Teamwork and Good People Means New Jobs in Vance

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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper came to Henderson today to announce Mako Medical Laboratories is opening a facility in Vance County.  At a 1 p.m. press conference inside the former Harperprints building on Industry Drive, Cooper said he was proud to announce 153 new, good paying jobs were coming to Henderson and Vance County.  Average income will be about $52,000.

Governor Cooper said Mako was investing 15 million dollars here because of people like the many gathered in the room and the availability of workforce.

He said it was a team effort to bring Mako here and mentioned the City of Henderson, Vance County, Economic Development of Vance County, Vance Granville Community College and the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Cooper said the people of North Carolina are going to see more development like this because of the strengths of a rural area and because North Carolina has the right people.

Mako CEO Chad Price also thanked the local Salvation Army.  The Salvation Army significantly reduced its asking price for the Harperprints building.  Price said, “Our experience in Vance County has been world class.”  He said, “Everything we do is about making an impact.”  He spoke of a year-long process and traveling the country looking for a site before settling on Henderson.

Mako is apparently a fast growing company with another location in North Carolina as well as New Mexico.  The company also seems rather entrepreneurial and several folks have mentioned the company’s involvement and philanthropy in and around its home communities and beyond.

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington said it was “teamwork and the result is progress.”  He said the folks here have continued to believe in Henderson.

Vance County Board of Commissioners Chair Dan Brummitt said the mere fact that the Governor is here reinforces the whole idea.  Brummitt said Mako was the fastest growing company in the Triangle in the last two years and was voted the best place to work in the Triangle.  He said, “We see you as a great fit for our community.”

Earlier in the day at 11:30 a.m., both the Henderson City Council and the Vance County Commissioners met in their respective meeting rooms and held public hearings and voted on economic development incentives to help Mako in the local endeavor.  No members from the public spoke, and the votes passed without opposition.

If you combine local Vance County and City of Henderson upfront incentives, tax grants for the next three years and additional tax rebates through 2025, the grand total city/county investment is $763,050.

In addition, Vance County officials say they expect to flow additional N.C. Commerce funds and grant funds from Golden Leaf through the county’s budgets totaling another estimated $750,000 in the coming years.

Other general terms of the agreement must be met as it pertains to the number of jobs, salary and the fact that Mako must remain in the county for at least a 10 year term otherwise incentives can be taken back.

The following information is from a prepared press release:

Henderson, North Carolina – Vance County and the City of Henderson are pleased to announce that Mako Medical Laboratories will invest $15.39 million and create 153 jobs in Vance County over the next five years. Mako will occupy the former Harperprints Printing Company Building which has been vacant since 2012.

Local economic development officials along with the City of Henderson and Vance County began working on the project in late September. The Mako Medical Laboratories expansion was in competition with other locations in the Southeast and the Midwest that included Louisiana, South Carolina, and Ohio. The Henderson facility will allow Mako Medical to expand its laboratory operations, warehousing, and courier services, the major thrust of their expansion needs. The new Henderson facility will also serve as a blood testing lab which will allow Mako Medical to process blood samples for doctors, medical facilities, and hospitals across the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic.

Commissioner Tommy Hester, chair of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission (EDC) is pleased with the announcement. “What a great day it is to be in Henderson and Vance County, North Carolina! As Chairman of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission and on behalf of the commission, it is my pleasure to welcome all of you here for this momentous occasion. Today is about jobs and the future of this great community and the future of this great State of North Carolina.”

Vance County Commission Chairman Dan Brummitt feels the community and the region will benefit from the investment being made by Mako Medical, “We are impressed with your hiring of ONLY Veterans in your logistics and procurement team, and we see why you’ve won numerous awards including best place to work in the triangle among others. Beyond these accolades,
when our local team met with you initially, we were blown away not only by the success you are having, but by the way you support over 470 non-profits and charities in and outside of the communities you work in and over 60 missionaries worldwide. We see you as a great fit for our community and we welcome you!”

City of Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington presented Mako with a proclamation on behalf of the City and welcomed Mako to the community, “having Mako Medical Laboratories become a part of our community alongside our other businesses continues to give our citizens a hope and vision for the future. Today exemplifies what teamwork is all about and the result is progress.”

