Business Journal - 2018

2018-2019

Doing Business In Carteret County

New College President · From the Chamber of Commerce · Facts & Figures www.NCCOAST.com

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CONTENTS Vol. 11 2018-2019 www.nccoast.com

14 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS

COMMUNITY LEADERS

Published by NCCOAST 201 N. 17th St., Morehead City, NC 28557 252.247.7442 nccoast.com Publisher Allyson Sproul Creative Director Kim LaChance (kim@nccoast.com) Managing Editor Amanda Dagnino (editor@nccoast.com)

Production Director: Rudy J. Taitague Mail Center: Skip Hicks Pressman: Allen Henry Folder Operator: Destiny Fulcher Bindery Operator: Rudy D. Taitague Distribution Manager: Ken Rhue Pre-Press: Kyle Dixon

The NCCOAST Business Journal serves to showcase Carteret County as a prime location for creating and continuing business endeavors. The NCCOAST Business Journal includes editorial information from the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, Carteret Community College, Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association and the Tourism Development Association and its publisher, NCCOAST, which has final editorial control of each edition and does not reflect the opinions of any entity other than those of NCCOAST. Entire contents, maps, advertisements and graphic design elements copyright 2018-2019 NCCOAST. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without the publisher’s consent.

Though every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all advertising and editorial copy contained herein, the publisher may not be held responsible for typographical errors. NCCOAST and its employees, agents or representatives may not be held responsible for any actions or consequences derived as a result of following advice or instructions contained herein. NCCOAST reserves the right to refuse any advertising or editorial content deemed inappropriate, misleading or in violation with the law.

Email roze@nccoast.com for subscription information.

Area business leaders are recognized during the chamber’s Crystal Ball.

18 BROWDER TAPPED TO LEAD

CRYSTAL COAST TDA

The Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority under new leadership.

22 MILITARY MATTERS – A VITAL RELATIONSHIP

Sales Jamie Bailey (252.241-9485) jbailey@nccoast.com Ashly Willis (252.342.2334) awillis@nccoast.com Graphic Design Morgan Carraway Billy France Roze Taitingfong

Vol. 11 2018-2019

The military helps drive the state’s economic engine, especially here in Carteret County. These stories explore the region’s relationship with the various military entities along our coast: • MCAS Cherry Point & FRS East • Local Communities Rally to Support Cherry Point • Army Mariners Maintain Presence in Morehead City • Welcome to our Coast Guard Community • Let’s Put a Cap on Veterans

30 DOWNTOWN VIEW

New businesses are setting up shop in Morehead City, see

what’s moving at shaking at Downtown Morehead City, Inc.

38 EMPLOYER SURVEY

NC Works releases the results of an employer needs survey.

41 THE COLLECTIVE

Local business owners group together and find there is

always strength in numbers.

44 BUSINESS SUPPORT

The Small Business Center at Carteret Community College

provides a wealth of support for new and growing business.

46 ART & BUSINESS

The arts contribute more than $2 billion to the state

economy each year and its presence is definitely felt along the Crystal Coast.

IN OTHER BUSINESS 8 From the Chamber 10 In the Network 18 The Onlooker 52 Facts & Figures 54 Advertising Index 4

A C C E S S I B I L I T Y

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From the Chamber

Leadership Carteret 2019: Now Accepting Applications

The Leadership Carteret Class of 2019 is now forming. Word on the street is that this could be the best class ever.

Leadership Carteret is an in-depth professional development program, presented annually by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce. Sessions, which begin in January of 2019, meet for 10 consecutive Wednesdays.

“This will be our 32nd consecutive season to offer Leadership Carteret, and our goal remains the same – ‘Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,’” said Lana Collmann of the chamber.

“The program offers a comprehensive orientation about contemporary issues and challenges that are unique to Carteret County,” she said. “We take the class to places off the beaten path and behind the scenes to give the participants an experience they will never forget. It’s an unforgettable experience.”

The class is held to 35 members and fills quickly. The class will go behind the scenes at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, see an oyster farm, climb the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, among a host of other interesting features.

Last year, the class split up into five groups and partnered with regional non-profits that left a long lasting, meaningful difference in Carteret County. The non-profits that benefited in 2017 were the Boys & Girls club of Coastal Carolina, Hope Mission, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and NC Coastal Federation.

To apply to enroll in Leadership Carteret 2019, contact Lana Collmann at 252-7266350 or lana@nccoastchamber.com or sign up online at www.nccoastchamber.com.

Tuition is $400 for chamber members and $500 for others.

Help Us Identify True Customer Service Champions

There’s a talent search under way … as the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce is spearheading efforts to salute the 2018 Customer Service Champions in local communities.

“Each year, we present a handful of ‘Out8

rageous Customer Service’ Awards to individuals across the county,’” said Millie Chalk, chair of the chamber’s board of directors.

“The nomination process is simple. Just send in a detailed note about someone you work with or someone who has served you well. Direct your correspondence to Tom Kies, tom@nccoastchamber.com. The deadline is Aug. 31. The awards ceremony will be in October.

The 2017 Outrageous Customer Service Award winners were: Sonny Cunningham, Town of Pine Knoll Shores; Michelle Everington, Carteret Community College; Rick Hill, Carteret Community College; Dr. Sarah Randles, Graham & Randles Chiropractic; Michael Barkas, MJB Computers; Greg Patterson, Atlantic Wealth Management; and James Allen Canady, Atlantic Wealth Management.

considering relocation to the Crystal Coast, including school, local government and tax information.

“We encourage local businesses to give copies to vacationers, guests, clients, customers and prospects,” said Chamber President Tom Kies.

Chamber Revives Leadership for Educators Program

After a hiatus of many years, the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, in a partnership with Carteret Community College and the Carteret County Public School System, brought back the Leadership Carteret for Educators Program. Twenty-four instructors from the school system and the college took the class, which was geared toward hearing from employers about what they are looking for regarding job skills and knowledge.

The group heard from city managers, company CEOs, health care experts, realtors, and economic influencers. They toured manufacturing plants, boat building operations, the Coast Guard Station at Fort Macon, and the Port at Morehead City.

The four-day program was designed to offer an overview of the economy and business climate of Carteret County as well as interacting with employers from the county.

Plans are already underway for Leadership for Educators 2019.

2018 Directory is Guide To ‘Doing Business’ at the Coast

The 2018 Business Directory, published by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, is now available – free of charge – at chamber headquarters at 801 Arendell St., Morehead City.

The 72-page publication was printed by NCCOAST (publisher of NCCOAST Business Journal) and designed by Graphic Artist Billy France.

The business directory section includes the complete roster of chamber members who are listed three ways – categorically, alphabetically and by key contacts. It also contains information for people who are

Leadership Carteret Receives Pelican Award

The North Carolina Coastal Federation recently celebrated its volunteers and organizations that have shown exceptional coastal stewardship. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Carteret Program received a Pelican Award for Outstanding Business and Community Leadership and Collaboration.

Tom Kies, president of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, said that the federation had been part of the Leadership Carteret program since at least 2002 and is one of the high points of the learning experience.

“We expanded upon that in 2017 when we had our class of 35 participants break up into teams and volunteer, hands-on, for nonprofit organizations,” Kies said.

Participants bagged oyster shells and helped build living shorelines. “Even after graduation, some class members continue to volunteer.”

Kies said that the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce is deeply honored to be chosen for a Pelican Award.

“We’re very proud of our Leadership Carteret program,” Kies said. “The Chamber understands how important the health of the coast and the water is to our economy.

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In the Network

Lisa Rueh of Downtown Morehead City, Inc. and Trish Slape of Century 21 Sweyer & Associates

Joyce Olsen of Skybank Financial and Paul Gillikan of the Sports Center.

Networking for Fun

The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce stages dozens of networking events throughout the year that are meant to be informative, a great way to meet other business leaders and, most of all, FUN! Julie Naegelen, director of membership services for the chamber, suggests, “It’s important to be yourself at these events, but to get the most out of these events, be genuine and have a purpose.”

Naegelen said, “Prepare yourself ahead of time before entering the room at each networking forum you attend. Don’t try to meet and distribute business cards to everyone you don’t know. That can be overwhelming and unproductive. Try this technique – be selective and use people you know to introduce you to people you would to meet. Make a target list of five people that you would like to get to know – potential business contacts.

“The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce specializes in arranging networking functions. If you are brand new, don’t shy away. The chamber staff and members of the Ambassadors Club can show you around and help you learn how to maximize your effectiveness. That’s a key part of the member services we offer.

“We can get you plugged in to attend any or all of the business After Hours events for the year. Open to members and their guests, the admission is $5 and a business card.

The sponsor receives copies of the cards, which that business can use to follow up with attendees.”

Naegelen went on to say, “We always have a drawing for door prizes and your business card in my basket is your ticket to win.”

The chamber’s largest networking opportunity of the year, the Business After Hours Expo, will be held at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on April 11, 2019 and can accommodate about 65 exhibitors. The annual event attracts about 500 attendees.

“It’s like a Business After Hours networking event on steroids,” said Naegelen, who serves as the Expo coordinator. “We’ve learned how to combine the buzz and excitement of a business trade show with the fun and flair that is associated with the Chamber Business After Hours.

Another networking and learning opportunity are the Small Business Roundtables that meet at 8am, Tuesday-Friday, at set locations around the county. These sessions are sponsored by the county’s Small Business Resource Alliance. There is no cost to attend and advance registration is not required. Just show up and have an opportunity to chat with other small business owners in the community to share ideas and concerns.

Of course, throughout the course of the year, there are plenty of ribbon cutting events that provide a great opportunity to greet new business owners and welcome them into the fold. Watch the calendar the website, nccoastchamber.com, for a variety of events and be sure to check out chamber membership options.

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John and Polly Hagle representing the Town of Beaufort.

Lori Tulloch Matta of Sound Bank is joined by Joyce Matthews of Carteret County Farm Bureau.

Jim and Pattie Schweis of Companion Home Care and Nancy Reynolds and Mickie Whitley of the Trinity Center in Salter Path.

Matt and Kathy Coyle of Bally Refrigerated Boxes, Inc.

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Earlier this year, the Chamber of Commerce it major awards during the Crystal Ball at the DoubleTree

by Hilton Atlantic Beach. Millie Chalk, 2018 Chairperson of the Chamber Board of Directors, announced the winners: The Ambassador’s Club works to stay in touch with chamber members all year-round. The chamber’s unofficial business retention team, the ambassadors volunteer to help the chamber go and grow. This Chamber Ambassador of the Year is given annually to a volunteer who goes all out to welcome new businesses and connect with long standing businesses in the community on behalf of the chamber. This year, the award award was given to Debbie Fisher of Mary Kay Cosmetics and Office Fusion Solutions.

The Cassie Algeo Award for Extraordinary Chamber Leadership goes to a chamber member who has demonstrated outstanding performance through his or her volunteer service to the organization. This year’s winner, Krystal Bequette, is events director for Emerald Isle Realty and owner of Crystal Coast Photo Booth. A graduate of Leadership Carteret Class of 2017, she’s been active with the chamber ever since, volunteering for nearly all the events including the Reverse Drawing and Leadership Carteret 2018.

