Economic Development News

Local Public Radio is On the Air as WZRU’s Signal Expansion Project Continues

WZRN, 90.5 FM Norlina/South Hill/Henderson is on-the-air! Now, residents in Warren and surrounding counties can listen to a dominant signal rebroadcast of WZRU 88.5 FM of Roanoke Rapids. WZRU’s diverse locally produced musical format has been developed with the help of listener response since 1994. As a result of mechanical upgrades to the local signal tower, listeners will also have greater access to local emergency information in the event of power outages.

“It’s good to have a local affiliate of National Public Radio broadcasting a strong signal for Warren County residents,” said Allen Kimball, director of Warren County EDC. “Having WZRN join our other county broadcaster, WARR 1520 AM, affords residents increased opportunities for entertainment and public awareness.”

Brian Lewis, General Manager, encouraged non-profits, civic organizations and arts groups to let WZRN help promote community activities by contacting the station at 252-308-0885 (toll free 1-888-308-0885) or on the web at www.wzru.org.

Elberta Crate and Box Continues Expansion

Elberta Crate and Box of Bainbridge, Georgia continues expansion activities at their Warrenton facility following the purchase of the Universal Forest Products site in late summer of 2003. The production lines in the stitching facility are now operations, a 24,000 sf warehouse has been constructed and is now in service, expansion is occurring at the adjoining veneer mill, and the company has recently leased 65,000 sf of additional warehousing space.

Local employment at Elberta has grown to just over 140 positions, from a workforce of approximately 80 at the time their expansions began.

“Staying on Top: Winning the Job Wars of the Future.”

Regional task force launches five-year plan to create 100,000 jobs in the Research Triangle Region

Research Triangle Region, NC – Regional business and academic leaders today launched a five-year, $5 million strategy to generate 100,000 new jobs and increase employment in all 13 counties of the Research Triangle Region.

Dozens of organizations in the region have agreed to collaborate on the strategy, called “Staying on Top: Winning the Job Wars of the Future.” The strategy outlines 30 action items to nurture the growth of industry “clusters,” interconnected business and support organizations. The goal is to spark business investment in high-growth industries that will create high-paying jobs for decades to come.

“Today, we face intense global competition for new jobs and investment,” Hunt said. There will be regions of the world that win – where standards of living will rise and jobs will be plentiful – and regions that lose. We intend to win. We believe we can improve our chance for economic success through collaboration, education, innovation and action.”

“This initiative represents the unprecedented alignment and collaboration of business, academic and economic development players across our region,” said Charles A. Hayes, president and CEO of Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), which facilitated the work of the task force and will lead its implementation. “We have aligned organizational agendas, made political boundaries transparent and focused on improving our future. We invite all to join as partners, to help improve the quality of life and standard of living for all citizens of the Research Triangle Region.” The completed report may be found on the initiative web site. For more information, contact RTRP Executive Vice President Ted Abernathy at (919) 840-7372 ext. 14 or tabernathy@rtrp.org.

Read the entire announcement at http://www.researchtriangle.org/news/nr/mar082004.html.

Kerr-Tar Hub

North Carolina’s first regional technology center linking the affordable assets of five rural counties to the technology centers of the Research Triangle Region.

The Kerr-Tar Hub is a bold multi-county collaboration to create a technology center that will serve as a magnet for business investment in the Region K area of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren counties of North Carolina.

It will target innovative and growing companies making advanced products, providing on-site training, services, facilities and networks to help them remain globally competitive and continue to hire. Jobs created in the hub will offer attractive wages for local technicians and others ready to train for needed skills.

The hub will provide access to the combined assets and reasonable costs of Region K, with linkages to the world-class Research Triangle Park, RDU Airport and other nearby amenities.

Vance-Granville Community College: Construction For A Growing Future

Major construction projects are under way or are planned for all four of Vance-Granville Community College’s campuses as the college expands to meet the needs of a growing enrollment in its large service area.

Work began in December 2003 on a 15,212 square-foot classroom building at the Warrant County Campus in Warrenton. Construction is scheduled for completion in December 2004, and the college will begin using the building for computer and general curriculum classes in early 2005.

A 50,000-square-foot, three-story technology, basic skills and occupational extension classroom building was completed in fall 2003 on the main campus in Vance County and expansion of the Student Services building there has begun.

Construction of a two-story classroom building and additional parking should begin at the Franklin County Campus near Louisburg in the summer of 2004, and a two-story addition to the South Campus in Granville County is planned to begin in 2005.

Funding for these construction projects is being provided through a statewide Higher Education Facilities bond referendum in November 2000. Vance-Granville Community College was allocated $17.1 million for these construction projects and a number of renovation projects across the school’s four campuses.

Disclaimer:
Warren County EDC tries to maintain current information on this site but it is not responsible for any material not located in the WarrenCountyNC.org domain. We do provide links to organizations outside the EDC’s domain. The provision of a link to external organizations or sources of information does not constitute endorsement of that organization by Warren County EDC. Links may be provided or removed at any time, with or without cause or warning.