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen spoke of the teamwork involved in recruiting Mako to Henderson and Vance County. “In a small community, recruiting jobs and investment takes teamwork. This announcement would not have been possible without a great collaboration between the City of Henderson and Vance County working in concert with the many community
partners such as the Salvation Army, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission, Vance-Granville Community College and others. Having Mako choose this community speaks volumes to the relevance of Henderson and Vance County as a regional center for business and as the leading edge of the
research triangle.”

Governor appoints VGCC President to commission

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— courtesy of VGCC News Release on 11-27-17

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, to the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound, Basic Education. The Commission, which the governor created through an Executive Order, will focus on the critical importance of North Carolina meeting its duties under the state constitution as underscored by the landmark court rulings in Leandro v. North Carolina and Hoke County Board of Education v. North Carolina.

The new commission includes experts from a wide range of fields that are relevant to education and student and school success. Dr. Williams was appointed as the representative of North Carolina community colleges. The commission will focus on key areas highlighted in the original Leandro ruling, including:

• staffing each classroom with a competent, well-trained teacher,

Dr. Stelfanie Williams (VGCC Photo)

• staffing each school with a competent, well-trained principal, and

• identifying the resources necessary to ensure that all children, including those at risk, have an equal opportunity to obtain a sound basic education.

The commission is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Nov. 30 in Raleigh. Its goal is to develop recommendations for specific actions necessary to achieve sustained compliance with the constitutional mandates established in Leandro.

“I look forward to the opportunity to work with the other leaders on this commission to identify concrete steps that our state can take to improve public education for all our young people in all corners of North Carolina,” President Williams said. “The success of our great state depends on strong K-12 schools, working in partnership with strong community colleges and universities.”

Williams became the sixth president of VGCC in 2012. Since then, she has focused the college strategically on educational excellence, continuous improvement, employee and student engagement in college life, and institutional stewardship. During her tenure, the college has added seven curriculum degree programs, secured the largest grants in the college’s history, the second-largest private donor gift, and held six consecutive highest-yielding annual golf tournaments for scholarships. With a focus on student success, the institution has improved completion rates, graduating the largest classes ever in 2015 and 2016, and initiating a private donor-sponsored college promise program called the “VanGuarantee” in an effort to make college more accessible for students with the greatest financial need.

Prior to leading VGCC, Williams served as faculty and in several administrative capacities at other North Carolina community colleges. She also currently serves as adjunct faculty for the North Carolina State University College of Education. Williams holds dual baccalaureate degrees from Duke University, a graduate degree from Western Carolina University, and a doctorate from North Carolina State University. In 2014, she was awarded the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award by North Carolina State University.

The Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound, Basic Education is the second education-related panel for which the VGCC leader has been selected in recent months. Dr. Williams was appointed to the “My Future NC” Commission by the president of the University of North Carolina, Margaret Spellings; the acting president of the North Carolina Community College System, Jennifer Haygood; and the state superintendent of public instruction, Mark Johnson.

–VGCC–

News 11/28/17

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YMCA

2017 Polar Express 5K

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On December 9th, the Henderson Family YMCA will hold its annual Polar Express 5k event, benefiting Girls on the Run and the YMCA STRIDE programs.

Race start time is 10 a.m.  Registration begins at 9 a.m.  The course will be at Satterwhite Point on Kerr Lake.  The entrance will be closed at 9:50 a.m.  The address is 6254 Satterwhite Point Road.

Entry Fee for adults is $20 pre-race and $30 on race day.  Children 13 years and under may register pre-race for $10 and on race day for $20.

The race will start and finish in the last parking lot on Satterwhite Point, down from the community building “Glass House.”

For more information, contact the Henderson Family YMCA on Ruin Creek Road, online at hendersonymca.org or call 252-438-2144.

