Images Rocky Mount, NC: 2010-11

2010-11 | imagesrockymount.com ®

What’s Online Take a tour of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park.

rocky mount, north carolina

EATING IS BELIEVING Food events spice up life

WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY Entrepreneurs receive good advice

Gotta Love It New marketing campaign begins

sponsored by the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce

2010-11 edition | volume 11 速

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

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co nte nt s F e atu r e s 10 Gotta love it The city’s latest marketing campaign highlights all there is to adore about Rocky Mount.

14 Windows of opportunity Business owners get advice and recognition from the NorthEastern Entrepreneur Roundtable.

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16 In business Rocky Mount and its surrounding region are lucky to have a diverse business sector.

d e pa r tm e nt s 6 Almanac 18 Biz Briefs 20 Chamber Report 21 Economic Profile 22 Image Gallery 28 Arts & Culture 30 Education 32 Local Flavor 34 Sports & Recreation 36 Fun Things To Do 38 Health & Wellness 43 Community Profile 44 Photo Finish

on the cover Photo by Todd Bennett Paddlers launch their kayaks at Battle Park

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All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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®

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Rock y Mount, North Carolina Project Manager courtney seiter Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jennifer Graves Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editors Lisa Battles, Joyce Caruthers, Jill Wyatt Contributing writers melanie Hill, spencer mohead, eva pitts, tiffany williams Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Candice Sweet, Vikki Williams Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, Yamel Hall, Alison Hunter, Marcus Snyder Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Managers John Hood, Kim Madlom Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web Designer Leigh Guarin Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Marcia Millar, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. Service Technician Ryan Sweeney Regional Sales Manager Charles Sweeney Sales Support/Community, Business, Custom Rachael Goldsberry Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Senior Integrated Media Manager ruth martineau Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner V.P./Content Development Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim Newsom V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Sales Recruiter/Trainer Colin Wright Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

Sit back and enjoy a preview of Rocky Mount amenities.

Explore its landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.

See its downtown, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.

Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings.

Rocky Mount is rated L for Livability

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Images Rocky Mount is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce PO Box 392 • Rocky Mount, NC 27802-0392 Phone: (252) 446-0323 • Fax: (252) 446-5103 www.rockymountchamber.org Visit Images Rocky Mount online at imagesrockymount.com ©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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Photos See dozens more photos in our online photo gallery Get the inside scoop from our photographers’ blog

2010-11 | IMAGESROckYMOUNT.cOM ®

What’s Online Take a tour of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park.

ROckY MOUNT, NORTH cAROLINA

EATING IS BELIEVING Food events spice up life

WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY

To learn more, contact:

Entrepreneurs receive good advice

Facts & Stats Dig deeper with in-depth data on industries, schools and more

Gotta Love It New marketing campaign begins

SPONSORED BY THE ROckY MOUNT AREA cHAMBER OF cOMMERcE

Video Get a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions

Real estate Learn about the local housing market and get started finding your place

www.ncwc.edu

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Admissions office north cArolinA WesleyAn college 3400 North Wesleyan Blvd.

Rocky Mount, NC 27804 E-mail: adm@ncwc.edu

(252) 985-5200 Rock y M o u nt

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Almanac

Welcome to Rocky Mount An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

Here's the Pitch

Fame Is Not Fleeting All hail, inductees. The Twin County Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honor citizens of Edgecombe and Nash counties who have made lasting contributions to the community. The public nominates inductees each November and then a panel of long-time citizens and dignitaries chooses the final list. The Hall is situated in a portion of the first floor at Rocky Mount Train Station, and to date nearly 40 inductees have been enshrined. Those already in the hall include legendary jazz musician Thelonious Monk, nuclear physicist Harold Ray Denton, Big Band leader Kay Kyser, baseball great Buck Leonard, and former slave and state legislator Dred Wimberly.

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Tar River Orchestra & Chorus has been serenading audiences since 1986. Nowadays, the ensemble includes a professional orchestra, adult chorus, children's chorus, youth strings program, symphonic band and a swing band. It draws on the talent of musicians from nearby cities and towns as well as college students at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount and East Carolina University in Greenville. The Tar River group is also committed to musical education, introducing schoolchildren to live orchestral music through a variety of outreach programs.

Need a Ride to New York?

Rocky Mount Train Station serves Amtrak customers bound for places as far away as Miami or New York City. The historic station building also houses the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce. The building was first constructed as a two-story brick Romanesque structure in 1893 by Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. A third story was added in 1916, and the entire building was modernized in the 1960s. More improvements to the train station were completed in the late 1990s.

The train station is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Check It Out Here's one for the books: Braswell Memorial Library welcomes 350,000 visitors each year. The library serves the residents of Nash, Edgecombe and neighboring counties, with the main branch located on North Grace Street in Rocky Mount. Braswell has been in existence since 1923 and moved into its current building in 2002. That building has won a number of awards for its architectural design as well as the excellence of its programs. Those programs include Read and Grow Story Services, which helps improve literacy at daycare centers by providing them with free books.

Gatekeepers Work Camp Older residents can benefit from a popular Rocky Mount summer youth program.

Gatekeepers Work Camp, which encompasses youth groups from many local churches, sends a veritable army of young people into the community each summer for a week of charitable work. Along with skilled adults, these philanthropists-in-training go into areas in need to work on the homes of elderly residents, performing activities like painting, roofing, building porches and more.

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Fast Facts

Gaining Seniority

n Rocky Mount has the distinction of having twice been named an AllAmerican City by the National Civic League, first in 1969 and again in 1999.

Rocky Mount Senior Center opened in 2006, in a former downtown YMCA building.

The center is equipped with a swimming pool, library, craft room, billiards room, card room, computer lab, fitness room, dance studio and shuffleboard courts. There is also a 1/5-mile walking track in a small park across the street. No membership for the center is required, but fees are charged for classes, trips, fitness room and use of the pool. The senior center is open to any Rocky Mount residents ages 55 and up.

n If you like barbecue, don’t miss the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down, a part of the Down East Festival of the Arts that takes place the second Friday and Saturday in October.

Rocky Mount At A Glance POPULATION (2009 estimate) 61,000

the Tuscarora Indians, but the town wasn’t formally established for another 155 years.

LOCATION Rocky Mount, in the state’s heartland region, intersects I-95 and U.S. 64.

That intersection claims the No. 1 traffic count along the I-95 corridor in North Carolina.

