Tag Archive for: #granvillecountyeconomicdevelopment

New Granville Company Makes Game-Changer Construction Materials That Saves Trees

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— Information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

A facility in Granville County that had been used to make cigarettes has new life making highly advanced building materials out of fast-growing perennial grass. That’s right: Grass.

Plantd Materials officially opened its new headquarters and production facility last week in the Knotts Grove Road building last occupied by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

City and county leaders, as well as the local Chamber of Commerce were on hand Friday, May 6, to officially welcome the new business.

Plantd is an advanced production technologies company that manufactures carbon-negative building materials using natural materials, like its proprietary perennial grass.

“In Granville County, we see an unparalleled opportunity to reshape the construction industry, build a credible climate change solution, and bridge this rural region into the 21st-century economy,” said Josh Dorfman, co-founder and CEO of Plantd. “Integrating into the economic and social fabric of this area is the foundation we will build upon to drive positive impact at the local, national, and global levels.”

“We couldn’t be happier that Plantd has decided to literally Grow with Granville,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Tim Karan. “A company like Plantd is such a great fit for Granville, melding our agricultural roots with a new forward-thinking production process for building materials is the perfect combination of tradition and innovation. We are thrilled that Plantd has decided to invest in Oxford and Granville County so soon after Santa Fe closed their doors.”

“When the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco decided to close its Oxford facility in 2022, Granville lost one of its anchor economic development engines,” said Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills. “Santa Fe was so important to Granville in providing contracts and employment for many local farmers and workers.  Plantd will provide a new opportunity for local farmers who will grow Plantd’s proprietary perennial grass, and this company will create many jobs to boost the local economy as they continue to grow. They have already made a concerted effort to hire local workers and we look forward to helping them in any way we can for years to come.”

Learn more at https://www.plantdmaterials.com.

Mills Appointed To State Economic Development Advisory Council

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Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills has been appointed to the North Carolina Economic Development Advisory Council, a statewide group that provides advisory direction and support to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Mills was selected to represent the “North Central Prosperity Zone” along with Michael Haley, executive director of the Wake County Economic Development office.

Mills was appointed to serve on this council by the current members of the EDPNC board, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. He joins the 16-member council which represents eight “prosperity zones” across North Carolina. These zones are determined by the North Carolina Department of Commerce and subdivide the state geographically to provide localized support for economic development projects.

In addition to Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties, the North Central prosperity zone encompasses Person, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Wake, Nash, Edgecombe, Chatham, Wilson, Lee, Harnett and Johnston counties.

“I’m excited to serve on the EDPNC Advisory Council,”Mills said in a press statement. “This is a fantastic group of professionals that work to improve the economic prospects of their communities and North Carolina as a whole. So many of the projects that come to Granville County and other parts of North Carolina would not be possible without the staff and advisory board members that work on behalf of the EDPNC. I’m excited to represent Granville County and I look forward to working with this group of my peers to attract new businesses to North Carolina.”

For more information about the EDPNC, visit https://edpnc.com/.

Bridgestone Bandag Gets $450,000 Reuse Grant For Expansion Project

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Information courtesy of Terry Hobgood, Granville County public information officer

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has announced the award of a Building Reuse Grant in the Existing Building category to Bridgestone Bandag, LLC of Oxford. A $450,000 grant will support the renovation of a 225,000 square-foot building. Bridgestone Bandag will invest $1,623,990 into the project that will create 61 new jobs in Granville County.

“Granville County is excited to assist a longstanding industry like Bridgestone Bandag in receiving this Building Reuse Grant,” said Economic Development Director Harry Mills. “Granville’s Economic Development Office is ready and able to assist our existing industries with opportunities like this that help expand and solidify their presence in our community. Bridgestone Bandag is showing their commitment to Granville County with this major investment, and we are equally committed to helping them succeed.”

“Investments in rural North Carolina have a positive impact on our state’s overall success,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This grant helps communities like Granville County create good jobs, improve the quality of life of their residents and boost the local economy.”

“I’m especially proud to see this latest spur of new businesses and job creation in North Carolina’s rural communities like Granville County,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Building Reuse grants help local governments revive buildings in their communities that allow them to take center stage in North Carolina’s economic development wins.”

The North Carolina Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments to renovate and/or expand vacant buildings or buildings currently occupied by existing companies that will lead to the creation of new jobs in rural counties categorized as Tier 1 or Tier 2. Granville is a Tier 2 county.

