Tag Archive for: #VanceCounty

TownTalk: Vance County Retirement Community Designation Ceremony

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With Kerr Lake as a backdrop, local officials and community leaders witnessed Vance County receiving its official designation as a certified retirement community. It joins 17 other communities across the state, marking an achievement that has been some years in the making.

In welcoming remarks, Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry called the designation a significant milestone in the life of the community. “It’s not just a badge of honor,” Perry said, “it’s a testament to the vibrant quality of life, welcoming spirit and rich resources that make Vance County a wonderful place to live, work, and now – officially – retire.”

Visit NC’s Andre Nabors said North Carolina attracts people who are looking for “small town Americana” in retirement. But they aren’t quite ready to sit in rocking chairs, he said. “Some are looking to start businesses…and be great volunteers in the community as well.”

With amenities that include Kerr Lake, as well as McGregor Hall, quality health care facilities and proximity to larger cities, Vance County is poised to be a destination for retirees.

It’s a win-win situation: retirees enjoy what the county offers and the county enjoys the boost in economic development that accompanies an infusion of residents.

Through VisitNC, N.C. Department of Tourism markets the designated retirement communities. And Nabors was quick to point to the economic impact that retirees have before and after they make the all-important decision about where to live in retirement.

“Before they make a decision to call another place home, they’re going to visit four to seven times before they make a decision,” Nabors said. “That’s tourism dollars” that come in the form of gas tank fillups, lodging, dining in local restaurants and visiting coffee shops.

“They’re in their ‘fun’ phase,” he continued, describing youthful retirees as folks who may want to start a small business or engage in community and civic activities.

“North Carolina is continuing to be an asset for those who are looking to view their Golden Years in another location,” Nabors said. With this new designation, Vance County will be included in marketing materials, like a new RetireNC guidebook that will be placed in the state’s nine welcome centers and visitor centers.

Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson said the chamber predicts positive results from the retirement community designation. “We’re not selfish. We want to share our beautiful community with others. I believe this designation will put a welcoming spotlight on us,” she told the group gathered for the presentation.

Vance County’s new Economic Development Director, Ferdinand Rouse, agreed.

The designation “reflects progress we are making to a prosperous future where all residents, whether starting a career or enjoying retirement can thrive…I look forward to what’s next in Vance County.”

 

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Meet Maria Parham’s Surgical Robot Nov. 4

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Maria Parham Health welcomes the newest addition to its surgical team – the da Vinci Surgical Robot, a groundbreaking advancement in surgical technology. To celebrate, the hospital invites the Henderson/Vance County community to attend the “Meet the Robot!” event on Monday, Nov. 4 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

This special event will provide attendees with an exclusive opportunity to explore the capabilities of Maria Parham’s newest surgical team member. Guests will learn how this state-of the-art technology enhances patient care and surgical precision, revolutionizing the way surgeries are performed.

“We are thrilled to bring this advanced technology to our community,” said Donna Young, public information officer at Maria Parham Health. “The da Vinci Surgical Robot represents the future of robotic surgery, and we can’t wait to share its benefits with our patients and community members.”

Join Maria Parham for this informative and engaging event, where you can meet the da Vinci Surgical Robot and discover how it will improve surgical outcomes for patients.

For more information about the “Meet the Robot!” event, contact Young at donna.young@lpnt.net.

(This post is not a paid ad.)

Vance County Tourism

TownTalk: Catfish Drop for New Year’s by Vance County Tourism

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New York City’s Times Square has that iconic glittery orb. Raleigh has a giant acorn. Shoot, Mt. Olive has a giant pickle covered in lights. But this New Year’s Eve, families can head out to Satterwhite Point to witness a first: a giant blue catfish drop to usher in 2025.

It’s all part of a plan by Vance County Tourism and other partners, most recently the Vance County Board of Commissioners, who signed off on the event at their regular meeting held Aug. 5 meeting.

The idea has been in the works for a few years, said Pam Hester, Vance County tourism director. Hester and fellow tourism staffer Norman Dickerson were guests on TownTalk Wednesday to talk about the impact tourism and visitors had on the local economy in 2023, and to discuss how the county’s attractions affect the bottom line.

Adding another signature event like the New Year’s Eve catfish drop to the county’s calendar, she said, will only increase that economic impact. When families come out to the lake on Dec. 31, they can expect vendors, entertainment, fireworks and more before that big ol’ catfish is lowered from the sky to welcome the New Year.

Why a catfish? Back in 2011, a fisherman snagged a recod-breaking whopper from the lake – a 143-pound blue cat. Now, a local artist is creating another whopper, Hester said.