Girls on the Run

Over a period of 10-12 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade participate in an after-school program like no other. Designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength, the Girls on the Run curriculum inspires girls to define their lives on their own terms. Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence and celebrate all that makes them unique. The Girls on the Run lessons encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at this age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. Physical activity is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of each season, the girls participate in a Girls on the Run 5k event. Completing the 5k gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.  For more information go to www.GOTR.org

STRIDE

STRIDE is a fun afterschool character development program for boys. The boys look forward to time with their friends and making new friends. Throughout the program, the focus is on doing one’s personal best, not competing with each other. Each STRIDE team meets twice a week for 10-12 weeks. Trained volunteer coaches start each session with an introduction of the day’s character-building lesson, followed by a warm-up, group discussion, running workout and interactive games. In each session, the boys build the stamina, techniques and confidence to run a 5K. Boys who demonstrate excellent character are rewarded with a STRIDE dog tag at the end of the lesson. At the conclusion of the ten-week session, the boys celebrate by participating in a 5K with their coaches, parents and running partners. STRIDE gives boys the opportunity to share and explore issues that they face in school, at sports, in the community and at home. They learn the importance of being a good friend, working as a team, saying no to drugs and making good decisions. We want to help boys become young men who KNOW what is right, CARE what is right and DO what is right. For more information go to www.ymcastride.org

(The YMCA is an advertising client of WIZS.)

Former VGCC president Ben Currin retires from endowment board

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— courtesy VGCC

Dr. Ben F. Currin recently retired from the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund Board of Directors. That marked the culmination of Currin’s formal association with VGCC, which lasted for a total of 36 years — 18 as president of the college and 18 more on the endowment board after his retirement as president.

Currin, who now lives in Raleigh, became the third president of VGCC in 1981. ​Under Currin’s leadership, VGCC grew from one campus to four, with a total of almost $18 million worth of new construction at all campuses. During his tenure, VGCC reactivated the college’s Endowment Fund, which grew from $12,000 in 1982 to $5 million at the time of his retirement and provided scholarships for numerous students. In 1985, he started the annual VGCC Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, which has raised more than $862,000 to date. A VGCC scholarship, the Dr. Ben Currin Presidential Merit Award, was endowed in his honor upon his retirement through contributions from the college faculty and staff.

From left, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams and Dr. Ben Currin, the college’s former president, holding a plaque honoring him for his service to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund. (VGCC photo)

​A native of Granville County and a graduate of Oxford High School, Currin received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959. He earned his master’s degree in education in 1962 and his advanced graduate certificate in professional education in 1963, both from UNC. He received his doctorate in education from UNC in 1970 in education administration with a minor in political science.

​Currin assumed the VGCC presidency after having served as a teacher, coach and public school administrator, including 11 years as superintendent of Rocky Mount City Schools. While in Rocky Mount, he also taught graduate courses at East Carolina University as an adjunct professor.

​Currin earned high esteem from his peers in higher education. A University of Texas study in 1988-89 named him one of the “best of the best” among community college presidents across the nation, and he was given a National Leadership Award at the Leadership 2000 conference in San Francisco. He was also one of 75 participants chosen nationwide to participate in the Management of Lifelong Education Institute at Harvard University. ​Currin received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov. Beverly Perdue. In 2016, Currin received the highest honor that can be bestowed by the State Board of Community Colleges, the I.E. Ready Award.

The board of directors oversees the Endowment Fund Corporation, a nonprofit organization established in 1976 to seek and receive scholarship funds and other contributions for the college. Current board members include Robert L. Hubbard (the vice-chair), Rev. Dr. Richard M. Henderson (secretary), Julius Banzet, III, Sarah Baskerville, Rep. James W. Crawford, Jr., Tanya Evans, Clay Frazier, L. Opie Frazier, Jr., Ronnie Goswick, Katharine Macon Horner, Darryl Moss, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., Marshall Tanner, Josh Towne and Todd Wemyss. As president of VGCC, Dr. Stelfanie Williams chairs the board, and Danny Wright, chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees, serves on the board ex-officio.

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,100 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

City of Henderson Logo

Public Hearing for Economic Development Incentive Expenditure

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— from City Clerk, Esther J. McCrackin, City of Henderson

Mayor Ellington has requested a Special Called Meeting of the Henderson City Council for Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. in Council Chambers, 135 Rose Avenue, Henderson. The purpose of this meeting is to hold a public hearing on a proposed economic development incentive expenditure to be considered for the location of a new company within the City/County.