BEGINNINGS European settlers first arrived in Rocky Mount in 1712 after years of battling

FOR MORE INFORMATION Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce 100 Coast Line St., 2nd Floor Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Phone: (252) 446-0323 Fax: (252) 446-5103 www.rockymountchamber.org

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n The Farmers Market in Rocky Mount’s Historic Mill District is open on Fridays and Saturdays from April through November.

E D G E CO M B E

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n The Rocky Mount train station is part of the city’s historic district.

Whitakers

NASH Dortches

n The “Twin Counties” region comprises Nash and Edgecombe counties and has a population of nearly 150,000.

Rocky Mount is the largest municipality in the region.

Nashville 64

To Raleigh eigh h

Rocky Mount 43

Tarboro

Sharpsburg 258

64

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Gotta

Love It 10

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Todd Bennett

Mayor David Combs is one of 200 residents interviewed for the “Ask Me Why I Love Rocky Mount” campaign.

Left: A gazebo at Rose Hill in Nashville staff photo

City’s Latest Marketing Campaign Highlights All There Is to Adore About Rocky Mount Story By Melanie Hill

L

ove Rocky Mount? You're not alone. Every day, more and more people are discovering new reasons to fall in love with the quaint North Carolina community, and now they're talking.

On air, online and on lawns, support for the city's “Ask me why I love Rocky Mount” campaign is evident. The successful marketing campaign kicked off April 2010 with colorful yard signs, window decals, and countless friendly faces.

“Not only did we want to create a positive image, but we wanted to make people stop and think about all the great things in Rocky Mount that some of us take for granted every day,” says Rocky Mount Mayor David Combs.

A lifelong city resident, Combs is one of more than 200 friends and neighbors interviewed for spots now airing on cable

television and online at www.loverockymount.com.

Newspaper ads and social media outlets Twitter and Facebook also are part of the massive outreach effort created by Rocky Mount-based Lewis Advertising. Agency president Don Williams says the end goal was to create a very personal campaign.

“In place of a call-to-action statement, the campaign is centered around a question that encourages discussion. ‘Ask me why I love Rocky Mount’ is a very direct and personal challenge.

It's a question that begs to be answered,” Williams says.

Megan Hinkle, public affairs manager for the city of Rocky Mount, said the campaign is part of the city's responsibility to get people more involved in their community. She says newcomers who have moved to Rocky Mount specifically for its culture, education and healthcare Rock y M o u nt

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COMMUNITY GARDENS

Todd Bennett

Community gardens are really growing in Rocky Mount, with several churches and a number of green-thumbed individuals getting involved. One area master gardener and retired fireman, L.W. Farmer, uses gardening to give back to the community. He leases a piece of property from the city, tills the soil, and offers the land up to others in the community to use and grow crops in the summer. What they grow, they share amongst each other.

often are more aware of local amenities than those who've called the area home for generations.

“We have lifelong residents who have never been to the Imperial Centre, or to some of our many parks,” Hinkle says.

“People are drawn to our small community where you still have some of the amenities of a larger city but without the frustration of a long commute at the end of the day. It really is a community that welcomes people with open arms.”

Video clips feature residents of all ages citing reasons why they love Rocky Mount. Diversity, opportunity, recreation and friendly people rank among the most popular responses.

“To go to a site and see what people you know are saying is nice, and it really is amazing to see such a great demographic cross section,” Combs says. “Everyone has a different perspective.”

City leaders also are working with frontline staff at area hotels and restaurants to ensure out-of-town guests are given the most up-to-date and comprehensive city information possible. Meanwhile, online visitors are encouraged to “Show some love” by picking up yard signs, stickers and window clings available at area businesses. Click on “Send some love” to create a custom online postcard featuring familiar Rocky Mount landmarks, and learn about the city's recreational, educational and cultural venues at the “What's to love” link. Finally, visitors can “Feel the love” at the site's media center featuring the campaign's 14 videos, print ads, flyers and billboards.

“We've had an excellent response to the campaign,” Combs says. “For anyone who says there's nothing to do here, they're just not looking for it.”

Clockwise from top left: M.A. Hawkins Jr. works in a plot at the community garden; children in the “Spray Park” at Sunset Park; runners cross the bridge at Battle Park; visitors at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences

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Tripartisan Teamwork With a Vision Rocky Mount region begins visioning initiative

Staff Photo

Staff Photo

Todd Bennett

T

hey’re separated by a railroad, yet tied together by the advantages this vital transportation artery brings to Rocky Mount and the two counties it lies within.

Rocky Mount is unique in that it sits directly within and on each side of the Nash/ Edgecombe railroad-divided county line. While that bit of geography creates leadership and turf challenges from time to time, it also continues to generate economic opportunity for an area that could be considered a pioneer in regionalism.

“We are tied together in so many ways,” says Mayor David Combs, a Rocky Mount native serving his first term as mayor of his hometown.

The Carolinas Gateway Partnership, a successful public/ private partnership that includes these three governing entities, is one example of regional “tripartisanship.” It was created several years ago to recruit industry to the area.

“Now, we are taking a hard look at our region through a visioning process,” Combs says.

“We want to take a step back and see what other people see when they think of us. By approaching this as a region, we can put more resources into it and get a better result.”

The counties and the city are now pushing full steam ahead with a visioning initiative to set goals that will propel the region into a prosperous future.

– Betsy Williams

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Windows of

Opportunity Business Owners Get Advice, Recognition From the NorthEastern Entrepreneur Roundtable

Story By Melanie Hill | Photography By todd bennett

E

astern North Carolina is open for business, thanks to a growing generation of entrepreneurs who’ve chosen to call Rocky Mount home.

Helping to foster that independent spirit is the NorthEastern Entrepreneur Roundtable. Composed of representatives from some of the region’s foremost companies, NEER supports and recognizes entrepreneurs who own businesses in Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash and Wilson Counties.

“The purpose of NEER is two-fold in that the business community is exposed to the entrepreneur and vice versa,” says B. Mayo Boddie Sr., founder and chairman of NEER. A successful entrepreneur himself, Boddie and fellow advisory council members provide services ranging from legal and financial advice to marketing and human resources information to help young companies flourish.

Now in its 16th year, NEER also seeks out the most promising startups in the region, recognizing them publicly and at their annual banquet. The muchanticipated event includes an awards presentation and a video tribute

honoring each of the four nominees.

The program has helped boost countless homegrown start-ups like Rocky Mount-based WebPoint IT Solutions. Named a NEER finalist in 2010, the tech-savvy company has become one of the fastest-growing IT solution providers in the region. What started as the internal IT division of Rawls & Winstead Inc., became a stand-alone company in 2007 with the creation of WebPoint IT Solutions.

