Reprinted with permission from
The Courier=Times Online

Overton, who last year was named to head up the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Center, which focuses on bringing more small business to Roxboro and Person County, gave the Person Board of County Commissioners a status report on her activities to date. Overton’s position is partly funded by county government and the City of Roxboro.

Without identifying by name any of the businesses she said she has been assisting, because the firms are not ready to publicly announce plans just yet, Overton told commissioners, “I’m working with about six restaurants right now. About four of those are looking at doing something here in Roxboro around the first quarter of 2007. About two of those are looking at doing something in the fourth quarter of this year; that’s if everything else that they’re working on goes currently goes as planned and on schedule … .”

One of the latter restaurants could be Arby’s, the fast food sandwich chain.

The Courier-Times has confirmed that the City of Roxboro has issued a building permit for construction of an Arby’s restaurant on a 0.65-acre tract at the corner of Garrett Street and Durham Road, adjacent to Blockbuster.

Roxboro Planning & Zoning Director Julie Kelly told The C-T that she issued the permit last week to Brian Arnold of Norcross, Ga. and that she understood that the contractor for the building is Ganaway Construction Co. of Roswell, Ga. Kelly anticipates that construction will begin soon.

Kelly also told The C-T, “I have had a lot of other inquiries, which I can't name right now.”

The inquiries, she said, have pertained to shopping centers, restaurants and multi-family dwellings.

"I have also issued a lot of permits recently for the upfitting of existing businesses. I have seen more of a trend towards that in the past year," the city’s planning director said.

Refering to Overton, Kelly added, “Jean and I try to work together. If I get information I pass it on to her and she does the same for me."

In addition to restaurants, Overton advised commissioners Monday, “I’m working with a really nice situation with housing for the elderly right now.”

A prospective site for the project has been selected, she said, but whether funding will be available for the site won’t be known until December. If it is, she indicated, preliminary site work likely could begin at that time.

Overton said she’s also working on two shopping centers, although one of those is “on hold right now” pending developments pertaining to property. Interests in the other shopping center, she said, is considering a prospective project by the end of this year or early next year.

Overton also noted that three retail stores are interested in Person County, adding, “One of those looks like it’s going to take place the fourth quarter of this year, the other two in the first quarter of next year, 2007.”

Three existing firms are planning expansion projects, one for the latter part of this year and the other two in the first quarter of next year.

Additionally, four service businesses are eyeing projects here, two for the third or fourth quarters of this year and the other two for early 2007.

Overton said she also has spoken with several individuals with businesses in the area who are considering expansion and inquiring about retail space in Roxboro.

“It’s really been very interesting and very challenging to be in this position,” told commissioners Monday. “I really have enjoyed it and look forward to working with these people to help bring some of these things to fruition; it would be very nice to see that happen.”