Bridgestone Bandag is a manufacturer of tread rubber used for premium retreaded tires at their location on West Industry Dr. in Oxford. For more information, visit their website:  https://www.bandag.com/en-us/index

CertainTeed Secures State Grant Funding To Aid Expansion Project

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CertainTeed of Oxford has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce to help pay for an expansion of their existing facility. The building reuse grant, combined with $837,500 of private funding, will be used to renovate an existing 326,000-square foot building, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

CertainTeed makes exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, insulation, and  ceiling products. In April 2022, officials announced plans for the expansion, which will add 225,000 square feet of manufacturing space to the Oxford location and will include a total project investment of $118.8 million in Granville County, according to information from the Department of Commerce. The original announcement in April stipulated that the CertainTeed expansion would create 37 new jobs – at an average annual wage of $45,096  – which makes the manufacturer eligible for a One NC Grant of $125,000 to aid in the expansion project. Both grants require a 5 percent local match of funds.

“CertainTeed is growing with Granville,” said Economic Development Director Harry Mills. “We are thrilled that the N.C. Department of Commerce recognized the community impact that CertainTeed has in Granville County. Our Economic Development staff was able to assist CertainTeed by securing this additional funding to make their local expansion possible. CertainTeed is one of Granville’s core industry leaders and we could not be happier that they are here for the long haul.”

For more information about the N.C. Building Reuse Grant program, please visit the N.C. Department of Commerce  website: https://www.nccommerce.com/grants-incentives/building-or-site-funds/building-reuse.

Granville Adds To Economic Development Team

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Economic Development Office has a new economic development specialist, whose primary focus will be to recruit new industries to the county, with a particular focus on promoting the Triangle North Granville business park just outside Oxford.

Audrey Boone brings nearly a decade of experience in economic development, sales and marketing to her role with Granville County, according to a press statement from Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. Boone most recently was the executive director of the Gainesville, Texas  Economic Development Corporation near the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. During her time in  Gainesville, Boone was responsible for recruitment of industries with a focus on promoting Gainesville’s “shovel ready” sites.

“Granville County is an excellent area primed for growth and I am excited to continue my professional journey here,” Boone said in a written statement. “There are incredible assets across the county and I’m eager to start sharing Granville’s story with industries domestically and internationally that could one day ‘Grow with Granville,’” a reference to the catchphrase used in the county’s promotional materials.

In Texas, Boone also worked with state and local government partners to develop attractive incentive/grant packages to prospective businesses and led efforts to develop Gainesville’s largest industrial property into a  rail-served industrial park with Strategic Rail Industrial Services, which represented a $274 million economic impact to the City of Gainesville.

Before leading the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation, Boone served as the Manager of Marketing and Engagement with the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, which serves the Bryan/College Station region, home to Texas A&M University. She also led marketing and business development efforts for the Abilene Industrial Foundation in Abilene, Texas. Boone has extensive leadership experience with professional organizations serving as a board member of the Texas Economic Development Council and as a member of its Executive Committee, serving as Treasurer of the Workforce Solutions Texoma Board, and holds memberships in good standing with the Southern Economic Development Council and the International Economic Development Council. Boone is a graduate of Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in Strategic Management, Finance and Marketing.

Boone is currently pursuing her Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Boone is an avid community volunteer, dedicating her free time to the Big Brother Big Sister program, Kiwanis, United Way and other nonprofit organizations.

The Economic Development Office is located at 310 Williamsboro St. in Oxford and the staff can be reached by calling 919.693.5911.

$118M Expansion Planned For Oxford CertainTeed Plant

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CertainTeed will add 37 new jobs as part of an expansion project at its Oxford plant that makes roofing shingles.

The expansion represents a $118.8 million investment in the Granville County facility, according to an announcement made Wednesday by Gov. Roy Cooper.

A performance-based grant of $125,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help with CertainTeed’s expansion in North Carolina. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require matching participation from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

CertainTeed produces a portfolio of exterior and interior building products that includes roofing materials, siding, fence, decking, railings, trim, insulation, gypsum wallboard, and ceilings. The 122-year-old company will add 225,000 square feet of manufacturing space to their existing shingle manufacturing plant, enhancing their ability to serve customers in a time of unprecedented demand.

CertainTeed is the North American building products subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world.

“This historic investment, made possible with support from the state of North Carolina, will create new jobs and allow our company to support our customers with more of the industry-leading roofing materials that our team has been making in Granville County since 1978,” said Mark Rayfield, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed. “We thank the community for their continued support, and we look forward to many more years of state-of-the-art manufacturing in Oxford.”

Although wages will vary for each position, the average annual salary for the new positions is $66,930, exceeding Granville County’s overall average annual wage of $45,096. The new jobs have the potential to create an annual payroll impact of more than $2.4 million, according to the press statement from the Governor’s office.

