Aquatic and Rec Center
Hoke County opens first public facility Page 12
Town plans for building and businesses
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Aquatic and Rec Center
Hoke County opens first public facility Page 12
Town plans for building and businesses
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Hoke County is the place to be for contractors, realtors and new businesses as an approved rezoning plan has paved the way for development never before seen in the area.
Daphne Sanitz, a Veteran entrepreneur, has made quite the name for herself through her work of “preserving what most throw away” here in Fayetteville. Sanitz has developed eight properties in downtown Fayetteville including the building at 108 Person St. which now hosts the popular restaurant CIRCA 1800.
Sanitz spoke with the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal about her latest project, the Kress Lofts on Maxwell St.
Sanitz first began the steps to renovating the Kress building in 2017.
It began with the approval of a Conditional Use District for Hoke County. Intended to be a mixed- use development aimed at allowing a space for commercial, retail, medical and professional offices, the idea was pitched to area leaders in 2012. Now in 2023, the growth from that area is tangible as new construction begins in Hoke County across U.S. Highway
Hoke County is drawing in outside contractors to be part of the current surge in commercial and
Business partners Holly Bell and George Manley are the owners of Bell Manley Real Estate LLC, a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in commercial investments and leasing.
Bell shared that she transitioned into working in real estate sometime in 2008. Around that same time, Manley and his wife moved to the area from South Africa. Bell had a lot of local connections and relationships in the community but lacked experience in the industry. Manley had a lot of experience but was new to the area. They decided to partner up to combine their strengths.
Bell shared that she and Manley opened an office for another company based out of South Carolina and worked with them for six or seven years, but they eventually decided that their interests and vision were not aligned, so Bell and Manley broke off and started their own company.
Bell Manley Real Estate opened in April of 2018 with an office in Southern Pines. They now have an office in Cumberland County as well and have plans to open an office in Hoke County in the near future.
“We identified Hoke County a while ago as a potential growth area, for logical reasons. My office is based in Moore County, and so we do a lot of work in Moore County and obviously the Cumberland County area is already a well-established, big commercial area, and we had to travel all the time, going back and forth, through Hoke County…so it seemed to be very logical, that Hoke County, surrounding the base as well, that that would have a potential growth,” shared Manley.
“Seeing too, world class hospitals [are] being created there. The county commissioners and their leadership and growth in developing services for the Hoke County communities such as the aquatic center that’s just gone up. I mean, that’s a world class facility and it’s awesome that that’s being provided to the citizens, expansion of sewer networks, all kind of like progrowth and pro-development, kind of leaning to benefit the citizens of Hoke County,” Manley continued. These efforts made by the county
to foster community and growth in the area are proving to be fruitful. Hoke County is attracting more residents, and with more residents come more businesses as well. Manley shared that the company began purchasing land and looking at opportunities in Hoke about three years ago.
“...in our viewpoint, the first step is that public government partnership in a way of growth and infrastructure, and then homes, and
then following that there will be the growth of commercial [buildings]. So, commercial [developments] will lag a little bit behind all of those things, but…it’s imminent because a lot of those homes are coming out of the ground now. There’s a lot of developers in Hoke County putting lots on the ground. I mean, there’s just a lot of stuff happening in that area,” remarked Manley.
Manley shared that they’ve begun
to receive calls from franchises inquiring about opening up storefronts in Hoke County. He predicts there will soon be franchises occupying various properties amongst strip centers within the county.
Bell Manley Real Estate does not handle the construction of buildings, but they offer a variety of services and seek to accommodate the needs of each individual client.
“We’ve got different developers that we work with, they might take a piece of property that they own, develop it and we’ll be the leasing brokers for it. Or it’s a piece of property and they’ll design the building but not actually build it and then we’ll sell it once we find a client that is looking to buy, so it just depends on what the client’s needs are,” shared Bell.
Providing quality service to clients is the driving force and heart behind the business.
“We strive hard to serve our clients in whatever their needs are. And we have a lot of repeat clients, and ongoing relationships with those clients,” commented Bell.
Though it is impossible to know for certain what the future holds, the continued growth and development in Hoke County encourages a positive outlook within the team.
“I would predict that we’ve got five to 10 years of growth, because you know, we’ve got the infrastructure, we’ve got the land so now it’s just a matter of servicing the residents that live around it,” concluded Manley.
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For the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of becoming familiar with the wonderful people in Hoke County and learning about their dedication to growth and expansion to make Hoke a more desirable place to live.
This is an exciting time for Hoke County residents, with the recent grand opening of the James A. Leach Aquatic & Recreation Center, the community’s first ever public pool (also covered in this issue, see page 12), the latest in achievements, I’ve also learned directly from leaders that new housing developments you’ve been seeing along highway 401 are just the tip of the iceberg. Leaders say that plans are in the works to bring a new bowling alley and high school building to the area and early talks for commercial developments including stores and restaurants are also going smoothly. We’re looking forward to covering many additional real estate and commercial development announcements in the near future.
This is the first county focused
After covering Hoke County and connecting with development leaders, we are excited to begin exploring these other areas as the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal continues to grow and expand our pool of content and networking connections. I can’t wait to see how other communities are working to move forward. We'll see who can top Hoke County who also announced a new courthouse and administration building also featured in this issue (see page 5).
We are currently accepting leads for stories which can be submitted to editor@bizfayetteville.com, or via phone at (910) 240-9697.
We look forward to expanding our coverage and shining a light on all of the counties. This is a year of good growth and we’ll be reaching out to area leaders, businesses and more very soon.
counties in our coverage area this year. The schedule is as follows:
It is a pleasure to be able to tell your stories, I look forward to connecting with your communities!
Silling Architects and Metcon Buildings and Infrastructure expect to break ground this summer on the new Hoke County courthouse, a project demonstrating what local government can accomplish when it collaborates with state legislators to meet a community need.
The new three-story building will sit on the empty lot between Edinborough Avenue and East Elwood Avenue on Main Street. The design anchors the county’s civic footprint with the surrounding jailhouse and other county administrative and judicial buildings.
