Ringing in the New

December 31, 2020

It’s that time of year where organizations reflect on the outgoing year’s accomplishments and look forward to new and expanded successes. As we entered 2020, there was a lot of economic momentum that communities were looking forward to building on. Many events and campaigns took advantage of the numeric correlation between the calendar year and the optometric measure of visual acuity and rolled out forecast conferences and forums titled “2020 Vision”, “Focus 2020”, and the like.

 

Strong Start

We were no different here in our region, and, in February (02/20/2020 to be exact 😉), the five counties that are served by the Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments, held a regional “Focus 20/20” summit, where we discussed economic development initiatives, such as our focused efforts to develop the talent pipeline. In Person County, those efforts start in primary education with Person County Schools and continue with strong support from Piedmont Community College and state-level programs through NC Works.

Workforce Panelists at Focus 2020 Event

Workforce Panelists at Focus 2020 Event

 

Other early ventures included a rebranding and complete overhaul of the Person County Economic Development Commission website. While websites are by nature a perpetual work-in-progress, the update is meant to portray Person County’s unique sense of place and vast business advantages as part of the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina. Our motto is “Everything is Better in Person”, and our efforts to live this out are reflected in our logo mark to demonstrate that we offer the handshake to close the deal, as well as the hand held out to offer support for the long-haul.  

Strength in Agility

When the effects of the pandemic hit in March, that existing business support was brought to the forefront as we quickly developed our COVID-19 resources page and put into place the COVID PIVOT Impact Loan to provide emergency capital resources to local businesses. As is usual in Person County, the support was reciprocal, and partner organizations and the community-at-large swung into action to implement the #KeepRoxboroRunning campaign to promote supporting local. Student athletes were recognized in new ways, and businesses pivoted to support community needs.

 

 

PERSONverance

Despite the challenges from not only a global pandemic, but a cyber-attack, the Person County EDC and ED Department persevered through product development and policy enhancements, and 2020 saw construction completion of a waterline with an existing capacity of ~2MGD to the Person County Mega Park, as well as receipt of permitting approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers for clearing and grading impacts on the site to bring it to a heightened level of site preparedness for large-scale advanced manufacturing. Simultaneously, the Commission performed due diligence studies on a county-owned, 26-acre parcel on North Park Drive and received approval in December from the Person County Board of Commissioners to pursue a public-private partnership for construction of a 60,000 square foot expandable speculative building on the site.

 

 

In conjunction with partner agencies and departments, the EDC recommended and received Commissioner approval to amend the Person County Zoning Ordinance for greater risk elimination to industry as well as to fund design and engineering costs for infrastructure expansion to the City of Roxboro’s wastewater system, a project that will open up development opportunities across much of the county.

Ready to Roll!

Is there anyone who is not ready to see the calendar roll to 2021? As it does, Person County is better-positioned to respond to the increased project activity and outside interest that we have seen throughout the pandemic, and anticipate into the New Year, as a result of being flexible and focused in unparalleled times.

We are ready to help you roll into new opportunities! Join us in Person.

 

 

Person County is a part of the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina, with proximity to the Piedmont Triad Region and is a border county to Virginia. Person County Economic Development serves as the primary contact for business and industry seeking to locate or expand in Person County. Contact us today for available buildings, sites, or other information.


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