Today, the IT provider’s Managed Service Division is up more than 500 percent with monthly proactive customer support provided to more than 100 customers, innovative custom software development and continued service as an internal IT department to its sister companies.

“Most small- to medium-size companies focus on their specialty but need technology to run their business,” says Bill Long III, vice president and chief operating officer of WebPoint IT Solutions. “This is a great opportunity for us to grow as an IT company while also partnering with many unique entrepreneurs.”

Long says Eastern North Carolina has

been an ideal place to set up shop for he and business partners Ben Winstead, Martin Skojec, Mark Turner, Will Williams, Hall Thorp and Ellen Amerson.

“Because Rocky Mount is still a fairly small town a lot of the business owners know each other, and it’s just a fun collaboration to interact with these people,” Long says.

Advisory board member Don Williams has been with NEER since the organization’s inception, and says the group is constantly searching out the community for entrepreneurs who have worked hard and gone outside the box.

Nominees for Entrepreneur of the Year are judged based on creative and visionary approaches taken to building the company, a positive change in the company’s finances or employment levels, contributions to the community and the amount of risk taken in pursuing the objectives of his business.

“NEER is very unique in that there’s nothing else like it in this part of the state,” Williams says. “It serves as an inspiration to the business community as a whole, and encourages people who are thinking about starting a business to go ahead and take that risk.”

Clockwise from top: B. Mayo Boddie is the force behind the NorthEastern Entrepreneur Roundtable; WebPoint IT Solutions was a 2010 finalist in the NEER program; it has made a name for itself in the region.

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In Business Rocky Mount KNows how to take care of business

Story By kevin litwin Photography By todd bennett

R

ocky Mount and its surrounding region are lucky to have a diverse business sector, with everything from startup companies to large corporations. A key reason why businesses are successful here is because of a good transportation network in place that creates a magnet for growth.

Highways Rocky Mount is situated just off Interstate 95 at the intersection of U.S. Route 64, which is a major east-west freeway. In addition, U.S. 301 provides a key north-south thoroughfare through the city.

Airports Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport is situated along NC Highway 97 and serves the counties of Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson. It is only minutes from the industrial traffic routes of I-95, US 64, US 264, US 301 and NC 98. Meanwhile, Raleigh-Durham International is a short drive from Rocky Mount, and nearby Kinston Regional Airport specializes in cargo and charter flights.

Some of the major corporations in Rocky Mount that benefit from access to these convenient transportation options are: Boddie-Noell Enterprises This company started in 1962 and today is among the largest restaurant holdings in the United States. Its brand 16

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lineup includes Hardee’s, Cafe Carolina & Bakery, Texas Steakhouse & Saloon, Moe’s Southwest Grill and The Highway Diner. Boddie-Noell is also involved in land development projects across the country.

MBM Corp.

Founded in 1947, this is one of the nation’s largest foodservice distributors for national restaurant chains. MBM is recognized by Forbes as one of the top 50 privately held companies in the United States, and is well known in the foodservice industry for establishing world class standards.

Sara Lee Bakery More than 800 people work in Rocky Mount to manufacture brand-name bakery, beverage and body care products for consumers throughout the world.

The Sara Lee lineup includes Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Senseo and its namesake, Sara Lee. Hospira The pharmaceutical and medication delivery company has a mission of developing, manufacturing and marketing products that improve the safety and effectiveness of patient care.

Its product line includes IV sets, prefilled syringes, insulin and intensive care pharmaceuticals.

RBC Bank Today’s RBC Bank is the product of more than 30 mergers and acquisitions since its founding in 1990. It has grown to become a leading regional bank over

the past two decades, and has more than 1,200 employees in the Rocky Mount region.

QVC The home shopping television network that began in 1986 has a Rocky Mount distribution center that employs over 1,000 people. The Quality, Value, Convenience network established its Rocky Mount warehouse in 2000, and the first order shipped from there was an Abslide Rolling Torso exercise machine.

CenturyLink (Embarq) The telecommunications giant has a Rocky Mount center that employs 1,000 people, providing customers with phone service, high-speed Internet access and satellite TV service. The company prides itself in providing customers with one bill to pay and one phone number to call for everything.

Universal Leaf North America The tobacco processing company was founded in 1918 and is the world’s leading leaf tobacco merchant. The largest portion of Universal Leaf’s business involves the procurement, processing, packing and supplying of flue-cured and burley tobacco to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products.

What’s Online Pay a visit to the business section at imagesrockymount.com to learn more about Rocky Mount’s business climate.

Staff Photo

Todd Bennett

Staff Photo

Clockwise from top: Headquarters of Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc.; the Sara Lee Bakery employs around 800 people; the airport is close to US 64 and I-95

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Biz Briefs

A sampling of businesses – large and small – that helps define Rocky Mount’s strong and well-balanced economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$875 million Rocky Mount Metro Area annual retail sales

$14,000 Retail sales per capita

$21 million Annual accommodations and food service sales

5,187 Total number of firms Source: PCensus

ALLEGRA design marketing & Print Biz: Printing and graphic design Buzz: Allegra offers companies a one-source stop for advanced graphic design, printing and mailing services, and trade show marketing.

The Rocky Mount company performs projects that include large format printing, Web marketing and design and direct mail campaigns. Allegra can also assist customers with promotional products such as trade show displays and advertising specialty items. www.allegrapi.com

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EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAL GROUP Biz: Medical services Buzz: The medical group offers residents health care at five locations within a fourcounty area, employing over 100 full-time professionals in Edgecombe and Nash counties. Services include hematology, oncology, internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care, pediatrics and family medicine. The practice also provides services such as foreign travel vaccines, balance testing, bone densitometry and nuclear cardiac stress tests.

Discover the cost-cutting secrets of outsourcing.

You name it. We can do it!

www.encmg.com

SePRO Biz: Ag chemical company Buzz: SePRO Corp. was founded in 1993 and focuses on the manufacturing and marketing of products for such specialty applications as aquatics and horticulture. Its emphasis could mean routinely talking one-on-one with a rose grower about a problem in his greenhouse, or accompanying an aquatics applicator to a meeting with lake property owners. The company, located near Whitakers, expanded in 2010 and added more employees.

