North Carolina's Northeast Region Economic Development Guide 2013

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NOrtheast region economic development guide

A Second Wind Manufacturers find new life for production

Haven for History

New discoveries shape tourism in region

First in Flight

Region at the forefront of aviation innovation Sponsored by North Carolina’s Northeast Commission | 2013

NORTH CAROLINA’S NORTHEAST COMMISSION 119 W. Water St. • Edenton, NC 27932 • (252) 482-4333 • F: (252) 482-3366

www.NCNortheast.Com

VaNN roGersoN, presideNt • riChard BuNCh, reGioNal marketiNG

CouNty allies NorthamptoN CouNty Economic Development – Gary Brown (252) 534-1092 hertford CouNty Economic Development – Bill Early (252) 358-7801 Gates CouNty Economic Development – County Manager (252) 357-1240 ChowaN CouNty Economic Development – Zee Lamb (County Manager) – (252) 482-8431

perquimaNs CouNty Economic Development – Dave Goss (252) 426-3188 pasquotaNk CouNty Economic Development – Wayne Harris (252) 338-0169 CamdeN CouNty Economic Development – Charlie Bauman (252) 338-1919 CurrituCk CouNty Economic Development – Peter Bishop (252) 232-6015

halifax CouNty Economic Development – Cathy Scott (252) 519-2630

washiNGtoN CouNty Economic Development – Cheryl Young (Assistant County Manager) – (252) 791-0001

Bertie CouNty Economic Development – Steve Biggs (252) 794-5301

hyde CouNty Economic Development – Kris Noble (252) 926-4474

martiN CouNty Economic Development – Marvin Davis (252) 789-4904 Beaufort CouNty Economic Development – Bob Heuts (252) 946-3970

tyrrell CouNty Economic Development – Willie Mac Carawan (County Manager) – (252) 796-1371 dare CouNty Economic Development – Bob Peele (252) 475-1414

north Carolina’s NOrtheast region economic development guide

Workstyle A Second Wind

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Manufacturers find new life for production

Seeds of Potential

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Biotech industry cultivates new opportunities

First in Flight

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Region at the forefront of aviation innovation

Haven for History

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New discoveries shape tourism in region

Insight

24

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Overview

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Contact Directory

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Almanac

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Business Climate

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Energy/Technology

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Transportation

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Health

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Education

41

Livability

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Economic Profile

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On the Cover Workers at the Aviation Logistics Center at the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City refurbish aircraft from across the country.

Photo by todd bennett

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Please recycle this magazine

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First in Flight

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N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s N o r t h e a s t R e g i o n Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e

north Carolina’s

NOrtheast region economic development guide

201 3 Edition , volum e 2 editorial project manager Emily McMackin Content Director Bill McMeekin

business ®

Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Contributing writers Nan Bauroth, Melanie Kilgore-Hill, Kathryn Royster, Liisa Sullivan, Jason Zasky Senior Graphic Designers stacey allis, Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Jake Shores, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers erica lampley, kara leiby, Kacey Passmore Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, martin cherry, Michael Conti color imaging technician alison hunter executive Integrated Media Manager Suzi McGruder

Digital Edition

Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter

Haven for History

Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing kim holmberg V.P./business Development Clay Perry V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers

Monumental milestones, new discoveries shape tourism in North Carolina’s Northeast

V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./travel publishing susan chappell V.P./Sales Rhonda Graham, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky

Story by Jason Zasky • Photography by Todd Bennett

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Controller Chris Dudley

ettlers have been gravitating to North Carolina’s Northeast Region since the 1580s, when Captain John Smith attempted to establish the New World’s first permanent English colony at present-day Manteo.

Colonists were drawn by many of the same qualities that attract locals and visitors today: a temperate climate, breathtaking scenery and a landscape ideal for hunting and fishing.

A recent historical discovery that made international headlines may now prove that the New World’s first colonists – part of the so-called Lost Colony, which mysteriously vanished around 1587 – didn’t disappear at all, but likely migrated northwest, resettling near what is now Merry Hill in Bertie County.

Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Sales Support project manager sara quint system administrator Daniel cantrell Web Creative Director Allison Davis Web Content Manager John Hood Web Designer II richard stevens Web Development Lead Yamel Hall

In May 2012, a group of researchers, including Brent Lane, an adjunct professor at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, announced the discovery of a fort symbol on a 425-year-old Elizabethan map – an emblem written in invisible ink and hidden below a patch – which led archaeologists to conduct excavations alongside Salmon Creek across from the Arnold Palmer-designed Scotch Hall Preserve golf club in Merry Hill.

The dig could unearth deep potential for the region’s heritage tourism industry.

“It means that Bertie County is not only going to be a center for very important archaeological and historical research,” Lane says, “It’s also going to be strongly associated with the Lost Colony story – whereas in the past, it had not.”

A PLACE OF FIRSTS Northeastern North Carolina already has quite a reputation for historically significant developments. In the early 20th century, bicycle mechanics Wilbur and Orville Wright made repeated trips to the area to test their experimental flying machines.

The windswept beaches and soft sand dunes characteristic of the Outer Banks and the barrier islands that comprise the Cape Hatteras National Seashore attracted the Wright Brothers to Kitty Hawk, where they pioneered the world’s first flight on Dec. 17, 1903.

Visitors still flock to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, where they can walk the grounds where Wilbur and Orville launched the first

Built in 1767, Edenton’s Chowan County Courthouse is a National Historic Landmark and one of the region’s many historically significant sites.

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Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Creative Services Director Christina Carden Creative Technology Analyst Becca ary Audience Development Director Deanna Nelson New Media Assistant Alyssa DiCicco Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

North Carolina’s Northeast Region Economic Development Guide is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the North Carolina’s Northeast Commission.

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

For more information, contact: North Carolina’s Northeast Commission 119 West Water Street • Edenton, NC 27932 Phone: (252) 482-4333 • Fax: (252) 482-3366 www.ncnortheast.info

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Hear from decision-makers at leading companies, see video of the region’s success stories and find links to useful demographic information and information sources.

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Discover the Nation’s Other Northeast Explore a Northeast where winters are mild and the climate is decidedly pro-business Halfway between New England and Florida at the midpoint of the I-95 corridor, businesses with lofty ambitions are learning what the Wright Brothers knew a century before them – that the 16-county region of North Carolina’s Northeast is a place where the spirit of innovation can soar.

Once a colonial powerhouse for shipping trades, agricultural production and political activism, North Carolina’s Northeast retains its charm with historic buildings, stately antebellum homes, Civil War reenactments and unlimited recreation for water lovers.

Boasting some of the richest soil east of the Mississippi, the region is a fertile ground for the commercialization of innovative crops. Add to that welltrained farmers and the ability to provide field-level research, and the region is ripe for becoming the center of agricultural biotechnology.

Wide open spaces have also drawn the attention of renewable energy Gaston

companies. With 60-plus percent more wind resources than any other Atlantic Coast state, Northeast North Carolina is poised to be the premier East Coast site for onshore and offshore wind energy. Biomass companies are responding to the region’s proximity to ports in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as the availability of raw materials for wood pellets and alternative fuel sources.

And solar farms are being constructed on open acreage.

Companies in the automotive industry are discovering North Carolina’s Northeast, focusing on the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR). The center opened in 2010 and features an independent testing facility with on-site engineering and tech support.

The temperate climate in the region offers companies year-round access to the facility, and the center’s proximity to ports provides an excellent U.S.

entry point for foreign companies.

Since the Wright Brothers’ historic first flight more than 100 years ago, aerospace innovators have flocked to North Carolina’s Northeast. The area is home to 13 regional airports – most of which have industrial sites ready for development. Existing companies have helped establish an infrastructure that supports the aerospace industry and enables new companies to set up shop quickly and easily.

With a community college system that places a high priority on incumbent worker training and a university extension program with highly technical workplace training, our workforce can compete against the best. Visit www.ncnortheast.com to learn the latest on a region poised for growth and ready to help your business soar. We believe you’ll be pleased with what you discover in the nation’s other Northeast.

