Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - June 9, 2023 Issue

PROGRESS IN PROGRESS

On Feb. 7, 2022, the Harnett County Board of Commissioners approved the County’s first ever 2032 Harnett County Strategic Plan, a living, ever changing plan that outlines, for Board and County departments, achievable goals aimed at expansions, economic development, and meeting resident wants and needs over the next decade.

“I want to thank my fellow Commissioners for their leadership and direction in making this plan a reality as well as our County employees and citizens for their participation and input into this process,” said Harnett

County Board of Commissioners Chairman Lewis Weatherspoon in 2022. “This comprehensive plan establishes clear priorities and provides a roadmap for the County moving forward.

“Strategic plans improve transparency and accountability. They align community values with strategies and priorities, transforming ideas into action,” states the Plan. “This Plan will provide clarity to our organization and the community. It will guide our efforts and help make sure resources are allocated in the right areas. Strategic plans lay a foundation for

Harnett County celebrates the accomplishments within the last year of adopting their 10year strategic plan, outlining growth for the community and a blueprint for a better future

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HARNETT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP Harnett County Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors have been working alongside Harnett County Commissioners to attain economic development goals outlined in the 2032 Strategic Plan. (Front row, left to right): Dr. Jon Matthews, Phyllis Godwin Strickland, Dr. Lisa Chapman, County Manager Brent Trout (Back row): Dr. J. Bradley Creed, Commissioner Brooks Matthews, Jake Mays, Jeffrey Dunn, Dr. Aaron Fleming, Jeff Whittington, Commissioner Lew Weatherspoon, Jerry Milton, and Christian Lockamy.

Grow for it

FIRST BANK REGIONAL PRESIDENT SHARES DETAILS OF ACQUISITION OF SMALL BANK IN DUNN AND REFLECTS ON THE HARNETT COUNTY MARKET AS A WHOLE

As Harnett County continues to grow, First Bank is eager to serve residents old and new who’ve come to call the small county home.

First Bank has an office in Angier, Lillington and Dunn and have expanded their reach through acquisitions including acquiring Select Bank out of Dunn in 2022. Additionally, the Select Bank and the First Bank in Lillington merged to become one.

Rob Patterson, regional president of First Bank, shared what goes into making the decision to acquire another bank.

“When we’re looking at a potential partner, obviously there’s financial considerations we look at. We’re also looking at what markets appeal to us, and then we’re also looking at a culture piece of the puzzle. First Bank, we believe very strongly in our culture, so when we’re discussing partnerships, we really want that culture to fit and Select was an opportunity that kind of hit on all three and it put us in some markets and strengthened some markets that we really cared about in North Carolina,” said Patterson. “Fayetteville was one and Dunn in Harnett County was one as well, they [Select] had a presence also in Lillington, as did we, so we consolidated those two branches. And then we were able to expand our presence to Dunn through that merger.”

Patterson shared that he actually started his career in Dunn so he’s very familiar with the market and he’s happy to be doing business in the town once again.

“... Markets like Dunn, Lillington, Fayetteville they’re kind of our kinds of places. They’re strong communities or communities that believe in a local bank. They’re communities with a lot of business opportunities. Harnett County’s got a lot of growth right now. Fayetteville has just had a really consistent growth record for a long period of time,” remarked Patterson.

First Bank worked with the Select Bank team to make the acquisition as smooth as possible. Patterson spoke about how it is important to utilize the team that is there because they have an established relationship with the customers and understand the community.

“From a stock purchase stand-

point, we purchased Select Bank, but from a grounds standpoint, we’re partners, and we became one, but we always consider all of that a partnership because we are gaining market share with other banks as we are growing our company. I think that’s

were getting to know one another and building trust to facilitate positive relationships and prepare for a smooth transition.

First Bank acquiring Select Bank proved to be of benefit to community members due to the bank’s size and services available.

comes to delivering service, and we’re a flat organization when it comes to creating decisions. I think we can get from the teller to the President’s bank very quickly. It is very easy for me to get our chief banking officer on the phone,” stated Patterson.

one thing that distinguishes us a little bit from other banks that are in the acquiring mode. We really look at it as we’re joining forces and together we’re better than we were separately,” stated Patterson.

Patterson went on to explain that in the time between the announcement of the transaction and the actual conversion of Select Bank to First Bank, the teams from both companies

“One of the advantages we bring to the table, just because we’re a larger size, we can do larger transactions, particularly on the loan side, and we have a fuller array of products and services — like we have our own credit card product, which Select did not have. Our treasury management services were a little more enhanced, so we’re able to provide to our customers a little bit of a stronger suite of services, just because we’re larger and that provides some value to us. It’s opened the door for I think our Select lenders to be able to grow customers from a loan perspective, maybe greater than they could have before just because we’re a larger bank,” shared Patterson.

Despite being a large bank, Patterson stated that the company’s communication skills and commitment to customer service were on par with those more commonly associated with a small bank.

“...We’re a small bank when it

Patterson shared that the growing real estate market and the large number of small business owners in Harnett County are providing fuel for the local economy. According to Patterson, deposits have grown in the entire Harnett County region in the last three to five years and continue to grow.

Further down the line, it is possible that additional mergers and acquisitions may be in First Bank’s future if that is what is necessary to meet the needs of a community.