The courthouse project’s current projected cost is $33.5 million, $31 million of which the state awarded through a grant last year. Hoke County Commissioner Harry Southerland said the remaining funds are in the county budget. A second project, a connecting administration building, has $8 million of county funds assigned based on current estimates. The county is keeping $5 million in reserve for contingencies.
“We want you to see where your money’s going,” Hoke County Commissioner Henry Southerland said, referencing taxpayers. “You’ll see the downtown landscape change for the future and your tax dollars at work, thanks to all the partners in this venture.”
The courthouse design features a
51,000-square-foot building with a connecting walkway to the jailhouse on the first floor. The first floor will also house the clerk of courts office, clerk’s hearing room, and a jury assembly room which will also act as a traffic court.
The second floor includes two courtrooms, the public defender’s office, and jury deliberation rooms. The third floor consists of two courtrooms, judges’ offices, and defendant holding spaces. There is also a small area for the district attorney to work onsite when needed.
The principal architect, Tom Potts of Silling, said the security of the building is its top feature, especially compared to the historic courthouse.
“It’s a more secure courthouse for the public, staff, and in-custody defendants,” Potts said. “Our culture has changed; the population is bigger. We need bigger spaces and more organized circulation.”
The building’s technological accommodations are better suited to modern litigation and evidence presentation, and the building itself is more energy sustainable. Video conferencing will be more accessible, and the end goal is for trials to be more effective, according to Potts.
The administration building, designed by Silling and constructed by MSquare Construction, will add 19,000 square feet of workspace for
the county seat. Construction on the courthouse will begin first, with the completion of both projects aimed at the summer of 2025.
The administration building will accommodate the county tax collector and assessor, human resources, finance and IT departments for the county. A new county commissioners’ boardroom is included, along with more administrative offices for future growth.
The design includes a public promenade to link the historic courthouse to the new buildings.
The current courthouse, designed by Milburn, Heister & Company, was built in 1911. The county outgrew the space years ago, and in 2019 the legal overload was made worse when Hoke
and Moore Counties were combined into one judicial district. According to Commissioner Southerland, trials that should have taken a month are backlogged by several months because of too few courtrooms.
In 2019, a Hoke County grand jury report found numerous issues, including outdated spaces and unsafe conditions. Moore and Hoke Counties Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James Webb requested a safety report from the court system’s safety and continuity of operations manager. That report recommended employees leave the building.
“The need for a new courthouse was immediate,” Webb said. “Then Covid hit.”
Webb turned the issue of building a new courthouse over to the county commission. In 2022, commissioners met with District 48 Representative Garland Pierce, who was receptive to the need for funding for a new courthouse. Further talks with State Senators Ben Clark and Danny Britt resulted in more bipartisan financial support, resulting in the 2022 grant.
Parking space is still being negotiated, with ideas to modify street parking and make alterations to the area around the courthouse. Commissioners expect to break ground and officially start construction in summer of 2023.
From BOOM, page 1
401 and beyond.
Real Estate Developer and Consultant Charles Morris has been a key player in establishing the foundation for this rapid growth, helping to get the Conditional Use District passed by Hoke County leadership, and most importantly, leading the way for a strong anchor for other businesses, residential developments and more to build around.
The FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Hoke Campus lies at the center of the development plans. After coming to the area, the campus has brought the necessary jobs, medical services, and infrastructure to make other developments possible.
“In a mixed-use conditional use district, it's kind of its own governance. It has its own rules, setbacks, vegetative spaces, and then we did a concept ‘A’ and a concept ‘B’, and this was the [Hoke FirstHealth] hospital. They took 30 acres and then we sold them an additional six out here, so they own all this now. We want them to be successful,” shared Morris.
Morris also serves as head of development facilitation for the Williams family who own what is officially known as The Williams Family Tract, 196 acres of land located along Highway 401 between Johnson Mill Road and North Parker Church Road. As the property began to be purchased for development and plans began to pour in, Morris said he has helped the developers and the Williams family facilitate plans that allow for all parties to meet their needs and wants for what they want the future to look like as they bring in more mainstream builds and businesses. Morris said that a large emphasis has been put on making sure there is a small town feel in the look and designs of commercial buildings coming to the community.
“That’s what the family wants. Because they all feel like this was something from their grandparents and their parents. And then they’re going to put their fingerprint on society. Ed Williams is really adamant that this does not look like just a traditional, slap it down development,” shared Morris.
By providing the critical infrastructure, the new district has opened the floodgates for both residential and commercial construction to begin, so much so that Cumberland based builders are setting their sights on having multiple projects in Hoke County.
Ben Stout, CEO of Fayetteville based Ben Stout Construction, which
has a number of projects in development in Hoke, said that Hoke County has made it easy to develop, with County and City officials working with builders to rezone and get the proper permits quickly and efficiently which allows for a safe investment.
“In Hoke County, I think one of the things that stands out is that you know if you’re going to spend money, you’re going to not have as many channels and hurdles to overcome to get rezoned to meet your needs. So, the money that you invest upfront, you know you'd be able to recoup because you have confidence that you're going to get the project done,” shared Stout.
Other contractors have agreed that the municipal laws in place have also made Hoke County a safe and more profitable investment.
Ralph Huff, owner of Coldwell Banker Advantage and former owner of H&H Homes, currently with Huff Family Office, has over 45 years of real estate experience in Fayetteville and the surrounding areas. Huff shared that material and construction requirements in the Hoke area’s Unified Development Ordinances are more cost effective and achievable. This can make or break a construction company’s plans, with builders seeing an increase in prices on everything from construction materials to labor costs.
“Most all municipalities have a Unified Development Ordinance and when they do, it normally sets back the ability to develop for a decade. But what we did in Hoke County is, once they adapted it and we saw the impact of it, we met with Hoke County, and they changed five or six things in there that made the cost of developing the lots untenable. They worked with the builders and developers to help modify the UDO which was over the top,” shared Huff. “Hoke County has always been relatively easy to deal with because I'm from Hoke County and I know all the pieces of the puzzles over there. I have done so much work over there that when I speak, they understand that I’m not trying to pull something over on them.”