CAMDEN 168 Moyock G AT E S 17 CURRITUCK Garysburg 158 Gatesville PA S Q U O TA N K NORTHAMPTON Corolla 158 Murfreesboro Elizabeth City Halifax HERTFORD 95 Ahoskie 17 158 P E R Q U I M A NS Aulander H A L I FA X Hertford C H O WA N Scotland Neck Southern Shores BERTIE Kitty Hawk Edenton Kill Devil Hills Windsor Nags Head Columbia Manteo 64 Williamston Plymouth

Roanoke Rapids

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e R.

nok

Roa

Overview

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Robersonville MARTIN

TYRRELL

WA S H I N G T O N

BEAUFORT

Washington 264

DARE

HYDE

Belhaven

Englehard

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Swanquarter BEAUFORT

Aurora Hatteras Ocracoke

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N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s N o r t h e a s t R e g i o n Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e

Contact Directory Regional Northeast Allies Northampton County

Bertie County

Chamber of Commerce: Judy Collier, (252) 534-1384 Tourism: Dick Collier, (252) 534-1383

Chamber of Commerce and Tourism: Lewis Hoggard, (252) 794-4277

Hertford County

Chamber of Commerce: David Whitley, (252) 792-4131 Tourism: Sarah Katherine Adams (252) 792-6605

Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce and Tourism: Dan Joyber, (252) 332-2042 Mufreesboro Chamber of Commerce: Judy Hatchey, (252) 398-4886

Gates County

Chamber of Commerce: Marie Allen, (252) 506-1592 Tourism: Reba Wynn Holley, (252) 357-1400

Chowan County

Chamber of Commerce: Win Dale, (252) 482-3400 Tourism: Nancy Nicholls, (252) 482-3400

Halifax County

Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce: Allen Purser, (252) 537-3513 Tourism: Lori Medlin, (252) 535-1687

Currituck County

Chamber of Commerce: Josh Bass, (252) 453-9497 Tourism: Diane Nordstrom, (252) 435-2947

Martin County

Washington County

Chamber of Commerce and Tourism: Jennifer Arnold, (252) 793-4804

Hyde County

Beaufort County

Washington Chamber of Commerce: Catherine Glover (252) 946-9168 Belhaven Chamber of Commerce: Julian Goff, (252) 946-9168 Tourism: Lynn Lewis, (252) 948-9415

Perquimans County

Tyrrell County

Chamber of Commerce: Monica Mauffray, (252) 796-6777 Tourism: Sara L. Phelps, (252) 797-4800

Dare County (Outer Banks)

Chamber of Commerce and Tourism: Sid Eley, (252) 426-5657

Pasquotank County (Elizabeth City)

Chamber of Commerce: Kelly Thorsby, (252) 335-4365 Tourism: Charlotte Underwood, (252) 335-5330

Chamber of Commerce and Tourism: Melissa Joyner, (252) 926-9171

Chamber of Commerce: Karen Brown, (252) 441-8144 Tourism: Lee Nettles, (877) 629-4386

Camden County

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Almanac Aged to Perfection Prescription for Success Craving something sweet for chump change? Stop by Woodard’s Pharmacy in Hertford, where you can enjoy a hand-dipped ice-cream cone for 60 cents. Located along U.S. Highway 17, this old-fashioned pharmacy has evolved with the times, offering many of the same goods and services as most chain drug stores, while still keeping its original flavor.

From its wooden sign to its lessthan-a-dollar cones, the pharmacy is a local legend that invites customers to take a step back into a simpler time.

In 1524, explorer Giovanni de Verazzano discovered the nation’s oldest cultivated grapevine, the Scuppernong, on Roanoke Island.

More than four centuries later, this 120-foot “Mother Vine” still exists, and the region is known for its muscadine grape variety that thrives on sandy soil. Wine connoisseurs can sip and sample muscadine and other types of wines at these area vineyards: •Sanctuary Vineyards: A Wright family tradition for seven generations, this family-owned winery in Jarvisburg is known for its signature wines, including Wild Pony White, Viognier 2010 Reserve and Coastal Collage 2009.

•Martin Vineyards: With roots dating back to 1987, this vineyard plants its vinifera grapes in the rich soil near Knotts Island Bay to create dry reds, semi-dry reds and dry white wines.

•Vineyards on the Scuppernong: This Columbia vineyard prides itself on using the highest quality grapes and offers daily wine tastings along with vineyard tours.

A Fish Tale For more than 30 years, the Ocracoke Fish House has been a vital part of the commercial fishing market in Ocracoke, allowing fishermen to unload and sell their catches with access to bulk quantities of ice. Facing the potential loss of the house several years ago due to lack of funding, Ocracoke’s fishermen pulled together to raise financial support with the help of the Ocracoke Foundation. Through their efforts, the house obtained a $325,000 North Carolina Rural Development grant – enough to keep it open for the foreseeable future.

Today it continues to be a thriving force in Ocracoke’s 300-year-old maritime culture.

Find the full story of the fish house at www.ocracokewatermen.org.

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N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s N o r t h e a s t R e g i o n Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e

Big Wheels Monster truck fans can take a seat in the world’s largest truck, the Grave Digger, at Digger’s Dungeon in Poplar Branch. The brainchild of Currituck County native Dennis Anderson, a star driver of the Feld Entertainment Monster Jam series, the truck is known for its five-foot-tall wheels and green flame detailing. Visitors can get their picture taken inside the truck or purchase souvenirs inside the shop at Digger’s Dungeon, which is celebrating Grave Digger’s 30th anniversary this year. Plan a visit at www.gravedigger.com.

Legendary Lighthouses Oldest Outdoor Drama Roanoke Island’s Waterside Theater recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of its annual production of The Lost Colony – the longestrunning outdoor drama in the U.S. First staged in 1937, the play tells the story of the 117 English settlers who inexplicably vanished from their colony on Roanoke Island in the 16th century. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, the production involves more than 200 actors, dancers, singers and technicians, and its famous alumni include the late Andy Griffith. The Waterside Theater presents The Lost Colony each May through August on a massive outdoor stage that is more than three times the size of most Broadway stages. Plan a visit at http://thelostcolony.org.

North Carolina’s Northeast Region is known for its historic lighthouses. Don’t miss these: • Currituck Beach Lighthouse: Towering above the historic town of Corolla, this red-brick lighthouse stands at 162 feet tall and has a winding staircase of 214 steps. Its light can be seen for 18 nautical miles.

• Ocracoke Lighthouse: The lighthouse is the second-oldest lighthouse in the state and also the shortest, standing at 75 feet tall.

• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: Towering 200 feet, this lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country and the 23rd tallest traditional lighthouse in the world.

• Bodie Island Lighthouse: This historic 156-foot-tall lighthouse is being restored by the National Park Service.

• 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse: This lighthouse, believed to be the last one in the U.S. with a screw-pile design, originally sat at the confluence of the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, but has since been restored and moved to Edenton’s Colonial Park.

• Roanoke River Lighthouse: Adjacent to the Roanoke River Maritime Museum in Plymouth, this replica of the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse is a popular tourist destination.

• Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse: A reconstruction of a cottage-style, screw-pile lighthouse located on the Croatan Sound and lost at sea, this replica in Manteo hosts historical and educational activities for the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

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Where comfort, value, and exceptional service meet.

Whether you need a getaway, have out-of-town guests, or are traveling for business, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Elizabeth City is the ideal place to stay. Enjoy such amenities as: • 32” flat-screen LCD televisions

• On-site market

• Wired and wireless complimentary

• 24-hour business center

high-speed Internet

• 24-hour fitness center

• Hot complimentary breakfast

• Meeting facilities

• Microwaves, coffee pots and

• Only indoor pool in Elizabeth City

refrigerators in every room • Suites available Mention this ad for a discounted rate.

• Marriott Rewards® points and airlines miles

Fairfield Inn & Suites 1640 City Center Blvd.

Elizabeth City, NC 27909

www.marriott.com/orfec To make your reservation, call (252) 333-1003.

Almanac

Cool companies

A Financial Anchor Based in Engelhard, East Carolina Bank has served residents of North Carolina for nearly a century since it opened on Jan. 20, 1920, and it continues to offer customers across its 25 branches a range of financial services. Despite numerous changes since its inception, it has stayed true to its mission of maintaining sound financial strength. Its adherence to fiscal responsibility has made the bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of ECB Bancorp Inc., a financial leader in North Carolina, with more than 230 employees and $920 million in assets. Learn more at www.myecb.com.