This one will most likely be hooked – by a crane – and dropped – not reeled in- on New Year’s Eve could be the next “big” thing to bring visitors – and their dollars – to the county.

Last year’s tourism numbers are impressive, and Hester said Vance County garnered $70.2 million in visitor spending. That’s an 8.1 percent increase in 2023 from the previous year, which surpasses both Granville and Franklin counties, but is not quite as much as Warren County, which saw a 10.8 percent jump in 2023 for a whopping $73 million in tourism dollars. Vance County is ranked 15th among the state’s 100 counties in terms of growth rate with that 8.1 percent; Warren (10.8 percent) and Franklin (10.6 percent) are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Booked hotel rooms generate an occupancy tax that goes to county coffers. That money, along with sales tax that comes from restaurants and other retailers, creates revenue for the county – in 2023, that figure is the equivalent of $119.76 per resident in tax savings.

“We’re lucky to have McGregor Hall and we’re lucky to have Kerr Lake,” Hester said. “They are our main attractions,” Hester said. In addition to the New Year’s Eve event, there are plans to further capitalize on Kerr Lake by creating an event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage.

Visit https://partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies to find a complete county-by-county breakdown of visitor spending in the state.

Here is a snapshot of the four-county area:

Vance County

Total visitor spending – $70.02 million

Lodging: $15.44 million

Food & Beverage: $23.13 million

Recreation: $9.5 million

Retail: $5.93 million

Transport: $16.02 million

Granville County

Total visitor spending – $60.98 million

Lodging: $13.31 million

Food & Beverage: $20.04 million

Recreation: $9.18 million

Retail: $4.49 million

Transport: $13.96 million

Warren County

Total visitor spending – $73.02 million

Lodging: $18.54 million

Food & Beverage: $21.28 million

Recreation: $10.41 million

Retail: $5.96 million

Transport: $ 16.83 million

Franklin County

Total visitor spending – $42.15 million

Lodging: $8.46 million

Food & Beverage: $14.55 million

Recreation: $5.81 million

Retail: $3.05 million

Transport: $ 10.28 million

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Vance Commissioners to Receive Proposed Budget May 28

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The chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, Dan Brummitt, has called a special meeting for Tuesday, May 28 so commissioners can receive the proposed budget.

A period of transition in leadership positions within the county, including the finance director position, has apparently caused things to move more slowly than in previous years.  Just seven months ago the county manager, Renee Perry, started here locally, and just three months ago there were four department head vacancies.  It is also apparent Perry has been hard at work and making headway.

While no Vance County Government employee has said so on or off the record, the county is relatively and comparatively behind, not just versus past years’ budget proposals but next to Henderson and the surrounding counties this year.

Now, with the proposed budget originally slated to be made public on Thursday, May 16, the commissioners and residents will now not have anything official for another 12 days, unless it’s posted at vancecounty.org.  Those 12 days represent 25 percent of the remaining time before the budget must be adopted – this with revaluation questions remaining, revaluation appeals to go before the Board of Equalization and Review, which means a quorum of the County Commissioners, particular line-items like McGregor Hall funding making headlines and with two public hearings on the budget required before adoption.

The special meeting for commissioners to receive the budget and schedule budget hearings and other items as needed will start at 4 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC.

Vance County Logo

Tax Revaluation Info Session Monday, May 20

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Vance County will hold a tax revaluation information session Monday, May 20.

The session starts at 4 p.m. and will be held in the Vance County Administration Building (the old courthouse building).

On a flyer the County has indicated that it has answers to questions about the revaluation.

Revaluation Notices Are Hitting Property Owners’ Mailboxes

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Vance County Tax Administration recently mailed its 2024 revaluation notices to all residential and commercial property owners which provides an updated appraisal of all real property in Vance County to its current market value as of Jan. 1, 2024 per state requirements.

The state statutes also allow property owners the right to appeal if they feel the market value established does not reflect true market value. Citizens must file such appeal by June 3,2024. To learn more about the revaluation and appeal process visit www.vancecounty.org. On the homepage, click on Departments  and then find Tax Administration Office in the drop-down box.

“I highly recommend, should a citizen wish to appeal, they should visit our website, review the data, and, should they disagree, file the appeal ahead of the deadline of June 3, 2024,” stated Tax Administrator Porcha Brooks.  The notices mailed to property owners, in fact, suggests that appeals be filed by May 28 to make sure there is adequate time for scheduling.

