FUTURE OUTLOOK

The entrance to Middlesex Corporate Centre from N.C. 231 is shown here on July 20. In the background is UNC Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at Middlesex. Photo by William F. West

By William F. West

Nash County’s chief business and industrial recruiter sees part of his county’s future as tapping into the brainpower and promotional resources of the Research Triangle Region.

Andy Hagy, who reported for work at the start of this year, said Nash County is the 12th one to become part of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership.

Hagy said the county joined the partnership at the start of July and he said this was his idea.

“I thought it was just a good fit,” Hagy said.

The partnership is an economic development organization designed to serve as a connector between businesses looking to expand or relocate, as well as the economic development offices, government agencies and business organizations supporting private sector growth.

And of the Research Triangle Region, Hagy said, “They’ve got a tradition. They’ve got a reputation. They’ve got credibility — and it’s known worldwide.

“And so just to be incorporated and a member of that marketing structure and campaign and initiative is going to, I think, raise Nash County’s profile drastically in the eyes of new business and also the site location consultants,” Hagy said.

Hagy is particularly quick to cite the more than 320-acre Middlesex Corporate Centre, which is just off the expressway-like U.S. 264 in the southern part of the county and approximately 25 minutes from the Interstate 87/U.S. 64 interchange with the Raleigh Beltline.

The site already is the home of UNC Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at Middlesex, which offers primary care services.

The site includes an available 62,500-square-foot shell building that is expandable to 100,000 square feet.

Hagy also cited the presence of the Highway 97 Industrial Site, which is just off Interstate 95 and also in the southern part of the county.

The location is 118 miles from Richmond, Va., 163 miles from the Port of Wilmington, 130 miles away from the Port of Morehead City and 150 miles away from the port in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area.

And just off the Interstate 95-N.C. 4 interchange in northern Nash County, there is the always-busy Whitaker Business and Industry Center.

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That location is going to be bolstered by being minutes away from the future CSX intermodal facility just on the Edgecombe County side of the Nash CountyEdgecombe County line.

The Twin Counties has scored big in landing future business and industrial commitments.

They include securing state approval to shift the state Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters from Raleigh to the former Hardee’s Food Systems building, which is just on the Nash County side of the Nash County-Edgecombe County line.

They include Corning having a future distribution facility and a commitment by Triangle Tire to having a future manufacturing facility, both between Rocky Mount and Tarboro.

Edgecombe County Manager Eric Evans said he believes that, prior to the spread of the coronavirus, the economy was rolling at top speed almost across the country and in North Carolina and there had been a lot of success with projects in the county.

“And now the pandemic has hit us,” Evans said. “And to me it just seems like this engine has just gotten off the emergency exit, temporarily, I hope. It’s anybody’s guess as to how long our economy is going to be sitting on this emergency exit, but I think the engine is still revving up very strong.”

“And I think once the red light goes to yellow and green, I think it’s going to go back and take off again. And I really believe that — and I think we’re going to benefit from that greatly,” Evans said.

“So, I think once we come over the horizon or the hills of the COVID-19 pandemic, I think you’re going to see Edgecombe County just pick right back up on a lot of the progress we’ve made in industrial recruitment, business development,” Evans said.

Evans also said a key to economic development in the future is going to be improving the public education system to turn out the workforce the economy is demanding.

And Evans was quick to praise

Traffic flows in front of the former headquarters of Hardee’s Food Systems on Church Street. The building is going to become the new headquarters of the state Division of Motor Vehicles. (File Photo) Mark Roblee takes off from the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport. Photo by William F. West

“And by having a cross section of industry and manufacturing within a community, there’s a pretty good chance that there’s a job available for anyone who wants one. And that’s important.”

- DaviD Farris, rocky MouNT

area chaMber oF coMMerce

PresiDeNT aND ceo

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Edgecombe Community College President Greg McLeod and Edgecombe County Schools Superintendent Valerie Bridges as having been thinking and working “outside of the box” for years.

“I think in the future we will no longer have the chronically high unemployment rate like we’ve had in the past,” he said.

And Evans spoke of the spin-off benefits for people being able to obtain and retain good jobs with livable wages, including having better access to health insurance and health care and better enrichment opportunities for families.

“So I think that’s the future for Edgecombe County,” Evans said. “I really believe that.”

Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson said he sees the area becoming a logistics hub because of the transportation infrastructure.

Roberson cited the progress in the ongoing renovations of and upgrades to the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport as an example.

And Roberson spoke of having a railhead to tie into the aviation facility and to be able to load and unload goods and items.

“We essentially can be the Global TransPark that was designed in Kinston,” Roberson said.

Roberson was referring to the approximately 2,500-acre industrial/airport site offering access to air, highways, rail and the two international ports in the state.

Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Farris said he believes diversification in industries is helpful in terms of the types of jobs they create.

“We all don’t have the same skill sets. We all don’t have the same abilities to do things,” Farris said.

“And by having a cross section of industry and manufacturing within a community, there’s a pretty good chance that there’s a job available for anyone who wants one,” Farris said. “And that’s important.

“It’s like your stock portfolio,” Farris said. “Your broker is never going to sit still and have you have all of your retirement tied up in one or two stocks.”

A shell building at Middlesex Corporate Centre is shown here on July 20. Photo by William F. West

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Tharrington’s Auto Works & Collision Center is located at 1212 Construction Dr, Rocky Mount and grew from Scott’s love of vehicle repair and drag racing. The company’s roots run back to 1993 when he started his business.

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