Co-Owner of A&G Residential Wells Alderman currently has projects in four neighborhoods under development in Hoke County, with more projects already being planned for the future.
“Hoke County has always been on our radar. Like any county or any project, some opportunities are better than others. Since we've started in 2019, one of the first houses we built was in Hoke County, and Hoke County has always been a part of our business model,” shared Alderman. “When you drive down [Highway] 401 and you see that new
aquatic center that just opened, and you see the amount of money that they put into that. That to me shows the growth that the county is doing, you see all these different projects that are going up.”
Hoke County leaders say they are all on one page in regard to getting projects to come and be completed in their area, with multiple community developments moving through the proper channels, and using both local and out of county contractors to find the best way to get the job done and benefit everyone.
“If we say we want to build a courthouse, the goal is to build a courthouse. Okay, we look at ‘how can we do it economically?’ And then while we’re doing that, we want to put our business community first. When we do that, we get to hire locally, so we get to hire some local painters, some contract workers, the money stays in our community,” shared Hoke County Commissioner Harry Southerland. “It’s going to our schools, helping out the school system, it’s going into our grocery stores and going to convenience stores buying gas, so we keep the money, not all of it, but most of it locally. And when you do that, those dollars keep turning in your account at least seven times. When you do that, you can expand and grow.”
Governor Roy Cooper announced on April 6 that Fayetteville City Councilwoman COURTNEY BANKS-MCLAUGHLIN will serve as a member of the Governor’s Crime Commission.
Banks-McLaughlin is the District 8 representative for the Fayetteville City Council and has held this role since being elected in 2019.
She joins the chief advisory body to the Governor and to the Secretary of Public Safety on crime and justice issues. Additionally, the GCC applies for federal criminal justice funding from the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the State and members serve three-year terms.
Other commission members include the heads of statewide criminal justice agencies, appointed state and local government officials and private citizens.
The commission meets quarterly in Raleigh. Its committees, subcommittees and other advisor groups meet more often. The three committees are Criminal Justice Improvement, Crime Victim Services and Juvenile Justice.
PATRICK MURRAY, CCIM, SIOR, of Grant-Murray Real Estate has earned the SIOR office specialty designation awarded by the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS®.
SIOR is the world’s premier commercial real estate organization for industrial and office professionals. Individuals who earn their SIOR designation adhere to the highest levels of accountability and ethical standards. Only the industry’s top professionals qualify for the SIOR designation, to which there are 3,700 members in 722 cities and 45 countries.
To achieve the SIOR designation, Murray completed at least five years of creditable experience in the highly specialized field of office real estate. He also met stringent education and ethical requirements.
What are you and your peers achieving? Have you reached a new goal? Have you acquired another business? Maybe your business has a new hire you would like to highlight.
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal wants to hear from you and your business to shine a spotlight on your accomplishments.
To nominate someone for GFBJ’s Achievers section, email editor@bizfayetteville.com with the subject line “Achiever.”
Murray has been in the industry since 2005 and has completed over $100 million in real estate transactions by representing both buyers and sellers, providing site selection/tenant representation, and leasing of office and retail properties.
Murray earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation in 2007 and is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the North Carolina and Fayetteville Realtor Association, and is part of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce. In 2021 he became president of the NC CCIM Chapter’s executive committee board of directors. He holds a real estate license in North Carolina and South Carolina.
BROCK WHITE is the new director of the Methodist University’s PGA Golf Management Program. MU’s program has had a 100 percent job-placement rate since it began in 1986 and is one of only 17 PGM programs in the entire country.
“We are thrilled to have Brock step into this leadership role at Methodist University,” said Blum Malley in a press release. “He brings the perfect combination of expertise as a PGA professional and extensive experience preparing university students for a wide range of golf management careers.”
White is a 2007 graduate of MU’s PGM program, earned his MBA from Methodist University in 2014, is a Certified PGA Professional in Golf Operations and is a Class A member of the PGA.
After serving as an assistant golf professional at Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford, and then head golf professional at King’s Grant Golf and Country Club in Fayetteville, White returned to MU in 2011
alyst, completing the Arabic Basic Course at the Defense Language Institute and Advanced Individual Training at Goodfellow Air Force Base.
Naumann’s assignments include serving as the Joint Special Operations Command J2 senior enlisted advisor, command sergeant major for the 15th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), and JSOC Intelligence Brigade.
and has served as a recruiter, internship director and interim director.
“I have a passion for golf, a passion for MU, and a passion to see our talented students grow into successful golf professionals,” White said in a press release. “This program has been remarkably successful, and I plan to not just carry on that success, but to pursue additional opportunities for us to reach new heights as our students pursue their dreams in this exciting industry as PGA members.”
Methodist University’s PGM program has prided itself on having the largest PGA staff in the country with seven PGA professionals providing students with unlimited golf instruction, a variety of teaching methodologies and real-world application.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command conducted a Change of Responsibility Ceremony on Meadows Field at USASOC Headquarters on Fort Bragg on May 1.
Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOC commanding general, officiated the ceremony by bidding farewell to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer and welcoming Command Sgt. Maj. JOANN NAUMANN as the incoming command sergeant major.
“It’s a special day for USASOC,” Braga said. “I’m honored to be part of this phenomenal opportunity to mark Mike’s achievements and dedication to our team and also privileged to welcome JoAnn and her family here today.”
Naumann previously served as the Special Operations Command-Korea’s command senior enlisted leader. She enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1996 as a voice language an-
“Thank you for the opportunity to serve the men and women of ARSOF (Army Special Operations Forces),” Naumann said. “It is my honor to be a part of this team. I’m excited to be back at Fort Bragg. […] You’ve managed to invest in people while driving the mission forward, and you’ve certainly done that during your time here at USASOC. I know well how much you invest in people because you’ve done that for me. I can’t imagine a more exciting time to be joining the USASOC team.”
