Tag Archive for: #hendersonvancecountychambercommerce

NCDOT

Chamber’s “State Of Transportation” Luncheon Program Details Dabney Drive, S-Line Projects

The Dabney Drive facelift from Coble Boulevard to Garnett Street is on the state’s to-do list, with right-of-way acquisitions set to begin in about a year and contracts to be let for bid by summer 2027.

It’s among several projects on the 2024-2033 NCDOT State Transportation Improvement Project – STIP – as Division 5 Engineer Brandon Jones explained during the “State of Transportation” program hosted Wednesday by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce.

Locals may simply call it the Dabney Drive project, but at NCDOT, it’s known as U-5890.

The project includes making Dabney Drive a one-way road, creating  sidewalks and bike paths and a peanut-shaped roundabout near Dabney and Garnett, Jones said during his presentation.

Also on that list are two bridge projects – Bridge 89, or Nutbush Bridge, and Bridge 38, at U.S. 1 North over the CSX rail line. Contracts for the bridge projects are scheduled to be let in July 2028 and January 2030, respectively.

The Dabney Drive project is going to be a “great improvement,” Jones said, not only benefitting drivers, but for bicyclists and pedestrians. Dabney Drive will feature a six-foot-wide sidewalk and Corbitt Road, which will handle westbound traffic to Dabney Drive’s eastbound traffic, will include a 10-foot-wide multi-use path.

The 10-year STIP gets updated every couple of years, and Jones said there are three “buckets” of money that projects must fall under: state mobility projects, regional impact projects and division needs projects. The state projects get 40 percent of the funds, with regional and division projects each getting 30 percent.

“Every bucket has to be balanced in the STIP – that’s what creates differences in scheduling,” Jones explained.

With only 25 percent coming from federal dollars, Jones said the state relies on the motor fuel tax to help fund road projects.

But that tax is going down,” he said, because vehicles are becoming more fuel efficient – and generating less revenue.

“It’s a good thing for the environment, but has a negative impact on the potential revenue we receive to keep our transportation system expanded and maintained.”

Road projects can seem like they take a long time to complete, but Jones reminded the audience that all pre-construction design can easily take years. It’s not like the city can just close Dabney Drive while it’s being worked on – NCDOT crews are “always having to build new, shift traffic, tear out old and repeat that pattern for awhile,” he said.

The other major transportation-related news for Henderson and Vance County is the much-anticipated S-Line passenger rail line. When the North Carolina portion is completed, it will help connect Atlanta to the D.C. area, Jones said.

Henderson is set to be one of the stops along the S-Line as it makes its way north into Raleigh and then Wake Forest before chugging through Franklin County into Henderson and Norlina.

Jones said the estimate to get the stretch from Raleigh to Wake Forest alone will cost $1 billion. It’ll take another billion to complete the link from Wake Forest to Henderson.

The state is buying the existing rail line from CSX, but there will be a lot to do to be ready for high-speed passenger rail service.

“You can’t just take care of the rail,” Jones said, “you’ve got to take care of the at-grade intersections…(and) grade separate them,”

Alexander Avenue is one local street that will need this attention as the S-Line makes progress. An underpass or tunnel at Peachtree Road and closing off Chavasse Avenue are also planned.

The Alexander Avenue project is one of three projects that have cleared one hurdle to be considered in future STIP funding, Jones said. The other two are making intersection improvements at Raleigh Road and Belmont Drive and a citywide signal system in Henderson. If they don’t make “committed” status in the next five years, they’ll have to compete again to get on the STIP list.

‘Shop With A Cop And Friends’ Envelope Raffle Fundraiser Underway

Tickets are available now to participate in the annual “Shop with a Cop and Friends” envelope raffle, and if you’re new to the process, Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson explained how it works.

There are 180 tickets for sale, and each ticket number is the price you pay for the ticket. That part’s easy to understand – but there’s an extra layer that creates a little buzz and excitement for those who purchase tickets.

The ticket number, Wilkerson said, will determine one of four drawings and the chance to win some cash. Contributors that purchase tickets for $1 through $40 will be entered to win $200. Those that get tickets $41 through $80 will be entered to win $1,000, and ticketholders of the $121 through $180 tickets will have a shot at the grand prize of $2,000.

But that’s not all!

Everyone who purchases a ticket for $100 or more will also receive a ticket to attend the “Shop with a Cop Celebratory Reception” that will be held at the Henderson Country Club on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional tickets will also be sold for $20 each. Appetizers, tea and lemonade will be available and there will be a cash bar.  Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Sheriff Curtis Brame will lead the celebration, drawing the winners for the cash prizes, selling 50/50 tickets (an additional fundraising effort) and announcing the total amount of the fundraising The proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward a Christmas shopping spree at the Henderson Walmart that pairs local law enforcement officers and other public safety personnel with disadvantaged youth for a special holiday experience.