McLaughlin Chiropractic Center was named this year’s winner of The Arnold Murray Small Business of the Year Award. This award is presented by the chamber to an individual, or individuals, who have demonstrated exemplary business practices to address quality, customer service, environmental stewardship and social responsibility, as well as demonstrating community leadership and actively contributed to improve the quality of life.

Dr. Pat McLaughlin opened McLaughlin Chiropractic Center in 1996. Having suffered from migraine headaches as a high schooler and having received the benefits of chiropractic care, Dr. McLaughlin formed a mission of serving Carteret County with C.A.R.E. which stands for Chiropractic Awareness, Results and Education. With his multiple medical visits for his headaches as a child, he vowed to not have his patients experience what he did with long waiting periods and poor patient customer service. As a result, he has focused painstakingly low wait times, affordable care programs, and the best patient customer service with providing the best services with the best state of the art facility.

The Joan Huss Pulley Award for Public Service is a tribute to individuals who make a difference in their communities and organizations, by using their time, talents and compassion to positively impact the lives of others. The honoree should exhibit the following business values – integrity, stewardship, inclusion, initiative, teamwork and accountability. This award is always given by its sponsor, Duke Energy, and this year it was given to Gene and June McLendon.

Gene McLendon serves as the executive director of Hope Mission Min-

istries and June serves as the volunteer coordinator, working with over 2,400 volunteers who serve at the Hope Mission every year. They both have done everything from sweeping and mopping floors, to washing dishes in the soup kitchen and sleeping in the homeless shelter.

They’ve established an Emergency Financial Assistance program that disperses $1,000 weekly to the working poor. They were instrumental in establishing Empty Bowls that has raised over $94,000. In 2007, they opened a men’s homeless shelter. That same year they opened Hope Recovery Programs, a faith-based, 6-month stabilization program offering assistance and support to adults recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. In 2016, they opened up the Hope Mission Thrift Store and in 2018 they opened a women’s homeless shelter.

The Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award was given to Sheriff Asa Buck.

Sheriff Buck became a member of the Carteret County Sheriff ’s Office in 1998, was elected Sheriff in 2006 and re-elected in 2010 and 2014. Taking the Oath of Office at the age of 31, Sheriff Buck was the youngest sheriff in North Carolina for 8 years. At the age of 42 he is still the second youngest Sheriff in the State.

Upon taking office, the sheriff made needed improvements at the county jail and the county communications system. Sheriff Buck led in the development of the first multi-agency Special Response Team in Carteret County in order for local law enforcement agencies to work together, share resources and be better enabled to deal with high risk situations beyond the scope of the routine patrol officer.

The sheriff implemented an electronic inmate monitoring program that serves as an alternative to incarceration for qualifying inmates which allows them to work and meet their obligations. In order to help address the growing problem of prescription drug diversion the sheriff sought grant funding from the Governors Crime Commission to fund a detective position to focus solely on prescription drug diversion in Carteret County and created the “Pills Can Kill” prescription drug take back program which has resulted in well over 1 million dosage units of prescription medication being turned over to law enforcement for disposal. This program has significantly reduced the access and availability of prescription drugs in Carteret County.

In recent years Sheriff Buck was selected to serve as a commissioner for the NC Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice and as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Use. And lastly, as outgoing chair of the Chamber Board of Directors, Tina Purifoy was given an award for his outstanding service as chairman of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber of Commerce Awards Community Leaders

Award winners and presenters from the Crystal Ball include, from left, Sheriff Asa Buck, Citizen of the Year, Krystal Bequette, Extraordinary Chamber Leadership, Debbie Fisher, Ambassador of the Year, Dr. Pat McLaughlin, Small Business of the Year, Tina Purifoy, Outstanding Chamber Service 2017, June McLendon, Award for Public Service, Millie Chalk, presenter, and Gene McLendon, Award for Public Service.

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Photo by : Carolyn Temple of Coastal Image Photography

We’re Your Chamber at the Coast!

The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce is committed to reaching out to visitors, guests and second home owners who come to the beach.

The staff and all of our members are dedicated to making your stay at the Crystal Coast more enjoyable, relaxing and memorable. And, we are always seeking to improve and strengthen the connections between small, independent businesses and vacationers.

Our restaurants, stores, shops and service providers are reliable businesses that are capable of satisfying every whim, desire and need – everything from Accommodations and Accountants to Window Treatments and Yacht Sales. Just name it – child care, lawn care, skin care, pet care, home care or formal wear.

We’ve got it covered.

Open for Business and At Your Service 801 Arendell Street - Suite 1, Morehead City

www.nccoastchamber.com

252-726-6350 • 1-800-622-6278 www.NCCOAST.com

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The Onlooker

Banish ‘Mentee’ and ‘Boss’ from Workplace Lingo

by: Mike Wagoner

Among the favorite words we love to hate are “mentee” and “boss.”

How can we eliminate them from the contemporary workplace?

Frankly, the noun “mentee” gives me the willies. It sounds as if the person has a bit of a mental disorder.

In actuality, the roots of “mentee” go back to ancient times. “Mentor” pops to life out of Greek mythology. Mentor was a loyal friend and adviser to Odysseus, King of Ithaca. Mentor helped raise Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, while Odysseus was away fighting the Trojan War. Mentor became Telemachus’ teacher, coach and counselor, building a relationship based on affection and trust.

Mentoring today is the process by which one guides others. They, in turn, are described as mentees. It seems to be in vogue these days for a mentee to sing praises of his or her mentor.

You’ve got to appreciate the humor of mentor-less Megan Flanagan of Minneapolis, Minn., who is a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, distance runner and blogger via MegInspire Fitness. She said she started hearing the word “mentor” while in college – mentor this, mentor that… “you don’t have a mentor? EVERYONE needs a mentor.”

“Excuse me? What’s a mentor? Why do I need one? Where do I get one?”

“While I’ve had plenty of inspiring role models, coaches, teachers, bosses and babysitters, I have never referred to or viewed any of them as a mentor,” Flanagan said. “They’ve just been… well, role models. Or whatever their title was at the time.”

Alas, Flanagan had no one to ever meet up with for coffee and deep life talks … no one to call her a mentee. Deprived of a mentor, how could she possibly amount to anything as a human being?

“Perhaps it’s time I stop doing things my own way and embark on the quest for mentorship,” she said. “Maybe there’s a mentor out there for me somewhere…”

It seems highly doubtful that Flanagan would willingly subject herself to becoming a “mentee.” The term is unflattering and a tad condescending. “Trainee,” “pupil” and “learner” are other potential word choices, depending on the situation.

“Protégé” is another option, but it’s too narrow, according to Erin Brenner, co-owner and publisher of copyediting.com. She wrote: “Although related, the two words (mentee and protégé) do not mean the same thing. A protégé is someone who is sponsored and promoted by a person who is more experienced and influential. The relationship tends to be long term, with the pair working closely together or frequently checking in with each other.”

Mentoring is more advisory and generally of a shorter duration, Brenner said.

There’s a lot of mentoring occurring in academia, and some professors are excellent mentors. Others fall into the category of “toxic mentors.”

Dr. Scott E. Porter, an orthopedic oncologist with Greenville (SC) Health System, wrote an essay about medical school mentoring for a recent issue of Orthopedics Today magazine.

“Many scholarly and professional articles suggest mentoring is valuable to organizations and the participants in the mentoring relation18

ship,” Dr. Porter said. “Mentoring can be thought of as the formal transfer of life skills, career skills and people skills from a more knowledgeable person to someone who is typically younger and less knowledgeable. Some would say it is an invaluable part of one’s professional maturation.

“A problem in many mentoring programs is the presence, to some degree, of a forced relationship between the parties involved,” Dr. Porter noted. “Often, mentoring relationships are begun sight unseen … and conducted to simply check a box on a form.

“In addition, many mentoring programs assume a level of competence or ability in the mentor that may not exist. There is a paucity of programs that teach one how to mentor. Clearly, some individuals have the innate ability to be an excellent mentor and others do not,” Dr. Porter said.

“Lastly, generational differences dominate many discussions on teaching and mentoring,” he said. “Experienced attending physicians who may be in the best position to give of themselves may also be ill-equipped to easily relate to millennials.”

“Mentoree” may be a better choice to define the person being mentored, and it is widely accepted as the word used in Australia.

Mentoree is also the preferred term used at Leadership Design Group, a “whole life mentoring” consulting firm based in Parker, Colo., near Denver, reported Tim Murphy, whose job title there is CE/EO: Chief Excellence/Executive Officer.

Can we improve on “mentoree?” Here’s a vote for “stagiaire.” Stagiaire is a nice French word that is used to identify “an amateur cyclist temporarily riding for a professional team.” He or she gains experience by working with the elite riders. Sounds like a form of mentoring to me.

Stagiaire. Let’s run that by Megan Flanagan; I’ll bet she wouldn’t mind being called a stagiaire one bit.

Do we Need a Boss?

Every good cause needs an advocate, someone to step up and serve as champion. The campaign to do away with the term “boss” in the workplace is being championed by Sir Ian Clark Wood, the 76-year-old Scottish business magnate.

In a recent interview for The Scotsman, a daily newspaper published in Edinburgh, Scotland, Wood told reporter Alison Campsie that he hates being called boss. “I think it is a horrible word,” Wood said. “It is an old-style term. Boss means bossing. I don’t think I have ever said to anyone ‘you will do that because I am telling you to do it.’”

Wood successfully navigated turbulence during his career to become a billionaire. He is best known for his work in the North Sea oil industry with Wood Group, which he transformed into a global corporation with operations in more than 50 countries. He served as Wood Group’s chief executive from 1967 to 2006 and as chairman until 2012. He said he likes to think that people liked working “with him.”

Now, he spends most of his time tending to the affairs of The Wood Foundation, a venture philanthropy organization, established by the Wood family in 2007. Current projects include developing the tea farming industry in the African nations of Rwanda and Tanzania.

The news media was there to cover a recent visit to the Rwanda

tea factory. “By all accounts, Sir Ian Wood received a rock star’s welcome and was passed babies to hug,” reported the Rwanda Podium newspaper.

“For a man who is too busy to retire and prefers a quiet bowl of soup in his hotel room to the spoils of the super-rich, he enjoyed the moment.”

One etymology website says “boss” is believed to have originated from the Dutch word of “baas,” meaning overseer. There is documentation from the 1620s that baas also was the standard title given to a Dutch ship captain.

The common definition of boss is “the person in charge or in control.” In the workplace, the boss directs workers. From a manufacturing or industrial perspective, other terms used over time to describe the factory boss have included foreman, superintendent, manager, director, department head, supervisor, chief and leader.

There are no bosses at KIND Healthy Snacks, based in New York City. Daniel Lubetzky, its 50-year-old founder and CEO, told Jacquelyn Smith of Business Insider magazine: “I’ve never liked what that word (boss) connotes. A boss has all the answers, whereas a ‘team leader’ has the final word, but his or her decisions emanate from the wisdom of the team and from earnest discussion. A boss might also feel above the rest.”