“I think we’re always a company that is looking for opportunities to grow. My president Mike Mayer likes to say we will grow where the communities need us to grow…we want to be nimble. We want to go where the communities will support us. And that has been an incredibly useful strategy for us. So I’d say that we’re always looking at opportunities and what may come about as we look to our future,” concluded Patterson.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FIRST BANK

First Bank acquired Select Bank in Dunn, NC in 2022.

... They’re strong communities or communities that believe in a local bank.”

Rob Patterson President, First Bank

4424 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303

910-240-9697

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It happened in the good old summertime

After surviving a long strain of rainstorms throughout most of May, the temperatures are rising and that summer feeling has returned.

Summer is officially here and you can really feel it if you spend any amount of time outside! As an adult, can I just say that the summer months still hold a special place in my heart?

Despite the humidity, the bugs and, in some cases, the sudden flash rain storms, summers in North Carolina really are something special.

Living in North Carolina means we get the best of everything: mountains in the east and the coast on the west. It also means we get a lot of interesting weather in the summer months including rain, sleet, hail, sunshine, sometimes all in the same day depending on what side of the

buses, no homework, no worries, the question was always: Do I want to put on real clothes today? Now as an adult, and after experiencing something similar during the COVID-19 pandemic, I am glad to say that that magic is still somewhat there.

While I can’t take three whole months off of work (I don’t think anyone can, not in this economy) there is still a rush when it comes to planning summer activities.

As we continue on with our County by County series, I am racking up a laundry list of things I want to do this summer! In this issue exploring Harnett County, I learned more about Aloha Safari Zoo, a local exotic zoo that is less than an hour away (page 12). With our last few issues (now available to read online) exploring some of the new and exciting things to do in the area, I am

end getaways with friends and family to some of the wonderful attractions right here in our area!

In this issue, the second of our 2023 county focused issues, we explore the latest developments in Harnett County, including their ten-year plan for development and growth, a new fiber optic internet provider moving into the area, and First Bank Regional President Rob Patterson reflecting on a year of growth following a merger and acquisition in recent years.

Our next County focus will be on Bladen County for our July 14 issue, and I can’t wait to see how they’re growing and expanding.

I wish all of you a happy and blessed summer! As always, it is a pleasure to be able to tell your stories, and I look forward to connecting with your communities!

S'WELL/UNSPLASH

Summertime is a time for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. Make sure to make the most out of this warm weather, you never know how long it will last in North Carolina!

New Cancer Center coming

CAPE FEAR VALLEY HEALTH ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER AND MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING TO CENTRAL HARNETT HOSPITAL

Harnett Health, a Cape Fear Valley Health System member, has announced a new Cancer Center to be constructed at Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington.

The new three-story Cancer Center and Medical Arts complex will cover 70,000 square feet. It’s expected to include specialty services such as a surgical clinic, neurology, cardiology, and orthopedics.

The complex will sit on a four-acre lot in front of the hospital on Brightwater Drive. Trees currently cover the area of the hospital grounds near the parking lot.

The estimated cost of the medical arts building is between $35 and $40 million. Of that, the Cancer Center will cost about $12 million.

“A tax-exempt debt issuance was completed in 2022 and included funding for a portion of the project,” Cape Fear Valley Health Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnson shared via e-mail. “The remaining funding is expected to come from equity and philanthropic support.”

Some of that support comes from Harnett Health Foundation’s newly launched campaign to fundraise $5 million for the Cancer Center.

Established in 2004 to raise funds for Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn, the foundation has never run a capital campaign before this one. Executive director Scott Childers came on board in October, just in time to campaign for the much-anticipated Cancer Center.

“This is special because there’s a lot of excitement and momentum because of the difference a full cancer center will make for Harnett County,” says Childers.

Central Harnett Hospital opened in 2013 with essential services, including cancer diagnostic services and chemotherapy treatments. Since 2020, Central Harnett has seen a 40 percent increase in cancer patient visits annually. However, the area lacks radiation therapy services, meaning nearly half of those patients must travel for treatment. The oncological practice requires several daily treatments throughout a multi-week course, making excessive travel a physical and financial hindrance.

“Because of that, they have to go elsewhere, to Wake or UNC or Cape Fear,” says Childers. “This is going to be big for them. We’re excited to be able to offer that.”

The 17,000-square-foot Cancer Center proposes state-of-the-art features, including a linear accelerator (LINAC) targeted radiation therapy treatment, CT scanning, 16 infusion chairs, private rooms, and even dedicated office space for volunteers. One goal is for patients to have a tranquil garden view during infusion treatments.

Once the plans for the center were approved, the foundation held off on launching a campaign until the logistics were worked out. Typical fundraising targets smaller projects, and an annual campaign focuses on internal donors and community outreach as potential donors. An annual golf tournament also raises money.

This year’s tournament, on Oct. 12 at the Keith Hills Golf Course, will also raise funds for the cancer center.

The cancer center campaign will follow this general strategy but is currently in a silent phase collecting large dollar donations, according to Childers. The foundation has currently raised $670,000 toward its $5

million goal.

The funds are targeted for the cost of the cancer treatment equipment, estimated at $5.5 million.

“We’re hoping to raise half before we really announce the campaign,” shared Childers. “We’ve had a good response so far.”