The goal is to be able to give at least $7,000 for the shopping spree, Wilkerson said. The fundraiser also supports other member programs during the year.

Local Efforts Support Hurricane Relief

People from all over the country are responding to pleas for help from western North Carolina as relief efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Crews continue to work to restore power, clear roads of mud, fallen trees and debris and take care of so many whose homes have been rendered uninhabitable.

Residents of Henderson and Vance County are stepping up to the plate to fill trucks and trailers with cleaning supplies, drinking water, food and more, which is being delivered to hard-hit areas to our west.

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce has passed along information from state officials that bears repeating as relief efforts continue.

NCDOT has declared all roads in western North Carolina “closed to non-emergency vehicles,” so it’s important to coordinate plans with state agencies like Emergency Management and Business Emergency Operations Center.

“Do not self-deploy resources or supply logistics unless you are attached to an existing NCVOAD organization. Until further notice, roads in Western NC (generally anywhere west of Hickory, NC) are closed to all traffic other than emergency services and pre-approved shipments coordinated through the BEOC,” according to information sent from the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce.

Get updates at  https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management.

In the meantime, here’s a list of donation drop-off centers in Henderson and Vance County that the Chamber provided, along with times that donations will be accepted:

  • Rebuilding Hope, Inc. 414 Raleigh Rd. – weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • City of Henderson – City Hall, 134 Rose Ave. weekdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Henderson Police Department, corner of Breckenridge and Chestnut streets
  • Henderson Fruit & Produce, 1215 Old Norlina Rd. – during business hours
  • Mast Family Drug Center, 418 Dabney Dr. – during business hours
  • Zeb Vance Elementary, 4800 Raleigh Rd., Kittrell, Oct. 1-4
  • Vance Charter School, 2090 Ross Mill Rd., Oct. 1-4
  • Aycock Elementary, 305 Carey Chapel Rd., Oct. 1-4
  • Fred’s Towing & Transport, 340 Industry Dr., Oct. 1-4
  • Chick-fil-A – go to Chick-fil-A app and donate. Chick-fil-A is partnering with the American Red Cross. Every dollar that’s donated will be matched up to $500,000.

Here’s a list of needed items at this time:

  • non-perishable food
  • bottled water
  • toiletries
  • pillows and blankets
  • paper products/plastic forks and spoons
  • hand sanitizer/personal hygiene products
  • wet wipes/baby wipes
  • diapers – kids and adults
  • Clorox wipes/cleaning supplies
  • large trash bags/zip lock bags
  • work gloves
  • flashlights and batteries
  • first aid supplies
  • travel size shampoo, body wash and deodorant
  • manual can openers
  • baby formula
  • bug spray
  • cat and dog food
  • laundry detergent
Kerr Lake Country Club

Chamber Member Spotlight: Kerr Lake Country Club

– This post sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce 

Kerr Lake Country Club is celebrating 60 years! Since the mid-1960’s, this semi-private club has been a destination for families and individuals who want to enjoy a round of golf, a game of tennis or who just want to relax poolside.

Located at 600 Hedrick Drive off Satterwhite Point Road, KLCC offers a variety of membership levels: family memberships include unlimited golf and full pool/tennis, and there are single memberships, young adult memberships, and pool-only memberships so you’re sure to get the best package to fit your needs.

The beautifully manicured golf course is open to the public, accepting green fee play, and is a favored course that attracts golfers from surrounding counties as well.

Call KLCC at 252.492.1895 to learn more. Jan DeMarco is the club manager.

This thriving local business is a proud member of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, which recently featured the club in its Chamber Member Spotlight. Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson thanked KLCC for being a supportive member of the Chamber and Ronald Bennett, board member of the HV Chamber of Commerce presented the spotlight award and expressed gratitude for their longevity in providing great opportunities for locals as well as bringing tourism to Vance County. Bennett also wished them many more years of success ahead.

Join H-V Chamber For “State Of Health Care 2024”

The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first “state of” session for 2024 on Tuesday, April 23 to discuss local health care. The deadline to register is Thursday, April 18. Tickets are $30.

Guest speaker for the lunchtime event is Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health.

The lunch and learn will begin at 12 noon at Southern Charm Event Center, 200 S. Garnett St.

Beard will share updates on a variety of health care topics and is scheduled to discuss what’s happening locally as well as at the state level with Medicaid expansion and access to health care, among other topics.

Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 to learn more or email Tanya Wilson at tanya@hendersonvance.org to reserve your seat.