There are no employees at KIND Healthy Snacks, either. Only “team members.” Lubetzky stated: “I don’t use the word ‘employee,’ because it can imply someone is working ‘for’ you rather than ‘with’ you. Not using it reinforces the level of accountability we each have to one another.”

“At KIND, nobody works for me. They work with me, I work with them.”

He explained that at KIND, “you are equally accountable to the person sitting on your left, the person sitting on your right and the person you run into in the hallway. We are all part of the same family and on the same journey, committed to one another.”

“This is so important,” Lubetzky said, “because a culture of account-

ability motivates people, inspires them to be resourceful and pushes creativity to new limits.”

Smith reported that KIND, which launched in 2004, now “has more than 300 fulltime team members. Each gets stock options as soon as his/her human resources paperwork is processed. The equity in the company vests over time.”

Lubetzky quipped that he is continuing to counsel older workers, particularly, not to introduce him as “the boss or owner.” He said: “It takes a few reminders that it’s not ‘me’ but rather ‘us,’ and it’s not ‘my company,’ but ‘our company.’ And ‘we’ are all the owners.”

Around the office, team members refer to Lubetzky most commonly as Daniel or “the dude with the confused accent.”

The son of a Holocaust survivor and a Mexican Jew, Lubetzky was born and raised in Mexico City. As a teenager, he moved with his family to the United States. He graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and earned his law degree at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

In 2010, Lubetzky co-founded Maiyet, a luxury fashion company based in New York City, which is forging partnerships with entrepreneurial artisans in the world’s developing economies – places such as India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mongolia, Peru, Bolivia and Thailand – to create products that are unique and luxurious.

Team members and team leaders aren’t just found in trendy startups. Reliable Water Service (RWS), based in Milwaukee, Wis., has been the business of providing commercial water heating equipment and services in Midwestern markets since 1966.

The company’s website poses the question: “Does anyone really like being considered an employee? Everyone wants to be employed, but few people want to be an employee. There’s an impersonal chill to that word that can squeeze morale out of an organization. The term ‘employee’ can put a distance between management and workers that can be hard to overcome.”

The team-based culture at RWS is fostered by CEO Todd Dziwulski. He answers to “Todd.”

Browder Tapped to Lead Crystal Coast TDA In June, the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority (TDA) announced the appointment of veteran tourism industry professional Jim Browder as executive director, noting his wealth of leadership, sales and marketing experience. Browder took over the role on July 10, replacing longtime director Carol Lohr, who retired in March after more than 25 years on the job.

In his new position as executive director, Browder will be responsible for prospecting for new business, identifying emerging industry trends and opportunities, and working closely with Visit NC and Crystal Coast area industry partners. Browder will set sales goals, maximize revenue and develop and implement a strategic sales plan that will collaboratively sell through property management businesses and increase occupancy for the destination.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jim as executive director,” TDA Chair Casey Wagner said upon announcement of Browder’s appointment.

“His experience, energy and knowledge of the market will prove invaluable; we are excited to work alongside Jim and to usher-in a new phase of growth and development.”

Browder brings nearly 40 years of experience in hospitality sales, mar-

keting and tourism industries to The Crystal Coast TDA, having served as director of sales & marketing for numerous brands such Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Pratt Hotel Group, Benchmark Hospitality and Interstate Hotels & Resorts, among others. As president of the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau (VisitLex), Browder collaborated with owners and key executives at 67 area hotels, attractions, venues and major events to help contribute to their profitability and significantly enhance the $1.2 billion economic impact of tourism in the region.

In Browder’s most recent role as general manager and executive director for Tamarack - The Best of West Virginia – an upscale complex featuring retail, restaurant, conference, special events, performance theater and art gallery operations – Browder achieved an annual three percent increase in visitor counts, a four percent increase in art/retail revenues and an 11 percent increase in F&B revenues, while reducing overall expenses by $400,000 and enhancing both guest and employee satisfaction, within his first 24 months.

“The Crystal Coast TDA has been very fortunate to have had a great leader for the last 29 years who has accomplished so much for the area.

My goal is to build on the past success of the TDA, working with the lodging community and the area’s key attractions to position the Crystal Coast as a multifaceted year-round destination,” said Browder. “I’m honored to lead the tourism efforts for the Crystal Coast, working with the sales team, the marketing committee, the board of directors and other tourism partners to effectively bring record numbers of visitors to North Carolina’s gem.” www.NCCOAST.com

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Military Matters

Military Helps Drive the Economic Engine

by: Mike Wagoner Many people across the Tar Heel state are unaware that North Carolina’s second largest business sector is the military/defense industry, which contributes in excess of $66 billion a year to the state’s economy. (This computes to roughly 10 percent of the state’s economy.)

The military/defense sector provides 578,000 direct and indirect jobs in North Carolina, translating into $34 billion in personal income.

Within North Carolina, only the agriculture/agribusiness sector is larger, accounting for an $84 billion annual economic impact. The travel/tourism sector ranks third in value, with an annual contribution of $23 billion to North Carolina’s economy. In Eastern North Carolina, these “big three” (agriculture, the military and tourism) combine to float our boat.

If you think about it, all three sectors are fueled by the conservation and purity of our natural resources – land, air and water. Likewise, the enemies of all are pollution, encroachment and misplaced development.

By far, the majority of all military/defense jobs in the state are found right here in eastern North Carolina. The major facilities are: • Fort Bragg Army Base, Fayetteville • Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville • Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East, Havelock • Seymour F. Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro • Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, Wilmington • Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City Therefore, the challenge – past, present and future – is educating state and local officials from the Piedmont Crescent region and all of western North Carolina that the military is a really big deal for all of North Carolina.

A leading advocate for the military at the local level is Jacksonville, Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Lazzara. He currently serves as president of the NC League of Municipalities (NCLM).

“The working relationship between Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune is one of many examples in North Carolina of a municipality and a military base that work together to try to make life good for military families, the vast numbers of military contractors and the wider civilian community.

“Through groups like … our own NCLM affiliate group, the Military Host Cities Coalition (headed by Jacksonville Mayor Sammy Phillips), North Carolina has long been able to claim the title of ‘Most Military Friendly State in the Country,’” Lazzara said.

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Angel Travis photo North Carolina now has the third largest military population in the United States – 129,000 active duty and reserve unit members – trailing only California and Texas. Veterans living in North Carolina – approximately 778,000 of them – represent the eighth largest Veteran population in the nation. They contribute about $8.2 billion annually, and these dollars ripple through the state economy, Lazarra added.

“North Carolina military communities are seeing another, less obvious, benefit from their presence,” he said. “It’s the brainpower of our men and women in uniform as they exit and leave those military careers behind.”

While not all of these separating personnel will seek employment within the state, exiting service men and women provide a vast opportunity for North Carolina businesses to hire these highly skilled and highly disciplined workers to meet current and future workforce needs.

Many individuals who leave the military are still in their prime working age – more than 82 percent of the projected separations in 2018 will be 30 or younger, and more than 96 percent will be 40 or under.

Fortunately, this scenario has been on the radar screen at the NC Military Affairs Commission (NCMAC), and it has fully endorsed NC for Military Employment (NC4ME), an initiative of the NC Veterans Foundation.

NC4ME priorities are to: • Educate business leaders across the state on the value of hiring military Veterans to join the civilian workforce.

• Assist small businesses and human resource professionals in locating and hiring exiting military personnel.

• Connect military talent to open jobs as well as education and training opportunities in North Carolina.

“More than just the ‘right thing’ to do, hiring Veterans drives business results for North Carolina’s employers and economic growth for our state,” the NCMAC stated in its 2017 annual report to the General Assembly.

Partnership Opens Funding Streams

One of the most important recent developments in North Carolina has been the declaration in 2016 that 33 eastern North Carolina counties would form the NC Sentinel Landscapes Partnership.

This is a federal designation issued by the US Departments of Agriculture, Defense and the Interior, and the idea is to protect “the working and rural character of our private lands” that are important for both national defense and conservation priorities.

The intent is to provide sustainable farmlands, maintain rural forests, provide watershed protection and habitats for wildlife as well as protect “vital test and training missions conducted on those military installations that anchor such landscapes.” The partnership is critical to provide a buffer for the training bases, military bases and airfields, guarding them from encroaching commercial and residential development.

In 2017, the NC Sentinel Landscapes Partnership secured a $9.2 million federal grant, awarded through the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program. The funding flows through the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation (ADFP) Trust Fund, which exists to: • Support the purchase of agricultural conservation easements (on farm, forest and horticulture lands), including transaction costs.

• Fund public and private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable family farms through assistance to farmers in developing and implementing plans for the production of food, fiber and value-added products, agritourism activities, marketing and sales of agricultural products produced on the farm, and other agriculturally related business activities.

• Fund conservation agreements targeted at the active production of food, fiber and other agricultural products.

The State of North Carolina’s 2018-19 budget also adds significant dollars for two efforts to ensure that landowners are able to engage in property use that is compatible with military training, especially aviation training in northeastern North Carolina.

The Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT) reported that the General Assembly approved an allocation of $13 million for Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, “to be used in part to ensure landowners develop property in ways that are compatible with military training, especially aviation. For example, the fund can be used to purchase easements from farmers that would stop industrial wind turbine development.”

Additionally, the budget’s “revised Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) appropriation is $18.3 million, an increase of $4 million. The CWMTF is to favorably consider projects that will mitigate or avoid encroachment on military installations,” ACT reported.

State Wants to Increase Share of Defense Contract Business

The NC Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a statewide organization that helps recruit, support and increase federal revenues for defense industry businesses in North Carolina. It was established in 2005 as a collaborative effort between North Carolina businesses and the North Carolina Community College System. It is based at Fayetteville Technical Community College and local satellite offices are located on community college campuses in Craven and Onslow counties.

Since opening its doors for business, the NCMBC has helped state employers to win nearly 2,400 federal contracts valued up to $25.2 billion.

The NCMBC reported that in 2016, North Carolina businesses executed more than $9 billion in Department of Defense contracts, and billions of dollars more as subcontractors and suppliers on federal projects. MatchForce.org. is NCMBC’s free, official federal contracting portal that automatically matches more than 21,000 registered businesses to up to 30,000 contract opportunities every day.

North Carolina’s community colleges offer some of the most comprehensive and advanced vocational and technical programs in the country.

More than 800,000 students enroll at one of 58 community college campuses each year.

Craven Community College opened its new Institute of Aeronautical Technology (IAT) building on its Havelock campus in 2004. The facility was specifically designed to produce skilled aviation workers for the Air Station and Fleet Readiness Center East at Cherry Point as well as private or commercial aviation firms. The IAT offers state-of-the-art, hands-on training in aircraft maintenance through its Aviation Systems Technology (AST) program. Students get hands-on training with a wide variety of military and civilian aircraft. They become familiar with a complete array of aircraft systems, from nose to tail.