According to Cape Fear Valley Health, site work begins in August, with Charlotte-based developer The Keith Corporation and Raleigh architecture firm LS3P leading the project. The construction is expected to take 14 months to complete, according to

Childers.

He expects the foundation’s campaign to take six to eight months, but hopes they’ll have the funds by the medical arts building groundbreaking on Sept. 7th.

Childers hopes the Cancer Center’s location will have a long-lasting impact.

“It’s also going to help us, as we look down the road with our positions, to encourage and attract the best physicians in the area to stay here and be in Harnett County.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE HARNETT HEALTH FOUNDATION FACEBOOK PAGE

The Harnett Health Foundation is accepting outside donations, including this one from the Robert P. Holding Foundation given in December of 2022. With their help and the help of others, a patient’s entire cancer care team will soon be accessible in one convenient location. (Pictured Left to right:) Phillip Strickland, Senior Vice President of Institutional Trust, First Citizens Bank; Scott Childers, Executive Director, Harnett Health Foundation; Hank Dunbar, Jr., Senior Vice President, Charitable & Philanthropic Services, First Citizens Bank; Dr. Olalekan Folarin, Chief Medical Officer, Harnett Health; Kelly Honeycutt, Director, Administrative Services, Harnett Health; and C. Trent Carpenter, Vice President, Harnett Market Leader, First Citizens Bank.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CFVH

A digital rendering of the new three-story Cancer Center and Medical Arts complex will cover 70,000 square feet.

James A. Leach Aquatic and Recreation Center

From PROGRESS, page 1 engaging employees and citizens with clear communication, and they provide a basis for performance management.”

The 2032 Strategic Plan outlines a vision for the future of Harnett County, along with a mission for County Government through five strategic goals that are intended to make that vision a reality. Those 5 strategic goals are:

These five goals will also serve as the county’s priorities for the next few years.

Each of the goals outlines attainable goals in each category that can be achieved each year. Those goals are listed in the plan as “Strategic Actions” that can be worked on and adapted.

“Economic Strength” includes goals such as: Pursuing enhanced transportation infrastructure to reduce congestion and increase access throughout the county, increase the availability of high-speed Broadband throughout County and planning water and wastewater infrastructure to direct and attract residential, commercial and industrial growth toward targeted areas.

“Harnett County is committed to creating economic opportunity for our residents. The County is working to strengthen its economic development program to position the County for success. This includes providing well-planned infrastructure to recruit business and industry, working with our educational partners to ensure a highly skilled workforce, and leveraging our resources to ensure residents share in the prosperity generated through these efforts,” states the plan.

Following a year with the plan in effect, Harnett County Officials met for a Harnett County Planning Retreat on Jan. 24, to discuss progress so far.

2022 ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDED: Establishing the Harnett County Economic Development Partnership.

Defined Harnett County’s “Laborshed” a 60-minute drive from the center of the county that spans to all or parts of 13 Counties, representing an area where people commute to and from work.

Launching new websites for the County and the Harnett County Economic Development Partnership.

Business Personal Property value increased by $59,928,501 and Individual Personal Property value increased by $5,432,597.

Increase in traffic and construction began at the Harnett County Regional Airport with more than 51,000 flights in and out of the airport logged.

New production training resulting in 28 new farms collectively farming more than 1,500 acres in Harnett County.

Focusing on the area’s economic progress, the Harnett County Eco-

nomic Development Partnership

Board of Directors held its inaugural Planning Retreat in Raleigh on Feb. 23. This meeting convened to also review last year’s progress and unite behind new annual priorities, outlining a plan of action for the coming year. This retreat is intended to be held each year to foster collaboration and consensus building for Harnett County’s economic development initiatives. Along with acknowledging the overlap in achievements recognized by the County in January, this session led to the identification of new annual priorities that support economic development goals within product and workforce development, existing industry support, marketing, quality of life, and organizational sustainability. Participants discussed strategies for promoting the community and adapting to challenges from new growth and demand.

“Thank you to the Harnett County Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors for coming together to create an action plan to move economic efforts forward,” said Chair of the Harnett County Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors, Phyllis Godwin Strickland in a press release. “We have fantastic leaders around the table working to attract business and industry to Harnett County, and I look forward to the progress that we will make in partnership with the Harnett County Economic Development team.”

While a full version of the current 2032 Strategic Plan is available to view online, County representatives said they encourage community

involvement to help keep the plan current to resident wants and needs.

The Harnett County Manager’s Office will host the next Citizen Information Session on Monday, June 26 at 6:00 p.m. in the Resource Center and Library training room at 455 McKinney Parkway in Lillington, NC.

The Citizen Information Session is an opportunity to provide Harnett County citizens with a chance to learn more about County initiatives, programs, and services and the 2032 Strategic Plan.

“I look forward to meeting our citizens and getting the opportunity to share with them what the County has going on,” said County Communications Director Desiree Patrick in a press release. “We want more citizens to participate and attend our information sessions. We host these sessions for them.”

The hour-long information session will include presentations by County Manager Brent Trout, Community Relations Director Desiree Patrick, Public Library Director Angela McCauley, Solid Waste Director Lynn Lambert, and Keep Harnett Beautiful Coordinator Morgan Pope.

“We hope that you will join us to learn more about the recently approved budget and what the County is working on for the coming year. I will also be available to answer questions that you may have on any topic,” said County Manager Brent Trout in a press release.

