— Franklin County Press Release —
A new industrial development has been announced in the southwestern side of Franklin County.
Summit Real Estate Group – a private commercial real estate company – intends to build a five-building business park near 2380 Long Mill Road in Youngsville. The multi-phase project, known as U.S.-1 North Commerce Center, brings the potential for more than $160 million in investment to the county and more than 400 jobs.
“We are excited to have a project in Franklin County located off US-1,” said Mark Billeaud, founding partner and head of investments at Summit. “We are committed to Franklin County, as they have been an exceptionally skilled and resourceful team with whom to partner on this project.”
The U.S.-1 North Commerce Center is located near the county’s existing industrial user base in Youngsville and within 30 minutes of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Summit intends to develop a Class A business park that can accommodate a wide variety of manufacturing and distribution companies that could include light assembly, research and development, office/warehouse, and e-commerce.
“We are very excited to be a part of the first-Class A industrial development in Youngsville, NC,” said Jackson Rives, principal of industrial services at Foundry Commercial. “These traits, along with the support of a strong EDC in Franklin County, give this park the opportunity to service existing companies in the market and bring new tenants to a great county.”
The site is extremely efficient and allows for versatile designs that will be a great place for manufacturers and distributers to grow and serve the region.
“The kind of industrial development that Summit is committed to bringing to Franklin County is vital to the economic success of the region,” said Representative Matthew Winslow.
The industrial buildings are estimated to range from 170,000 to 505,000 square feet and the project is expected to progress over a seven-year period.
“We are very happy to have Summit working with Franklin County on developing an industrial complex that will bring jobs and investment to Franklin County,” said Franklin County Manager Kim Denton.
Summit Real Estate Group has decades of experience in acquiring, developing, and managing institutional-grade real estate throughout the United States in several economic cycles. Summit is currently focused on industrial real estate development in select markets in the Southeastern U.S. including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina. Modern, well-located industrial real estate has become increasingly important for U.S. companies seeking competitive advantages and growth within the goods-producing and distribution industries. For more information on Summit, visit their website https://summitstl.com/.
Golden LEAF Scholarship, Internship Opportunities
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of the Golden LEAF Foundation
The Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship application window is now open for the 2023-2024 academic year. Applications are available at CFNC.org. A total of 215 awards will be offered to first-time recipients from qualifying rural and economically distressed counties. Applications are due March 1, 2023.
The awards are valued at $14,000 ($3,500 per year for up to four years) for North Carolina high school students attending a participating North Carolina college or university. North Carolina community college transfer students can receive $3,500 per year for up to three years.
“The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program is an important component of the Foundation’s workforce preparedness strategy,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “Our goal is for Golden LEAF Scholars to gain the talent, knowledge and skills necessary to help North Carolina’s rural communities thrive by returning home to live, work and raise families.”
To be eligible, students must be a graduating North Carolina high school senior or a currently enrolled North Carolina community college transfer student, enrolling full-time in the fall at a participating North Carolina public or private college or university. Recipients are selected based upon multiple factors including an intent to return to a rural North Carolina county after graduation. Applicants must also fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need as determined by the application process; have a cumulative GPA of no less than 2.5; and be a resident of a rural, economically distressed North Carolina county. Click here for the full list of eligible counties.
For more than 20 years, the Golden LEAF Scholarship Program has provided more than 6,000 scholarships to help rural students attend the state’s colleges and universities.
The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority and funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation. A complete list of program requirements, participating campuses and qualifying counties can be viewed at CFNC.org. Call 1-800-700-1775 or send an email to information@ncseaa.edu, for more information.
Learn more about the scholarship at https://scholars.goldenleaf.org/.
Scholarship recipients may also apply for the Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative. The Rural Internship Initiative provides Golden LEAF Scholars with professional work experience related to their career field in a rural North Carolina community. The application window closes Jan. 31.
The Golden LEAF Foundation provides funding to pay interns $15/hour for up to 400 hours of work. Internships take place over 8-10 weeks, between June and August.