Aircraft technicians are licensed (Airframe & Powerplant) mechanics who inspect, service, check, overhaul, replace, repair and maintain aircraft engines, airframes and various systems in accordance with the standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

MCAS Cherry Point & FRC East Need some talking points to share with co-workers, family and friends…when the conversation turns to contributions made

by MCAS Cherry Point and FRC East?Here’s a quick list compiled by the Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT) that outlines some of the more impressive ways our local military neighbors are essential components of our nation’s defense.

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is the largest Marine Corps air station in the world. Cherry Point has more than 13,000 acres inside the fence and access to more than 16,000 acres in bombing ranges and outlying fields that Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force aviators use for training. More than 14,000 Marines, Sailors and civilians work aboard Cherry Point.

The Navy’s Infrastructure Analysis Team ranks Cherry Point as the most valuable Marine Corps air station. The Marine Corps is planning to make MCAS Cherry Point the largest F-35B (joint strike fighter) base in the nation.

Cherry Point is home to a unique and massive four-point runway system consisting of four runways of more than 8,000 feet in each direction. The air station’s runways are so long they served as an alternate emergency landing site during NASA’s space shuttle program.

Cherry Point is the headquarters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), the aviation component of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). The mission of the MAW is to conduct air operations in support of the Marine Corps to include offensive air support, anti-air warfare, assault support, aerial reconnaissance, electronic warfare and control of aircraft and missiles.

At Cherry Point, the MAW bases its Harrier and Prowler squadrons, including the Marine Corps’ only Harrier training squadrons.

Cherry Point is the Aerial Port of Embarkation/Debarkation (APOE) for II MEF. The APOE also serves occasionally as the point of departure for other U.S. forces and international militaries. APOE serves around 50,000 troops and handles 10,000 short tons of supplies every year.

Cherry Point’s air traffic controllers manage more than 9,000 square miles of airspace for military, civil and commercial air traffic.

Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) East, a Naval Air maintenance and repair depot and the nation’s “Vertical Lift Center of Excellence,” is a Navy tenant command located aboard MCAS Cherry Point.

FRC East provides depot-level maintenance for every fixed wing and rotor winged vertical lift aircraft flown by the Marine Corps and the Navy as well as providing limited support for other military services and federal agencies. More than 3,500 civilian employees work at FRC East, making it the largest employer east of I-95. The average salary paid by FRC East is about twice the national average. The replacement value of FRC East is at least $1.36 billion.

FRC East has access to approximately 100 acres of expansion property. Between MCAS Cherry Point and FRC East, there is significant room for additional structures and capabilities, making Cherry Point attractive for future industrial facility expansion to accommodate growing demands.

www.NCCOAST.com

23

Military Matters

Local Communities Rally to Support Cherry Point by: Mike Wagoner Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT) is a public/private partnership that was originally formed in the 1990s by a group of concerned civic and business leaders to advocate for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East (FRC East).

ACT members primarily live and work in Carteret, Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties. The nonprofit organization recognizes that MCAS Cherry Point and FRC East are absolutely critical to the US military success … and are the pillars of strength for the entire regional economy.

The annual economic impact of Cherry Point is approximately $2 billion to the four-county region. This figure is expected to grow over time, however, said Marc Finlayson, who is ACT’s management consultant.

“Unprecedented new construction is planned for MCAS Cherry Point and FRC East over the next two decades, as operations gear up in advance of the arrival of the new-generation F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter) aircraft,” he said.

“ACT is continually monitoring defense funding issues at the federal level, and everyone is extremely pleased that FRC East has been selected as the site for the F-35B Lift Fan Maintenance and Testing Facility. The first phase is about a $16 million construction project and that funding is in the pipeline,” Finlayson said.

Also, a $2.7 million project is underway to upgrade an FRC East hangar to perform lift fan work.

According to ACT, the Marine aviation overall construction budget, including modernizations and upgrades, calls for about $1.6 billion in expenditures at Cherry Point through 2025, though funding for a number of projects still awaits final approval by Congress.

The lift fan, which is part of the F-35B propulsion system, is what allows the jet to perform short takeoffs and vertical landings. It is unique to the Marine Corps version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which will replace other Marine Corps aircraft such as the Harrier, Hornet and Prowler. FRC East employees currently work on lift fans for the Harrier.

James Norment, an attorney with Ward and Smith, PA of New Bern, who provides legal counsel to ACT, said in an interview with Drew Wilson of the New Bern Sun Journal: “From the community perspective, having this lift fan facility built is exactly like having a major employer come and build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility right here in Craven County.

“In this case, the owner is the Department of Defense, but it is certainly the same as any major investment that may be made at Research Triangle Park or other places in the state. It’s an incredibly important economic development opportunity for our community to have this facility here,” Norment said.

“The lift fan represents one of the anchors of the future workload for FRC East at Cherry Point. It’s essential for the F-35 work that will be done at Cherry Point. It will help maintain the workforce that we have now, but also increase it over time.”

24

He said the State of North Carolina recognized the significance of the lift fan facility, and the General Assembly included a $3 million investment in 2017 and a $2 million investment in 2018 to build additional facilities to supplement the Lift Fan project at FRC East. Funds are in state’s current 2018-19 fiscal year budget.

Havelock Mayor Will Lewis, who also serves as ACT president, said: “This was a significant development for the state legislature, marking the first time in history that the state has made an investment to a federal military installation.”

Norment said: “Eventually Cherry Point will have more jets than any other Marine Corps installation and more B variants than anywhere else in the United States, so it makes great sense to put the lift fan facility at the depot at FRC East right next to where the jets and their pilots will be.”

Furthermore, Norment said, the state’s participation in the funding is a strategic move “to enhance the state’s effort to secure supply chain opportunities related to private sector support for the F-35. With MCAS Cherry Point planned to be the single largest site for F-35B basing in the Marine Corps and FRC East having a major role in depot-level maintenance, it is only natural that logistics and maintenance suppliers will cluster in the area.”

He said the first of its six operational squadrons of F-35Bs should arrive at Cherry Point in 2022 or 2023, replacing the Harrier squadrons. Cherry Point is expected to have a total of 94 F-35Bs by the time all the squadrons are activated in 2031.

Commenting on recent Congressional action, Norment said that different versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2019 fiscal year have cleared the US Senate and the US House of Representatives. Differences will be hammered out in conference committee, and the end result is expected to be about a $717 billion budget allocation.

The House bill allows for the purchase of 77 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force, Navy and Marines, while the Senate version authorizes procurement of 75. The House bill includes $60 million in funding for the MCAS Cherry Point Aircraft Maintenance Hanger and $55 million for Flightline Utility Modernization. The Senate version includes $27 million for Aircraft Maintenance Hanger and nearly $107 million for Flightline Utility Modernization.

Emerald Isle Agrees to Preserve 30-Acre Site

Working hand-in-hand with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, the Town of Emerald Isle agreed to purchase a 30-acre undeveloped tract within the town limits. This outcome is deemed “mutually beneficial” to US military and town recreational interests.

Several entities were involved in cobbling together a package deal, valued at $3 million, that enables the town to buy the property that is located behind the old town hall and recreation center on the north side of NC Route 58 (Emerald Drive).

This transaction also provides an “encroachment buffer,” which is viewed as being critical to the future sustainability of Cherry Point.

Emerald Isle Town Manager Frank Rush reported that half of the purchase cost, $1.5 million, is coming from the Department of Defense, because of its vested interest in the property.

The 30-acre land parcel is in the flight path of jets that use Bogue Field, located north of Emerald Isle on the mainland side of Bogue Sound.

The facility is an auxiliary landing strip for training missions conducted by MCAS Cherry Point. It’s been there since 1943 … long before the development of the western end of Bogue Banks, which began to occur in 1957.

The Carteret County News-Times reported that the site is “the largest undeveloped tract left in Emerald Isle.” The Department of Defense funding pledge comes with the stipulation that the town “prohibit the construction of any significant buildings on the property in the future.”

Most likely, about two-thirds of the land will “remain forever in its natural, maritime forest state,” but the remainder could be used for “some kind of more active town park,” according to the newspaper.

The News-Times reported that other state funding partners include the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The town’s share is reportedly $455,000.

Highway Upgrades Benefit Military

A federal infrastructure grant of $147 million will accelerate the ability of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to upgrade the US 70 Corridor in eastern North Carolina and have it designated as Interstate 42 … sooner rather than later.

North Carolina’s two U.S. Senators – Richard Burr and Thom Tillis – made the announcement about the awarding of the grant June 5. The grant will also enable NCDOT to widen up to 25 miles of roadway along Interstate 95.

The grant to North Carolina is one of only 20 major projects across the country that were selected by the US Department of Transportation and included within a $1.5 billion package, part of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program.

NCDOT is committed to improve Highway 70 from the Port of Morehead City to Raleigh. This route is considered a strategic highway in the opinion of the US Department of Defense.

“This is a huge infrastructure project, perhaps the most ambitious in North Carolina history,” according to Sen. Burr. “I am pleased that North Carolina will receive the resources we need to continue updating our crucial highway corridors.”

A key component is to improve access to US military bases in Goldsboro, Fayetteville, Jacksonville and Havelock, commented Sen. Tillis. The NCDOT believes it is important to create interstate-quality links to connect these four military installations in North Carolina.

“These advances to eastern North Carolina’s highways will have a large

impact for years to come,” said Rep. Walter Jones, who represents Carteret County. “By expanding US 70, we better serve our military, boost the economy, expand emergency evacuation routes and ease the commute of your average driver.”

The I-95 projects call for widening the roadway from four lanes to eight in two sections, north and south of Fayetteville. The grant money also covers the installation of 300 miles of fiber optic cable along I-95 and US 70 to expand access to broadband and telecommunication access.

Carteret County Is Invested in Cherry Point

Combined, the military operations at Cherry Point are the largest single employer of Carteret County residents. Approximately 1,925 people who are domiciled in Carteret County work aboard Marine Corps Station Cherry Point. Most are civilian employees assigned to Fleet Readiness Center East.

Consider also: More than 9,990 people (active duty military and civilian employees, retirees and family members) who live in Carteret County are dependent on Cherry Point’s Department of Defense payroll.

“We think the math is all the reason we need to say that Carteret County is invested, and invested heavily, in Cherry Point … and for the long haul,” said Gene Foxworth, an assistant county manager within the Carteret County government.

“Our county wants to protect the airspace and encourage growth and development aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East.”

Carteret County has an ally in the form of the Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow organization, which has the ability to twist some arms in Raleigh. Looking ahead toward the “long session” of the North Carolina General Assembly in 2019, ACT will be advocating for “additional state funding for the MCAS Cherry Point Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) implementation plan,” which was spearheaded by Carteret County.

The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) within the Department of Defense applauded Carteret County and its municipalities for examining zoning ordinances with the purpose of concurrently promoting continued local growth and also supporting the mission and operations at MCAS Cherry Point.

The JLUS objectives are to foster “a community-driven planning process in order to align compatible civilian development that supports of military readiness and defense capabilities; protects public health, safety, welfare and quality of life; and promotes the economic viability of the communities.”