North Carolina’s Northeast Region is home to several high-tech companies including Motion Sensors in Elizabeth City and Flanders Filters in Washington.

Motion Sensors develops and sells electrical sensors designed to withstand a variety of external stresses including vibration, extreme temperatures and even the concussion of explosions.

Flanders Filters is the largest manufacturer of HEPA filters in the U.S. Founded in 1950, the filtration company designs, manufactures and distributes air filters for a range of applications, including residential and commercial HVAC systems, semiconductor fabrication and food, photo and industrial processing systems. Flanders’ filters are also used in hospitals, universities and pharmaceutical, bioscience and biotechnology labs.

Brews, stews and Barbecue From barbecue to oysters, North Carolina’s Northeast Region is full of unique restaurants serving the region’s best delicacies.

Don’t miss these local favorites: •Bunn’s Barbecue: Housed in a former gas station, this restaurant in Windsor is famous for its finely chopped, pulled-pork barbecue doused with vinegar and red pepper and served on cornbread sandwiches.

•Sunny Side Oyster Bar: Since it opened in 1935, this oyster bar in Williamston has become a legend in eastern North Carolina.

Its fresh seafood bar is stocked with steamed oysters, shrimp, scallops and crab legs.

•Weeping Radish Restaurant and Brewery: This brewery in Grandy brings diners the taste of farm-fresh foods with a variety of nitrate-free meats sliced daily. Complementing its meaty offerings is a selection of master-crafted, chemical-free beers brewed at Weeping Radish – the oldest microbrewery in North Carolina.

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Business Climate

Frontier for Business Companies discover new avenues for growth in North Carolina’s Northeast Region Story by Nan Bauroth

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o matter the economic landscape, forward-thinking companies look for a profitable environment to enhance their competitive edge.

Given its confluence of key criteria for smart moves, North Carolina’s Northeast Region is becoming a transformational choice for businesses looking to expand, relocate or reboot.

Innovation leaders here span the industry spectrum, from stalwarts in manufacturing, aviation, automotive research, boat building and tourism to hybrid ventures in renewable energy, agribusiness and biotechnology.

“We’ve created niches with assets and resources for technology and innovation valuable to companies outside this region,” says Vann Rogerson, President and CEO of North Carolina’s Northeast Commission. “We are positioning ourselves in these clusters to be globally competitive.”

A recent example of this is the selection of Hyde County

by NCDOT Aviation as a test site for unmanned aerial vehicles, Rogerson says. Other successes include alternative energy, which

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now constitutes one-third of all projects in the region. Food technology in Halifax County represents another growing niche, as do aerospace and automotive research.

“Repurposing buildings long vacant, as The Marco Company is doing to expand their market presence on the East Coast, is also an exciting trend,” Rogerson says.

skilled employees from the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City, Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., and Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va. Coupled with an enviable quality of life, low taxes, pro-business policies and ample financial incentives, the region’s advantages comprise a consummate opportunity for companies to grow.

Indigenous Resources The indigenous characteristics that first lured commercial interests to this destination in the 17th century remain a force for growth today. Centrally situated on the Eastern seaboard, the region’s Mid-Atlantic locus is ideal for companies pursuing entrée to U.S. markets in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest, as well as those abroad. To advance connectivity, North Carolina’s Northeast boasts an intermodal transport system of roads, rails and airways, with the convenient plus of access to the Port of Virginia, an international shipping gateway.

Businesses in the service-based market benefit from technically

Infrastructure Growth Leaders in the region are continually developing more resources to enhance growth in key industry clusters. New infrastructure available includes Merchants Commerce Park in Gates County, which is located near Merchants Millpond Park, a tourist site that draws 250,000 visitors a year.

“The ultimate intent is for this to become a commercial hub of the county,” says Gates County Manager Toby Chappell, who notes that the mixed-use development already has commitments from a credit union, Lee Insurance Company and Meridian Senior Living.

N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s N o r t h e a s t R e g i o n Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e

This summer, The College of Albemarle will open an Aviation Technical Training Facility in Currituck County. According to Peter Bishop, Economic Development Director for Currituck County, the facility will offer the FAA’s Airframe & Powerplant certification program, which will be of value to contractors who help maintain the U.S. Coast Guard fleet based nearby.

“Another aspect of this hangar is mechanical flex-space training opportunities for companies in other industries,” Bishop says.

Surveying the economic development horizon, Rogerson foresees a moving target for corporate growth.

“This region is changing for the future, evolving for the next century,” he says.

Helicopters that arrive at the Aviation Logistics Center at the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City are stripped down and rebuilt by technically skilled employees.

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N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s N o r t h e a s t R e g i o n Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e

A Second Wind Manufacturers find profitable new life for production in North Carolina’s Northeast Story by Nan Bauroth • Photography by Todd Bennett

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ailors typically call it “center of effort” – the point at which all the forces on a sail are concentrated. For Peter Johnstone, president and CEO of Gunboat International, the concept is equally applicable to marketing, which is why he moved one of the production facilities for his iconic luxury sailboats from South Africa to Wanchese in Dare County.

“We’re in a location as close to the center of our Atlantic basin customer base as possible,” Johnstone says. “The area has a long tradition of building high-end, complex yachts. The passion, skills and attitude are right for our goals.”

Johnstone also took advantage of a former 30,000-square-foot yacht-building site that could accommodate the width of Gunboat’s cruising catamarans.

The final critical variable for Johnstone was cost-effectiveness.

“A right-to-work state is critical, as are compensation

rates and productivity that make us competitive worldwide with manufacturing in our largest market.”

In addition to bringing 71 jobs to the area, Gunboat will invest $1.8 million over the next three years in its new shipyard.

Logistical Sweet Spot For The Marco Company, a Texas-based manufacturer of retail merchandising solutions, Northeastern North Carolina represented a logistical sweet spot to expand its market on the East Coast. The company is spending $190,000 to revitalize an existing structure in Jamesville, a move that will bring in 100 new jobs.

“Since announcing we are building there, people are contacting us who are interested in doing business because we will have an advantage over others,” says Marco Operations Manager Darin Dougherty. “Anyone who is as

Left and right: The logistical, cost and workforce advantages of Northeastern North Carolina persuaded Gunboat International to move production of its luxury sailboats from South Africa to the region. The company plans to invest $1.8 million in its new Wanchese location.

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efficient as we are in manufacturing suffers the same freight cost burden, so the transport factor will help build our eastern customer base.”

Dougherty notes that the incentives offered were second to none.

“Initially we wanted to lease, but North Carolina’s Northeast

Commission made us a deal we couldn’t refuse, instead to buy.”

The Marco Company also received building grants from two North Carolina state funds.

The Wood Basket Another positive of positioning a business in Northeastern North

Carolina is the abundance of natural resources. For Domtar Corporation, a sustainable paper products company with a mill in Plymouth, loblolly pines were the attraction. The company pinpointed a synergistic fit when it purchased Attends Health Care Products, which has a plant in Greenville, only an hour away. Fluff pulp produced at the mill is now used in creating incontinence care products for Attends.

“The wood basket in this region is important to us,” says Domtar General Manager Dennis Askew. “Proximity to the Port of Virginia is also a key advantage, since most of our wood product is going overseas.”

Monster Jamming Manufacturers across the industry are reaping the rewards of Northeastern North Carolina’s strategic location. Nucor’s factory in Cofield supplies steel plates used by onshore wind-turbine tower manufacturers, while Weir Valves & Controls in Washington produces hoses for hydraulic fracturing of natural gas reserves.

Digger’s Dungeon in Poplar Branch, owned by Monster Jam star Dennis Anderson, is expanding its shop, which preps Monster Jam trucks for televised shows across the country.

Marine-related trade is also on the uptick at the Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park and the new Perquimans Marine Industrial Park just south of Hertford on the Albemarle Sound.

Business benefits aside, manufacturers soon discover the region is also a great place to call home.

“I didn’t expect to personally fall in love with this area,” Johnstone says. “But within weeks, I sold my home in Rhode Island and moved here permanently.”