Tri-County Industries 1250 Atlantic Ave. Rocky Mount, NC 27801

(252) 977-3800 (866) 605-7765 Toll-free (252) 977-2283 Fax

ISO Registered

www.tciworks.com

ASSEMBLE IT. BOX IT. CLEAN IT. COLLATE IT. CONNECT IT. COUNT IT. CUT IT. DELIVER IT. DE-RIVET IT. DISASSEMBLE IT. DRILL IT. FAX IT. FILL IT. FOLD IT. GLUE IT. INSPECT IT. LAMINATE IT. MAIL IT. NAIL IT. PACKAGE IT. PAINT IT. POLISH IT. RECYCLE IT. REPAIR IT. REWORK IT. SAND IT. SAW IT. SEAL IT. SHIP IT. SLIT IT. SOLDER IT. SORT IT. STAMP IT. STAPLE IT. STRIP IT. TAPE IT. TEXT IT. WAREHOUSE IT. WEIGH IT. WELD IT. WIRE IT. WRAP IT.

www.sepro.com

WEST CORPORATION Biz: Call center Buzz: West Corp. is based in Nebraska and opened a call center in Rocky Mount in 2005. Today, the company employs nearly 700 people, pulling employees from Edgecombe and Nash counties.

Besides numerous customers from the corporate world, West also provides the core of the nation’s 911 infrastructure, supporting more than 200 million calls to 911 each year. www.west.com

BEL AIR ARTISAN CENTER Biz: Artist studio Buzz: The center is housed downtown on South Church Street, in a circa 1924 building once occupied by Bel Air Chevrolet Co. Today, it is rented by owners Ron and Hilary Vetere to artisans who sculpt clay, sew quilts, spin cloth, weave baskets or turn wood.

Also on site are artisans who are master cabinetmakers, makers of musical instruments, stained glass specialists and photographers. www.belairartisanscenter.com

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Chamber Report Rocky Mount Chamber launches new interactive website

I

n an age when cruising, tweeting and connecting are vital daily occurrences, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce maintains a prime location on the information highway.

“Our new website has much more information and is designed differently from those of other chambers,” says Shearin Johnson, chamber chief operating officer. “This site is very

interactive and enhances the value of chamber membership.”

Spearheaded by 2009 chamber chairman John Kincheloe and under development for almost a year, the site has been designed to address a myriad of needs for members, visitors and the community.

“When we sat down with the chamber staff to discuss the redesign of

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GO GREEN. SOME EVEN INCLUDE COMFORT AND STYLE. With Natural Gas, you will enjoy precise temperature control in the kitchen, instant hot water in the bathroom, and a beautiful fire at the flip of a switch.

But perhaps the most beautiful thing about clean-burning Natural Gas is how it can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 60%.

To learn more about how to go green in comfort and style, visit ComfortableResponsible.org or utilities.rockymountnc.gov.

For information about the installation of natural gas in your home, please contact Rocky Mount Public Utilities at (252) 972-1269 or e-mail us at energyspecialist@rockymountnc.gov.

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their website, we were looking for a unique approach that offered a central hub for resources and good news,” says Allison Sikes, who designed the site through her company, Strategy Performance LLC, building upon coding provided by WebLink. “Our goal was to provide a professional, graphically pleasing website with tools and modules that would be available to members.”

The gold gem, Sikes says, is The Chamber & Business News Page.

Members can post press releases that are promoted through a twice-monthly member e-mail publication and advertise any available job openings they may have.

Couponing leads to big business, and the chamber has created a way for members to offer coupons to the public and on a member-to-member basis.

“We now have a dedicated Member Resource Center,” Sikes says. “Using their password, members can update their listing in the business directory and post coupons. Anyone can go on the website and get great coupons covering a wide variety of services and entertainment options.”

Through the site’s Business Connect center, visitors can request information from any business listed in the directory, including quotes for services.

“For instance, I want to get my house painted. I can select a category such as home improvement, I submit a request to the businesses that come up, and they will respond,” Sikes explains.

“The goal is to drive traffic to the business directory which, in turn, drives traffic to the business.”

The site is drawing thousands of visitors each month, which will increase as the site becomes more popular, Sikes says.

Members have more involvement in managing their information. They can create ways to drive traffic to their business, and they are linked to the vast social network.

Like anything that is rapidly changing, it remains a work in progress. New things, like spotlights on education and community videos, are added regularly.

– Betsy Williams

economic profile Business climate The Rocky Mount region has a thriving small business sector.

While some startup businesses remain small by design, many local companies have experienced rapid growth and now employ hundreds of people. Large corporations like BoddieNoell Enterprises and MBM Corp. are headquartered in the area.

INDUSTRIAL SITES Carolinas Gateway Partnership www.econdev.org/ properties.html Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 442-8081

Tax Structure Residential Property Tax Property Taxes for 2008-09 (per $100 valuation) are $.94 in Edgecombe County, $.70 in Nash County and $.55 in the City of Rocky Mount.

Transportation Amtrak 101 Hammond St. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 446-3646 Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport 7265 Air Terminal Drive Elm City, NC 27822 (252) 446-7057 Highway 97 between Rocky Mount and Wilson

Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce 100 Coast Line St. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 446-0323

Distance to major Cities Charlotte, 220 miles Greensboro, 135 miles Raleigh, 60 miles Durham, 69 miles Fayetteville, 95 miles Norfolk, Va., 120 miles Richmond, Va., 125 miles Winston-Salem, 163 miles

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Company

No. of Employees

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools

2,275

Hospira

1,800

Nash Health Care Systems

1,480

RBC Bank

1,250

Cummins - Rocky Mount Engines

1,150

Edgecombe County Schools

1,100

QVC

1,025

CenturyLink (Embarq)

1,000

Universal Leaf North America

1,000

City of Rocky Mount

850

Sara Lee Bakery

800

Edgecombe County

650

Belgian Quality 6610 Corporation pkwy. | BattleBoro, nC 27809 252-442-4016 | Fax 252-442-3191 www.poppies.Com

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Image Gallery

Artist Peggy Wyman’s work at the Galleryshop Staff Photo

What’s Online Visit imagesrockymount.com to see more award-winning photography highlighting the places and people in Rocky Mount.

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Image Gallery

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A fountain at Rose Hill Staff Photo

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One of the features along the Tar River Trail in Rocky Mount is the railroad trestle.

Photo by Todd Bennett

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Image Gallery

The 1920s era carousel at Sunset Park Photo by Todd Bennett

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Staff Photo

Todd Bennett

Staff Photo

Staff Photo

Arts & Culture

Having an Artistic Bent The Arts Take Center Stage in Rocky Mount Whether it's music, dance, theater or good ole fashioned visual arts one craves, there are plenty of cultural centers in the Rocky Mount area to satisfy even the most sophisticated arts appetite.

Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences The historically renovated, 135,000-square-foot Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences is located in downtown Rocky Mount and houses an arts center, multiple arts exhibits, a children's museum and science center and community performing arts theater, which stages more than 100 productions each year.

Dunn Center for the Performing Arts One such facility is the stateof-the-art Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, located on the North Carolina Wesleyan College campus. Best known for its stage performances and top-notch sound and lighting systems, the center seats more than 1,200 in its revered Minges Auditorium and 133 in its intimate Powers Recital Hall. The center also houses two visual arts galleries dedicated to showcasing artists in the community as well as from around the world. Mims Gallery features professional and international art, while the Civic Gallery showcases the creative talents of local artists.

Located nearby in NCWC's Pearsall Building is the world-

renowned Four Sisters Gallery.

Featuring self-taught, visionary artists from the Coastal Plain, the gallery often features selections from the Lynch Collection of Outsider Art.

Keihin Auditorium The two-story‚ 70‚000-squarefoot Keihin (pronounced kay-HEEN) Auditorium at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro is another facility devoted to enhancing the arts quality in the Rocky Mount community. Seating 1,029, the Keihin Auditorium, located in the college’s Fleming Building, has a 70-foot wide stage, flown acoustic panels and a cuttingedge lighting system – attracting top musical talent, ranging from legendary blues artist BB King to folk guitarist Doc Watson to country music newcomer Taylor Swift.

Nash Arts Center Housed in the former Nashville (NC) Baptist Church is the Nash Arts Center, built back in 1914.

Slated for demolition in 1983 to become a parking lot, the center has remained a thriving entity in the Rocky Mount area arts scene

with the help and support of the community – today, still using the original pews from the church for its seating. Run by Nash Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council, the 200-seat center features performances by local music acts‚ plays written and directed by North Carolina playwrights and works of art by area artists.

RENAISSANCE FAIRE The Nash County Visitors Bureau wanted to bring a new event to Rocky Mount, but they ended up bringing an old one – really old. The North Carolina Renaissance Faire, held for the first time in Rocky Mount in 2010, invited festivalgoers to step back 400 years in time and visit the days of His majesty King Henry VIII. A production of the North Carolina Renaissance Faire, Inc., the full-scale, interactive 16th Century Faire brought more than 100 artisans to hawk their wares while musicians, jugglers and actors carried on and bold knights competed for the favor of Her Majesty's Court. The Historical Enrichment Society event could become an annual festival.

– Tiffany Williams

Clockwise from top: Pottery at the Galleryshop; Quinton and Traci Dixon rehearse A Raisin in the Sun at Imperial Centre; Particle/Wave by Karl Saliter; Anna Godwin and Terence Battle practice at the Imperial Centre

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Education

Getting Schooled Institutions provide education for different stages of life Rocky Mount provides a true educational continuum with quality primary, secondary and continued education options for its residents. From the cradle to the office chair, the Rocky Mount area meets the needs of its residents.

Private Schools

Public Schools

Rocky Mount's private schools also set their bar high. Rocky Mount Academy provides an education that, since 1971, has had a 95 percent success rate in sending the graduates of its pre-K through grade 12 school to college. An 8-1 student-to-teacher ratio assures a personalized experience for students, while the 50 hours of community service they complete during their four years of high school aims to teach them social responsibility.

There also are faith-based educational options in the area, including Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School and Faith Christian School.

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools' commitment to excellence is evident when one considers the fact that 122 of the school system's teachers are National Board Certified, the highest credential available to primary and secondary educators. NRMPS shapes the minds of approximately 18,000 pupils on 29 campuses while still maintaining the ecological responsibility that won it the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Partner of the Year award. Edgecombe County Public Schools offers its 7,800 students the opportunities needed to succeed today. The system has some exciting initiatives in place with the 1:1 Laptop Program for all high school students and a pilot program – The Leader in Me, a Dr. Stephen Covey initiative – recently began at Pattillo School.

Higher Education For continuing and technical education, options range from North Carolina Wesleyan College and its affiliated Gateway Technology Center, to the Nash Community College and Edgecombe Community College, all the way to the College of Adult and Professional Education.

Gateway Technology Center is located on the Rocky Mount campus of North Carolina Wesleyan College. Gateway offers distance learning in association with East Carolina University, North Carolina State University and Fayetteville State University in a variety of degrees and programs of study.

Edgecombe Community College provides 25 degrees as well as diplomas and certificate programs.

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Charter Schools Founded in 1997, Rocky Mount Preparatory School is a tuition free, independent public charter school, K-12.

The school population of 1,000 consists of 60% African American, 36% Caucasian and 4% other ethnic groups.

The school’s premier mission is college prep and its curriculum includes traditional disciplines plus Latin, a study of “The Bible and its influences,” and a host of unique experiential study programs.

With a physical plant in excess of 100,000 square feet, the school offers three computer labs and 115 mobile network computers. The library/media center boasts a collection of over 18,000 volumes and educational DVDs. In terms of return on investment, Rocky Mount Preparatory School has many notable accolades. Prep enjoys 100% college acceptance in its six graduating classes. The school’s overall composite score on state testing was 79.5%, making Rocky Mount Prep a “School of Progress,” just one half of a percentage point from “School of Distinction”.

COMING SOON Two new schools are on the way in Rocky Mount.

A much-needed new Rocky Mount High School is under construction now, with a targeted completion date of August 2012.

"This new facility will reflect this community's commitment to public education, and people will be able to point to it with pride," says Rick McMahon, superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools.

Meanwhile, private, faith-based school Faith Christian has received $300,000 in donations that will go toward building a new high school.

North Carolina Wesleyan College Welcomes New President, Initiatives

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ith a new president and a slew of ambitious recent initiatives, North Carolina Wesleyan College is breaking new ground.

James A. Gray III, a native of Winston-Salem and a former associate dean at both University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, was inaugurated as the college’s sixth president in October 2009.

Gray is heading initiatives such as the new Office of Community Engagement, which encourages students, faculty and staff to get involved in the community. And a new International Student Services and Admissions Center focuses on international students.

“Wesleyan Windows on the World,” another new program, teams some of the college’s faculty with neighboring universities such as UNC, N.C. State and Duke to present seminars on topics ranging from “What is the Good Life?” to “Origins: Before and After Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.”