JIM SIMMONS has been appointed the new Head of Membership for the Defense Alliance of North Carolina. The position will work in support of recruitment efforts to grow and expand the impact of the DANC.
Under the leadership of the Executive Director, his new position will assist with member outreach and help shape growth initiatives to include communication, guidance, lead follow up, goal setting, database updates, active participation in events, application processing, and retention.
An expert in public affairs, Jim is managing partner of The Stockdale Group, based in the Research Triangle Park, and focuses on energy, defense, manufacturing, economic development, and the nonprofit sector. His specialties include crisis management, stakeholder stewardship, and philanthropy. Jim is an award-winning writer, keynote speaker, columnist, radio talk show host, and CEO communications counselor.
He currently assists the Defense Alliance of North Carolina, the Cary and NC Chamber of Commerce, and the Town of Morrisville Environmental and Stormwater Committee.
On May 1, PWC introduced a new optional Whole Business rate that features significantly lower rates (more than 46% lower than our current Off-Peak rates) for electricity used during Super Off-Peak Hours, 9:00 PM – 5:00 AM daily, all year long. Business customers who sign up for this option pay a slightly higher basic facility charge and Peak rate, while benefiting from much lower rates during the nighttime hours.
Your business may be able to lower your electric bills with this rate plan. Some of the ways you can save money with this plan include doing things like:
• Charging fleet-managed EVs, or providing managed EV charging for multi business/residential units, during Super-Off Peak hours
• Performing power-hungry tasks or running large machinery/ non-essential equipment between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM
For more information, visit: FayPWC.com and click on the TOU Rates for Business in the business section of the website. Or call 910-483-1382 to speak with a PWC representative and learn how our new Whole Business electric rate may benefit your business
Now serving as the largest contractor firm in Hoke County, J & K General Contractors had a very different start when the company began in Moore County in 2002.
“It was a small company, we were just doing renovations, building small houses here and there, and we moved here [Hoke County] in 2008 and started doing the same thing, just working on smaller houses and renovations,” shared J & K Contractors President Jamal Shahbain. “We’ve built a few shopping centers in Moore County and started doing developments in 2016.”
Started by J & K themselves: Jamal and Khaled Shahbain, the company has since grown to have a presence in Hoke, Moore, Robeson and Cumberland Counties and in the Raleigh area working on both commercial and residential properties.
According to Shahbain, the company currently has 14 housing developments under construction throughout Hoke and is currently on track to build at least 2,000 homes in the area within the next year. With other larger contracts under their belt from the Hoke community, like the recently completed James A. Leach Aquatic & Recreation Center, it's hard to believe they ever had trouble developing in the area.
“We tried in 2008 to build a shopping center and we were denied, and then we tried again in 2014,” shared Shahbain. It was due to a change in leadership around 2014 that allowed for J & K to get projects approved for development, and the company has been working on projects across the county ever since.
Current projects in development by the company include the Brookstone Village development, expected to have 380 homes located right off U.S. highway 401. Development plans for the 33 lot Woodhaven subdivision, located at 6319 Rockfish Road, have also concluded and the company plans to break ground in the coming weeks.
J & K work closely with their primary partner Bell Manley Real Estate who are involved in all stages of a project from land acquisition through the development phase.
“If all goes according to plan, then we'll have lots to sell to other builders but also have lots that we can have J & K build houses on and then my team can come in at the back end and help sell some of those houses,” shared Bell Manley Real Estate Co-owner George Manley.
While the homes will be a nice addition to the community, commercial properties are also expected to move into the area as part of the develop-
ment plans.
“We’re doing five gas stations, and the time now we're talking about, we've proposed to bring in upscale shopping and grocery shopping. We’ve discussed Publix and Harris Teeter, so it's been proposed, we're trying to see if we can land one of those guys. And we’re also trying to do something for entertainment, arcade games, bowling alley, something like that. It’s also been proposed and we’re hoping to get an approval on that,” shared General Manager Alex Aguirre.
Company leaders confirmed that plans have been approved by the County for a new bowling alley expected to go right beside the recently completed and opened aquatic center on U.S. Highway 401. J & K will also be working on the upcoming new Hoke County Courthouse and Administration building going in downtown Raeford and a new high school building both priced at $36 million and $78 million respectively.
As these expansions continue in Hoke County, J & K are looking to expand their operations as well, start-
ing with a new headquarters.
The current J & K office is located at 1184 Fayetteville Road in Raeford and will be switched for the future new home of J & K General Contractors which is currently under construction along Highway 401.
Currently, the company employs more than 100 people but with the completion of their new building they expect to grow their operations as well as their staff.
“With that office we’re going to make an actual headquarters here for J & K and we’re looking to have about 300 employees when it's all said and done to bring more growth to the county. And we’ve been touching on how much easier it is to build here in Holk County and the growth and I just want to say we're lucky to have growth minded leadership in the town that make things possible for us and not just us, for all the builders in the county,” shared J & K Project Manager J.R. Blackwell.
The J & K team say they hope to have their new home finished by late 2023.
Along awaited addition has finally made its permanent appearance in Hoke County. The James A. Leach Aquatic & Recreation Center had its official grand opening on Monday, May 1, and the team behind it and the community of Hoke County could not be more excited.
It is a top of the line swimming and recreation center that offers facilities serving every manner of outdoor and indoor activities for all your health and fitness needs.
“This is the first public swimming place Hoke County has ever had, our citizens had to go to different counties to swim, we’ve never had a facility like this one,” said Hoke County Commissioner and the building's namesake James A. Leach. “We felt like if you live in Hoke County, go to school in Hoke County you ought to be able to stay home and have a place here where you can learn, practice, and have swimming meets.”
The James A. Leach Aquatic & Recreation Center is located on Fayetteville Road, and has been in production for a little over two years, but the need for a swimming facility has been around for a while.
“I always said from day one, since 1992, that Hoke County needed their own public swimming facility,” said Leach. The wait is over and the day is now here, and Hoke County invites everyone to participate in all that the facility has to offer. “It was a great need in our section of Hoke County, it was a need here for our citizens and we want to fulfill the need,” said Leach. “You have to come out and see it.”