“Global brands can operate anywhere in the world, but they continue to choose North Carolina for its workforce,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “CertainTeed’s commitment to our state highlights the importance of a well-prepared workforce to meet industry demands. As the manufacturing industry advances, we are committed to advancing our workforce training systems to prepare North Carolinians to help companies meet those demands.”

“This announcement is outstanding for our community,” said N.C. Sen. Mike Woodard. “CertainTeed has been a great corporate partner for our community, and we are grateful for the company’s continued investment here in Oxford.”

“We are excited to bring these great paying jobs to Granville County,” said N.C. Rep. Larry Yarborough. “These new jobs will have a positive impact on our capable workforce that stand ready to fill roles.”

In addition to the N.C. Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Vance-Granville Community College, Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, Granville County, Granville County Economic Development, Granville County Chamber, Granville County Public Schools, the City of Oxford, the NCWorks Career Center Oxford, Dominion Energy and Duke Energy.

Granville Economic Development Director Appointed To Regional Foreign Trade Zone #93 Board

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Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills has been appointed to the Rates, Tariff, and Legal Review Board for the Research Triangle Area Foreign Trade Zone #93. Mills will serve a three-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2022, along with eleven others representing Granville, Chatham, Durham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilson counties, according to a statement from Granville County’s public information officer Terry Hobgood.

The Foreign Trade Zone #93 Board’s job is to review and recommend applications for zone status; adopting a zone schedule including rates, rules and regulations; and ensuring the Grantee operates the zone as a public utility.

Triangle J Council of Governments is the grantee of the Research Triangle Area’s full-service, multi-site Foreign Trade Zone #93, which allows companies importing and exporting products to reduce or delay custom duties or taxes on products received within the zone. All zone activities must result in public benefit and a net positive economic effect. Triangle J Council of Governments views the Foreign Trade Zone as a benefit to member organizations through its ability to stimulate international trade in the region, create jobs engaged in international trade, and encourage job creation in the larger market.

Granville County is the home of two companies conducting operations as approved sites in Foreign Trade Zone #93: one is Revlon Consumer Products in Oxford, and the second is AW North Carolina in Butner.

To learn more, visit https://www.tjcog.org/focus-areas-community-economic-development/foreign-trade-zone .

 

 

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Granville Co. Economic Development Advisory Board to Meet Bi-Monthly

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board/Assistant to the County Manager

The Granville County Economic Development Advisory Board will now meet bi-monthly instead of quarterly as previously advertised.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. at the Granville County Economic Development Department located at 310 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC.

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Annual ‘Business & Industry Appreciation Day’ to Offer Networking Opportunities

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— courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

Granville County Economic Development, in partnership with the Granville County Chamber of Commerce and the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, will present its annual ‘Business and Industry Appreciation Day’ on Thursday, September 27 from 4 until 6 p.m. The event, held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center (4185 Highway 15 South in Oxford), will provide opportunities for participating businesses and manufacturers to network and to learn more about the services and resources available in the area. A brief program will also be held, including remarks to recognize the contributions made to the county by local employers.

Organizations, agencies and businesses offering any type of service or program beneficial to other businesses/industries in the county  – meeting space, training, office supplies, technology, finance, insurance, etc. – are invited to set up a display area to share their information with those in attendance. Registration is required and there is no charge to participate. Reservations will be taken until September 24.

Held annually for more than 10 years, Business and Industry Appreciation Day was initiated to celebrate the achievements of local business owners and the industrial decision-makers and employees who enhance the quality of life in Granville County.

“This event just keeps getting bigger and better,” said Harry Mills, Economic Development Director for Granville County. “Our businesses and industries continue to grow and expand and are quickly becoming a force in the Research Triangle region.”

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

To reserve space at this year’s Business and Industry Appreciation Day event, contact Lynn Cooper at the Granville County Economic Development Department at 919-693-5911 or lynn.cooper@granvillecounty.org.

Granville County to hold Business & Industry Appreciation Day

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The Granville County Economic Development department, in partnership with the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center and the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, is planning this year’s “Business & Industry Appreciation Day.” The annual event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 4-6 p.m. at the Granville County Expo & Convention Center, located at 4185 Highway 15 South in Oxford.

For local businesses and industries, the event is not only a networking opportunity but also a chance to learn more about services and resources that are available to assist them. Organizations, agencies and businesses that provide services to a business (such as lending or education/training) are invited to set up a table to share information with those in attendance. For information on reserving a table, which is free of charge, contact Lynn Cooper at the Granville County Economic Development department at (919) 693-5911 or Lynn.Cooper@granvillecounty.org.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. A brief program, including remarks to recognize the important contributions made by local employers, will take place at 5 p.m.

–VGCC–