Left: Digger’s Dungeon in Poplar Branch is expanding its shop, which preps Monster Jam trucks for televised shows across the country.

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On the Right Track NCCAR gaining ground as top auto testing facility In 2008 when regional leaders launched the 620-acre North Carolina Center for Automotive Research in Garysburg, they believed the automotive testing facility would eventually become a success – and they were right.

Today, the $20 million NCCAR complex in Northampton County is one of only a few vehicle testing centers on the East Coast that give automakers, truck manufacturers and suppliers the opportunity for year-round testing. The convenience of NCCAR means that automotive companies don’t have to travel to the West Coast desert to find such a facility, as they did in the past.

“This complex is conveniently located next to Interstate 95 at a midpoint between two major international airports,” says Gary Brown, Northampton County Economic Development Director.

“There are also 1,200 hotel rooms just five miles south of us. I’ve been to many proving grounds in Arizona where you had to drive an hour or more to your hotel.”

Two-Mile Road Course Most large automakers operating in the U.S. already have their own test centers, says Vann Rogerson, President of North Carolina’s Northeast Commission, so NCCAR is mostly for smaller supply companies or foreign car makers that want to test in the U.S. but do not have a presence.

“Our complex includes a twomile road course, an eight-acre dirt test area, a 15-channel WiFi telecommunications network and 23,000 square feet of office and garage space,” he says.

Rogerson adds that many clients who utilize NCCAR don’t want their test sessions publicized to safeguard product secrecy, but a motorcycle company, Team ProMotion from Pennsylvania, has no issue with announcing a three-year contract it signed with NCCAR in March 2012.

Established in 1997, Team ProMotion trains motorcycle sports riders to drive aggressively and safely in racing competitions.

“It’s not every day a track like this comes along,” says Glen Goldman, founder and president of Team Pro-Motion. “This track is a gift.”

To learn more about NCCAR, visit http://nccar.us.

– Kevin Litwin

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Students at the Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and Agriscience work with researchers at the Vernon G. James Research and Extension Center.

Seeds of Potential Biotechnology cultivates new opportunities in Northeastern North Carolina Story by Liisa Sullivan

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orth Carolina consistently ranks as one of the top states for biotechnology, and the $74 billion agricultural industry in the Northeast Region is a key contributor to that leading edge.

Biotechnology companies in the region benefit from a diverse workforce, a collaborative lifescience community, low business

costs and partnerships with sophisticated crop growers.

“This area is the perfect place for niche farming,” says Hyde County farmer Darren Armstrong.

Along with corn, soybeans and wheat, Armstrong also grows plant varieties like rapeseed, which produces oil used in commercial products.

“There’s a growing demand for it because of biodiesel fuel,” he says.

Farmers and biotech companies in the region are partnering with university and private research labs in the area to produce patented plant specialities for commercial markets. Avoca Inc. in Merry Hill, for example, is working with researchers at North Carolina State

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Exploring Marine Life Biotechnology research in North Carolina’s Northeast Region is not just about crops and plants; it also extends to marine life.

The UNC Coastal Studies Institute in Manteo on Roanoke Island conducts research exploring ocean energy, coastal sustainability, and estuarine ecology and human health, while also providing educational opportunities and community outreach programs for North Carolina’s maritime counties. For more details on the UNC Coastal Studies Institute or its research, visit http://csi. northcarolina.edu.

University to develop specialty crops like black carrots and certain purple sweet potatoes that can be used in natural food dyes.

Avoca, a leading botanical extraction company, also grows 11,000 acres of clary sage in the region – a crop that produces waxy material used to make perfume fragrances linger longer on the skin and to improve the smell of detergents.

The company will soon be home to a new pilot-scale botanical extraction facility for companies producing and selling specialty crops. Steve Biggs, Economic Development Director for Bertie County, expects the facility to contribute even more added value to the biotechnology industry.

“We want to attract new companies,” Biggs says. “We have an agricultural force that is willing and able to try new things, we have research labs, and we have land – we really have it all.”

Another top biotech company in the region is Roanoke Rapids-based Empire Foods, which processes, packages and preserves locally grown produce.

Growing a Skilled Workforce Northeastern North Carolina is home to crop research centers such as the Vernon G. James Research & Extension Center in Washington County, where university and field scientists perform applied research in crop science and agriculture.

In conjunction with NCSU, the center developed a voluntary certification program – the B-Cert Program – for farmers growing biotech crops. Biotech companies interested in conducting applied research and developing new crops can partner with B-Cert growers to utilize their expertise.

Industry leaders also hope to train students to work in the biotech field with the newly opened Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and Agriscience, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) school located at the center.

“The greatest benefit of the school is that if students are academically successful, they will have met the requirements for two years of college upon completion of the program,” says Hal Davis, the school’s principal.

In their last two years, students will work with researchers at the Vernon G. James Research & Extension Center on agricultural science projects.

These students will play a critical role in the future development of niche crops in the region, says David Peele, Avoca president and chairman of the school’s board. “We have to have a skilled workforce not only to grow these industrial crops, but to market them, too,” Peele says.

The region is also tapping into the consumer demand for locally grown produce. Nearly every county has a farmers market that sells homegrown products. In Martin County, farmers sell and deliver produce to restaurants through the Farmers Fresh Market, which connects producers to local buyers.

Avoca Inc. grows crops used in perfumes.

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A Bountiful Business Food production clusters grow in region With its rich soil, expansive farmland and deep agricultural roots, North Carolina’s Northeast Region is fertile ground for food production and distribution companies. The industry continues to grow, generating billions in revenue and supporting thousands of jobs.

Currently, the region produces a quarter of the state’s corn and soybeans. It’s also known for cotton, wheat, peanuts and potatoes. A few companies producing nationally recognized brands include: • Reser’s Fine Foods produces mashed potatoes and other side dishes, along with slaws, desserts and comfort food classics, in Halifax.

• Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts is a popular mail-order peanut business in Halifax.

• Bertie County Peanuts ships peanuts around the nation from its Windsor facility.

• Perdue operates a chicken processing plant in Lewiston.

• George Wood Farms grows potatoes for Frito-Lay in Camden.

• Rose Acre Farms produces a complete line of fresh, pasteurized, liquid, dried and farm specialty eggs in Pantego.

• Jimbo’s Jumbos runs a peanut production and shelling facility in Edenton with national distribution.

Hyde County’s sweet onions and Chowan County’s watermelons, cantaloupe and lettuce are also sought-after products, as are peppers grown in the region for the Texas Pete and Don Pablo’s brands.

Cherry Farms Seed Co. in Tyrrell County produces wheat and soybean seeds as well as new seed varieties to suit customer needs.

From skill to space, the region has the competitive advantages

that food production companies are looking for, says Steve Biggs, Economic Development Director for Bertie County.

“One of the main reasons Perdue chicken placed its production plant in Bertie County was because of our skilled workforce, farmers and land,” he says.

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Field of Opportunity Region aims to be at the forefront of modern aviation advances Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Todd Bennett

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he Wright Brothers made their first flight in 1903 at Kitty Hawk in Northeastern North Carolina, and the region is once more looking to help the state become first in flight in the modern aviation field.

The region’s sector is already strong thanks to aviation-related companies that make everything from light aircraft and airships to radar and logistics systems. Now the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation (NCDOT) is working to develop the area’s aviation and aerospace cluster even further.

“Aviation provides a $26 billion economic impact to North Carolina annually, which is six percent of the state’s gross domestic product; that is a significant dollar amount,” says Bobby Walston, NCDOT’s manager of statewide plans and programs with NCDOT. “The Northeast Region’s 11 general The U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City is a key player in the region’s aviation industry, contributing $145 million a year.

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S ta ff P h o t o

aviation airports add $195 million annually to the economy, with the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City contributing the most at $145 million a year.”

The U.S. Coast Guard Base is a big player, but “the other 10 airports in the region provide annual economic impacts ranging from $400,000 to $11 million,” Walston says. “All of them are important to their individual communities.”

Launching new technology One of the key focuses of aviation technology currently are remote piloted aircrafts, or RPAs, with the most famous ones being the well-publicized unmanned drones used in bombing missions in Afghanistan. With its secluded airspace, proximity to the water and aviation expertise, the region is a key player in the RPA push, and local leaders are working with North Carolina State University to bring the technology to the area.