Essential to the process are “continuing communications among MCAS Cherry Point and the surrounding communities to address compatibility issues.” Carteret County’s Gene Foxworth, who is an assistant county manager, served as JLUS project coordinator. He commented: “The regional JLUS team that we assembled regards Cherry Point as ‘the most

Cody Ohira photo www.NCCOAST.com

25

Military Matters important source of economic development energy’ in the region.”

The study itself was actually completed in May 2016, but implementation of the recommendations is an ongoing effort that warrants the state’s participation in the funding, according to ACT. The OEA said an earlier JLUS project, completed in November 2002, focused only on MCAS Cherry Point, and it resulted in the City of Havelock adopting a Unified Development Ordinance to guide compatible development. Now, the OEA considers the 2016 JLUS a “new and improved” version, because it expands on the earlier study to encompass MCAS Cherry Point … and three Marine Corps’ flight training facilities within the Carteret County boundaries.

The JLUS findings underscore that these three sites are described as having “high vital importance to the military readiness” of MCAS Cherry Point.

Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue (MCALF Bogue), locally known as Bogue Field, is located off NC Route 24 in western Carteret County near the communities of Bogue and Cape Carteret.

• Bogue Field is an 875-acre landing field that serves as the Marine Corps’ only East Coast site for Field Carrier Landing Practice where pilots perform simulated landings on an aircraft carrier or an amphibious assault ship. The flight line is painted to have exactly the same dimensions and markings as the real vessels.

• Training occurs both day and night. Its mission is integral to the capability of the Marine Expeditionary Forces stationed in North Carolina.

• Obviously, this training on firm ground is important as pilots hone their skill and build confidence before attempting to take off and land on an aircraft carrier of assault ship at sea. (The other two Marine Corps airfields with the same capability are located in Yuma, Ariz. and Okinawa, Japan.)

Bombing Target Piney Island (BT-11) is located off NC Route 12 near Cedar Island in the Down East section of Carteret County.

• Piney Island is a 12,500-acre site that is extremely remote and accessible only by boat. The island juts out into the Neuse River near its entry into the Pamlico Sound. BT-11 land and water rang-

•

•

es provide electronic and special warfare training.

As part of the Mid-Atlantic Electronic Warfare Range (MAEWR), Piney Island is used by various military branches, including active-duty personnel and reservists. Bombing simulations are recorded and scored electronically via computers to lessen the environmental impact.

BT-11 is about 22 miles from MCAS Cherry Point. No other water-based ranges in the United States are as close to nearby stationed aircraft and ground-based units.

Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic

(MCOLF Atlantic), also known as Atlantic Field, is a 1,514-acre facility in the community of Atlantic, also in Down East Carteret County, overlooking Core Sound.

• Atlantic Field also opened in the 1940s. Today, it is utilized for airto-ground exercises and contains numerous electronic warfare threat emitters and simulated targets.

• The facility also serves rotary-wing operations in support of nearby target ranges, BT-11 and BT-9 (a small range in the Pamlico Sound within Pamlico County).

Related to BT-11, the JLUS team determined: “Along the Neuse River, there are large tracts of forests and farmlands with waterfront access near Piney Island that are desirable and ripe for high-dollar residential development.”

“Fortunately,” Foxworth said, “the Marine Corps can be credited with taking an innovative, regional approach to its installations in eastern North Carolina (Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune and New River) by creating the first multi-installation agreements, facilitating collective projects with the state and local governments as well as with businesses and nonprofit organizations.”

Another concern looming in the 2019 session of the North Carolina legislature is what to do about tall structure and wind turbine regulations.

Currently, a moratorium is in effect to block additional construction of wind farms.

ACT, the JLUS team and Carteret County have a common bond. They seek greater restrictions, citing the threat that tall structures pose to military flight patterns and training.

Koby Saunders photo 26

Joel Quebec photo

Army Mariners Maintain Presence in Morehead City Vehicles parked outside the Army Reserve Center on Fisher Street in Morehead City display “Sail Army” bumper stickers or decals. Their owners are soldiers assigned to the 824th Transportation Company (Heavy Boat).

Don’t call them sailors, as they prefer to be called Army mariners, said Hendrick Simoes, a contributor to Stars and Stripes, an independent newspaper covering the US military community.

The Army boats are designed to move military equipment. It’s cheaper to move large quantities of equipment and materials via Army watercraft than via air or ground transportation. The old saying is: “The Army brings the goods, the Navy brings the guns.”

Reservists based at Morehead City have been through several lengthy deployments in the 21st century to the Persian Gulf region.

The Army Reserve command sent one of its public affairs office writers to Kuwait in 2012 to interview the Army mariners from Morehead City who had just begun a year-long assignment and were “liv-

ing on their floating home-away-from-home,” the 174-foot Kennesaw Mountain, a landing utility craft.

At the time, the young corporal and journalist reported: “Most people have no idea the Army has a fleet of watercraft,” and “the best-kept secret is that the Army has more boats than the Navy.”

Many of the Morehead City unit’s Army mariners grew up in the coastal Carolinas and love what they do. One longtime reservist said: “Most people in this field, you can’t run them off. We have a saying: ‘If it ain’t got water under it, we don’t want anything to do with it.’”

The 824th Transportation Company was activated in 1949 in Montgomery, Ala., and reassigned to Beaufort in 1955. The unit was moved to Morehead City in 1958. Currently, two landing utility craft are assigned to the unit. Each vessel can operate in very shallow water and is capable of landing on a beach to load or offload cargo.

Today, the 824th is part of the Army Reserve’s 81st Regional Support Command, headquartered at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC.

Welcome to Our Coast Guard Community Before the Marines arrived at Cherry Point in 1943, the Coast Guard was already planted firmly in Carteret County, and….

Before the Coast Guard arrived on the scene in 1915, the United States Life-Saving Stations had begun sprouting up in Carteret County along Core Sound and Cape Lookout as early as the 1880s.

This rich heritage is personified in retired Coast Guard Chief Ira Lewis, a Carteret County native, who was born Aug. 2, 1918, on Harkers Island. He served more than 20 years in the Coast Guard from 1938-59. Chief Lewis was the inspiration that spurred the effort for Carteret County to seek designation as an official Coast Guard Community. This initiative was ultimately successful, and the county observed its 3-year anniversary as a Coast Guard Community in the summer of 2018 with the dedication of new signage, strategically located adjacent to primary roadways leading into the county.

County commissioners and Coast Guard officials participated in a brief ceremony June 28, 2018. The new signs contain the words: “Carteret County: An Official Coast Guard Community.”

Graphics include the county government seal and the Coast Guard logo. The look is both clean and colorful, as red is a dominant color for both the county and Coast Guard marks.

The new signs were also designed to complement the existing “Welcome to the Crystal Coast” message and are mounted to the same posts.

The Commandant of the Coast Guard signed the document designating Carteret County as a Coast Guard Community on July 7, 2015, as only the second county in the nation to be so proclaimed.

Camden County, Ga., earned the distinction as the first on Jan. 23, 2014. There are 22 municipalities across the country that have been declared Coast Guard Cities. These include two in North Carolina – Wilmington (July 25, 2003) and Elizabeth City (May 29, 2015).

The program recognizes those cities and counties that make “special efforts to acknowledge the professional work of the Coast Guard men and women assigned to their area. Making Coast Guard men and women and their families feel at home in their home-away-fromhome is an invaluable contribution to morale and service excellence.

The Coast Guard is pleased to recognize those communities that have extended so many considerations to the Coast Guard family and their dependents.”

The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and its Military Affairs Commit tee took responsibility for compiling all the materials to meet the filing requirements.

It made sense, however, for the Carteret County government to be the entity that submit ted the application, because the Coast Guard has stations and personnel at Fort Macon beyond the Town of Atlantic Beach and in Emerald Isle.

www.NCCOAST.com

27

Downtown View

Downtown Morehead City is rich in history and tradition, boasting buildings, establishments and a working waterfront that have existed far longer than many of us. While it is the past that often times evokes feelings of nostalgia when walking down Arendell, Shepard or Evans streets, it is our present and future that conjures excitement and anticipation of what is to come for this area, making downtown Morehead City is a great place to work, live and play year round.

Business owners and entrepreneurs are recognizing downtown Morehead City as the best place for their establishments. According to Lisa Rueh, Executive Director of Downtown Morehead City, Inc. (DMC, Inc.), from July of 2017 to June 2018, 12 new businesses opened in downtown Morehead City and 14 businesses expanded their footprints. This growth includes a wide variety of businesses, from shopping and retail to dining and entertainment to professional services and trades – attracting more visitors to our area for vacation and providing locals with new establishments.

In total, $19,554,914 was spent in public and private investments downtown, to include rehabilitation and improvements to existing buildings and beautification projects through façade grants and new construction projects.

This summer Downtown Morehead City, Inc. hosted another successful music concert series in Jaycee Park with Alive at Five presented by Sound Bank and welcomed more than 68 boat dealers and exhibitors along with thousands of attendees to the 11th annual Crystal Coast Boat Show. The organization also spearheaded the 2017-2018 Morehead City Downtown Countdown, a New Year’s Eve waterfront celebration for children, teens and adults.

Residents and visitors enjoyed entertainment including an evening and midnight crab pot drop and fireworks.

In addition to events, DMC, Inc. is also focusing on the arts!

Our local businesses recently celebrated the installation of five art-wrapped traffic signal boxes along Arendell Street. Downtown artists submitted their artwork for the boxes, which are colorful and focus on the culture and heritage of Morehead City. In July DMC, Inc. celebrated the refurbished artwork of Willie Baucom Lambert and Keith Lambert. The 14, three-dimensional statues 30

depict sea life found in North Carolina’s coastal waters and are installed throughout downtown for visitors and locals to enjoy. Additionally DMC, Inc. issued façade grants to five downtown businesses, all located on Arendell Street. The grants improve the exterior and sidewalk areas, helping businesses add new paint, signs, flowers and benches outside of businesses. The design committee has worked hard to improve the appearance of our downtown, and it shows!

In the past year, the focus on our social media has focused on our local businesses, history and culture, showcasing downtown through photography on Instagram and keeping our followers informed of events and happenings on Facebook. Collaborating with our business partners, it’s been an excellent way to illustrate all there is to see and do in downtown Morehead City.

None of this success would be possible without the Downtown Morehead City, Inc. volunteers, who last year donated 12,182 hours to the organization through serving on committees, preparing for events and hosting activities. Those who are interested in getting involved are invited to join in on the excitement by sitting on one of Downtown Morehead City, Inc.’s monthly committees – Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion and Organization. Local downtown businesses are also invited to attend our quarterly business socials.

Looking ahead, Lisa Rueh said, “It is an exciting time downtown!

We are filling storefront space and working together to continue making downtown Morehead City a great place to live, work and play on the Crystal Coast. We want to thank those who have chosen downtown Morehead City and recognize our business owners who believed in downtown Morehead City from the start, pioneering the way for a movement that is only going to gain momentum. Here is to over 200 years of business in downtown Morehead City and to what is on the horizon for many years to come. “ For more information on Downtown Morehead City, Inc. and upcoming events, visit www.downtownmoreheadcity.com. Follow us on Facebook at Downtown Morehead City, Inc. and on Instagram @downtownmhc.