The school also has entered into a partnership with Wake Technical Community College to further the “2 Plus Wesleyan” program it has with Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson community colleges. Wake Tech’s two-year graduates will easily move to Wesleyan – at a discounted rate equal to state

university costs – so they can get their bachelor’s degree in two more years.

“Many of you have heard me and others say that North Carolina Wesleyan College has the ability to be ‘America’s Next Great College,’” Gray said in his inauguration speech. “We can do it.”

At the Gateway Technology Center, learning lasts a lifetime.

At the GTC, we offer academic courses and programs from NC State University, East Carolina University and North Carolina Wesleyan College, as well as other UNC institutions. But the learning doesn’t end there. We also offer lifelong learning experiences for K-12 students, teachers, business and industry, and community involvement. There is something for everyone at the GTC. Come out and see what we can offer you!

For education related programs: (252) 446-2585

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For facilities rental, call: (252) 442-0114

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Local Flavor

Chow Down on This Rocky Mount Food Festivals Focus on Barbecue, Wine Rocky Mount residents have great taste when it comes to food. Not only is food the focus of a handful of annual festivals here, there’s also a thriving farmers market as well as several local businesses that produce popular items sold nationwide.

Food-Focused Festivals Perhaps the city’s biggest culinary claim to fame is the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown, a major barbecue cook-off every October that acts as the culmination of the Down East Festival in downtown Rocky Mount. The contest is an official North Carolina State Barbecue Championship as well as a sanctioned competition of the renowned Kansas City Barbeque Society.

The Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival is a fall favorite in the town of Spring Hope. There are contests for all ages, including a pumpkin weigh-in, recipe competition, pumpkin queen pageant and a pumpkin creation contest. It doesn't just stop at the pumpkins though. Other activities include a street dance, crafts show, antique car show, music, carnival and parade.

The Tar River Wine Festival combines upscale wine tasting and fundraising efforts to offer one of the most popular charitable events in Eastern North Carolina. Participants enjoy an elegant evening of Southern cuisine and wine sampling.

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A Time to Plant

Photo Courtesy of Garry Hodges, Sunset Studios

Food Products From the Rocky Mount Area For fresh produce and some meats, the Rocky Mount Farmers Market sells fruits‚ vegetables‚ herbs‚ jams‚ country meats and more.

The market is located in a 7,000-square-foot building on Peachtree Street, and operates Fridays from June to August and Saturdays from April to October.

Peanuts are big business in the region. Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts and America’s Best Nut Company both sell and distribute gourmet nuts nationwide.

Butterfields candy tempts the taste buds with traditionally made products that stand out among other competitors. Butterfields, located in Nashville, N.C., has been making hard candy since 1924. The company uses only pure cane sugar, the hand-turn process and copper kettles to make a variety of treats, from Peach Buds to Peppermint Bursts.

Braswell Foods in Nash County produce Eggland's Best eggs, which are sold at stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco and other grocers across the country. Eggland's Best eggs have 25 percent less saturated fat than other eggs, and are available in white, organic and cage free.

Atlantic Natural Foods LLC in Nashville produces health and natural foods like tofu.

From peanuts to sweet potatoes, roots run deep in Eastern North Carolina. County agriculture cooperatives and youth organizations like Future Farmers of America and 4-H are working to promote – and protect – the region's thriving croplands.

“It's very important for kids to realize they live in such a strong agricultural area,” says Sandy Hall, Nash County extension agent for 4-H and youth programs. “You can get fresh produce right here in Nash County, and kids who don't get out in the countryside need to know the things going on in their community.”

Each year, the organization reaches more than 5,000 kids through school enrichment programs, traditional 4-H programs and their annual Heritage Days celebration showcasing agricultural exhibits and demonstrations.

In Edgecombe County, 150,000 acres of cropland comprise 1,200plus farms yielding the nation's best commodity crops. Cotton, soybeans, peanuts, tobacco and sweet potatoes are found here, along with a thriving livestock industry.

“Why agriculture and 4-H? Next time you sit down to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, you'll be eating the answer,” says Lesa Walton, extension agent for 4-H and youth programs for the Edgecombe County Extension Center.

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Sports & Recreation

Take It Outside Rocky Mount Offers Outdoor Recreation in Abundance Anyone who seeks fun and relaxation outdoors – from paddling a canoe to participating in basketball and baseball leagues – will find an array of recreational opportunities in the Rocky Mount area.

What’s Online A comprehensive map of recreational opportunities in the Tar River area is available at www.rockymountnc.gov/parks/trails.html.

Paddlers launch their kayaks at Battle Park.

Todd Bennett

Todd Bennett

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Tar River Trail

Tar River Waterways

The Tar River Trail is a paved walking/bike path that links four miles of parks from City Lake to Martin Luther King Park. Along this verdant stretch of the Tar River you'll find a miniature train and tennis courts in Sunset Park, the falls of Tar River, the historical homes of Mill Village, and Battle Park, the site of the town's "rocky mound" namesakes.

Following the course of the Tar River and Stony Creek, the gentle Class I canoe and kayak trails wind through downtown Rocky Mount. For an in-depth river experience, or just an afternoon picnic, camping platforms are available along the river trail in the Rocky Mount Reservoir and Battle Park. Information about campsite reservations and canoe rentals can be found at www. rockymountnc.gov/parks/ paddletrail.html.

Sunset Park

Just up the road from the river, Harrison Family YMCA seeks to improve Rocky Mount by providing day camps, after-school care, athletics and a variety of special events to its members. The YMCA organizes recreational activities for adults in swimming, rock climbing, karate, basketball and volleyball groups, while youth activities range from preschool tumbling to flag football and soccer.

Sunset Park offers a number of unique attractions and activities including a miniature train, historic carousel, a skate park, and a spray park with 10 computer-controlled water spray fountains within a traditional playground structure. The outdoor skate park features ramps and hills for kids of all ages including halfpipe, rails and quarterpipes

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Harrison Family YMCA

With its disc golf course, six youth baseball fields, four dualuse baseball and softball fields, championship regulation baseball field, four soccer/football fields, two basketball courts and walking trail, the sprawling Rocky Mount Sports Complex has diverse offerings. Proposed extensions of the Tar River walking trail will link to the complex. The disc golf course features three different tee lengths that allow players of different abilities to fairly compete against each other.

The course also features water hazards and several tee locations on each hole for a complete disc golf experience.