Leadership Vance 2023 Class Forming Now – Apply By Jan. 27
/by WIZS StaffThe Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the 2023 Class of Leadership Vance, a program designed to give emerging leaders an in-depth look at the community where they live and work.
Deadline to submit applications is Jan. 27; an orientation and team building activity will kick off this year’s program on Feb. 22, according to information from Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson.
Participants in Leadership Vance will gather for monthly from February through September for educational and information sessions on a variety of topics in the community, from local government and schools to tours of local businesses and industry.
The cost to participate is $500 for Chamber members and $750 for non-Chamber members and includes all meals, transportation and materials.
Contact Wilkerson at sandra@hendersonvance.org or call 252.438.8414 to learn more or to request an application.
(Note: This story was originally broadcast on WIZS Radio and published on WIZS.com on January 5.)
Bids Open Now For Army National Guard Project In Stem
/by WIZS StaffThe North Carolina Military Business Center is reaching out to local contractors who may be interested in submitting a bid for a Granville County project for the Army National Guard Bureau.
The Army National Guard has an open request for proposals for building materials for a construction project in Stem. The deadline to submit proposals is Jan. 27, 2023.
Reena Bhatia is the business development specialist for the NCMBC‘s RTP region, which includes Granville County and several other surrounding counties.
NCMBC is a state agency with 15 offices across the state. The organization has helped businesses win more than 4,000 contracts since 2005.
Bhatia’s role is to support the mission by helping North Carolina-based businesses identify and obtain federal contract opportunities, as well as navigate the solicitation and proposal processes, she said in a press statement.
“We would like to bring those federal dollars to Granville County by helping a local company bid on the requirements,” Bhatia said.
NCMBC is available to help with proposal efforts if needed.
“We hope we can partner together to help local businesses win and bring federal dollars to our communities,” Bhatia said.
To learn more about the project, contact Bhatia at reena@ncmbc.us or 919.314.7317.
Town Talk: Cordell Recognized for Fire Dept. Service
/by Bill HarrisSteve Cordell honored for service to Henderson Fire Dept.
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The Local Skinny! City Of Henderson Financial Health
/by WIZS StaffThe city of Henderson is in pretty good financial shape, according to a recent report presented by the auditor who completed the annual comprehensive study.
Bryon Scott delivered the positive news to City Council members during its November meeting, and he said the only bit of information that concerned him was uncollected taxes.
In the fiscal year ending June 2022, the city’s uncollected taxes were just more than 3 percent, according to minutes from the city council meeting. When that 3 percent threshold is passed, it triggers the state to require a letter stating the reason for going over the 3 percent mark.
Mayor Eddie Ellington thanked Finance Director Joey Fuqua and the finance department staff for all their hard work in helping with the audit process.
Council Member Mike Rainey moved the approval of the report, seconded by Council Member Ola Thorpe-Cooper. The vote to approve was unanimous.
Highlights of the report:
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 01-23-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Community Gardens
/by Bill HarrisListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Fire Chief Steve Cordell Receives Order Of The Guardian For 30 Years’ Service To Fire Dept.
/by WIZS StaffWhat kind of a birthday gift do you give someone who’s spent more than half his life in service to his community?
City staff and fellow firefighters did things up right Thursday for Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell, who celebrated his 51st birthday in the company of city officials and N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who conferred to Cordell the Order of the Guardian award.
And the proverbial icing on the cake was Mayor Eddie Ellington’s official mayoral proclamation to make Jan. 19 “Steve Cordell Day.”
Causey was in town to award a couple of SAVE awards at Vance County Emergency Services Thursday morning, and then presented the award to Cordell during an afternoon ceremony at City Hall, Acting Chief Curtis Tyndall told WIZS News Friday.
Chief Chris Wright and Engineer Tyler Crews were presented with SAVE awards from Causey, who also serves as the state fire marshal, given to first responders and others who go above and beyond the call of duty in their work, according to information from Causey’s office.