EAT

SHOP

PLAY

DO MORE, SEE MORE IN DOWNTOWN Downtown Morehead City is bustling year-round with a mix of fishing charters, dive and tour boats, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, antiques and a rich seafaring history. Stroll and discover quaint shops to find that perfect gift, painting, jewelry, clothing, local art, books, home accessories or antiques. In the late afternoon, watch as the fishermen bring in their catches of the day on docks overlooking Sugarloaf Island. In the evenings enjoy a cold drink outdoors or a diverse selection of restaurants in Downtown Morehead City, from an elegant dinner to appetizers. Whether you are a resident or visitor, we want you to experience Downtown Morehead City year-round and enjoy the many opportunities to live, work and play.

Crystal Coast Boat Show 3rd Weekend in May

Alive at Five June, July & August

Small Business Saturday & ArtWalk Saturday after Thanksgiving

Christmas in Downtown First Saturday in December

NYE Downtown Countdown December 31

Fishing Charters Year-Round

Big Rock Blue Marlin 2nd Week in June

NC Seafood Festival 1st Weekend in October

downtownmoreheadcity.com

Downtown Morehead City, Inc. @downtownmhc 31 www.NCCOAST .com

CELEBRATING 80 YEARS

The Garner Family invites you to come taste what made Carteret County and the Crystal Coast famous; fresh seafood caught by local fishermen.

Their mission, passed down from their father and grandfather is simple.

Provide the highest quality food available in the cleanest environment possible. The name itself supports their dedication and loyalty to excellence and is the foundation of support for their community and patrons. Enjoy the broad range of ever-changing menu items that are guaranteed to satisfy not only the traditional broiled, grilled & fried seafood lovers, but also cuisine created by Chef James Scott that includes Angus beef, chicken, always homemade chowders and homemade desserts.

501 EVANS STREET, MOREHEAD CITY, NC

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1311 Arendell St, Morehead City NC carteretcommunitytheatre.com 252-726-1501 32

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L

inda Denmead and son Michael opened the doors of Artisan Granite on Oct. 1, 2006 in hopes of providing timeless countertops to Emerald Isle residents and the surrounding area. They quickly saw the need to expand their territory and now offer countertops all over the state of North Carolina. Work has even taken them to South Carolina and as far away as Maryland. During the market turn in 2008, Artisan made one pledge – to keep all of their employees on staff and to ensure them a 40-hour work week. To help drive business, the duo branched out and opened Artisan Tile & Design, extending their scope while continuing to focus on quality work and great customer service.

Artisan Granite features one of the area’s largest selections of stone, quartz, sinks and tile and employs a vast global network to bring only the highest quality stone to the area.

What has made them so successful? The employees, said Linda. “Our guys are the best. Without quality employees we would have nothing. When hitting production limits each year it is important to have people you can trust and we have those people. Our staff members are very meticulous and are able to troubleshoot difficult situations.”

203 Boardwalk Dr, Emerald Isle | 252-354-7774 | artisangm.com www.NCCOAST.com

37

Half of North Carolina employers are having difficulty filling open positions, according to the results of a new survey of business hiring needs from late 2016 to early 2018. The 2018 Employer Needs Survey published by the NCWorks Commission was conducted on its behalf by the NC Dept. of Commerce’s Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD).

These results reflect what I hear from business leaders time and again: they often have jobs but can’t find workers with the right skills to fill them,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “We must get people who are looking for jobs together with businesses who want them.

Getting North Carolina job ready means listening to what businesses need so we can prepare North Carolinians for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

NC Job Ready, Gov. Cooper’s workforce development initiative, is built on three core principles: skills and education attainment so North Carolinians are ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow, employer leadership to remain relevant to evolving industry needs, and local innovation to take great ideas and apply them statewide. To train and expand North Carolina’s workforce, Cooper has called for NC GROW to offer financial aid for high-demand fields; Finish Line Grants to help students overcome financial challenges to complete their degrees; and an Employer Training Fund to help employers address workforce training needs and employee skill gaps.

The 2018 Employer Needs Survey, an update to similar surveys released in 2014 and in 2016, asked more than 2,000 North Carolina businesses about their hiring practices with an emphasis on hiring difficulties and workforce needs. In addition to an overall sample of all industries, researchers surveyed a sample of manufacturers and a set of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related industries.

Among the findings of the survey were: • 50% of employers who tried to hire in the past year had difficulty filling at least one position, up from about 40% in 2016

•

Prospects for job growth remain strong, with 43.3% of employers expecting the size of their own workforce to increase this year, and only 2.3% of employers expecting it to decrease.

“This year’s survey provides vital data about the extent to which North Carolina businesses are experiencing hiring difficulties and identifies the top reasons, recognizing that different challenges exist for different industry segments, different business sizes and different regions,” NCWorks Commission Chair Kevin Trapani wrote in a letter accompanying the report. “The conclusions drawn from the report will assist the workforce development ecosystem to develop or move to scale data-informed policies and programs that equip job seekers with the skills and experience required by businesses.”

In particular, he cited the need for younger North Carolinians to participate in apprenticeships, internships and other work-based learning programs that will help them develop employability skills.

Trapani also said that the survey pointed to opportunities for the state’s workforce system to more fully engage with employers and promote greater awareness of available resources.

“The findings in the report support the key elements of Gov. Roy Cooper’s NC Job Ready initiative and his priorities for workforce development, to which we are fully committed,” Trapani added. “Our continued, collaborative progress on NCWorks Certified Career Pathways, business engagement strategies, and NCWorks Career Centers will support NC Job Ready by preparing North Carolinians for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

“The Employer Needs Survey is a valuable source of data and insights for Nor th Carolina’s workforce development and education par tners,” said NCWorks Commission Executive Director Catherine Moga Bryant. “Hiring in a tight labor market presents different challenges than those experienced during a downturn, and this repor t provides policymakers and business leaders with information on what those challenges are and how to meet them.”

The NCWorks Commission, which is designated as the state’s Workforce Development Board under the federal Workforce Innovation and Oppor tunity Act, recommends policies and strategies to enable the state’s workforce and businesses to compete in the global economy. Led by a private sector chair, the 33-member commission includes representatives from the business community, heads of state workforce agencies, educators and community leaders.

Assisting with the Employer Needs Survey were the Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services at NC State University and the Division of Workforce Solutions at the NC Dept. of Commerce. Grant funding from the US Dept. of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration suppor ted the project.

The full repor t can be viewed at www.nccommerce.com/Portals/11/Documents/Commission/2018-Employer-Needs-Survey. pdf.

Employer Survey Supports State’s Job Ready Initiative NCWorks Releases Results of Employer Needs Survey

• Manufacturers and STEM-related businesses found it more challenging to fill positions than employers as a whole, with nearly 60% reporting difficulty hiring • Employers in the state’s two largest metropolitan areas (Charlotte and the Research Triangle) had less difficulty hiring (40%) than businesses overall, while employers in the state’s medium-sized metro areas had more difficulty (61%) •

The top two reasons employers gave for their hiring difficulties were “employability” issues (such as a lack of a strong work ethic, professionalism or reliability) and a low number of applicants

•

70% of rural employers cited a low number of applicants as the top reason for difficulty, a significantly higher percentage than that of employers as a whole (55%)

•

88% of all employers said that they attempted to fill at least one position in the past year;

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Island review

November 2017

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11th Street Collective Located at the intersection of 11th and Arendell

Something for Everyone!

Welcome to 11th Street Collective!

A special niche in Morehead City where friends gather to shop and dine. We are a group of local business owners supporting each other to build a stronger community, where customer service is like none other, where southern hospitality is as warm as our coastal sunshine. This is where you’ll always find a kind smile and a simple wave of the hand welcoming you to the following businesses:

Mark your Calendar!

Fun Pop-Ups 10-2pm •Aug 4 •Sept 1

Morehead City’s Finest

Shopping District!

FREE PARKING

The Collective

Marketing is tricky business these days – and the options are simply endless for small businesses that are eager to gain a foothold in an ever-evolving landscape. Creativity is a must if you want to get noticed. And perhaps the willingness to take a chance on something that hasn’t been tried in the area before.

Meet the 11th Street Collective, a group of small business owners in downtown Morehead City who have joined forces to help put their businesses on the map. The innovative owners have stepped outside the box with a refreshing take on marketing by grouping their businesses together as a destination. In addition, they’re striving to raise awareness of the importance of shopping local. They have created a logo recognizing their corner of town and now advertise in larger group ads that garner more attention than their smaller ads had done individually. In the process, they’ve formed something of a support group of sorts – business owners helping businesses in a collective, supportive environment.

“A magical light bulb went off in Melissa Lutz’s head! She wanted a way to inform and draw customers to all of the independent businesses in our two block section of Arendell Street,” said Jenny Morrison, owner of Ginny Gordon’s and a member of the Collective. “Several breakfast gatherings later, The 11th Street Collective was in full swing. Our matching flags, sponsorship of events, special shopping dates for coordinated pop-ups and advertising have helped our section of downtown become destination point.”

This unique little niche of Morehead City is located on the south side of Arendell Street, between 10th and 12th streets and is the most densely populated area of shops in downtown Morehead.

The nine retail businesses within a stone’s throw of each other are as diverse as they are unique.

The group of local business owners has a different skill set. Some are relatively new to the area, while others have been doing business in Morehead City for decades. And their offerings run the gamut, from art and eyewear to kitchen necessities and clothing. As the group’s motto says – there’s “Something for Everyone.” Participating businesses in the two-block span include the ever-popular eatery Parrott’s on 11th, Côte, DP Jewelers, Eye to Eye, GiGi & Co, Ginny Gordon’s, Jake’s, Parrott’s and Red Arrow Studio.

Odds are you’ve noticed their blue and white flags hanging outside their respective storefronts as you drive along Arendell Street, or you may have noticed them at this summer’s “Alive at Five” concert series where they were selling their limited edition, 11th Street Collective T-shirts featuring artwork from member, Jimmy Craig Womble, owner of Red Arrow Studio.

The 11th Street Collective logo represents motion, growth and the constantly evolving world that we live in, members said. And they hope it’s contagious. The goal is to expand the Collective to both the north and south sides of Arendell, all with a focus on public safety improvements to the neighborhood for locals and tourists alike.

“New town manager Ryan Eggleston and Downtown Morehead City director Lisa Rueh have been extremely helpful and interested in our group effort,” said Morrison. “We hope other sections of downtown will establish similar destination points and feature more independent businesses. Customers are pleased with the amount of free, available parking in our neighborhood.”

The team is working closely with Eggleston in hopes of increasing public safety, traffic flow and parking improvements. Working together, they hope to build a better, safer community. www.NCCOAST.com

41

11th Street Collective intersection of Arendell

for Everyone!

Street Collective!

her to shop and dine. We are a group of local business munity, where customer service is like none other, where ne. This is where you’ll always find a kind smile and a ng you to the following businesses:

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Business Support

Small Business Center Provides Support to Small Business Owners Few things are as challenging as starting a new business. And once a business is established, there are a whole new set of challenges to contend with. From social media and advertising to cyber security and record keeping, the skills needed to run a successful business run the gamut.