A full PDF document of the 18-page plan can be found online at www.harnett.org/ publicinfo/strategic-plan.

“Harnett County is committed to creating economic opportunity for our residents. The County is working to strengthen its economic development program to position the County for success.”

— EXCERPT FROM THE 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN

ACHIEVERS

Harnett County receives 2023 National Achievement Award for Compatibility Regulations

Harnett County announced on Tuesday, May 23 that the County has received the 2023 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).

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.”

The Achievement Award honors innovative and effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

Harnett County was awarded for the compatibility regulations program that Development Services spearheaded.

“This award is a testament to Harnett County Development Services’ hard work and dedication to serve its citizens and provide a robust community for future generations,” said Mark Locklear, Director of Development Services in a press release.

“This year’s winners represent some of the most innovative and collaborative efforts we have seen in over 50 years of presenting these awards,” said Denise Winfrey, NACo President in a press release.

Harnett County Development Services created a compatibility design concept for residential subdivisions in 2007. The compatibility development requirements comprise four key components: zoning districts, land use classes, minimum lot sizes, and open space requirements. In adhering to these requirements, developers preserve open space and buffers between existing development and rights of way, as well as incorporating amenities such as curbs and gutters, sidewalks, and street trees.

“Congratulations to Development Services for winning this outstanding achievement,” said Coley Price, Deputy County Manager in a press release. “I would like to thank their department for their hard work and dedication. Their work is important in preserving and promoting the quality of life for all Harnett County residents.”

Development Services will receive the award at the NACo Achievement Awards Luncheon on July 23 in Travis County, Texas.

PWC Fleet Maintenance named in the Top 100 Best Fleet Operations in America by the National Association of Fleet Administrators

Fayetteville Public Works Commission’s Fleet Maintenance was named in the Top 100 Best Fleet Operations in America by the National Association of Fleet Administrators

NAFA community,” said CAFM, NAFA Board President Mike Camnetar in a press release. “The fleet industry is experiencing a lot of change and innovation right now, and we are proud of how these fleets are leading and representing our industry. We look forward to seeing all they accomplish in 2023.”

PWC was rated on 12 performance measures and was named the 30th best operation. PWC received its highest marks in Creativity, Use of Technology and Information, Staff Development, and Resources Stewardship.

PWC will also be featured in the NAFA’s “100 Best Webinar Series” and Regional Roundtable events throughout 2023. Webinar attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the 100 Best fleet winners and leaders, discover the top five success trends for 2023 and understand what actions these top fleets have taken to become a 100 Best fleet.

spring.

“We feel very fortunate to have Dr. Seibert join the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business (LFSB),” shared LFSB Dean, Dr. Kevin O’Mara in a press release. “He brings a wealth of business experience, as well as strong academic credentials to the position. Graduate students will appreciate his leadership qualities, while the regional business community will value his ability to deliver quality corporate programs. His strong track record of success and passion for developing individuals were the exact qualities we had hoped to find in our search. We look forward to Dr. Seibert leading our graduate programs and business outreach efforts.”

Dr. Seibert joins Campbell University, full-time, after thirty years of dedicated service to the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center. Seibert started his journey with the SBTDC in 1993 at the Cape Fear Regional Center located at UNC Pembroke.

From there, he moved to UNC Chapel Hill to serve as the Director of their Regional Center in 1997. He later landed at NC State University for a tenure of fifteen years; There, he served as Director of their Regional Center, Director for International Business Development and as Director of Statewide Programs and Services for the SBTDC.

with the NAFA Fleet Management Association, the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association.

NAFA’s 100 Best Fleets in the Americas program recognizes peak-performing public and commercial fleet operations.

According to the Association’s website, the 100 Best program identifies and encourages the ever-increasing levels of performance improvement and innovation within the fleet industry. The goal of the 100 Best contest is to foster pride in the industry, build recognition within the national fleet community, increase levels of productivity and operational effectiveness and to encourage more individuals to consider fleet operations as a career choice. The contest was originally created by the late Tom Johnson.

“Announcing the 100 Best Fleets is always an exciting time for the

This year, the contest was open to commercial fleets and saw the addition of two new sub-competitions: The Fleet Professional of the Year Award, which recognizes the top fleet professional of the year, and the The Fleet Technician of the Year Award, which honors the top fleet technician of the year.

Seibert joins School of Business as Director of Graduate and External Programs

DR. MICHAEL SEIBERT has been named Director of Graduate Programs and External Programs for the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business for Campbell University. Seibert fills the role formerly held by Somer Johnson, who stepped away this

During his stint with the NC SBTDC, Seibert fueled his passion for instructing young minds as an adjunct professor for Campbell University. He assisted Dr. Mostashari with MGMT 790, a capstone course for MBA students, and advised many winning competitive student teams for the NASBITE case competition and the Graduate Business Student Competition.

Dr. Seibert received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Widener University, before coming down south to work and attend Campbell University for his MBA. Recently, he finished his Ed.D., Doctor of Education, at NC State University.

