Tag Archive for: #economicdevelopment
H-V EDC Encouraged By Community Growth
Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission Encouraged By Community Growth
by Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer for Hire
Dennis Jarvis, II, the newly appointed Director of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission (EDC) has been hard at work in his first two months on the job.
Jarvis, who began his new position on November 6, 2017, is focused on familiarizing himself with his coworkers and the community. “My days since I began have been about staying late, learning names and getting my feet on the ground,” said Jarvis.
According to Tommy Hester, Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, Jarvis is doing a fantastic job in his new role. “Dennis Jarvis, II is a great addition to the Economic Development Commission and will be an asset to our area.”
Jarvis comes to the Economic Development Commission at a time of new growth and opportunity. Mako Medical Laboratories, based out of Raleigh, NC, has begun the process of expanding and setting up shop in Vance County. Occupying the former Harperprints Building on Industry Drive, Mako is in the process of remodeling, purchasing and installing equipment and hiring qualified employees.
In addition to other grants and incentives, Mako received $1 million in grants provided by the Goldenleaf Foundation and the Department of Commerce in December 2017. Earmarked for lab equipment and building upgrades and repairs, Mako has wasted no time in putting the resources to good use.
According to Hester, Mako has $6 million in lab equipment already in place. One of the more impressive pieces of equipment being installed will allow the lab to process approximately 2,000 specimens in one hour. Diagnostic lab testing provided by Mako includes blood, urine, genetic and allergy.
In addition to installing lab equipment, Mako is currently training and hiring employees for the new Vance County location. According to Hester, 11 people have currently been hired by Mako at a salary of approximately $56,000 per job. Mako anticipates bringing approximately 153 jobs into the area and anticipates a sales volume of $250 million this year.
“When you hear numbers like that, it goes without saying that Mako is a great thing for our area and for economic development,” said Hester.
The excitement around Mako has started a chain reaction of interest and pride in the community. “Other companies have seen the collaborative teamwork involved in the process by the County and various organizations and have inquired about opportunities in our area,” said Hester.
While Mako is certainly a boon for the area, Jarvis stresses that the EDC is also emphasizing and focusing on expansion of the county’s current base and courting new potential investments.
“Since October 2017, the EDC has submitted approximately 8-10 proposals to the State of North Carolina. Our focus is on retention of our current base and attracting new business opportunities,” Jarvis said.
With all of the current growth and future potential, both Jarvis and Hester feel a new day is dawning for Vance County.
“Our area has new business opportunities coming into the county, potential new businesses touring currently vacant building structures and existing businesses such as MR Williams growing and expanding. Vance County is heading in the right direction,” said Hester.
The next meeting of the EDC will be held Wednesday, February 7 at 8:30 am in the community room of Maria Parham Medical Center.
The EDC Board and guests will attend a meeting at Mako Medical Laboratories on Wednesday, March 7 for a tour of the facilities and company updates.
(WIZS contracted with the writer of this article Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer for Hire for publication here and on the air.)
Teamwork and Good People Means New Jobs in Vance
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.”
