| Home | About Us | Business | Community | News | Contact Us | Page tools: | Print | Email | Favorite |
Reprinted with permission from
The Courier=Times Online
The Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce appeared to get closer to its funding
wishes for a part-time small business/retail recruiter Tuesday night.
Clyde Kelly, chairman of the board for the Roxboro Area Chamber of
Commerce, and Phil Baer, Person County Economic Development Commission
chairman, each spoke before Roxboro City Council during a budget public
hearing.
The chamber wants $25,000 from Roxboro City Council and $25,000 from the
Person Board of County Commissioners in fiscal 2005-06 to help fund the
position.
County commissioners tentatively approved the idea Monday pending a
similar nod from council.
The proposal from the chamber calls for paying a recruiter, who Kelly has
said would be an intern , a salary of $25,000 annually. The remaining
$25,000 would be used to fund administrative support, a commercial
listings Web site, software upgrades, supplies, equipment, travel,
professional development, etc.
Kelly told council, the recruiter, who would likely be linked to the Frank
Hawkins Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North
Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School in Chapel Hill, would target
businesses such as Walgreen's, Goody's Department stores and apartment
complex developers.
"Nobody is recruiting those sort of things right now," Kelly said. "We
want to recruit people, not assist people."
Kelly said that, in his spare time, he had made contacts with a Cincinnati
company that is considering building "80 to 100 apartment units." Kelly
added some would be three bedroom and have approximately 1,200 square feet.
"That would generate $22,000 in taxes," Kelly said.
He went on to say that he had approached Walgreen's and that the company
had now made offers on property in Person County to locate two stores here.
"That's $15,649 in property taxes, plus you have to include the sales tax
revenue and the jobs," Kelly said, adding again that was accomplished in
his own spare time.
Kelly told council the $25,000 requested could net the city anywhere
between $60,000 and $150,000 annually.
"That's not a one time thing," Kelly said. "That's money you're going to
get continually. We will produce for you. We're not asking for a handout."
Baer told council he was not speaking for the Economic Development
Commission, but that he felt "confident" the position would receive "full
support from EDC."
"We need a new strategy," Baer said. "We need to rethink the way we do
things. We need to invest more if we want to grow."
Baer said EDC was presently understaffed and that he felt the proposed
position could "recruit enough to pay for the position."
Baer went on to say that as EDC chairman his top goal was to unify the
various organizations in Roxboro and Person County. He said that for the
city and county to fund the idea together would be a step in the right
direction.
"I urge you to find money to support" the position," Baer said.
The proposed position also drew support from Roxboro Housing Director
Pecolia Beatty.
"Sometimes a little investment may bring in a lot of money," Beatty said.
"You need to look at what is best for Roxboro. Uptown is what it is.
During the week, 90 percent of the traffic is going to the courthouse. I
can't even buy a decent pair of stockings uptown.
"This is the 21st century," Beatty added. "We must grow. You either grow
or the world is going to pass you by."
Council members Henry Daniel, Merilyn Newell and Mark Phillips all said
after the public hearing that they were in support of the position.
Newell told Kelly that when council initially did not voice approval of
the idea there were "many unanswered questions."
"When you have something that you're this passionate about, you should
have come to our first meeting," Newell said. "I do support the chamber
position."
Daniel, the former operator of Henry Newell Clothier on North Main Street,
said he also supported the idea.
"Being a former Uptown merchant, I think it is something that needs to be
done," Daniel said.
"I recommend funding the chamber position," Phillips said. "The county
approved it contingent upon us funding [our half]. Here's a fine way for
us to get more customers."
Also Tuesday, council:
. Heard from Person County Group Homes Director David Forsythe. During a
third budget work session, council denied a request from Forsythe for $15,000.
The money was sought over a two-year period and would be used for
purchasing furniture for the Orchard Apartments, located off of Burch Avenue.
The facility has 10 apartments and was built to serve elderly people with
disabilities who have incomes of between $8,000 and $14,000 annually,
Forsythe said.
Tommy Warren, who was serving as interim city manager at that
time, informed council that the request could be funded from the city's
revolving loan fund and would not affect the budget.
Forsythe handed each council member information on the apartments and
asked each to set aside one hour of their time to come and tour the
facility before making a decision.
Forsythe said that he had come to council only one other time in his 22
years with the Person County Group Homes.
"This is not a recurring cost," Forsythe said.