NCSU established a NextGen Air Transportation center to help guide the state in the modernization of air transportation. One of its efforts is to develop resources and opportunities for using RPA technology in North Carolina.

“For example, an RPA can actually be a small 10-pound unmanned helicopter with an infrared camera that can fly over a wheat field and transmit information that tells of a specific area where spraying is needed,” says Kyle Snyder, NextGen Air Transportation director. “The RPA can detect specific crop damage three days before the naked eye can see it and save a farmer from having to spray his entire field.”

Snyder says talks are underway with officials at Hyde County Airport to have that facility serve Clockwise from top: A technician tests radar equipment at Telephonics Corporation; Workers at the Aviation Logistics Center at the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City refurbish helicopters; DRS Technologies, which maintains aircraft for the Coast Guard, is growing its facilities at the Elizabeth City Aviation Research & Development Commerce Park.

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as a testing site to develop the RPA program.

“Hyde County is mostly a hunting and fishing community, but it’s ideal for RPA testing because it’s near the water, surrounded by farmland and has an airport with low activity due to its remote setting and proximity to restricted military airspace,” Synder says. taking flight Aviation companies in the region continue to grow, including DRS Technologies, which performs maintenance on U.S. Coast Guard aircraft in Elizabeth City, and Telephonics Corporation, which develops communication and sensor systems for military and commercial markets. Light aircraft maker LSA recently broke ground on a 16,000-square-foot plant at Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport, and Vector CSP,

which provides training and logistics for the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security, ranked on Inc. magazine’s list of the country’s fastest growing companies in October 2011.

Another key aviation player is surveillance company TCOM LP in Elizabeth City, which has been committed to airship manufacturing, assembly, flight testing and training for nearly 35 years. The company opened a $3 million, 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in 2008 that doubled its workforce in Elizabeth City to more than 100.

“The bottom line for the overall aviation and aerospace mission in the Northeast Region and all of North Carolina is to get airports, industry, academics and military bases ready for jobs of the future,” Snyder says. “Aviation is already an exciting industry and is about to soar even more.”

Region Trains Workers for Tomorrow’s Aviation Jobs To fill the region’s need for more aviation mechanics, College of The Albemarle offers courses such as aviation basic sheet metal and advanced composites, while Elizabeth City State University’s Aviation Science department trains future pilots and air traffic controllers through a bachelor of science program encompassing aviation management, computer science, avionics, flight education and more.

Florida-based EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University operates a campus in Elizabeth City and offers degrees in professional aeronautics, technical management and other areas.

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N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s N o r t h e a s t R e g i o n Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e

Haven for History Monumental milestones, new discoveries shape tourism in North Carolina’s Northeast

Story by Jason Zasky • Photography by Todd Bennett

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ettlers have been gravitating to North Carolina’s Northeast Region since the 1580s, when Captain John Smith attempted to establish the New World’s first permanent English colony at present-day Manteo.

Colonists were drawn by many of the same qualities that attract locals and visitors today: a temperate climate, breathtaking scenery and a landscape ideal for hunting and fishing.

A recent historical discovery that made international headlines may now prove that the New World’s first colonists – part of the so-called Lost Colony, which mysteriously vanished around 1587 – didn’t disappear at all, but likely migrated northwest, resettling near what is now Merry Hill in Bertie County.

In May 2012, a group of researchers, including Brent Lane, an adjunct professor at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, announced the discovery of a fort symbol on a 425-year-old Elizabethan map – an emblem written in invisible ink and hidden below a patch – which led archaeologists to conduct excavations alongside Salmon Creek across from the Arnold Palmer-designed Scotch Hall Preserve golf club in Merry Hill.

The dig could unearth deep potential for the region’s heritage tourism industry.

“It means that Bertie County is not only going to be a center for very important archaeological and historical research,” Lane says, “It’s also going to be strongly associated with the Lost Colony story – whereas in the past, it had not.”

A Place of Firsts Northeastern North Carolina already has quite a reputation for historically significant developments. In the early 20th century, bicycle mechanics Wilbur and Orville Wright made repeated trips to the area to test their experimental flying machines.

The windswept beaches and soft sand dunes characteristic of the Outer Banks and the barrier islands that comprise the Cape Hatteras National Seashore attracted the Wright Brothers to Kitty Hawk, where they pioneered the world’s first flight on Dec. 17, 1903.

Visitors still flock to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, where they can walk the grounds where Wilbur and Orville launched the first

Built in 1767, Edenton’s Chowan County Courthouse is a National Historic Landmark and one of the region’s many historically significant sites.

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Hertford pays homage to Baseball Hall of Famer Jim “Catfish” Hunter Nearly a decade after Baseball Hall of Famer Jim “Catfish” Hunter’s death in 1999, the town of Hertford formally honored its favorite son by opening a museum that celebrates his life and legacy – a celebrated career punctuated by Hunter’s perfect game with the Oakland A’s and five World Series titles (three with the A’s and two with the New York Yankees).

The museum, which is housed in the Perquimans County Chamber of Commerce/ Visitors Center at 118 W. Market St. in Hertford, showcases memorabilia donated by family, fans and local residents.

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flight and examine a replica of the brothers’ 1903 Flyer.

Steeped in History The entire 16-county region in North Carolina’s Northeast is rich in culture and history. Manteo, for example, is home to Roanoke Island Festival Park, a 25-acre interactive site commemorating the first English settlement and the lush Elizabethan Gardens of the era. And the nearby towns of Washington, Plymouth, Columbia, Halifax, Hertford, Windsor and Murfreesboro all have historic districts with unique characteristics, as does Bath, known as North Carolina’s first town, and Creswell, where the antebellum-era plantation Somerset Place takes visitors back to the 19th century.

Other must-see sites are the Jazz Age-era Whalehead Club Historic House Museum in Corolla and the historic town of Edenton, where visitors can tour some of the state’s oldest homes and churches – and even a historic baseball field.

The recent 150th anniversary of the Civil War has brought renewed attention to the region’s Civil War museums and historical sites. Two of the region’s most

popular stops along the North Carolina Civil War Trail include Fort Branch in Hamilton, the site of a Confederate earthen fort, and Plymouth’s Port O’ Plymouth Museum, which showcases displays of Civil War weapons and artifacts.

Future National Heritage Area In 2012, a trio of regional development commissions sponsored and published the Eastern North Carolina National Heritage Area Feasibility Study – the first step on the road to designation as a National Heritage Area. According to Mary Ruffin Hanbury, owner of Raleigh-based Hanbury Preservation Consulting, which was hired to produce the study, a member of Congress will now need to sponsor legislation to have the area designated.

“It’s just a question of getting it on the agenda and radar of the legislative delegation from North Carolina,” she says, noting that approval would open the door to federal funding for new heritageoriented projects. That means the past may soon become an even greater part of the future for North Carolina’s Northeast Region.

Clockwise from top left: Port O’ Plymouth Museum celebrates the region’s Civil War history during Living History Weekend; The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills marks the site of the first flight; Ronaoke Island Festival Park in Manteo gives visitors a glimpse into what life was like for settlers in the New World and early America.

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Energy/Technology

Growing Green Region offers renewable energy companies rich resources, strong community support

Story by Kathryn Royster

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enewable energy companies are flocking to North Carolina’s Northeast Region, where abundant resources and supportive communities nurture the success of green businesses.

The region offers large forests for biomass producers, plenty of open land and ideal weather patterns for solar and wind installations, plus conveniently located grid tie-ins for all producers.

Duke Energy is just one of the companies investing in this resource-rich region. Its new 37-acre solar farm near Murfreesboro is the state’s largest, with the capacity to power 700 homes.

Wind energy producers are also jumping into the game: Invenergy and Iberdrola Renewables are both planning wind farms in the region. And local companies are incorporating

renewable energy into their operations. North Carolinabased Wellons Energy Solutions and Perdue AgriBusiness have partnered to produce and burn biomass at Perdue’s soybean crushing facility and feed mill in Cofield.