The Order of the Guardian is the top award presented by the state insurance commissioner for outstanding service and leadership in the fire industry.
“We were honoring a man (in Cordell) on his birthday for his 30 years of service to the community,” Tyndall explained.
“Causey recognized the chief as being – regardless of the size of the department – one of the premier chiefs in the state of North Carolina,” Tyndall said. During his term as chief, Cordell has garnered the respect of peers across the state and beyond, Tyndall said.
Truck Fire On I-85 Near Oxford Snarls Thursday Afternoon Traffic; Driver Taken To UNC Burn Center
/by WIZS StaffNorthbound traffic on I-85 was backed up for miles Thursday afternoon after a tractor trailer loaded with rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide caught fire near mile marker 199. The driver of the truck was transported to the UNC Burn Center. His condition is not known at this time.
Granville County Public Information Officer Terry A. Hobgood Jr. said Friday the incident was reported at 2:46 p.m. and emergency crews were on the scene within 10 minutes. By 3:08 p.m., both northbound lanes were closed to all traffic. One lane reopened about 4 p.m. and both lanes were clear by 8:30 p.m.
Mile marker 199 is just south of the Oxford rest area near the Bryan’s Hill Road overpass/Tar River bridge.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Hobgood said, but he stated that witnesses reported that the trailer caught fire while driving on I-85. The trailer was carrying a full load of 70% Isopropyl alcohol as well as hydrogen peroxide. Some of the spilled load did run-off into the Tar River but there has been no update on how much.
Granville County Emergency Management/Fire Marshal’s Office and the Granville County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene first, followed by Granville Health System EMS and Providence Volunteer Fire Department.
Other responders included the Corinth Volunteer Fire Department, Stem Volunteer Fire Department, Oxford Fire Department, Butner Public Safety, NC State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
New industrial development announced in Franklin County
/by WIZS Staff— Franklin County Press Release —
A new industrial development has been announced in the southwestern side of Franklin County.
Summit Real Estate Group – a private commercial real estate company – intends to build a five-building business park near 2380 Long Mill Road in Youngsville. The multi-phase project, known as U.S.-1 North Commerce Center, brings the potential for more than $160 million in investment to the county and more than 400 jobs.
“We are excited to have a project in Franklin County located off US-1,” said Mark Billeaud, founding partner and head of investments at Summit. “We are committed to Franklin County, as they have been an exceptionally skilled and resourceful team with whom to partner on this project.”
The U.S.-1 North Commerce Center is located near the county’s existing industrial user base in Youngsville and within 30 minutes of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Summit intends to develop a Class A business park that can accommodate a wide variety of manufacturing and distribution companies that could include light assembly, research and development, office/warehouse, and e-commerce.
“We are very excited to be a part of the first-Class A industrial development in Youngsville, NC,” said Jackson Rives, principal of industrial services at Foundry Commercial. “These traits, along with the support of a strong EDC in Franklin County, give this park the opportunity to service existing companies in the market and bring new tenants to a great county.”
The site is extremely efficient and allows for versatile designs that will be a great place for manufacturers and distributers to grow and serve the region.
“The kind of industrial development that Summit is committed to bringing to Franklin County is vital to the economic success of the region,” said Representative Matthew Winslow.
The industrial buildings are estimated to range from 170,000 to 505,000 square feet and the project is expected to progress over a seven-year period.
“We are very happy to have Summit working with Franklin County on developing an industrial complex that will bring jobs and investment to Franklin County,” said Franklin County Manager Kim Denton.
Summit Real Estate Group has decades of experience in acquiring, developing, and managing institutional-grade real estate throughout the United States in several economic cycles. Summit is currently focused on industrial real estate development in select markets in the Southeastern U.S. including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina. Modern, well-located industrial real estate has become increasingly important for U.S. companies seeking competitive advantages and growth within the goods-producing and distribution industries. For more information on Summit, visit their website https://summitstl.com/.