Along with his formal education, Dr. Seibert holds certifications as a Certified Global Business Professional from NASBITE International, and as an Economic Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council. Additionally, he serves as the President of the NC

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY Seibert

PHOTO TAKEN FROM FAYETTEVILLE PWC FACEBOOK PAGE

The Fayetteville PWC Fleet Maintenance team pose with their award from the NAFA

From ACHIEVERS, page 10

World Trade Association, Vice President for NASBITE International, and as Communications lead for the NC District Export Council.

“Earning my MBA from Campbell University in 1993 made a profound difference in both my personal and professional life,” shared Dr. Seibert in a press release. “That experience has motivated me for the past 30 years to mentor, guide, and teach graduate students at my alma mater. It is my hope for every student to experience that profound difference Campbell University can make in their lives.”

FCEDC welcomes John Hart as Director of Strategic Partnerships

The Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation has welcomed JOHN HART as Director of Strategic Partnerships. Hart will be responsible

for establishing and maintaining close relationships with key employers in the community while providing them with ongoing support.

“I am excited about being part of the FCEDC Team and appreciate the opportunity to continue developing and growing my connections with local industry,” expressed Hart in a press release. “They are the backbone of our community and help us create the ‘Can Do Carolina’ spirit.” Hart brings over 17 years of experience in the Transportation & Logistics industry, serving in leadership positions for an NC based company with customers throughout the US and Canada.

Hart Granderson

In his previous roles, Hart collaborated closely with community partners, developing ties to FTCC and Cumberland County Schools, as they worked to highlight opportunities for students in the trade industries.

A 20-plus year Army veteran, Hart recognizes the potential to retain the skilled professionals separating from service at Fort Liberty. He

looks forward to expanding opportunities for Veterans to obtain job training and meaningful employment with Cumberland County businesses. Hart has also worked closely with NC Works, providing training and job opportunities to 18–24-year- old “at-risk” or disadvantaged young men and women.

GFCC welcomes new Director of Events

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed HARMONY GRANDERSON to the role of Director of Events.

In her position as Director of Events, Granderson will build, implement and manage all aspects of the events carried out and supported by the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Granderson will engage with various Chamber members to coordinate the Chamber’s networking events and educational programs. Within this role she will line-up caterers, secure event locations, book speakers, and spotlight businesses. She will work closely with the Marketing and Communications Director, Robyn

Pitt, while organizing event press, presentations and sponsors.

“We are excited to welcome Harmony to our team.” commented Nat Robertson, President & CEO of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, in a press release. “We’re ready for her to dig in and get going as our new events director. With her skillset and enthusiasm she will be a great asset to our Chamber!”

Granderson is a Fayetteville native with a passion for entrepreneurship, community involvement and all things involving the arts. She is a graduate from Jack Britt High School and has received a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. She is a recent graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. While she earned her degree and served various on-campus leadership roles, she also founded a small business of her own that focuses on promotion of small businesses, non-profits and minority owned companies.

>> By Kate Griffin

Drive through adventures

ALOHA SAFARI PARK WORKS TO RESCUE, REHABILITATE AND EDUCATE WHILE OFFERING A FUN ZOO EXPERIENCE IN HARNETT COUNTY

The Aloha Safari Park has been a well-known staple destination in Harnett County for 15 years. Located at 159 Mini Lane in Cameron, the Aloha Safari Park is a 77 acre privately owned park. The facility and its staff are dedicated to giving injured, abused, and abandoned animals a happy and safe haven to rehabilitate and live out the rest of their days in peace.

It is not only a rescue operation, but an educational resource for the public, informing the communi ty about all these wonderful creatures and how to help.

“We’re going to keep adding to it, we’re doing something different,” said Scott Brown, owner of Aloha Safari Park and Zootastic in Iredell County.

Visitors of the Aloha Safari Park get a truly unique experience, getting to see over 300 rescued animals by either walking through the exhibits, or staying in the comfort of their cars in the brandnew 2.2 miles of drive-through safari—or both! There is a giraffe feeding experience, where park visitors can get great photos while feeding the resident giraffes some safe snacks!

“With the drive-through, I like people to be up close,” shared Brown. “[With] our animals, you will get slobbered on before you leave.”

Aloha Safari Park keeps in mind the needs of its visitors as well as the needs of their animals, with a plethora of activities to do, and a new expanded gift shop for souvenirs.

There’s a large indoor exhibit area for the reptile friends, and larger outdoor exhibits for all the rest of their animal friends. Aloha Safari Park offers park visitors the opportunity to observe a variety of animals that they wouldn’t normally get to see. From the well-known tigers, giraffes and Syrian brown bear to the more obscure white-nosed coatimundi, scimitar horned oryx, and African spotted genet. No one will leave the park without learning and meeting something new!

According to Brown, animal neglect is a problem everywhere, and Aloha Safari Park does their share in mitigating the issue in North Carolina

with their facilities. The animals at Aloha Safari Park have been rescued from unfortunate circumstances, including neglect and abuse, to the point where they cannot be returned to their natural environments.

“If we could turn them all [the animals] loose, we would, but you can’t turn a tiger loose in North Carolina, you can’t kill them all, and we want our kids to see them,” said Brown. Aloha Safari Park is a great service to the animal and general community, and a great solution for the increasingly unique and nuanced problems exotic animal abuse presents. Aloha Safari Park works hard to provide only the highest standards of care.

“These guys love me, and I love them,” said Brown. “They’re our babies, I treat them like our kids, we do

whatever needs to be done for them. We shoot for 100 percent.”