Success in Biomass Another biomass success story is Enviva LP, which

Duke Energy’s new 37-acre solar farm near Murfreesboro is the largest in the state, with the capacity to produce enough electricity to power 700 homes. T o d d B e nn e t t

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P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f En v i va

Above: Enviva LP uses processed wood fiber to produce wood-pellet biomass fuel at its Ahoskie plant.

produces wood-pellet biomass fuel. The company’s flagship plant is in Ahoskie, and Enviva is now investing $60 million to build a second plant in Northampton County.

Projected to open in mid-2013, the facility will produce approximately 400,000 metric tons of pellets annually and employ more than 70 people.

Pellets produced at the plant will be exported to European utilities; wood chips will go to domestic utility Virginia Dominion Power, which is converting some of its coal-fired plants to biomass.

“This area has an incredible wood basket, with robust commercial forests and a growing tradition of sustainable forestry,” says Elizabeth Woodworth, Enviva’s director of marketing, communications and

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sustainability. “This is also an area where, with the downturn in the economy, forest owners need an outlet for their wood.”

Because Enviva sources its wood primarily from waste products like sawdust, fallen limbs and thinned or unhealthy trees, the company is able to provide that outlet while allowing landowners to keep their forests largely intact.

Community Support Leaders in North Carolina’s Northeast Region appreciate that kind of synergy. Both state and local agencies offer a variety of financial incentives for renewable energy producers. Enviva, for instance, received grants from the state’s One North Carolina Fund and from local economic development agencies.

But the support doesn’t end

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with a written check.

“We have had incredible hospitality shown to us,” Woodworth says. “Folks have bent over backwards to make sure that it’s as easy as possible to do business in the region. North Carolina is definitely putting itself on the U.S. map for renewable energy.”

That doesn’t surprise Vann Rogerson, president and CEO of North Carolina’s Northeast Commission. In addition to a strong “farmer work ethic,” he says, North Carolina’s Northeastern communities are notable for their receptiveness to new industries.

“We know that companies like Enviva are good new citizens for us – they show what we can be in the future,” he says. “We feel pretty good that most any company can come into our region and be successful.”

Broadband Access Coming to Rural Communities High-speed Internet is on its way to rural Northeastern North Carolina. The initiative began with the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, which secured funding from the federal stimulus program and the Golden LEAF Foundation to install a 2,500-mile broadband network throughout the state.

Northeast Rural Broadband will be working with rural northeastern communities to help them plan and implement their own connections to the core network and will be assisted by ECC Technologies.

North Carolina’s Northeast Commission is helping to back the effort through outreach and coordination.

J e ff A d k i n s

Invenergy and Iberdrola Renewables are planning to construct wind farms in the region.

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Transportation

On the Move Highway, rail, air and port access give region a logistical advantage Story by Kevin Litwin

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four lanes from the Virginia line to the South Carolina border.

“The biggest and most-traveled roads in and out of our region are four-lane corridors – 95, 17 and U.S. 64,” says Vann Rogerson, president and CEO of North Carolina’s Northeast Commission.

“U.S. Highway 64 is four lanes from I-95 almost to the beach, with only one stoplight from Plymouth to the western edge of the region.”

Other vital routes traversing the region include U.S. 158, 168 and 264, and North Carolina routes 11 and 13. Rogerson says the region’s highway system is a key reason why more than 60 motor freight

carriers have located there, as well as big warehousing complexes such as Lowe’s Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center and Pepsi Bottling Ventures.

“It’s also an easy drive up to Hampton Roads, Virginia, and their 2 million people,” he says.

“Some of our Northeast counties are part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, so trucks are running up and down I-95 all the time to deliver products for all of those consumers.”

Air Appeal A strong airport system is another advantage in the

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f R a l e i g h - D u r h a m In t e rn at i o n a l A i r p o r t

or companies looking to quickly and efficiently transport goods and products around the country – and the world – the transportation network in North Carolina’s Northeast Region offers plenty of logistical advantages.

The most recognizable transportation landmark in the region is Interstate 95, while other key roadways provide easy access for trucking companies and motorists. One of those thoroughfares is U.S. Highway 17, which the North Carolina Department of Transportation is expanding into

North Carolina’s Northeast Region offers close proximity to three international airports, including Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

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Northeast Region, thanks to 13 general aviation sites.

In addition, the region is situated near Raleigh-Durham International, Richmond International and Norfolk International airports.

“Most of our smaller airports have lengthened their runways to accept corporate jets and large aircraft,” Rogerson says. “Several also have adjoining land to attract business prospects – airports in Edenton, Elizabeth City, Roanoke Rapids and Currituck County all have on-site industrial parks.”

Railroads are also a key contributor to the transportation advantage in the Northeast Region, with main carriers CSX and Norfolk Southern, as well as short-line haulers NCVA Railroad, Chesapeake & Albemarle Railroad and Carolina Coastal Railway in the area.

“This region still relies heavily on agriculture, so rail is a key

industry when moving grain, feed, fertilizer and cash crops,” Rogerson says.

Transportation in North Carolina’s Northeast Region

Easy International Shipping The ports industry is also vital to the area’s economy, with convenient access to deepwater ports in nearby Wilmington and Morehead City as well as the Port of Virginia at Hampton Roads – the third-busiest port on the East Coast.

“The combination of barges, rail and trucking gives the Northeast Region a competitive advantage with regard to shipping,” Rogerson says. “More and more companies are using trucks and rail to haul products to the ports, then use barges to transport those products to Europe.

Nucor Steel in Hertford County is an example of an area company that does a lot of transatlantic business, utilizing the ports to their best advantage.”

• Highways: I-95, U.S. Highways 17, 64, 158, 168 and 264, and N.C. routes 11 and 13 • General Aviation Airports: Currituck County, Dare County Regional, First Flight, Halifax-Northampton County Regional, Martin County, Northeastern Regional, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, Plymouth Municipal, Tri-County, Warren Field, Billy Mitchell and Elizabeth City CGAS/Regional • Railroads: CSX and Norfolk Southern, plus several shortline haulers • Nearby Ports: Wilmington, Morehead City and the Port of Virginia

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The Edenton Chowan Partnership is ready to help you grow your business.

To learn more, visit our website www.edentontoday.com or email Chowan County Manager Zee Lamb at zee.lamb@chowan.nc.gov or call 252-482-8431.

Health

A Vital Asset Communities benefit from region’s strong health-care network

Story by Melanie Kilgore-Hill

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ECU’s School of Dental Medicine, headquartered in Greenville, recently opened a dentistry center in Ahoskie.

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rom highly populated suburbs to rural communities, North Carolina’s Northeast Region boasts first-class health care supported by nationally ranked hospitals, health-care systems and university medical services.

East Carolina University has long been a fixture in the region’s health-care network. Its recently opened dental school and dental community service learning centers are bringing brighter smiles to patients in the area.

In 2012, ECU’s School of Dental Medicine opened the first of 10 planned statewide community service learning centers in Ahoskie. The $3 million, 8,000-square-foot center will provide general and advanced dentistry.

“Our mission with the community centers is twofold,” says Michael Scholtz, D.M.D., director of Community Dental Practices at ECU’s School of Dental Medicine. “We want to provide and enhance dental services for underserved North Carolinians, and also provide an educational platform for postdoctoral and advanced students.”

The Ahoskie clinic adjoins the recently opened Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center and allows patients to pay for services on a sliding scale.

Additional centers are under way in Elizabeth City and throughout the state.

ECU is also providing primary care services to the region. In 2011, ECU’s Brody School of Medicine

N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s N o r t h e a s t R e g i o n Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e

T o d d B e nn e t t

Left: Halifax Regional Medical Center is marking its centennial year of service to the Roanoke Rapids area.

Right: Vidant Health, headquarted in Greenville, operates multiple hospitals in the region.

received a five-year grant to place 80 family medicine residents at rural clinics throughout eastern North Carolina communities, including Ahoskie and Williamston.

Committed to Care In Roanoke Rapids, Halifax Regional Medical Center is building on a centuryold commitment to health care. Founded in 1912, HRMC is marking its centennial with a $6.5 million renovation and construction project aimed at improving outpatient services to the community.

Changes include larger surgical and recovery suites, expanded registration areas and increased parking.