City Lake Rocky Mount's City Lake is the ideal place to feed ducks, fish or just lounge in the sun-soaked grass. In the winter months, Christmas lights are doubled in the lake's placid surface. A planned trail will officially join City Lake to the Tar River Trail.

Todd Bennett

Rocky Mount Sports Complex

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park A brief drive to nearby Scotland Neck will bring you to Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, a wetlands sanctuary and highly successful breeding center for rare birds. The park echoes with the calls of over 180 species of waterfowl and tropical birds which can be observed from a wheelchair-accessible tree house observation deck. Apart from the main waterfowl enclosure, the park houses 1,500 birds in its breeding area. Here, rare and endangered species like the Madagascar teal, African pygmy goose, Australian freckled duck, and the fragile white winged wood duck are coaxed back from the edge of extinction by park founders Mike and Ali Lubbock. Park hours and admission can be found at www.shwpark.com/index.php.

– Spencer Mohead Rock y M o u nt

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Fun Things To Do

Having Fun in Rocky Mount Go to the museum, play a round of golf or see a show From golf courses to parks to museums, the area has numerous recreational and cultural attractions. And being close to Raleigh, where activities include hockey, concerts at Alltel Pavilion and RBC Center, and the theater, just increases the options.

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Stretch and take a deep breathe of fresh air to play a 18-hole game of golf at Northgreen Golf Club.

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Enjoy a family outing at Sunset Park where you can have a picnic, ride the carousel or have fun getting wet at the water spray fountain.

Keep your children active and involved in fun, recreational activites afterschool at the Harrison Family YMCA. Walk into a complex that houses an Arts Center, a Children's Museum and Science Center and extraordinary Broadway talent at the community performing arts theatre at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences.

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Todd Bennett

Surround yourself with beautiful art displayed by talented local and regional artists at Nash County Arts Council.

Don't miss learning about technological advances and merchandise by hundreds of business and industry representatives during the annual Chamber Business Expo in October.

Get together with the Rocky Mount community to see parades and fireworks during the Annual July 4th Celebration.

Visit the scenic Battle Park and picnic in the shade at the falls of the tar.

Make a splash diving or water sliding into the Denton Street Pool.

Join the many recreational options Rocky Mount Sports Complex has to offer including soccer, baseball, softball and more.

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– Eva Pitts

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Todd Bennett

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Living with chronic pain?

We understand.

At Rocky Mount Pain & Spine and Brier Creek Integrated Pain & Spine, we can help with your chronic and acute pain. Dr. Robert D. Wadley and Dr. Seung Won Kim lead a team of medical professionals experienced in pain management.

We treat: • Chronic back and neck pain • Chronic headaches • Joint pain • Any other medical condition associated with chronic pain Contact our office at (252) 200-5180 or Raleigh office at (919) 596-3400 to schedule an appointment.

At Rocky Mount Pain & Spine, we accept all major commercial insurance carriers, Worker’s Compensation, Medicaid, Medicaid Carolina Access and Medicare.

Medical Directors Dr. Robert Wadley and Dr. Seung Won Kim are board certified in anesthesiology and fellowship trained in pain management.

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Rocky Mount Pain & Spine 121 Enterprise Dr. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 200-5180 i m ag e s r o c k y m o u n t. c Fax: o m (252) 200-5186

Brier Creek Integrated Pain & Spine 7780 Brier Creek Pkwy. • Ste. 200 Raleigh, NC 27617 (919) 596-3400 Fax: (919) 596-3499

Health & Wellness

A Regional Cure-All facilities Provide Healthy Outlooks for residents and region Nash General, Heritage and LifeCare hospitals are major medical centers in Rocky Mount, but health care in this city of 57,000 residents is even more than that.

Partnerships, satellite clinics and specialty offices also provide quality care to patients of Rocky Mount – and beyond. Some of the health-care facilities are: Nash General Hospital

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Nash County-owned Nash Health Care Systems owns this hospital that provides services usually found only in major metropolitan areas.

“Physicians who come to our staff from hospitals like Duke [University Medical Center] say the quality of services here is equal to, if not better than, what’s available at the big teaching centers,” says Larry Chewning, NHCS President and CEO. The campus is home to specialized facilities as Rocky Mount Heartburn Treatment Center, Joint Replacement Center and Nash Wound Care Center.

NHCS also locally operates Nash Day Hospital, the Bryant Aldridge Rehabilitation Hospital, Coastal Plain Hospital and the Emergency Care Center.

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Heritage Hospital

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The Tarboro-based center, part of the University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, has 117 beds and 20 physician specialties and services ranging from same-day surgery to critical care and rehabilitation.

There is also a Level III intermediate care nursery, family birthing center, cancer center, pain management clinic, chronic heart failure clinic, orthopedic services and a 24-hour emergency department.

Boice-Willis Intermediate Care

Carolina Quick Care

The physician-owned practice opened in 1914 and covers 16 different medical specialties. Boice-Willis has seven locations and services that include a women's imaging center, physical therapy, and health and diabetes education departments.

The clinic treats minor injuries and non-lifethreatening illnesses, including sprains, lacerations, sore throats, coughs and colds, flu, sinus infections, burns and rashes. It is open seven days a week and patients never need an appointment.

Frank J. Courts, D.D.S., Ph.D. PeDiAtric Dentistry Dedicated to children’s oral Health Specializing in Dentistry for Infants, Children, Adolescents & Patients with Special Needs First Visit Recommended Between Ages 12 & 18 Months AssociAtes

elizabeth K. Miller D.D.s., M.s. Pediatric Dentist Heather H. Kim D.D.s. General Dentist

73 Success Ct. • Rocky Mount • (252) 443-7136 40

i m ag e s r o c k y m o u n t. c o m

Health & Wellness POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS

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New partnerships are strengthening health care in Rocky Mount.

An agreement between Nash Health Care Systems, the Boice-Willis Clinic in Rocky Mount and University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina in Greenville will bring greater access to specialized heart care services to the Rocky Mount area.

UHS will help Nash Health Care develop and expand its cardiovascular offerings to patients in its service area through a new heart center in Rocky Mount jointly funded by both parties. Physicians at the Boice-Willis Clinic will provide those services.

In addition, a partnership between Nash Health Care and Boice-Willis has brought Nash County's only open MRI in a freestanding facility beside Boice-Willis Clinic on Winstead Avenue.

OIC Medical Center Services include family care, women’s health and imaging. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Thursdays until 9 p.m. and three Saturdays each month from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

LifeCare Hospital LifeCare was formed in 1992 and has 50 licensed beds and a medical staff of 35 physicians. The hospital is accredited with The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists, and specializes in the treatment of medically complex patients who require extended hospitalization.

