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NWO Business & Real Estate
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Out-of-whack supply chain challenges local businesses
Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO A recent shipment of fresh turkeys to Bi-Rite in Stokesdale probably won’t last long headed into Thanksgiving, as supply chain disruptions have resulted in a scarcity of some holiday favorites, owner David Wrenn said.
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jurisdiction (ETJ) in unincorporated areas of the county, a move characterized by the City Council as undermining the two municipalities’ joint annexation agreement. In a resolution earlier this month, the City Council asked the county commissioners to deny Summerfield’s request until the city can gain a better understanding of how the ETJ would affect its growth plans and existing investments in the area. The resolution cited Greensboro’s “significant investments in time and money” to extend public water and sewer lines within the area in preparation for the city’s growth; it also noted some properties in the area are already served by the city’s water and sewer system. Several parcels owned by Lake Brandt Properties LLC, a limited liability company owned by the Richardson heirs, would be most affected by the establishment of the ETJ, Greensboro lawyer Jay DeVaney told Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker in a letter last summer. Located in the vicinity of Lake Brandt and Plainfield roads, many if not all of the parcels are within the area where Summerfield is seeking to establish the ETJ, DeVaney said. The letter conveyed the company’s “strenuous objection” to efforts by Summerfield to subject its property to an ETJ. Ignoring the wishes of property owners who don’t want to be regulated by an ETJ “would fly in the face of the town of Summerfield’s history of growth since its formation” that “has favored responsible and voluntary growth through voluntary annexations rather than forced involuntary annexations,” the lawyer told Whitaker in the June 1 letter. In discussions with Summerfield’s council earlier this year, Town Attorney Bob Hornik cited state law that prevents municipalities from annexing land without permission from property owners. 16 NOV. 18 - DEC. 1, 2021 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 Property owners in Summerfield’s ETJ would be regulated by the town’s
development rules, including zoning, the attorney confirmed at last week’s council meeting. They would not, however, pay property taxes to Summerfield.
If the county commissioners approve Summerfield’s request, it would be the first time the town has established an ETJ.
Whitaker told the council last week he plans to present the town’s viewpoint during the public hearing this Thursday.
Whitaker described an ETJ as “a buffer for development control” preventing higher density residential growth abutting Summerfield’s town limits.
“Residents need to understand Greensboro is interested in that area” for development, Whitaker said.
Greensboro “has plans, and they don’t build anything like we do,” Summer eld councilman John O’Day said. “I always like to protect, in particular, our southern ank from what would be much, much higher density development than Summer eld would allow.”
Councilman Reece Walker said he plans to talk to county commissioners Carly Cooke and Justin Conrad to explain why Summerfield wants to create the ETJ.
Limiting the density of residential development may reduce how much Guilford County would collect in property taxes, a possible objection by county officials, Walker acknowledged. On the other hand, establishing the ETJ would free the county from the responsibilities and costs of providing planning services for the area, he said.
want to go?
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold its public hearing on the matter on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 5:30 p.m. in the county commissioners’ meeting room in the Old Guilford County Courthouse at 301 West Market St. in downtown Greensboro.
company’s job fair Saturday, Nov. 6. “People don’t want to work.”
Cooper and Ontex colleagues Gail Rowland, human resources coordinator, and recruiter Sharon Brown hosted the day-long job fair as part of efforts to hire 50 workers for the opening of the Ontex factory in February. The company is planning a second job fair this coming Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Marriott hotel near Piedmont Triad International Airport.
“They are starting up; I’m starting over,” Hopkins, 41, said as he waited for the start of the job fair earlier this month. His employer of 18 years closed its Greensboro facility in 2018, and since then he said he’s “been trying to find my fit again.”
Recent jobs haven’t tapped Hopkins’ skills in warehouse supervision, which he hopes to put to work at Ontex.
“I think it’s a good place to get my foot in the door,” he said.
The roughly 250,000-squarefoot facility is rising along Interstate 73 (U.S. 220) at N.C. 65 in southern Rockingham County, about two miles northeast of Stokesdale and less than five miles from Summerfield. It’s the first U.S. manufacturing operation for Belgiumbased Ontex Group NV, which operates 19 factories globally that produce diapers and other disposable hygiene products.
The new facility will operate three shifts, five days a week, making diapers and feminine hygiene products. Among the openings, the factory will require machinery operators and technicians, forklift drivers, manufacturing and distribution supervisors, quality inspectors and general labor for packing and putting products on pallets.
“We have a full array of positions open,” Rowland said. “We’re looking for multiples in all of these positions.”
The job fair earlier this month attracted 16 applicants. Cooper said she recommended that Ontex hire 15 of them, calling the high success rate “unheard-of” in job fair recruiting.