The building itself is two stories tall and with 53,000 square footage of space to work with. Situated on thirty acres of land, the center uses every inch to offer more to its community. Inside the building, the main features are the NBA sized basketball court, an Olympic sized swimming pool and numerous aquatic features, including a waterpark area with a waterslide. Here, people of all ages are encouraged to take swimming lessons and play in the pools. The swimming pool was designed with the local schools’ swimming teams in mind, to offer a space for meets and tournaments and the like.
“We want every child in North Carolina, at a schooling level, to know
how to swim or have the opportunity to learn how to swim. That’s one of our long-term goals,” said Hoke County Commissioner Harry Southerland.
The facility also features weightlifting rooms, rooms for dance, martial arts, yoga, exercise and other classes, and an indoor walking trail. “I have a heart for seniors, and I want to see our seniors walking the walking trail—we have no walking trails, and our seniors love speed walking, but in the time that the weather changes, they can no longer walk,” said Southerland. “And this walking trail makes walking accessible even when the weather is bad.”
The facility also thoughtfully has an inclusive playground designed for special needs children.
“We didn’t forget about anybody in this project, we wanted a playground for our disabled kids. That one is actually going to be complete in two weeks, and it is dedicated to our
exceptional children,” said Southerland. “A lot of times communities build these playgrounds, but they only think about the people who can walk around and get to them, but our playground was specifically designed for our disabled and exceptional kids so it’s going to be handicap accessible, and wheelchair accessible. We made a specific purpose to make sure they get that.”
In addition, the facility includes a concession area and two party rooms. One party room can fit thirty-five to forty people, and the second party room can fit forty to fifty people, for all your social needs. The facility is also equipped with features for an emergency shelter in the case of natural disasters, making it an invaluable resource to Hoke County and the surrounding area.
The facility in its entirety was a $27 million endeavor, which was more than what the budget planned, but Southerland explains that comes with
the territory of serving the community.
“Initially when we took on this project, it was a $17 million project but as we developed the project, we wanted this to be a center where anyone in the community—whether you’re ten years old or eighty—could use it, with that came a cost increase,” said Southerland. “When we began to plan for those things, in addition to a regular rec center, the cost went up but it was money well spent.”
With all the well thought out details and customized features the facility offers, it was virtually designed to appeal to a broad audience.
“We want people to see what we have to offer, not just our county, but our region because we’re all the same and we need to help each other, and that’s why we made this place open to everyone,” said Southerland. “You can live in Raleigh and you can get a membership, it doesn't matter. Because we just want the place to be accessible to you to use.”
The accessibility of the James A. Leach Aquatic Center and Recreation facility coupled with the vast array of options for citizens almost sounds too good to be true. But the facility the community has been needing is just a drive away.
“You have a piece of gold right here at home.” said Leach.
Southerland offered some final words of wisdom. “Listen first, learn second, lead third. You have to have those things in that order in order to be effective. You can’t lead without knowing why you’re leading or what you’re leading for. You have to listen to the community, learn what they want and then lead.”
The Southeastern North Carolina Internet Exchange (SENCIX) is set to bring digital infrastructure innovation to Hoke County.
SENCIX is a new internet exchange center that would connect local clients with state-of-the-art data center colocation services, allowing enterprising customers to rent storage for their servers and other hardware necessary for daily operations. The service offers shared, secure spaces in cool, monitored environments ideal for servers, while ensuring bandwidth needs are met.
The center would also offer managed hosting, which allows clients to host web services on a dedicated server. SENCIX also offers Class-A office space with direct access to high-speed internet, as well as conference room availability and a high-tech classroom area to enhance educational experiences.
“This is a dream team of folks who have the engineering background, the datacenter infrastructure background, and who have the government and economic development background to make all of this possible,” said a source close to the project.
The source said the SENCIX team wanted to give back to the community in the way of high-tech innovation
and networking infrastructure that “has been left in the dust for years.”
“We are completely underserved with these types of services,” the source said. “This infrastructure is just desperately needed by the local schools, hospitals and the military. This will drastically drive down the cost of just basic residential and commercial network services. We'll be able to work with an awful lot of the carriers and network carriers who deliver those services in a region.”
Local businesses also stand to benefit from SENCIX’s services, the source said. For example, if a business’ website is hosted on one of the center’s servers, the website will not go down even if the power is down. The center can also help deliver affordable high speed internet access to local businesses.
Local schools, anywhere from the kindergarten to graduate school level, could also use the center to host hightech innovation classes or laboratory courses.
The center could also address the gaps in affordable broadband internet access in the region. A recent survey conducted by Focus Broadband noted there are about 2,900 homes in Hoke County alone without high-speed internet service.
Hoke County recently received a $4
million grant from the state’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program, in an effort to install 81 miles of fiberoptic and the necessary hardware to connect close to 2,000 homes with internet access.
“The reality is, capital is very reluctant to do seed-stage development at this level, where they have to include the telecommunication providers and the data center operators. It takes a very unique investment, skillset, desire, and a unique management skill set to get a project like this up and running,” a source close to SENCIX said. “That is why so many counties are completely underserved across the state. This lack of service was one of the major drivers in what we're doing and why we're doing it.”
The center will bring 12 full-time high paying positions to the area. Annual salary for the roles will be above the $75,000 threshold and include job duties related to high-tech facilities maintenance, security, network operations, and sales.
With no real competitors in the region, SENCIX could open next year, according to the source. The closest centers that provide similar services are in Raleigh or Charlotte, but some may not even serve the local community. The source used an example
of a data center in Kings Mountain “They're all enterprise, single-use data centers for the likes of Facebook or Apple; large and big tech companies,” the source said. That is all well and good and provides some jobs, but it's not focused on the local community. Those facilities don't allow for the type of innovation, interconnection, and community engagement with that type of infrastructure.”
The team’s unique knowledge of the region will set the center apart.