“Despite health insurance reform and political instability, medical centers and their community partners are working to improve health by supporting patients to prevent hospital and emergency visits,” says William Mahone, president of HRMC. “We are well positioned to serve our two counties for the future.”

In January 2012, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina became Vidant Health, a hospital system with interconnected physician practices, more

than 11,000 employees, home health and hospice programs, and wellness facilities.

“As our health system continued to grow, we found that many of our patients didn’t realize all the services that were being provided to them by one integrated system,” says Dr. David Herman, chief executive officer of Vidant Health. “By uniting all of our hospitals, programs and services under one brand, we are able to show the strength of this system of care.”

One of the system’s hospitals, Vidant Chowan Hospital in Edenton, recently debuted a state-of-the-art open-bore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit, allowing patients more room within the MRI cylinder.

Other hospitals serving residents in the region include the 49-bed Martin General Hospital, which offers cardiac testing, a 24-hour emergency department, women’s and sleep centers, and sports medicine and rehabilitation, and the 49-bed Washington County Hospital, a critical access acute care facility in Plymouth.

Members and retirees of the military can receive care at a new $1.76 million Veterans Affairs clinic, which opened in Elizabeth City this fall.

Hospitals in North Carolina’s Northeast Region • Halifax Regional Medical Center • Martin General Hospital • Washington County Hospital • Vidant Health, which operates the following regional hospitals: • Vidant RoanokeChowan Hospital • Vidant Bertie Hospital • Vidant Chowan Hospital • Albemarle Hospital • The Outer Banks Hospital

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Education

Turning Out Talent Regional universities, colleges and schools get students career ready

Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Todd Bennett

J e ffr e y S . OTTO

E

Elizabeth City State University is known for its pharmacy and aviation science programs.

mployers need educated, tech-savvy workers to keep their operations growing – and educational institutions in North Carolina’s Northeast Region are answering that call.

Regional universities, community colleges and even some high schools are embracing specialized programs and curriculum designed to train students for top industries in the area such as biotechnology, health sciences and aviation.

The most recent innovative effort toward this goal is the Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and Agriscience in Plymouth, which serves students in grades 7-13 from Washington, Beaufort, Martin, Pitt and Tyrrell counties.

The first regional school for biotechnology and agriscience in North Carolina, the school, located at the Vernon G. James Research & Extension Center, welcomed its inaugural class this year. Eventually, all graduates will earn their high school diplomas with the opportunity to complete

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Counterclockwise from left: Students work on projects during an aviation sheet metal class at the College of The Albemarle in Elizabeth City; Elizabeth City State University recently received a grant to increase its offerings in STEM fields.

two years of college credit at no cost to their families.

“The School of Biotechnology and Agriscience is part of a private-public strategy to engage business and industry, public schools and higher education in creating a new generation of high schools,” says Tony Habit, president of the North Carolina New Schools Project. “New Schools Project is partnering with 250 educational institutions around the state to create similar schools that accelerate education to be more relevant to today’s new economy.”

While students at the school will focus on biotechnology and agriscience to prepare them for careers in research and science, they will also have the option of pursuing studies that lead to more traditional careers such as accounting, teaching, law and business.

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“This is part of an ambitious Vision 2015 program that is bringing a new approach to education,” Habit says. “The mission is to have students learn intelligent, forward-thinking lessons so they can eventually work in productive ways with people around the block or around the globe.”

Aviation, pharmacy programs Universities and colleges throughout the region are also amping up their degree programs and facilities to ensure that students are well-educated for the future.

Students pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace will soon be able to receive top-notch training at the College of The Albemarle’s new $6.8 million FAA-certified Aviation Technical Training Facility opening at Currituck

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Regional Airport this summer.

Elizabeth City State University also has a strong aviation science program and serves as a branch campus for the University of North Carolina’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The college recently received a federal grant to boost its program offerings in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

Private institutions in the area, such as Chowan University and Mid-Atlantic Christian University, and the region’s five community colleges are also working to better prepare students for careers in the new economy.

“It’s all about being futureready,” Habit says. “Read, write, think, talk – in every class, every day. The time is now for education innovation in all North Carolina schools.”

Training Ground Colleges provide engineering, industrial programs for workers them on those three aspects of improving their companies,” says Rex Raiford, NCSU Industrial Extension Service regional manager.

“We look to improve a company’s carbon footprint and cut their energy costs, plus provide an overall safety analysis and business assessment,” Raiford says.

“Our goal is to help industries so they can grow and then eventually hire more engineers from North Carolina State University.”

– Kevin Litwin

Less than 100 students were enrolled in East Carolina University’s Department of Engineering when it was established in 2004. A decade later, that number has grown to more than 400.

“Most of our current students hail from eastern North Carolina, and studies show that if students attend college near where they live, they will often remain in the region upon graduation,” says Hayden Griffin, ECU Department of Engineering chairman. “Local companies looking for future engineers want to hear those kind of statistics.”

Based in nearby Greenville, ECU offers five engineering paths – biomedical, bioprocessing, electrical, industrial systems and mechanical.

“I have visited about 70 companies in the area to learn about what engineering jobs are out there, plus inform companies about what our students can do to help them,” Griffin says. “Some of those companies include Nucor Steel, Avoca Farms, PotashCorp, Pfizer, NCCAR and Perdue Farms.”

Companies across the region are also teaming up with area community colleges to train current and future workers. Workforce training programs are in place at Beaufort County Community College, Martin Community College, Roanoke-Chowan Community College, College of the Albemarle and Halifax Community College, which recently partnered with light sport aircraft manufacturer LSA to provide students with welding experience.

At North Carolina State University, the College of Engineering’s Industrial Extension Service has established an E3 program that provides job training resources for manufacturers who want to improve their processes and productivity.

“E3 is short for Economy, Energy and Environment, and we send assessment teams to manufacturers to advise

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f E a s t C a r o l i n a Un i v e r s i t y

Building Stronger Workforces

WorKForCe • inFrAStruCture • QuAlity oF liFe

When the time comes for relocating or expanding your business, think Bertie County. With an experienced workforce and infrastructure in place, why look any further? From biotechnology, marine trade industries, inner coastal development and everything in between.

Bertie County, nC “Simplifying Business” Steve BiggS – Bertie County eConomiC Development CommiSSion 252-794-5301 • steve.biggs.@bertie.nc.gov www.co.bertie.nc.us

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Livability

A Natural Escape Region offers trove of attractions for adventurists, outdoor lovers Story by Jessica Walker

I

t’s no secret that Northeastern North Carolina’s natural beauty lures people to the area, but the region offers more than a pretty view. With beaches, parks, wide-open waterways and wildlife, it is a nature lover’s paradise.

Located on the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers swimming, fishing, surfing and other activities. The beach once again garnered national attention with a spot on Dr. Beach’s Top 10 List of America’s Best Beaches, and it was voted Best Surfing Beach by The Weather Channel’s viewers.

Another destination in the Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island, is a frequently visited spot. Often referred to as the “Pearl of the Outer Banks,” the island features approximately 16 miles of undeveloped seashore. Visitors can enjoy nature trails, a variety of locally owned and operated restaurants, unique shops and bayside sunsets that are hard to beat.

The Outer Banks area also offers off-road expeditions in which participants can see the area’s wild horses near Corolla, as well as water sports such as kiteboarding and windsurfing.

“The Outer Banks, or OBX, is just a pure experience that’s hard to describe,” says Lee Nettles, executive director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. “You feel it; it speaks to something deep inside you.” into the wild Further inland, nature buffs can explore Dismal Swamp State Park, which comprises 14,443 acres and offers more than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Approximately 80,000 visitors come to the park annually.

“The park gives visitors the ability to really feel like they are in the wilderness,” says Joy Greenwood, who has served as the superintendent of Dismal Swamp State Park for five years.

Surfers test out the waves at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. t o d d b e nn e t t

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Photo Courtesy of Outer Banks Visitors Bure au

Left: Ocracoke Lighthouse is one of the top attractions on Ocracoke Island, known as the “Pearl of the Outer Banks.”