In addition to basic care, all animals need enrichment and routine to be happy, and Aloha Safari Park gives all their animals a fun and safe life.

“The best advice I’ve heard: ‘don’t buy the animal until you have the right habitat,’” said Brown. Brown embraces any questions or concerns any visitors to the park may have.

“Support us, visit us, bring your friends and family,” said Brown. “We enjoy talking to people and educating them.”

Aloha Safari Park has undergone a few changes in the past year. The drive-thru safari, parking, and walking tour are all included in the $15 price of admission, with groups of 30 or more people getting a group

discount. Aloha Safari Park recognizes the efforts of the community and says “thank you” to their emergency service workers, teachers, and military with free admission to them and their families on certain holidays with ID. The park has three designated covered areas for group events like birthday parties available for free on a first-come, first-serve basis. More seasonal events have also been added including an Easter Egg Hunt, timed out by age group for kids with prizes and the first ever Christmas light show with over a million lights decorating the park, which would go on to attract over 22,000 people over Christmas of 2022.

With the prices, shortages, and straight-up unavailability of land,

Aloha Safari Park has really gone above and beyond in making the absolute best out of their circumstances for their animals, and the patrons. Brown has added on more land for habitat expansion for the park since he became the owner in June of 2022, but has goals of adding more. “We’d love to make Aloha bigger, but there’s not any land around it for sale,” shared Brown.

Aloha Safari Park is a great destination for a day trip, offering another fun and educational spot for everyone near and far from Harnett County. Brown is passionate about the small business community and hopes his expansions to Aloha Safari Park will bring in more people to utilize the area’s other small businesses.

“We all need to work together, and everything I do, I do to help the other person,” shared Brown. Aloha Safari Park is a great solution to the problem of previously wild animals that have no home and are unsuitable for release into their natural habitats. That combined with the educational and recreational resources to the public, Aloha Safari Park is a great way to get outside and experience nature.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ALOHA PARK ZOO FACEBOOK PAGE

Main: From the local to the exotic, animals are rescued, rehabilitated and given a safe home for the rest of their lives in the park. Left: Offering Drive through adventures, guests can see exotic animals from the safety of their own car. Right: Staff are dedicated to educating guests and providing the animals with top notch care.

Homes in Harnett

CAMERON BASED REAL ESTATE EXPERT EDWARD JONES GIVES HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE GROWING REAL ESTATE MARKET IN HARNETT COUNTY

With a 10- year strategic plan in place and more than 11,000 homes currently in development, Harnett County is on a large-scale growth track with homes in the community currently under construction. Fayetteville based Coldwell Banker Advantage, recognized as the largest entity of the Coldwell Banker network in 2022, will be playing a part in helping to sell some of those homes from their Harnett County office located in Cameron.

Described by CBA as having a “a small town feeling,” and a “family friendly area,” it was also noted that houses tend to be more affordable in this area, and the resale is good.

The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal spoke with Edward Jones, Broker in Charge of Coldwell Banker Advantage’s Cameron Office, about his experience and to get the details of residential real estate in the Harnett County area.

GFBJ: How long have you been in real estate?

JONES: I have six years in Real Estate, one and a half years in Harnett County. I have been eligible to be a Broker in Charge for three years but moved to this office to assume the actual position.

GFBJ: What got you into real estate?

JONES: I served in the military in both the Marine Corps and Army. When I retired from the Army, I decided to make real estate my next career, after working with a Broker who helped me and my wife sell and purchase homes while I was on my last deployment. I love having the ability to help people I see real estate as a way to assist people with one of the largest decisions they will ever make.

GFBJ: What are some of the pros of moving into the Harnett County area?

JONES: The thing about Harnett County is, it is definitely growing a lot and quickly. Any homes that are out there are being sold relatively quickly. In our market, we're really still in a seller's market.

FROM THE EXPERT

GFBJ: Can you explain what a seller's market means?

JONES: So a seller's market means the market is more beneficial to someone who's selling their home than to a buyer. When there are more buyers than there are homes for sale, then it’s considered a sellers market. When there are more sellers than there are buyers then it's considered a buyers market and when it's about even it’s considered a balanced market. We've been in a seller's market since COVID, basically.

GFBJ: Is there currently enough of a supply of homes in Harnett County?

JONES: There are builders that are developing in Harnett County. It is being slowed down a little bit by cost. It’s just costing builders a lot more to build these days than in the past, so that is slowing down. I think there's a lot of buyers who bought in the last three years who have really low interest rates, and they're hesitant to sell because they’ve got to go find something else somewhere, which means they're gonna have to deal with the interest rates and all the other issues with low supply.

I think there's a multitude of things that are slowing the market down as far as sellers not wanting to sell because they have a low interest rate and they know that they’d get a higher interest rate and there's already not a whole lot of inventory to choose from, as well.

GFBJ: Does being a rural community have an impact on that at all?

JONES: Yes, we're in a rural community, but we're just north of Fort Bragg. We get a lot of business from Fort Bragg soldiers and retirees. Being a rural area is actually a benefit because a lot of people like having some land or the option of land and it's growing. So where it’s really rural it’s starting to build up in area.

GFBJ: Tell us a little bit about the Coldwell Banker Advantage in Harnett County.