“What's going to set us apart is the team that we've assembled,” the source said. “We truly have a very unique skill set that doesn't really exist in the area.”
SENCIX’s founders all have backgrounds in commercial real estate, economic development, thermodynamics, power, energy and high tech, as well as an understanding of local, regional and state public policy.
“As the region continues to grow, the need for these types of high-tech services and applications are essential. By having a local digital hub, it helps drive down the cost of these services in the region, we promote further high-tech innovation through the surrounding education institutions and commercial businesses requiring these services to establish and grow,” the source said.
BizLeads is a collection of information gathered from greater Fayetteville courthouses, state government offices and information websites. The listings are intended to help the business community find new customers and stay on top of happenings with current customers, vendors and competitors.
New Corporations lists firms from the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal region that were recently incorporated in the State of North Carolina.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Low Key Unlimited LLC
640 dowless drive
Fayetteville
Agent: KENISHA
Lewis
Harley Made LLC
2005 Bedloe St
Fayetteville
Agent: Adam James
Harley II
MANADEEN LLC
1414 DEAL STREET
Fayetteville
Agent: ABDULMANAN ABDULMUMIN
Priority Movers and Storage LLC
6205 Pansey Ln
Stedman
Agent: Jessica
Dawn Eason
Elmore Tax Services LLC
824 Pecan Grove
Loop
Hope Mills
Agent: Nikeya
Marchay Elmore
Bracin Group LLC
4317 Ramsey St
Fayetteville
Agent: Davis W.
Puryear
No Longer Bound Entertainment LLC
314 Mayodan Dr
Apt 101
Fayetteville
Agent: Cerina E
Johnson
Sapphire Flex LLC
5111 Cypress Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Albert Phillips
The Catch Restaurant LLC
3020 N. Main Street Ste 16
Hope Mills
Agent: Heavenly Angel Rayford
Excalibur Associates Inc.
809 Nighthawk Place
Fayetteville Agent: Sean Paul Provencher
D&R Renovations LLC
5003 Westerly Drive
Fayetteville
Agent: Darius Tyrell
Gwynn
Have A Great Day Cafe LLC
3516 Heartpine Fayetteville
Agent: Jesiah A Davis
JAMB FAMILY LLC
2772 School Road
Hope Mills
Agent: Ann Darlene
Maxwell Bain
Part of Your World LLC 605 German St
Fayetteville Agent: All Accurate Accounts LLC
Premium Wellness Solution LLC
2158 Heathcote Drive
Fayetteville Agent: Joesilia
Tania Turay
Expandable Asset Resources LLC
1226 Braybrooke Place
Fayetteville Agent: Cassandra Detrice Walters
Agent: STELLA KANG
Kelsea's Kravings LLC
5609 Kirkstall Dr. Hope Mills
Agent: Matthew J Klempay
RACERO LOGISTICS
LLC
710 Cl Tart Cir Apt
800
Highest Level Delivery Service LLC
605 Larkfield ct Fayetteville Agent: Ryan High
VitalCare WorkForce LLC
100 Hay Street Ste
503
Fayetteville Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC
The Beauty in Healing Therapy and Wellness PLLC
2504 Raeford Rd Suite 205
Fayetteville
Agent: Keishona Farmer
WILL N WILLS INVESTMENTS LLC
5001 RAEFORD RD
Fayetteville
Agent: WILLIAM A GENAO LAWRENCE
YNS COURIER EXPRESS LLC
700 TOKAY DRIVE
Fayetteville
Agent: Reneatha
Joyce Battle
The AMG Group LLC
2410 Shadow Wood Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Andrian Goodum
YSS Inc
3907 Watford Way Fayetteville
Agent: Yisaida De Jesus
Salone Solutions LLC
694 Edgehill Rd.
Fayetteville
Agent: Kathy Lee Northe
868 UNIQUE LLC
4413 Battle Forest
Hope Mills
Fayetteville
Agent: Carlos Manuel Racero Pino
Mindful Motions LLC
4790 Doc Bennett Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Candice Kossick
Alejos Construction LLC
429 Person St. Suite 1-A
Fayetteville
Agent: BossLady Corporate Services LLC
E.E. Smith Alumni Sports Hall of Fame Incorporated
1036 Kingsley Road
Fayetteville
Agent: Ruby Campbell Jones
Sky Creations LLC
7514 Southgate Rd.
Fayetteville Agent: Sheryl Christian
Gunner Jackson Events LLC
3136 White Ash Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Mark Osborne
MG & Y Ground Transportation Inc
6533 Amanda circle
Fayetteville
310 Beaverlodge Ct.
Fayetteville
Agent: Apryl Rosser
Big Mack Transportation LLC
878 Santiato Drive
Fayetteville
Agent: Cassandra Ann Macklin
Agent: CURTIS RAMSEY
Unleeeshed Investments LLC
6303 worthington drive
Fayetteville Agent: Charles
Lamichael Howard
C. Faison Transport LLC
1226 Piping Plover
Fayetteville Agent: Corey L Faison
Mark Herring DMD PLLC
2408 Thorngrove
Fayetteville Agent: Mark Herring
Dynamite Dogz LLC
4585 Cumberland Road
Fayetteville Agent: Andres
Torres Ospina
WISNIEWSKI ENTERPRISE LLC
812 ENGLISH CT
Fayetteville Agent: JOHN WISNIEWSKILUNA
Owen Smoke Shop LLC
605 GERMAN ST
Fayetteville
Agent: ABDURABU
N. AL GARADI
Fayetteville Christian Church Mothers of Preschoolers Inc
Balance Care Solutions PLLC
5075 Morganton Rd Ste 10C
Fayetteville
Agent: Katasha
Jarrin
The Maxwell Mission
2627 Thorngrove Ct
Affordable Immaculate Cleaning LLC
2825 MEADOWMONT LANE
Fayetteville
Agent: JOQUIA S RODRIGUEZ
Huckleberry Commercial LLC
3920 Dickens Ave
Hope Mills
Agent: Jonathan C
Lugo
Jahzy Home Values LLC
314 Cartwright Dr
Fayetteville
Agent: Jasmine
LaShae Accoo
Cape Fear Hoggin LLC
2340 River Road
Fayetteville
Agent: Nathan Smith
Sparkle & Shine Cleaning Pros LLC
3020 John McMillan Rd
Hope Mills
Agent: Jean A Hunter
CAROLINA SNOW SHACK LLC
132 Dunn Road
Fayetteville Agent: Gerald Bagley
Seller Solace L.L.C.