But that’s where Carteret County’s best kept secret comes in – the Small Business Center at Carteret Community College.

“We’re not intentionally a secret,” said Director Kristy Rogers Craig. “The fact that many people don’t know we’re here is probably one of the things that surprises us the most. We’ll drop in to small businesses and let them know who we are and what we do and they often ask ‘Why haven’t I heard of you?’”

Craig is hopeful she can change that, and if it takes knocking on doors to do it, she’s more than up for the task.

The NC Community Colleges Small Business Center Network operates centers in all 58 of the state’s community colleges and Carteret County’s was one of the first offices open nearly 30 years ago. The goal is to provide education and training, counseling and referrals to support small business owners with a goal of job creation and retention.

Those initiatives are met through free one-on-one counseling, business roundtables at various locations around the county, a variety of classes on specific topics. Classes include basics like writing a business plan and using Quickbooks along with a host of business related topics, from managing cashflow and sales and use tax to Facebook for business and investment crowdfunding.

During the last fiscal year, the Carteret County program counseled 133 individuals and was involved in the start up of 26 businesses that created 78 jobs. That’s on par with much larger counties and shows the potential right here along the Crystal Coast, said Craig. In addition, the office hosted 88 entrepreneurship events with 819 attendees. On the state level, the Small Business Centers assisted in the creation of more than 44

3,837 jobs.

About 50 classes are offered each semester, Craig said. While all counties offer similar core classes, individual offices are encouraged to tailor their offerings to their community. In addition, roundtables are held weekly in different parts of the county. There is no need to sign up and visitors are always welcome as the roundtable discussions, which are a great way to get ideas and information from fellow business owners.

“Our goal is to make sure that we’re being incredibly proactive with client needs,” said Craig, who invites small business owners to look through the list of classes and programs and let the agency know what you think. “Let us know if you’re excited, but if there is something that you are interested in that we’re not offering, let us know that, too.”

To learn more about the Small Business Center and to see a full calendar of upcoming classes, visit www.ncsbc.net/center. aspx?center=75090.

SMALL BUSINESS FORUMS Beaufort: 8-9am, second Thursday of the month Donna’s Deli at the Piggly Wiggly SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES Western Carteret: 8-9am, Tuesdays Cedar Point Town Hall Morehead City: 8-9am, Wednesdays Bryant Student Center - Carteret Community College Pine Knoll Shores: 8-9am, Fridays Public Safety Building, upstairs

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Art & Business Arts Contribute $2 Billion Annually to State Economy 46

In North Carolina, the nonprofit arts and culture sector accounts for $2.12 billion in annual economic activity, according to the Americans for the Arts organization. The arts support 71,977 full-time equivalent jobs in North Carolina, generating $1.5 billion in household income to local residents. In addition, the industry contributes $201.5 million in local and state tax revenues. (These figures, compiled by Americans for the Arts, are from 2015.)

“When we support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but we also invest in the state’s economic well-being,” reports the North Carolina Arts Council.

“The arts … foster beauty, creativity, originality and vitality. The arts inspire us, soothe us, provoke us, involve us and connect us,” said Robert L. Lynch, president of Americans for the Arts. “They also create jobs and have an incredible economic impact.”

Also, consider a few “fringe benefits” from the arts: • Volunteers play a significant role in helping nonprofit arts and cultural organizations function. During 2015, a total of 109,525 volunteers donated a total of 4.62 million hours to North Carolina’s arts and cultural organizations. This represents a donation of time with an estimated aggregate value of $108.78 million.

•

In-kind contributions are noncash donations such as materials, facilities and services. The nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in North Carolina reported receiving in-kind contributions with an aggregate value of $21.08 million in 2015.

•

The arts also contribute to tourism by attracting visitors to a community. This classification of tourists tends to spend more money and stay longer.

Economic developers note a trend toward “quality of life” as a critical factor in site selection decisions. One source reports: “Investments in arts and culture enhance the quality of life, now the third-highest measurement businesses use when gauging development trends – behind skilled labor and highway accessibility but ahead of other factors such as corporate tax rates and incentives.”

“These investments are breathing new life into our downtown areas, creating educational opportunities and attracting businesses and highly skilled workers,” the economic developer continued.

The NC Arts Council is expanding the scope of the arts to include the state’s “creative industries” (all jobs that help create, produce, distribute, supply or support original, creative, artistic or cultural intellectual property).

The latest Arts Council data show creative industries provide more than 417,000 jobs, representing 7.2 percent of North Carolina’s workforce.

These jobs generate $18 billion a year in wages, salaries and benefits. Combined, these creative industries produce $29 billion in revenues and $10 billion in exports on an annual basis.

There’s Art in the Middle of Carteret…

As well as all around the edges of the county.

A central player is the Arts Council of Carteret County (ACCC), a nonprofit organization run totally by “dedicated volunteers who are artists and art lovers in the community.” The ACCC’s mission “is to encourage and support the development, promotion and expansion of the arts in Carteret County.”

Council members believe that by doing so, the cultural, economic and educational benefits to the area will be enhanced for everyone living in or visiting the County.

The ACCC is a designated partner of the NC Arts Council, and it “grassroots” funding to many arts-related nonprofits across the county.

The ACCC scholarship program has awarded more than $27,000 in scholarships in recent years in support of students seeking college degrees in arts-related fields.

It’s website – artscouncilcarteret.org – contains active links to other arts groups in the county, art galleries and individual artists. It posts a calendar of upcoming arts-related events in the area. Log on to request the newsletter and email updates.

The Arts Council’s signature event is “Art from the Heart,” a long-running annual show and sale of original artwork, open to the public, which occurs during February and March. This is a non-juried show open to artists 18 years of age or older who reside in Carteret, Craven, Onslow and Pamlico counties.

The 2018 show and sale featured 430 pieces of artwork created by 158 artists. The ACCC awarded $6,600 in cash prizes for artistic excellence during the show, and artists had more than $9,000 in artwork sales. Nearly 2,200 people visited the gallery during Art from the Heart 2018.

Either during or just after Art from the Heart each year, the ACCC produces a student art show featuring the artwork of Carteret County students of all ages from public and private schools. Home-schooled students are also welcome to participate. This popular exhibit is put together by the art teachers and typically displays more than 1,200 pieces of student artwork.

ACCC President Lee Lumpkin says that the Arts Council has developed special relationships with a number of local businesses in recent years. He said: “We have been blessed to have the support of local banks, restaurants, art organizations, Carteret Community College, Morehead Plaza, local news media, the Town of Morehead City and others who appreciate the nature of our commitment to help Carteret County artists, art students and art organizations thrive.”

The ACCC partnered in June 2018 with Downtown Morehead City Inc., Wells Fargo and the NC Dept. of Transportation to art-wrap five, large traffic signal boxes along Arendell Street in the heart of Morehead City. Three local artists created the designs, and the wraps were printed by a local sign shop, using a high-grade adhesive material that is resistant to sun fading.

The signal box project represents the first phase of Morehead City’s downtown beautification initiative. Work is expected to be underway in the fall of 2018 to paint a community mural on the side of a building located along the waterfront.

Other recent ACCC projects include a partnership with the Carteret Community Theatre that allows the council to display original artwork during major productions. The council has produced two woodworking shows at Carteret Health Care in Morehead City and donated the winning pieces to the hospital’s foundation for its gallery.

“We encourage everyone who is invested in Carteret County to become members of the Arts Council,” Lumpkin said. “It matters not whether you can draw, paint, sculpt, act, sing, dance, create pottery, quilts, jewelry, take beautiful photographs or write the most splendid prose. Investments in the arts produce rich returns for all.”

Beaufort Performing Arts Center on the Horizon

Over in Beaufort, a proposal is percolating to establish the Beaufort Performing Arts Center (BPAC), making use of the auditorium section of the old elementary school on the corner of Live Oak and Mulberry streets in Beaufort.

The building, which stood vacant and unattended since 2002, was purchased from the county government on March 24, 2017, by Beaufort Town Center, LLC (BTC).

As BTC’s managing director, Bucky Oliver, a Beaufort resident and commercial developer, gained a stamp of approval in July 2018 from the Town of Beaufort’s Board of Commissioners to proceed to make the a “cultural arts dream come true.”

“There’s an enormous amount of talent not just in Beaufort but in Carteret County in general,” Oliver told WCTI News Channel 12 reporter Nicole Griffin. “So, this would be a great forum to be able to host that talent.”

“The center part of the building at one time was an 850-person auditorium, and it was the center of all types of activities for this community, Oliver said. “We’d like to see it restored and put back in that use.”

As envisioned by Oliver, BPAC would be turned over to a nonprofit group that would come in and actually run the operation.

“We … have committed to gifting the auditorium itself,” Oliver said.

“Then we’re hoping to raise funds through the county and private funding so that entity could have a debt-free performing arts facility.”

The BTC has stated: “The auditorium will be an important part of the town center complex.” and preserving this historic landmark in Beaufort “can only be achieved with a private-public partnership with Carteret County Board of Commissioners.”

Oliver said BTC will be approaching the county commissioners to seek a $1.5 million economic development grant to undertake necessary renovations “to bring the facility back to life and ensure its future.”

Letters of support from artists, arts groups, businesses, local govern-

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ments, tourism leaders and educational institutions show widespread interest in a performing arts center in Beaufort, Oliver reported.

Hospitals ‘Catch the Wave’ to Exhibit Local Artwork

A dozen years ago, The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, based in London, concluded: “Visual art in hospitals provides medical benefits to patients.”

The official medical association of the United Kingdom had set out to validate a 2006 report from the British government’s Department of Health Working Group on Arts and Health whether the arts have “a clear contribution to make and offer major opportunities in the delivery of better health, well-being and improved experience for patients, service users and staff alike.”

The journal determined it’s all true … and “patients frequently express a preference for landscape and nature scenes created by the pastoral blues and greens, because these colors are less agitating.”

“We also conclude that if art is considered an integral part of hospital design, this will maximize these benefits,” the society stated.

Carteret Health Care in Morehead City got the memo … and so did Healthcare Designs magazine, a subsidiary of Emerald Expositions of San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

The magazine dispatched Executive Editor Anne DiNardo to produce an article for the magazine’s April 2018 edition. She affirmed that the Carteret Health Care Specialty Pavilion and Patient Tower Expansion (opened in 2015) was “inspired by tales of infamous pirates, American colonial history and the maritime heritage of Carteret County.”

“Designers chose architectural elements for the rotunda and curved tiered glass waves to symbolize a lighthouse, signaling safe harbor among the rhythmic tide of the sea,” DiNardo wrote.

“Located on the Southern Outer Banks shoreline in Morehead City … dazzling views of the renowned Crystal Coast are highlighted throughout the new facility and played an integral role in the architectural language and aesthetics expressed in the project.

“For example, the exterior canopy design is inspired by sails and rigs of passing nearby ships, while materials borrow from the blue hues of the coast, driftwood and tabby (a cement made of lime, sand or gravel, and oyster shells).”