Applicants were attracted to the prospect of working in a new facility for an expanding company that offers opportunity for promotions, Cooper said. She and other recruiters were impressed by the quality of applicants.
“If someone is taking the time to come out on a Saturday, they are showing initiative,” she said. “They show me that they want a job.”
The overall number of applicants for Ontex jobs has increased in recent weeks, possibly reflecting a reduction of federal benefits to unemployed people, Cooper noted. A government program known as Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation that paid $300 weekly on top of state and other federal benefits ended in early September.
“With the government payments, people decided they could make more money sitting at home,” she said.
The labor scarcity has put upward pressure on wages and benefits, requiring employers to offer inducements to applicants, even some lacking experience and skills, Cooper noted.
“Given the market we’ve been in for the last year and a half, you’ve got to provide incentives in one way or another to get people to come to your company,” she said.
Ontex is only filling full-time positions for its new facility outside of Stokesdale, and is offering medical, dental and vision benefits. Workers get three weeks of vacation in their first year, as well as nine paid holidays.
Once in the door, employees can earn a $650 bonus for each referral who stays on the job for 90 days.
“If you’ve got 10 good friends you know you want to work with, bring them on,” Rowland told the five applicants who arrived for the start of the job fair.
“This sounds really good,” said Joel Isley, 60, who applied for a position as a forklift operator after losing his job in January. He lives in Madison, about 10 minutes from the Ontex facility.
Working for Ontex would also reduce the commute for Stokesdale resident David Gonzalez, who travels an hour to Yadkinville for his job in a tire retreading shop. He’s also hoping to end 20 years of working third shift for as many as 15 hours a day.
Despite earning overtime pay, Gonzalez, 54, said he’d like to spend more time with his wife, Melissa, and their two teenage children. Currently, he’s spending more than $300 monthly on gas for his work commute.
“I’m looking for something different from what I’m doing now,’’ he said.
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What new homeowners want in kitchen features and design
by ANNETTE JOYCE Kitchens, the central part of any home, understandably get a lot of design attention. While features such as appliances, storage space and countertops are musthaves, the design of the room surrounding them is ever changing. We spoke with local builders to find out what new homeowners are looking for in their kitchen designs…
Islands are definitely still in vogue. In fact, Ray Bullins, who owns Ray Bullins Construction along with his wife, Lisa, is seeing an increased demand for larger islands.
“Oversized islands are the result of people getting rid of too many unused eating areas,” Ray said. “No one needs a breakfast nook, formal dining room and stools around the island. Most people are making the island more functional and using the space from the dining room as an office or an extra bedroom.”
But those islands aren’t strictly reserved for the kitchen area. At R&K Custom Homes, Kathy Dumas, a co-owner with her husband, Rich, said islands are also showing up in expanded pantries to provide extra workspace and conveniences.
“Our clients want large, walk-in pantries with a work island and a grocery door,” she said.
For several years, large, decorative range hoods have been a focal point for the kitchen, but that’s a trend that’s changing, according to Ray Bullins.
How about the color schemes? Kitchen paint colors, as well as other rooms in a home, have remained neutral for many years, with grey typically
Photo courtesy of Ray Bullins Construction Ray Bullins, owner of Ray Bullins Construction, said the color blue is becoming very popular in kitchens. being the go-to color. Both Dumas and Bullins said they’re seeing a greater use of stained woods. “While we’re still seeing white, there are also new creamier colors,” Dumas said. Bullins is doing some black-and-white kitchens, but also said blue is becoming a very popular color in kitchens. As for appliances, stainless steel has lost a bit of its appeal and Bullins said he’s seeing a lot of black appliances – specifically matte black. People cooking more at home has resulted in them also wanting bigger and more powerful appliances. “We’re having more requests for
Photo courtesy of R&K Custom Homes Glass-front cabinets that extend to the ceiling are becoming much more popular in the kitchens of homes built by R&K Custom Homes.
Photo courtesy of
Ray Bullins Construction Oversized islands that provide ample space for both food preparation and dining and gathering are a musthave in many of today’s kitchens.
upgraded appliances with higher BTU ranges instead of cooktops,” Dumas said. “Our homeowners also want Call us today to talk about oversized, custom-look refrigerators and freezers.” building your dream home!Some of the newer trends popping up in kitchens include tile work and glassfront cabinets that extend to the ceiling. Faucets and hardware are taking on a copper hue as homeowners are moving away from the popular nickel and black finishes and drawn more to rose gold. An attractive appearance isn’t the only thing homeowners want from their kitchens. Function is equally important, and ample and accessible storage space is a definite must-have. In the last couple of years, Bullins has been replacing bottom-level cabinets with deep drawers. “The drawers provide more storage, items are much easier to get to and they’re easier to keep clean. Our clients love having more drawers,” he said.
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