March 10, 2015

Jaycees Presentation

Economic Development in the Twin Counties

Overview of Economic DevelopmentState of NC

Twin County RegionThe City of Rocky Mount

Carolinas Gateway Partnership

State of North CarolinaNew Secretary of Commerce John SkrvalaThe public/private partnership of Economic

Development is in place, CEO Chris Chung began January 5, 2015

6 EDPNC (Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina) statewide developers

VP serves on NCEDA Advisory Council for EDPNC

Economic Development Partnership of North CarolinaBusiness Recruitment Team

Source: EDPNC

State of North CarolinaMetrics announced by Dept. of

Commerce

January 2014 to December 2014 Projects assigned: 96Jobs announced: 15,350Investment announced: $2.3 BillionJanuary 2013 to December 2013Projects assigned: 346Jobs announced: 16,766Investment Announced: $2.6 BillionSource: NC Dept. of Commerce

Twin County RegionNash County

Nutkao USA locates in Whitaker Business & Industry Center in last county owned shell building.

Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients chooses Nash County, Universal Leaf site for new sweet potato processing facility.

Hospira continues expansion at Rocky Mount plant, additional $160 million investment. Largest employer in MSA- 3,000 employees and total new investment so far over $400 million.

Cummins Inc invests $24 million in Whitakers plant. New kidney dialysis center to break ground on Hwy

301 South. Capital Broadcasting launches Rocky Mount

Brewmill. PenCell Plastics sold to Hubble Inc. West Corporation sold to Alorica Inc.

Acme United Corporation locates in the former RoomStore building in Rocky Mount. Creates 90 jobs and invests $2.8 million.

Kehin (KCST) expanded in the Town Tarboro creating 40 new jobs and investing $12 million.

The Daily Southerner in Tarboro closes newspaper down.

Edgecombe Community College receives grant to build a new Bio-Medics learning lab at the Rocky Mount Campus.

Sara Lee (Hillshire Brands) was bought by Tyson Foods and now operates the Tarboro campus.

Kingsboro Megasite gains international attention as a Premier Site in the Southeast.

Announcement of 164 new jobs by 3/31/15 in the Tarboro area.

Edgecombe CountyTwin County Region

The City of Rocky Mount Rocky Mount Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of

all Edgecombe and Nash Counties – current unemployment rate is 7.7%

Total labor force 63,372 I-95, Future 495 and Us Hwy 64 make Rocky Mount a

very desirable location. Future I-495 to the east and the newly proposed

Sunset Ave Exit off of I-95 to the west, open up more development opportunities.

Close proximity to sea ports, including Norfolk Va , a post Panama Canal expansion deep water port.

CSX and Carolina Coastal Railway allows for rail service in Twin County Region

Available sites and buildings in the Region are a plus. We do have a shortage of good industrial buildings

available in the Region.

Carolinas Gateway Partnership

Five year funding campaign kickoff 2015Job Creation and new investmentProduct Development/Marketing & ReadinessIndustry Retention and ExpansionWorkforce Development and Focus on

EducationCommunications to InvestorsBenchmarking and Evaluating

Carolinas Gateway PartnershipOverhaul and re-design of our website

working towards new launch very soon.Marketing strategies to target existing

industry supply chain are the main market focus.

Members of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership= Internationally recognized BRAND NAME.

Carolinas Gateway PartnershipContinue to build our inventory of available

sites and buildings.Continue to improve our communications to

partners and investors.Continue to improve our competitive edge

with existing industry, site selectors and domestic and international companies.

A Competitive EdgeThe top 10 Site Location Factors

Source: Area Development Magazine Q1 2014 Corporate Survey

2014 Ranking Factor 2013 Ranking

#1 Skilled Labor #3

#2 Highway Access #2

#3 Labor Costs #1

#4 Occupancy/Construction

#5

#5 Information & Communication Technology

#4

#6 Available Buildings #15

#7 Corporate Tax Rate #7

#8 Incentives #13

#9 Low Union Profile #10

#10 Energy Costs #6

Must have inventory of sites60-70% of all new and expanding companies

are looking for an existing buildingRemainder prefer

shovel-ready sitesPreference is business

park setting

Source: Crystal Morphis, Creative Economic Development Consultants

Kingsboro CSX Megasite

Whitaker Business & Industry Center

Thank you for the opportunity to share with you today. Carolinas Gateway Partnershipwww.econdev.org252-442-0114

Krista J Ikirt, VP Nash Countykikirt@econdev.org

Oppie N Jordan, VP Edgecombe Countyojordan@econdev.org