JONES: We’re a small satellite office, we have about 20 agents and we can handle probably up to 58 and it is growing. As the area grows and more population comes into the area and more houses are being built in the area, there'll be more need for agents.

We have all the tools that come with being a Coldwell Banker brand. Coldwell Banker has been around over 100 years, so all the tools and support that comes with Coldwell Banker applies to Coldwell Banker Advantage in Harnett County.

GFBJ: What are some of the unique elements to selling in Harnett County? Do your agents have to keep anything in particular in mind when you're looking for a new home for people?

JONES: I try to advise my agents to listen to the customer when we're looking for a new home. The customer knows what they want and what they need way more than any agent is going to know. So we listen to and focus on what the customer's needs are and each customer and client is going to be different. It is an up and coming market. North Carolina in general is growing, Harnett and Cumberland County are definitely growing as well. I think Harnett, being that it has so much space to grow, is being pushed from both sides from Cumberland County and the Raleigh area and Triangle area. I think it's a great time to be part of Harnett County.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COLDWELL BANKER ADVANTAGE

Left: Located at 35 Plantation Dr. in Cameron, NC the office services 19 towns and cities in Harnett County and the surrounding areas. Right: Broker in Charge Edward Jones heads up the Harnett County office offering six years of real estate experience to customers looking for a new home.

Long term investment

HIGH POINT BASED INTERNET PROVIDER LUMOS INVESTS A PORTION OF MORE THAN $50 MILLION FOR INTERNET EXPANSION IN HARNETT COUNTY

Residents, schools and businesses across Harnett County will soon have access to 100 percent Fiber Optic Internet services following a recent expansion announcement that Lumos, a high-speed internet provider with a presence in over 200,000 homes and businesses throughout North Carolina and Virginia, are continuing their recent rapid expansion throughout the state by entering Johnston and Harnett Counties as their fourth and fifth markets respectively.

The $50 million investment will build nearly 600 miles of Fiber Optic Technology across the two counties. For many customers in the Harnett County area, this will be their firsttime having access to the internet.

“Lumos is always seeking to expand into markets that don't have access to fiber today. That's the number one thing we look for, that the majority of the town or city area doesn't have access to fiber, because we truly believe that's the only technology that's really set up for the next 50 years,” shared Vice President, Market Development Derek Kelly. “And to be able to change the lives of these families and small businesses, we also look for community support, make sure we have engagement in support of the local community from county leadership down to the leadership of towns and cities.”

After connecting with area leadership throughout Harnett, Lumos will expand into Dunn, Angier, Coats, Erwin and Buies Creek.

“Lumos is changing the definition of internet connection in communities across North Carolina,” said Brian Stading, Lumos CEO in a press release. “We believe that all towns, not just the big cities, should have access to a fast and reliable broadband connection. With our Lumos network available in parts of Johnston and Harnett County, families and individuals will be able to seamlessly connect to online learning, telehealth and remote working opportunities.”

The addition of Lumos in Harnett is a direct result of Harnett County’s 2032 Strategic Plan which falls under action 4.2: “increase the availability of high-speed broadband throughout the County” which was deemed by the County as a priority.

“We would like to thank Lumos for their investment in fiber optic internet for our Harnett County residents,” said Desiree Patrick, Harnett County Community Relations Director in a press release. “This announcement is great news for Harnett County. One of our strategic actions is to increase the availability of high-speed broadband throughout the County – this investment allows us to do just that. We look forward to residents and businesses in the County having faster and more reliable internet.”

Lumos will be updating outdated infrastructure by installing fiber internet, which according to the company; “provides communities with life-changing speeds, offering customers up to 385 times faster upload speeds and 30 times faster download speeds.”

“A lot of the infrastructure in the ground today in these communities is based on copper cabling, whether it's through a cable company or telephone company. Those networks were really designed for the last 40 or 50 years of telephone and cable television and weren't really designed to be a future proof technology for the internet,” shared Kelly. “With fiber optics, the main difference is around speed, and so when we build this network, customers will be able to subscribe

up to five gigabits per second and it's a symmetrical speed so that you get the same amount of speed coming into your house is going out of your house.”

Through partnerships, the company plans to be a premier corporate citizen in the community, bringing economic development and connectivity to residents. Lumos’ expansion will not only

Virginia and North Carolina,” shared Kelly. “There’s a lot of opportunities for residents that don't want to be out of the tech field. There's lots of other opportunities for them to come join the Lumos team.”

According to Kelly, the $50 million is just the initial investment to build the network, but that number may change once construction begins in 2023.

“We do a pretty detailed analysis on the front end to just design what we think the network will look like. Everything from mapping out the roads and streets that we're going to be placing fiber on, to how much equipment we'll need to serve it. And then we just come up with a general model of how much that will end up costing us to build,” shared Kelly. “We have continued investment beyond that. Whether it's adding new neighborhoods or whether it's having personnel, they're in the area. We're in it for the long haul.”

change the landscape for homeowners, schools and businesses, but it will also bring job opportunities.

“We typically think of jobs as technicians out in the field and we definitely need those, but we have a large work from home presence across

Kelly said that there isn’t a concrete start date for construction to begin, but customers will be updated via email and postcards. Future customers are encouraged to sign up for updates at www.lumosfiber.com/builtforthefuture.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LUMOS

The $50 million investment will build nearly 600 miles of Fiber Optic Technology across the two counties in towns such as Dunn, Angier, Coats, Erwin and Buies Creek in Harnett County and Benson, Clayton, Four Oaks, Selma and Smithfield in Johnston County.

