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Reprinted with permission from
The Courier=Times Online
While Person County's economic development efforts the past two years have
led to industrial/commercial commitments encompassing investment of more
than $245 million and in excess of 600 new jobs, the full impact of those
prospects likely won't reach fruition until 2007 or possibly even 2008.
Meantime, the county is working to attract other new industrial clients as
well as assisting existing firms with proposed expansions.
That's essentially the quick version of the quarterly economic development
report presented Monday to the Person Board of County Commissioners by
Glen Newsome, executive director of the Person County Economic Development
Commission.
Newsome's report updated commissioners on the latest progress of Person
County's newest industrial citizens as well as developments on expansions
by existing companies.
Among the latter, Newsome said the expansion Louisiana Pacific Corp.
began last year already has exceeded the $23 million investment originally
projected and now is "in the range of $24-$25 million." That work involves
installation of new machinery and equipment, as well as some expansion of
the physical plant. The final piece of major equipment is slated for
installation this month, and the project apparently is on target toward
November completion, as originally projected. LP employs about 140
people, Newsome said, and that level, he said, "is where they expect to stay."
Eaton Corp., Newsome reported, is nearing the end of the second year of
its major three-year expansion and is on track for completion in 2006.
Eaton's expansion represents an investment in excess of $27 million,
according to Newsome.
Among new firms, Newsome reported that U. S. Tobacco Growers Inc.,
operating in the former Vector plant purchased last year by the Flue-Cured
Tobacco Stablization Corp., recently received a "master settlement
agreement," which the EDC executive said, "is a significant step forward
for the company in that it allows them to manufacture their own tobacco
products on site. In the past, they have made products for other firms on
a contractual basis."
The company is hiring, and the stemmery used to process tobacco is in
operation, Newsome reported. Employment at U. S. Tobacco Growers now is at
about 115 but is expected to top out soon at 200, including part-time and
seasonal help. That firm's investment is $25.8 million.
British Plaster Board, or BPB, has acquired its nearly 122-acre site off
Shore Road near Progress Energy's Roxboro power plant, and now is
designing its 700,000 square foot facility to conform to recently
completed site analysis. The BPB plant will make plasterboard from
synthetic gypsum generated as a byproduct from antipollution devices on
the Progress Energy plant. Construction, which will take 18-24 months, is
expected to start next spring.
Newsome said BPB's investment now figures to be $125 million, which is
higher than initially projected, and that the company is to employ
225 persons, which also is greater than earlier proposed.
The Israeli firm, Spuntech, has made "substantial progress" to convert the
former Wolverine Tube plant to produce non-woven fabric wipes for
business, medical and industrial uses. Newsome said Spuntech already has
hired 20 people and expects the number to hit about 65 for the first phase
of its operation. The company's investment has risen to more than $30
million, which is higher than the $23.5 million originally announced.
Spuntech hopes to start production in the first quarter of 2006.
Carolina Sunrock, the Granville County company that proposes to operate
three facilities stone processing, asphalt and concrete plants in
northern Person County is awaiting acquisition of necessary permits,
Newsome reported, and it anticipates breaking ground next year. The
project represents investment of $5 million, and the company would start
with 25 employees, doubling that once all facilities are operational.
Newsome also reported to commissioners that Loxcreen has added a new
product line for BMW, which will expand that company's workforce by about
20 and add about$50,000 to Loxcreen's investment.
Additionally, he said, the county is working to assist GKN Automotive
"with plans to ramp up the Roxboro Driveline Division" as GKN downsizes
its operations in Sanford and in Columbia, S.C. No investment or
employment figures are available from GKN as yet, he said.
Newsome said the county is "working with several new clients and projects,
one of which is a firm from the western U.S. Initial employment would be
about 20 persons with an investment in the range of $1 million."
Additionally, he added, "Another new client is a food processing company
from Minnesota," which also is considering other locations in the
Southeast, communities in the Research Triangle among them.
Two existing firms are considering expansions, which between them could
generate about 75 new jobs.
Newsome advised commissioners as well that a "retail project have been
chasing for about 3 years is nearing completion of the design work on its
new facility for Roxboro."
The EDC executive did not identify the firm in his report, but his
reference most probably was to Lowe's, the home improvements chain.