1804 North St
Fayetteville
Agent: Marcella
Jeanise Sutton
2644 DANIEL BOONE LN
Hope Mills
Agent: HORACIO MARCANO
Graceful Empire llc
2224 Sir Michael Dr
Hope Mills
Fayetteville
Agent: Kerry
Garlington
Startastic Arts
LLC
4409 Clifton Dr
Hope Mills
Agent: Ataveah Simms
True Pressure Apparel LLC
100 Hay Street Ste
503
Fayetteville
Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC
J.V FLOORS LLC
932 Country Club Dr # 309
Fayetteville Agent: Eimily
Lilybeth Jimenez
Reyna
BlessedStudio LLC
6120 Sabine dr
Fayetteville
Agent: Jaquan
Everett
COLLINS BUILDING & REFURNISHING LLC
929 bucknell road
Fayetteville Agent: Kurth Al Collins
Authentic Auto Detailing LLC
316 Palomar Street
Fayetteville
Agent: Cory James
Gavillan
MARCANO1008 TRANSPORT LLC
Agent: Corey Lance Mitchell
SETH HART LLC
234 Hugh Shelton Loop
Fayetteville
Agent: Seth Hartman
Beddard Ranch Homeowners Association Inc.
639 Executive Place Suite 400
Fayetteville
Agent: James Patrick Raynor
L.Stylezlit LLC
4714 bent pine drive
Fayetteville
Agent: Laterica S Forte
S1Y LLC
602 N Bragg Blvd Spring Lake
Agent: Son Young
SkinBySunshine LLC
1122 Curry Ford Drive
Fayetteville Agent: Sylvia Morgan Hodges
Say Hallelujah LLC
100 Hay Street Ste 503
Fayetteville Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC
Never Quit Enterprises LLC
6085 Raeford Rd Ste 110 Fayetteville
Agent: Prolific Tax And Multi Service
LLC
The 10Dresses Project Inc.
3716 SUNCHASE
DR
Fayetteville
Agent: Rebecca Russell
Next Level Advancement Inc
5075 Morganton Rd STE 10c
Fayetteville
Agent: Earnestine McMichael
GP Tech L.L.C.
439 Westwood Shopping Ctr PMB
162
Fayetteville
Agent: Mark Anthony Watkins
Zo Cosmetics LLC
917 Anthem Ln Unit 3204
Fayetteville
Agent: Kesa Stewart
Cona Cove LLC
7019 Summerlin
Dr
Fayetteville
Agent: Marie Regina Burns
Madden Empire Transport LLC
7110 Woodmark Dr
Fayetteville
Agent: Anthony
Madden
Segura Construction & Repairs LLC
747 Barium Springs Dr
Hope Mills
Agent: Leonardo C
Segura Campos
Styles Fashion LLC
213 Tallstone Dr
Fayetteville
Agent: Candice Johnson
Elova Property Management LLC
6831 Winchester St
Fayetteville
Agent: Eloi Delva
Gentle Touch Transportation LLC
6310 Chartley Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Jarvis J Williams Jr
DDPs Eatery LLC
3720 Queen Anne Loop apt 105
Fayetteville
Agent: Tyonia Thompson
HomeLight Inspections LLC
414 Foxwood Dr. Hope Mills
Agent: Martin Lynn
Newberry
King and Queen Concessions inc
4089 nashville rd
Fayetteville Agent: Cassy
Cictoria Willard
TOP CHOICE REALTY BY EVIE PACHECO LLC
5310 YADKIN ROAD 2B
Fayetteville Agent: ELITE ACCOUNTING CORPORATION
SISTERMILLS910 LLC
832 Anarine Rd
Fayetteville Agent: LAVALL MCLUCAS
Breeze Behavioral Health LLC
9934 W Reeves Bridge Rd
Linden Agent: Keeneya Williams Glenn
Palatial Business & Financial Services INC
5579 Quietwood Place
Fayetteville
Agent: Jalissa Franklin
The Restaurant and Provision Company LLC
345 Hay Street
Fayetteville
Agent: Elizabeth Shearin-Smith
Faye's Fab Decor and Event Planning llc
6120 Sabine Dr Fayetteville
Agent: Precious Everett
LRW Transportation LLC
2304 Chasewater Rd
Fayetteville
Agent: Lamont White
ZAFARI BABY CO LLC
1607 Hazelhurst Dr Fayetteville Agent: Anthonetta Greene
HEAMIS LLC
1154 SLEEPY HOLLOW DR
Fayetteville
Agent: Latoya Barr
BAKKVision LLC
6313 Chagrin Road
Fayetteville
Agent: Kiana Janel Mitchell
Project Reddere corporation
6548 NC Highway 87 S
Fayetteville Agent: Joseph Kahale Chang
Prophetic Healing Ministry Through
bizfayetteville.com
Spoken Word
4925 Camoron Rd
Hope Mills
Agent: Robert Sandidge
Gates Farm Owners Association Inc.