All persons interested in this matter are invited to attend.

 

Vance County NC

Vance County To Hold Special Meeting for Tuesday, November 28

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— courtesy Vance County

From: Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to the Board
Date: November 22, 2017
Re: Special Called Meeting

This memorandum will serve as notice that Chairman Dan Brummitt has called a special meeting for Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the special meeting is to:

1. Enter into closed session to discuss an economic development matter.

2. Hold a public hearing to receive public input on a proposed economic development incentive expenditure to be considered for the location of a new company and provide a Golden Leaf Economic Catalyst Grant in the amount of $822,000 over the next ten years.

3. Hold a public hearing to receive public input on a proposed economic development incentive expenditure to be considered for the location of a new company and provide a Building Reuse Grant in the amount of $500,000 over the next five years.

4. Hold a public hearing to receive public input on a proposed economic development incentive expenditure to be considered for the location of a new company and provide an Incentive Agreement in the amount not to exceed $425,000.

5. Approve a resolution authorizing a building reuse grant in the amount of $500,000.

6. Approve a local incentive agreement in the amount not to exceed $425,000.

7. Approve a budget amendment in the amount of $250,000.

8. Other matters as necessary.

c: Chairman Dan Brummitt

News 11/27/17

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The Tree of Lights 2017

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— information provided by Vance County Relay for Life and is courtesy of The Women’s League of Henderson

Once again, The Women’s League of Henderson will be sponsoring the Tree of Light. A bulb can be purchased in honor or memory of a loved one. Each bulb costs $10.00. This is a tax deductible contribution that supports a wonderful cause.

We all must continue to strive to find a cure for cancer. Many of us have been touched by this terrible disease. We are asking for your help by purchasing a bulb for the tree.

You are cordially invited to attend the tree lighting ceremony, which will be held on November 30,2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the hospital lobby. The Tree of Lights is located in front of Maria Parham Health on Ruin Creek Road.

 

 

Former Franklin Medical Center Gets New Name

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— courtesy Maria Parham Health

Former Franklin Medical Center Gets New Name: Maria Parham Franklin

Unveiling of new brand signals progress in restoring healthcare services to Franklin County

Louisburg, NC – Maria Parham Health, part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, unveiled a new name for the former Franklin Medical Center: Maria Parham Franklin. The new name was presented to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and Louisburg Town Council on November 20. This development marks an important milestone in efforts to bring essential healthcare back to Franklin County following the closure of the Louisburg hospital in 2015. Plans are in place to open a freestanding emergency department with 24/7 emergency care in mid-2018.

“Establishing the Maria Parham Franklin name symbolizes important progress in returning healthcare to our county,” said Sidney Dunston, Vice-Chair, Franklin County Board of Commissioners. “This is a clear sign of forward momentum for our community that will allow us to move beyond the closure of Franklin Medical Center and look toward a new, brighter future. We’re excited to be working with the Maria Parham and Duke LifePoint teams to get this facility back up and running, so that the people in our region will have access to the care they need and deserve.”

In 2016, the board of commissioners reviewed potential strategic partners interested in taking over services at the closed Franklin Medical Center. It unanimously voted to accept a proposal from Duke LifePoint to operate Franklin Medical Center as part of Duke LifePoint’s Henderson hospital, Maria Parham Health, and turn the Franklin County facility into a freestanding emergency department with 24/7 emergency care, diagnostic services and behavioral health services.

In 2017, a lease agreement was reached and Duke LifePoint began seeking state approvals to reopen the hospital’s emergency department as a freestanding emergency center. It also is working to secure state funds to further the development of additional behavioral health beds and services.

“We’re delighted to introduce the Maria Parham Franklin name to Louisburg and Franklin County,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “Over the next few months, everyone will begin to see changes at the hospital site. By mid-2018, we expect needed renovations and hires to be complete so the first phase of the new emergency room can open to the public. We look forward to working with local officials to rebuild healthcare services in this region and ensure the health and wellbeing of people here.”

Maria Parham Franklin is expected to bring as many as 65 new jobs to Franklin County in the next three years, contributing to economic development and job growth in the region.

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(Maria Parham Health is an advertising client of WIZS.)