for projects in BDO Zones today. BDO Zone projects deliver good-paying jobs. Six BDO Zone case studies (see next page) are slated to deliver over 62,000 construction jobs and 9,000 jobs annually (direct, indirect, and induced). National expansion can drive rural prosperity. Based on the current rate of plant announcements in BDO Zones, 100 BDO Zones can catalyze $42 BILLION in economic output nationwide over 10 years. BDO Zones align with federal goals. BDO Zones advance U.S. leadership in rural prosperity, innovative energy, biomanufacturing, energy independence, timber utilization, and wildfire reduction. Increase the impact of Opportunity Zone tax credits. BDO Zones in OZs will drive billions of new projects into OZs, catalyzing thousands of new manufacturing jobs in forest and farm communities in rural America. Powered by NADO. The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) supports new project development in BDO Zones across the U.S., equipping hundreds of regional and local development organizations with the tools to support biomanufacturing investment and drive rural prosperity. Support Innovation and Deliver Opportunity to Hard-Working American Communities BDO Zones are proven to mobilize billions of dollars of private investment in rural communities and advance U.S. energy and economic goals. $42 B+ BDO Zone Ratings de-risk early investment decisions and send clear, powerful signals to developers and investors that a specific region is shovel-ready for biofuel development. $423 M annual economic activity PER BDO ZONE PROJECT* 1 in 10 BDO ZONES secure a new plant announcement within 2.5 years 100 BDO ZONES identified across America can transform forestry residues and agricultural byproducts into rural prosperity Economic output potential across the U.S. over 10 years, projections supported by independent academic study* * The Economic Impact of BDO Zones, Dr. Burton English, University of Tennessee, November 2025. EMPOWER RURAL PROSPERITY ENABLE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE UNLEASH AMERICAN MARKETS BDO Zones accelerate investment in rural America’s emerging biomanufacturing economy—a cornerstone of the nation’s goals for rural prosperity, energy security, and timber utilization. 10 of 11 BDO ZONES: Driving the Rural Economic Development Engine Project Location (BDO Zone) Technology/ Feedstock CAPEX ($B) 10-Year Economic Output ($B) Employment (construction/ operations) USA BioEnergy Bon Wier, TX FT fuels Woody biomass $2.8 $6.84 14,996 2,195 Provectus Biofuels Vegreville, AB SAF Wheat straw $0.845 $3.37 5,639 1,376 Azure Sustainable Fuels SE Kansas SAF Crop residues Ag oils $0.900 $2.03 1,861 1,054 Yosemite Clean Energy Butte Co., CA Green hydrogen Woody biomass $0.250 $1.57 1,531 681 Strategic Biofuels Richland Parish, LA FT fuels + CCS Woody biomass $2.75 $6.14 21,484 2,091 Velocys Natchez, MS SAF FT Woody biomass $2.50 $5.45 17,268 1,761 Key Impacts •Unlocks billions in private capital to drive rural job creation and manufacturing growth. •Creates lasting rural wealth by anchoring industry, skilled jobs, and tax revenue that will sustain rural communities for generations. •Builds resilience for farmers and foresters by creating new, stable revenue streams from agricultural and forestry byproducts. ecostrat.com info@bdozone.org Jordan Solomon Chairman, BDO Zone Initiative jordan.solomon@ecostrat.com Each facility below will sustain hundreds to thousands of jobs during construction and operations, benefiting not only plant employees but also suppliers, service industries, and local businesses. BDO Zone Ratings provide a market signal that reduces uncertainty for private developers and financiers—and drives outcomes like the projects profiled below. By verifying feedstock availability, infrastructure readiness, and community support, ratings shorten project timelines and attract capital to rural regions that might otherwise be overlooked. BDO Zones | Case Study Snapshots 11 of 11