The basic idea is to make the building feel less like an institution with art pieces that resonate with people who visit the hospital from all over the coastal region, remarked Michelle Lee, community relations marketing director with Carteret Health Care.

“There are so many ways that we use artwork to ease a visit to a hospital, including wooden art created from the oak trees that were destroyed in the 2013 tornado, the sculpture in the Keli Wagner garden and nautical decor throughout,” Lee said.

“For many years, we have looked to talented local artists to brighten our decor and uplift patients and visitors,” she said. “Carteret Health Care is always focused on improving the clinical health of our patients, and artwork gives us an opportunity to better promote the healing and comfort for patients and their families.

“Each month. a different artist is featured in our medical center hallway in the Cassie Howe Algeo Gallery with most of the pieces being offered for sale by the artist. Our Art for the Hospital committee coordinates these showings and has also created special pieces for display, even when looking up.”

Lee explained: “Decorated ceiling tiles offer a way for patients to ‘escape’ during treatment and can be found in several areas including the Cancer Center, radiology and the Imaging Center. Recently, Maxwell Decor & Design and West Carteret High School students joined together to create a calming, yet entertaining, underwater adventure on 10 ceiling tiles in our pediatric unit.”

“For the expansion,” she noted, “the majority of our permanent artwork was selected from local artists who highlight our coastal flair with nautical photography and artwork, including a full-size mural of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.”

Business and the Arts: Compatibility is the Question

Is business good for the arts … and are the arts good for business?

If you answered “yes twice,” you are in sync with The School of Life, headquartered in London, England.

The global company assists its clients “in the quest for a more fulfilled

48

life,” with an emphasis on equipping “businesses with the emotional skills required to thrive.”

Art appreciation and art application in the workplace are a big part of the firm’s training curriculum.

Yet, there are some critics of the arts who contend: “The whole arts field seems utterly useless. When you look around at what really counts in the world, none of it seems to have much to do with the arts. The arts use up money, they don’t make it.”

Whoa, there.

A practicing artist begs to differ. He is David Byrne, a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, artist, writer, actor and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter and lead singer and guitarist of the American new wave band Talking Heads (1975-91). The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Byrne was a headliner at the “Rally to Save the Arts” on April 3, 2017, in New York City, and “made the economic and social argument that arts funding benefits the economy and creates jobs way in excess of the amount invested. It has the effect of lowering crime, raising property values and lowering child abuse.”

In his view: “Investment in the arts doesn’t cost us money – it MAKES us money!”

Robert L. Lynch, president of Americans for the Arts, has the data to support Byrne’s assertion. Based in Washington, D.C. Americans for the Arts is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the arts. Lynch said the most recent survey of the nonprofit arts industry (2015), showed the annual economic impact of the arts in the United States is $166.3 billion.

He said the arts nationwide “supported 4.6 million jobs and generated $27.5 billion in revenue to local, state and federal governments, a yield well beyond their collective $5 billion in arts allocations.”

Moreover, Lynch said the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis calculates the full breadth of America’s art sector (including commercial and for-profit arts, education and individual artists) to be worth $730 billion a year (4.2 percent of the nation’s GDP).

“No longer do community leaders need to feel that a choice must be made between arts funding and economic development,” Lynch said. “The Americans for the Arts believes they can choose both. Nationally, as well as locally, the arts mean business.”

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T

2018 Demographics The demographics below have been gathered from a variety of sources, including the US Census Bureau, NC Dept. of Commerce, Access NC, NC Dept. of Revenue and more, to provide a snapshot of the Crystal Unde r 5 Coast and its many communities.

5-9 under 5 5t o8

Unde r 5

POPULATION

60+

60+

60+

Population Overview

Carteret County North Carolina United States Population 68,881 10,273,419 327,946,950 Median Age 48 37.4 37.3 Male 49.1% 48.7 49.2 Female 50.9% 51.3 50.8

2015

2017

59 to 50

Median A ge

Atlantic Beach 1,596 1,671 53.8 Beaufort 4,153 4,181 45.1 Bogue 622 437 41.8 Cape Carteret 2,223 2,267 44.3 Under 5 Cedar Point 1,429 1,393 44.8 50-59 Emerald Isle 3,708 3,709 53.7 Indian Beach 179 205 61.8 Morehead City 9,162 9,273 43.4 Newport 4,598 4,666 46.4 Peletier 866 740 38.6 Pine Knoll Shores 1,515 1,420 62.7

to

15

14

10-14

9 to 1

Source: Access NC, June 2017

Work in state Work in state, out of county

74.8% 23.2%

Cherry Point Impact – 2015 Year over year, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is the largest employer of Carteret County residents. In 2015, 1,369 civilian employees aboard the base live in Carteret County along with 557 active duty military members. In addition, 1,962 civilian family members call the county home and 633 family members of active duty personnel.

With retired military and their family members factored in, Cherry Point accounts for 9,991 people total in Carteret County.

During FY2015, Cherry Point’s overall economic impact was $2.01 billion and awarded more than $72.5 million in contracts.

52

20-

30-39

50-59

Population by A ge 4 0-4 9 Percent

30-39

50-59

5-9 60+

Under 5 4.5 5-9 5.2 4 0-4 9 10-14 15-19 20-29 10-14 5.3 15-19 5.3 20 to 29 10.7 30-39 11.6 40-49 14.2 50-59 8.3 60+ 34.9

Annual Wages by Business Sector Sector Total Employed Annual Wage All Industries $30,628 Total Government $40,144 Total Private Industry $28,288 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, & Hunting 96 $27,924 Utilities 134 $64,012 Construction 1,157 $35,412 Manufacturing 1,065 $35,100 Wholesale Trade 509 $41,496 Retail Trade 4,454 $23,816 Transportation and Warehousing 384 $38,636 Information 266 $39,052 Finance and Insurance 489 $51,116 Real Estate and Rental Leasing 523 $29,224 Professional and Technical Services 662 $50,284 Administrative and Waste Services 931 $25,064 Educational Services 1,603 $29,796 Health Care and Social Assistance 3,305 $41,964 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 685 $19,864 Accommodation and Food Services 4,010 $15,600 Other Services Ex. Public Admin.

830 $23,972 Public Administration 1,884 $36,088 Source: NC Dept. of Commerce

20-

o3 9

WAGES & INCOME 31,159 1,414 4.4 13.1%

15-19

30 t

Source: US Census Bureau

Total labor force Unemployed Unemployment rate Percent living in poverty

15-19

20 to 29

Source: US Census Bureau

Population by Community

10

40 to 49

506.2 square miles 136.1 people per square mile

10-14 5-9

30-3

Comparative Wage & Income Demographics

Carteret County North Carolina United States Per Capita Income $29,348 $26,779 $29,829 Median Household Income $48,256 $45,599 $55,322 Source: US Census Bureau

Top 25 Employers Rank Company Employees 1 Carteret County Public Schools 1000+ 2 Carteret Health Care 1000+ 3 Carteret County Government 500-999 4 Wal-Mart 250-499 5 Carteret Community College 250-499 6 Big Rock Sports 250-499 7 Food Lion 250-499 8 Lowe’s Home Centers 250-499 9 Bally Refrigerated Boxes 100-249 10 Town of Morehead City 100-249 11 Contico Corp. 100-249 12 Lowe’s Foods 100-249 13 General Mills Restaurants 100-249 14 McDonald’s 100-249 15 Atlantic Veneer Group 100-249 16 NC Dept. of Natural Resources 100-249 17 Veneer Technologies 100-249 18 Broad Creek Holdings 100-249 19 South East Employee Leasing 100-249 20 Belk 100-249 21 Town of Emerald Isle 100-249 22 Adams Keegan, Inc. 100-249 23 NC Dept. of Cultural Resources 100-249 24 Newport Group, Inc. 100-249 25 Bluewater Associates 100-249 Source: LEAD, 4th quarter 2017

TAXES & HOUSING Property Tax Rates - Towns

(Per $100 valuation) Carteret County .31 Atlantic Beach .165 Beaufort .4135 Bogue .050 Cape Carteret .2125 Cedar Point .0625 Morehead City .350 Newport .357 Peletier .055 Emerald Isle – Oceanfront .195 Non-oceanfront .155 Indian Beach – Oceanfront .255 Non-oceanfront .235 Pine Knoll Shores – Oceanfront .257 Non-oceanfront .213

Property Tax Rates – Fire Districts Atlantic .080 Beaufort .055 Broad & Gales Creek .040 Cedar Island .100 Davis .085 Harkers Island .110 Harlowe .075 Marshallberg .090 Mill Creek .045 Mitchell Village .050 North River .070 Otway .080 Salter Path .090 Sea Level .095 South River .060 Stacy .085 Stella .100 Wildwood .0675 Western Carteret .060

Taxable Retail Sales Year Total

2012-2013 $857,547,296 2013-2014 $910,571,306 2014-2015 $979,777,817 2015-2016 $1,042,560,897 2016-2017 $1,117,905,171 Source: Carteret County Economic Development Council

Occupancy Tax Collections by Year Year

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Total

$4,475,762 $4,752,828 $4,634,779 $4,304,382 $4,391,301 $4,453,946 $4,401,808 $4,669,968 $5,189,070 $6,427,084 $6,800,842 $7,357,361

Source: NC Dept. of Revenue

Housing Housing Units 49,368 Owner-Occupied Units 68% Median value of Owner-Occupied Units $218,500 Median gross rent $794 Total households 29,563 Persons per household 2.28 Building permits 2017 1,790 Source: US Census Bureau

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ADVANTAGE COASTAL PROPERTIES....................51 252.354.9000

COTE BOUTIQUE................................................................. 42 252.773.4225

PARROT'S ON 11TH........................................................... 42 252.773.0532

AL WILLIAMS PROPERTIES.......................................... 11 252.726.8800

CRYSTAL COAST CIVIC CENTER.............................. 40 252.247.3883

PIPELINE PLUMBING........................................................16 252.354.1918

ARTISAN GRANITE & MARBLE.................................37 252-354-7774

DIAMOND LIMOUSINE...................................................35 252.240.1680

PROMISE' LAND MARKET.............................................35 252.222.0422

ARTISTIC TILE........................................................................50 252.241.7579

DOWNTOWN MOREHEAD CITY, INC...................31 252.808.0440

ROYAL COAT..........................................................................21 252.727.5418

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EYE TO EYE............................................................................. 43 252.240.3937

SANITARY FISH MARKET & RESTAURANT...................................................................32 252.247.3111

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GUS H. TULLOSS INSURANCE.....................................13 252.937.6913

CARTERET COMMUNITY COLLEGE.......................... 2 252.222.6000

ISLAND ESSENTIALS........................................................ 49 888.398.8887

CARTERET COMMUNITY THEATRE......................32 252.497.8919

KIRKMAN, WHITFORD, BRADY & BERRYMAN........................................................................33 252.726.8411

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WILLIAM'S FLOOR COVERING................................... 11 252.726.4442

CARTERET HEALTH CARE.....................................28-29 252-808-6000

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