Stephen H. Ladwig, MD Richard T. Fritz, MD Tillman Bailey III, MD Ivan Y. Peacock, MD Gerald W. Capps, MD Allen M. Johnson, MD Linda L. Willis, MD Todd H. Duncan, MD

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All Board-Certified Radiologists providing diagnostic imaging interpretation as well as vascular and interventional radiology services at Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, Nash Open MRI, Nash Breast Center and Hardees Heart Center.

Family Medical Center of Rocky Mount Services here include complete family care, women’s health, a coagulation clinic and diabetes education classes.

• Diagnostic Radiography • Fluororadiography • Digital Mammography • CT Imaging • MR Imaging • PET Imaging • Ultrasound Imaging • Nuclear Isotope Imaging • Image Guided Biopsy and Drainage • Image Guided Vascular Access • Catheter Directed Angiography • Therapeutic Spine Injections • Vein Ablation • Uterine Fibroid Embolization

131 Roundabout Ct. • P.O. Box 7946 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 443-4024 • (252) 443-5021 Fax

Department of Imaging Services – Nash General Hospital: (252) 962-8083 Department of Imaging Services – Nash Day Hospital: (252) 962-8946 Cardiovascular and Interventional Services – Hardees Heart Center: (252) 962-8202

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• Tuition free NC public charter college preparatory school • 100% college acceptance • Grades K-12 • Open to all residents of North Carolina •

100,000 sq. ft. of education facilities: elementary building, middle/high school building, high school wing, gymnasium, administration/ media center

For Immediate Application, 2010-2011: (252) 443-9923 www.rockymountprep.org

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community profile Snapshot The Rocky Mount area is located in Nash and Edgecombe counties. The region offers a small-town feel and charm but bigcity amenities such as sophisticated arts and culture, abundant sports and recreation, and the security of quality health care and excellent educational opportunities.

Health Care Rocky Mount area residents enjoy excellent health care, with a wide variety of physicians, surgeons and specialists. The major hospitals are Nash General Hospital and Heritage Hospital.

For a breakdown of medical services, visit imagesrockymount.com.

Education

Climate North Carolina’s Sun Belt climate offers moderate temperatures accentuated by four distinct seasons that provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Winter weather rarely interferes with business operations, and ample rainfall provides abundant water resources.

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Targeting educational excellence is a fundamental focus of school systems in the Rocky Mount area. The region continues to be a leader in establishing business-education partnerships, with more than 200 local businesses partnering with area schools. For a list of schools and other information, visit imagesrockymount.com.

Local Utilities

January Low Temperature

Electric City of Rocky Mount (252) 467-4800

89 July High Temperature

Progress Energy (919) 508-5400, (800) 452-2777 Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, (252) 823-2171 Phone CenturyLink (252) 450-6779, (800) 775-0494 Gas City of Rocky Mount (252) 467-4800 Cable Suddenlink Communications North Carolina, (252) 757-2200 Water Rocky Mount Water Department 724 Albemarle Ave. Rocky Mount, NC 27801 (252) 972-1290

Local Media WHIG-TV (252) 446-8857 The Rocky Mount Telegram (252) 446-5161 The News & Observer (800) 522-4205 Daily Southerner (252) 823-3106

visit our

advertisers Carolinas Gateway Partnership www.econdev.org

Hanson www.hanson.com

Nash Health Care Systems www.nhcs.org

Edgecombe Community College www.edgecombe.edu

Life Care Hospitals of North Carolina www.lifecare-hospitals.com

Nash X-Ray Associates

Excell Wireless

Frank J. Courts DDS PHD

McLane Company Inc. www.mclaneco.com

Gateway Technology Center www.gatewaytechnologycenter.org

Nancy Liipfert Associates Inc. www.nancyliipfert.com

Hampton Inn www.rockymount.hamptoninn.com

Nash Community College www.nashcc.edu

Nash-Rocky Mount Public School System www.nrms.k12.nc.us North Carolina Wesleyan College www.ncwc.edu Poppies International Inc. Rocky Mount Pain & Spine www.painandspine.org

Rocky Mount Preparatory School www.rockymountprep.org Rocky Mount Public Utilities www.rockymountnc.gov Suddenlink www.suddenlink.com Tri-County Industries www.tciworks.com

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Photo Finish

T

hese black-necked swans are just one species of the 1,500 ducks, geese, swans and other exotic birds that call the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck home.

Open since October 2006, the 18-acre facility features large, walk-through aviaries displaying birds from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Black-necked swans are 45 to 55 inches tall and weigh from 8 to 15 pounds; they also are the smallest species of swan.

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P.O. Box 789 7253 NC Hwy. 48 Battleboro, NC 27809 (252) 972-2500 Ph (252) 973-6791 Fax www.mclaneco.com ABOUT US McLane Company is one of the largest and fastest growing nationwide distributors of grocery and general merchandise products in the country.

OUR MISSION To become the world's premier logistics company.

OUR PEOPLE McLane Company has, for well over 100 years, been built on a heritage of honesty, integrity and high Christian principles, both in our customer relationships and teamwork of our employees.

OUR TENURE McLane Company is celebrating 10 years of service to our customers and the community in the Rocky Mount area.

OUR AFFILIATIONS United Way • Children's Miracle Network

Rocky Mount Area Relocation Relocating is more than just about changing houses.

It is about all the parts of your life that make a home.

Nancy Liipfert Associates understands. Please let us help.

We are a member of North America’s leading independent broker network.

Whether you are moving to or from Rocky Mount, please call on our team of trained professionals.

From left: ANN MccARTNEY ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, Broker

BETTY NORMAN CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SRES, Broker

NANcY LIIPFERT CRS, GRI, CRP, Broker-in-Charge

BRUcE GOODENOUGH CRS, GRI, Broker

HANNAH JONES ABR, CRS, GRI, Broker

ANA JOYNER ABR, CRS, GRI, Broker

RENEE SILK ABR, GRI, Broker

an all Broker office

NaNcy Liipfert associates iNc. 3709 Westridge Circle Dr. • Rocky Mount, NC 27804-0218 (252) 937-7000

(800) 831-0114

www.nancyliipfert.com ABR – Accredited Buyer Representative CRP – Certified Relocation Professional CRS – Certified Residential Specialist GRI – Graduate Realtors® Institute e-PRO – Internet Professional SRES – Seniors Real Estate Specialists