Right: Bird lovers can view various species of ducks, geese, swans and exotic birds from all over the world at the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck. T o d d B e nn e t t

Rustic Retreat From seminars to group getaways, the Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center in Columbia offers a naturalistic setting along the Albemarle Sound for corporate and community organizations to host camps, meetings, conferences, banquets, receptions and other events.

The state-of-the-art facility can be rented by anyone and comprises 21,000 square feet, with surrounding property that encompasses 250 acres of meadows, forest and wetlands that can be easily accessed.

Guests can enjoy a waterfront dining area, an outdoor ropes course, nature trails and more. Staff members who assist with events include counselors, coordinators and instructors. Learn more at www.eastern4hcenter.org.

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The Dismal Swamp Canal provides opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, and also features the popular Paddle for the Border event each year.

“We have a great location for paddling,” says Donna Stewart, director of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center. “It’s nice and green in the spring and summer, and in the fall, leaves fall like confetti.”

Merchants Millpond State Park in Gatesville is another popular destination. The 3,250-acre park offers camping, hiking, fishing and canoeing. Water activities can also be enjoyed at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, home to more than 200 bird species who flock to 40,000acre Lake Mattamuskeet – North Carolina’s largest natural lake. top Eco-Attractions Located in Scotland Neck, the 18-acre Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park gives visitors a peek into the natural habitats of more than 1,500 ducks, geese, swans and

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exotic birds from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Williamston includes the Senator Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, which features equestrian and livestock events, and animal lovers may also enjoy the Livermon Recreational Park & Mini Zoo in Windsor. For a splash of marine life, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island houses the state’s largest collection of sharks.

More water-based activities in the region include fishing in Weldon, known as the “Rockfish Capital of the World,” and fishing, kayaking and canoeing along the Roanoke and Perquimans rivers.

Partnership for the Sounds in Columbia offers tours of the Cashie River in Windsor as well as River Roaming, a pontoon boat tour of the Scuppernong River.

Its North Carolina Estuarium in Washington offers scientific and historical exhibits for those interested in learning more about the area’s waterways.

Turning on the Charm Region’s small towns offer plenty of hospitality, history and culture Visit most any town in North Carolina’s Northeast Region, and you’ll find culture, charm and history, along with a welcoming atmosphere that attracts visitors and encourages people to put down roots.

Called the Harbor of Hospitality, Elizabeth City is known for its mix of family-friendly and cultural attractions and popular waterfront events. The city’s commitment to preserving its downtown recently earned its Main Street Program national accreditation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“One public-private partnership that has revitalized our downtown area recently is Elizabeth City’s ‘H.A.S.’ (History, Art and Science) program,” says Charlotte Underwood, director of the Elizabeth City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It dates to 2010, when a trio of local

attractions came together to show visitors that ‘Elizabeth City H.A.S. It!’ – a cluster of history, arts and science sites, a vibrant downtown and unique shops and restaurants, all within a walkable four-block area.”

The city is also located near several top golf courses including the Sound Golf Links at Albemarle Plantation and The Pines at Elizabeth City.

Edenton, also home to a National Main Street Program, celebrated its 300th birthday in 2012. The city, founded in 1712 along the Albemarle Sound, features a quaint downtown area full of shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and historic homes and sites.

“Edenton has been known for its rich history, culture and small-town charm for three centuries,” says Nancy Nicholls, director of the

Edenton-Chowan County Tourism Development Authority. “Recently recognized by Forbes.com as one of America’s Prettiest Towns, Edenton shows her age with pride.”

Along with the town’s historic must-sees like the Chowan County Courthouse and the Cupola House, other attractions include the Rocky Hock Playhouse, which showcases musicals throughout the year, as well as Christmas and holiday shows at the Rocky Hock Opry.

A short drive from Edenton, visitors can also find more live entertainment and family fun at Deadwood, a Western theme park and restaurant near Williamston, or hit the links at Scotch Hall Preserve in Merry Hill, recognized as one of the country’s top private courses by Golf Digest magazine.

– Jessica Walker

Ad Index

6 Albemarle Economic Development Commission

23 Electric co-ops of eastern north carolina

20 Avoca Inc.

2 ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc.

43 Bertie County Economic Development Commission

12 Fairfield Inn & Suites

C3 Bertie County Peanuts

32 Hertford County Economic Development Commission

47 Camden County

40 College of the Albemarle

27 Martin County Economic Development Commission

C2 North Carolina’s Northeast Commission

48 Perquimans County Economic Development

15 Currituck County Economic Development

48 Domtar Paper Company LLC

4 East Carolina University

37 Edenton Chowan Partnership

19 Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District C4 Vidant Health

Half mile from U.S. Route 17 One-hour drive to Port of Virginia/Hampton Roads Site includes 70-acre state-owned Marine Industrial Park on Perquimans River Qualifying projects may be eligible for North Carolina and local incentives 200+ acres still available

Marine Industrial Park

Perquimans County Commerce Centre Contact: Dave Goss • 252-312-5314 economicdevelopment@perquimanscountync.gov

visit our

advertisers Albemarle Economic Development Commission www.discoverec.com

Electric Co-Ops of Eastern North Carolina www.nceasterncoops.coop

Avoca Inc. www.avocainc.com

ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. www.electricities.org

Bertie County Economic Development Commission www.co.bertie.nc.us

Fairfield Inn & Suites www.marriott.com/orfec Hertford County Economic Development Commission www.hertfordcounty.com

Bertie County Peanuts www.pnuts.net Camden County www.camdencountync.gov

Martin County Economic Development Commission www.martincountyedc.com

College of the Albemarle www.albemarle.edu

North Carolina’s Northeast Commission www.ncnortheast.com

Currituck County Economic Development www.thinkcurrituck.com

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Domtar Paper Company LLC www.domtar.com

Perquimans County Economic Development www.perquimanscountync.gov

East Carolina University www.ecu.edu

Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District www.rrsd.org

Edenton Chowan Partnership www.edentontoday.com

Vidant Health www.vidanthealth.com

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economic profile Population (2010) North Carolina’s Northeast Region: 366,837 Beaufort County: 47,759 Bertie County: 21,282 Camden County: 9,980 Chowan County: 14,793 Currituck County: 23,547 Dare County: 33,920 Gates County: 12,197 Halifax County: 54,691 Hertford County: 24,669 Hyde County: 5,810 Martin County: 24,505 Northampton County: 22,099 Pasquotank County: 40,661 Perquimans County: 13,453 Tyrrell County: 4,407 Washington County: 13,228

Business Climate in North Carolina’s Northeast North Carolina’s Northeast Region encompasses 16 counties, including the Outer Banks region, and has a combined labor force of 168,786. Top industry sectors in the region include manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, marine trades, tourism and growing sectors in biotechnology, automotive research and development, and alternative energy. Most counties qualify for maximum state incentives. For more information, visit North Carolina’s Northeast Commission online at www.ncnortheast.com or call (252) 482-4333.

Top Employers Perdue Products Incorporated PCS Phosphate Company Inc. Flanders Airpure NC Division Reser’s Fine Foods Nucor Steel Hertford Ann’s House of Nuts Lowe’s Home Centers Inc.

Major Population Centers (2010) Elizabeth City, 18,683 Roanoke Rapids, 15,754 Washington, 9,744 Kill Devil Hills, 6,683

Per Capita Income (2009)

Meherrin Agriculture and Chemical Company U.S. Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard) Domtar Paper Company

Transportation Highways I-95, U.S. highways 17, 64, 158, 168 and 264

Region: $31,028

What’s Online

For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on North Carolina’s Northeast Region, go to businessclimate.com/ne-north-carolina and click on “Facts & Stats,” then “Demographics.”

Airports • Currituck County Airport • Dare County Regional Airport • First Flight Airport • Halifax-Northampton County Regional Airport • Martin County Airport • Northeastern Regional Airport • Ocracoke Island Airport • Hyde County Airport • Plymouth Municipal Airport • Tri-County Airport • Warren Field • Billy Mitchell Airport • Elizabeth City CGAS/ Regional Airport

Rail CSX, Norfolk Southern, Chesapeake & Albemarle Railroad, NC/VA Railroad, Carolina Coastal Railways

Nearby ports Port of Virginia, Port of Wilmington, Port of Morehead City Sources: www.quickfacts.census.gov; Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, Labor Market Information Division

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