1786 Metromedical Drive
Fayetteville
Agent: Benjamin A Stout
Dignified Danes Rescue
6846 Green Creek Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Amber Marie Kirby
Blue Rose Organics LLC
1612 Lizzie Lou Court
Hope Mills
Agent: Rabia DavisNdiaye
DCR Community Recovery Restore Team
702 Deep Creek Rd
Fayetteville
Agent: Tara Whitfield
Evolution Wellness & Nutrition LLC
3505 Enthorpe Ct
Fayetteville Agent: Theresa
Jeanette Campbell
Dr. Clean Auto Detailing Service LLC
6842 Shawcross Lane
Fayetteville Agent: Micheal Ippolito
Roma LLC
2700 Preston Woods Ln Apt#12
Fayetteville Agent: Giancarlo
Scibilia
The Bearded
Badass Sauce Company llc
2933 Braddy Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Tyler McCracken
IStroll Fort Liberty LLC
8 Globemaster Ave
Fort Bragg
Agent: Tess Brianne Lund
True Vine Academy
5301 Morganton Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Ernes West Jones
Tru Solar LLC
6513 Sudbury Drive
Fayetteville Agent: Chuckie
Tyrone Kelley
661 SANTA FE DR LLC
661 SANTA FE
DRIVE
Fayetteville Agent: YAHYA
ALSAIDI
Teals LLC
4239 Cherry Hill Lane
Fayetteville Agent: John Paul Adam Keller
Rai Investments of NC LLC
4553 Bent Grass Drive
Fayetteville Agent: Lakhvir Singh
CJs Lemonades LLC #1628 5075
Morganton Rd Ste 10c
Fayetteville Agent: Cheyenne
Reckley
SALONJA HAIR AND BOUTIQUE
LLC 100 Hay St Ste 503
Fayetteville Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC
Special Operations
Trauma Center LLC
7409 Hammersley Road
Fayetteville Agent: Paul J Toolan
PCL Painting Services LLC
2618 Sedgefield Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Jennifer Leigh Lopez
CornbreadJankins LLC
5900 Aimsworth Ct
Fayetteville Agent: Maxwell Nicholas Headley
The Clash of Titans LLC
3359 Wilmington Hwy
Fayetteville Agent: Jonathan Matthew Collins
Sculpted Silhouettes LLC
5824 Lagu Place
Fayetteville
Agent: Kiara
Kirkland
MATUYA EXPRESS INC
2724 BRAGG BLVD
Fayetteville Agent: XUNBIN
CHEN
Anders Design LLC
5111 Cypress Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Richard Anders
Have a Heart Rentals LLC
3721 Heartpine
Drive
Fayetteville Agent: Erik Tirrell
Hartsfield
Use Your Words LLC
3937 Canal Street
Linden
Agent: Leslie Finley
KINGSMAN CONSULTING Limited Liability Company
3643 Thorndike Drive
Fayetteville Agent: KATHRYN
KAY PERKINS
Maribel's Creations and Crafts LLC
813 Murray Hill Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Maribel
Espaillat
Shark Attack Minimart LLC
605 German St
Fayetteville
Agent: Fadhel A Al
Abdi
Deep Creek Grill and Catering LLC
1122 Person St
Fayetteville
Agent: Gretchin Maldonado
Multi-Purposeful LLC
1704 Real Quiet Place
Hope Mills
Agent: Jocelyn Danielle Johnson
Sweet Serenity LLC
5075 Morganton Rd STE 10C
Fayetteville
Agent: Jayla Serenity Craddock
Brown Landscaping & Lawn Service LLC
1601 Veanna Drive
Fayetteville
Agent: Anthony Lee Brown
Therapeutic Behavioral Solutions LLC
1141 Paddington Place
Fayetteville
Agent: Jomeka Yvonne Troy
Jersey Hustle Renovations llc
217 Vivian Dr Fayetteville
Agent: Eric Moore
Rich Girlz Boutique LLC
4522 Ruby Rd Fayetteville
Agent: Kendra Parys Butler
Megan's Pooch Perfect Grooming LLC
1224 Alexwood Drive
Hope Mills
Agent: Megan Stone
Best Exteriors Builders LLC
100 Hay Street Ste 503
Fayetteville
Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC
AGC Trade CO. LLC
100 Hay Street Ste 503
Fayetteville
Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC
R Three Enterprises LLC
895 Long Iron Dr Fayetteville Agent: Richard R Rivera
BAC Construction Company LLC
1016 Abrams St
Fayetteville Agent: Emilia Bodden Amaya
SPONSORS
Ted Abernathy, a nationally respected economic strategist based in North Carolina, will talk about the Fayetteville region’s competitive strengths and weaknesses as well as how the changing landscape in global trade, technology and demographics will impact our community in 2023 and beyond.
The normally calm world of banking recently went on a roller coaster ride following Silicon Valley Bank’s failure. Emerging from the commotion, both banks and the businesses they serve are finding their way amid new June 8 Power Breakfast, we will hear from leaders of national and regional banks about what happened, how banks are reacting and what strategies businesses can employ to get the most value out of their banking relationships.
Ted Abernathy, a nationally respected economic strategist based in North Carolina, will talk about the Fayetteville region’s competitive strengths and weaknesses as well as how the changing landscape in global trade, technology and demographics will impact our community in 2023 and beyond.
Ted Abernathy is the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership, which helps communities and other clients analyze competitiveness, develop strategies and reimagine the future.
Ted Abernathy is the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership, which helps communities and other clients analyze competitiveness, develop strategies and reimagine the future.
In the past nine years, Abernathy and his team have worked on 146 projects in more than 20 states and internationally. He currently serves as economic advisor to the Council of State Chambers and previously held a similar position to the Southern Governor’s Association.
In the past nine years, Abernathy and his team have worked on 146 projects in more than 20 states and internationally. He currently serves as economic advisor to the Council of State Chambers and previously held a similar position to the Southern Governor’s Association.
TUESDAY, FEB. 28
TUESDAY, FEB. 28
7:30 - 9:30 A.M.
7:30 - 9:30 A.M.
The Ralph and Linda Huff Orangery Cape Fear Botanical Garden Fayetteville, NC 28305
REGISTER NOW AT FAYETTEVILLEPOWERBREAKFAST.COM!
TUESDAY, JUNE 8
REGISTER NOW AT FAYETTEVILLEPOWERBREAKFAST.COM!
7:30 - 9:30 A.M.
The Ralph and Linda Huff Orangery Cape Fear Botanical Garden Fayetteville, NC 28305
REGISTER NOW AT FAYETTEVILLEPOWERBREAKFAST.COM!