Lumos is changing the definition of internet connection in communities across North Carolina.”

Brian Stading CEO, Lumos

“

Expanding CTE education

HARNETT COUNTY BUSINESS & EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS EXPAND CURRICULUM AND CERTIFICATION OFFERINGS AT TRITON HIGH SCHOOL

Business leaders in the Harnett County community understand the value of partnerships and together, with the faculty and staff at Harnett County Schools, are working to create ways to invest in the future workforce.

The Harnett County Business Education Partnership (HCBEP), is a private, non-profit organization, consisting of dedicated business leaders, educators and parent volunteers helping students make informed education and career decisions. Through their support of a variety of programs, students have the resources they need to reach their full potential through hands-on learning and skill development both in and out of the classroom.

Support from the HCBEP is invaluable to the Harnett County Schools Career and Technical Education Program (HCS CTE). The knowledge, ideas, community, and industry connections have created industry-specific curriculum, apprenticeship programs, and future career paths for Harnett County students.

In the summer of 2022, during the HCBEP Annual Retreat, Board Member and Corporate President of The Godwin Group, Pat Godwin Jr., shared certification curriculum news related to the work truck industry. Godwin, Jr. explained that The Association for the Work Truck Industry (NTEA), in collaboration with The Lincoln Electric Company and National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), created the Work Truck Industry Welder Certification Program. This certification would be adopted as the credential for the work truck industry, and manufacturer and distributor companies that want to hire, train and retain certified welders should consider implementing this welder certification training program.

According to the NTEA website, one of the most critical issues within the commercial vehicle community is attracting, training, and retaining employees - especially in skilled trades such as welding - due to increasingly high demand. The Lincoln Electric Education Program (LEEPS) for the NTEA program was created to help address this challenge.

For The Godwin Group, America's largest and most experienced

family-owned and operated truck equipment manufacturer located in Dunn, this type of curriculum would be a worthwhile investment for their company and students interested in welding.

Education (CTE) Program, suggested that HCS CTE and Godwin Manufacturing work together to create the program at Triton High School. This was not the first time The Godwin Group had partnered with the program. Thanks to their support on behalf of the welding industry, Triton High School had just expanded its agriculture mechanics shop and purchased updated equipment through a Golden Leaf Grant awarded to Harnett County Schools.

“The Godwins supported us from the welding sector on our journey to secure the Golden Leaf grant through HCS to address the local economic needs,” said Hardee in a press release. “It was a natural fit to join forces again to grow welding in Harnett County.”

The growing partnership between Godwin Manufacturing and HCS CTE has also yielded a North Carolina Registered Apprenticeship where The Lincoln Electric Company and National Coalition of Certification Centers credential is the education piece.

“Godwin Manufacturing is honored to be part of the LEEPS program at Triton,” said Phyllis Godwin, Corporate Vice President of The

Godwin Group in a press release. “Harnett County Schools have been fantastic to work with on making this happen. We feel it is important to prepare young adults for the work environment to be contributing members of society and have the skill to build a career.”

Just prior, in April 2022, the Godwins made it possible for Triton High School Teacher, Andy Cole, to travel to the Lincoln School of Welding in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was trained to teach and certify students in Advanced Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) specifically for the Work Truck Industry issued by the Lincoln School of Welding.

Cole returned to Triton High School, where he began recruitment for the inaugural LEEPS class. Eight students signed up and the six enrolled - all seniors - successfully earned this certificate through the LEEPS. Leading up to the Advanced GMAW Certificate the students earned certificates in Welding Safety, Principles of Welding, and Introduction to Gas Metal Arc Welding.

“This semester we had the first students to enroll into the highly technical and academically rigorous program,” said Cole in a press release. “Six students started the program and all six completed it!”

Arc3 Gases, a full service supplier of gasses and welding supplies, has also been a critical partner for this program. The company, located in Dunn, provided all of the welding gear the students used, and a state-ofthe-art machine to bevel metal, which is required to do the welds for this course and the truck body industry.

After the inaugural program’s success at Triton High, HCS CTE staff hope to enroll more students into the course and create a pipeline for companies like Godwin Manufacturing and Arc3 Gases to fill their entry-level positions and/or apprenticeships.

“HCS CTE could not have created this program without these partners or HCBEP,” said Lindsey Hardee in a press release. “We take great pride in our commitment and obligation to address local needs and the formulation of this program is evidence our community can take an idea, put it to action, and see great results.”

Lindsey Hardee, School-to-Career Coordinator for Harnett County Schools’ (HCS) Career & Technical

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HARNETT COUNTY

The Inaugural LEEPS Class at Triton High School: (Front row, left to right) Amber Izaguirre, Alex Lassiter. (Back row, left to right) Dylan Williams, Jonathan Herrin, Trevor Moore, William “CJ” Herring.

We take great pride in our commitment and obligation to address local needs and the formulation of this program is evidence our community can take an idea, put it to action, and see great results.”

Lindsey Hardee

“

Nighttime Could Be the Right Time to Save.

With PWC’s New Super Off-Peak Rate

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

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