“We would like to engage in conversations with our citizens quickly, answer any questions and/or address their concerns,” Brooks said. “I would also like to apologize for the link within the notice that is not currently taking citizens to the correct location of our website. We have ensured a link is located on the County Home Page to help citizens navigate through the process,” she added.

There’s a website listed on the notice where property owners can search for comparable properties and their appraised value that property owners may find useful.

Any property owner who wants to appeal the appraised value because it’s not a reasonable estimate must file an appeal before Monday, June 3, 2024 at https://www.vancecounty.org/ departments/tax-overview/vance-appeal-app/.

Contact the tax office at 252.738.2040 or email taxoffice@vancecounty.org to learn more about the process. County staff anticipate that many of the appeals will be handled during the informal appeals period, but if not, property owners will appear before the county’s Equalization & Review board for a formal appeals process.

If an agreement isn’t reached during this formal appeals process, property owners have 30 days from the date of the E&R board’s written decision to file an appeal with the N.C. Property Tax Commission in Raleigh.

 

 

 

Vance County NC

Vance County Manager Thanks Staff Leadership Team

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The new county manager for Vance County, Renee Perry, started November 1, 2023, and on November 20 as a Board of Commissioners work session wrapped up, she gave thanks to county staff and named her leadership team.

“I’m coming up on week three, and I just wanted to sing high praises to staff. They’ve been wonderful with helping me get acclimated, and I would just say that Vance County has some jewels and especially in administration,” Perry said. Perry said her leadership team consists of the following:

  • Finance Director – Katherine S. Bigelow, CPA
  • Human Resources Director – Argretta Johen
  • Clerk to the Board/Executive Assistant – Kelly H. Grissom
  • Special Projects Coordinator – Frankie Nobles

In the mid-October announcement by the Board of Commissioners of Perry’s appointment, Board Chair Yolanda Feimster stated that a recruitment process over the summer resulted in Perry’s selection and that Perry “will assist the board in continuing to achieve its ongoing goals as well as execute major capital projects.”

Vance County Recognizes Carl James, 2022 Employee of the Year

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Carl James of the maintenance department for Vance County is the County’s first employee of the year.

James was recognized in May of 2022 as the employee of the month.

“He’s always willing to help anyone and give advice and always has a positive attitude,” said Frankie Nobles, lead of the Employee Engagement Team for the County.

The employee of the year was selected from the employees of the month through 2022 based on a rating scale of 1 to 5, including such criteria as teamwork and attendance.

Nobles said James “gets the job done right the first time, does whatever it takes to get the job done.”

The announcement came at Monday’s Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting, and later this month there will be a reception for James including cake and the presentation of a plaque.

Congratulations to Carl James!

L-R: Frankie Nobles, Carl James, Yolanda Feimster – Board Chair

Tourism Dollars Pump Up Local Economy In 2021

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Visitors to Vance County spent close to $60 million in 2021, an increase of more than 35 percent from 2020. Vance joins the other 99 counties in the state that have reported a rebound of tourism dollars flowing into the state’s economy in 2021.

According to information from the N.C. Department of Commerce, Vance County ranks 55 in visitor spending for 2021; it rose 10 spots in the rankings over the 2020 figures.

Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:

Visitors spent $59.89 million in 2021, up by $15.83 million from 2020, which represents a 35.9 percent growth rate. The daily tourism contribution for 2021 is $164,182; the 2020 figure is $120,712, which is an increase of $43,470 in categories including lodging, food and beverages, recreation, retail and transportation. Breakdown in millions by category for Vance County:

  • LODGING: 2020 – $9.18M; 2021 – $12.69M
  • FOOD & BEVERAGE: 2020 – $16.71M; 2021 – $21.17M
  • RECREATION: 2020 – $5.12M; 2021 – $7.94M
  • RETAIL: 2020 – $4.10M; 2021 –  $5.34M
  • TRANSPORTATION: 2020 – $8.94M; 2021– $12.76M

Vance County travel/tourism related jobs were 354 in 2020, and 378 in 2021; an increase of 24. Vance County tourism industry payroll generated in 2020 was $11.8 million compared to $13.6 million in 2021; up $1.8 million.

Tourism spending added $1.8 million to the Vance County tax base in 2020 and reached $2.1 million in 2021. Visitors to the county also created State/Local Tax Savings for the residents. In 2020, visitor spending in Vance County saved local residents $85.65 in State/Local taxes. In 2021, visitor spending in Vance County saved local residents $113.01 in State/Local taxes; an increase of $27.36 in savings.

Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell said the state’s numbers paint a rosier economic picture in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. “These findings are something that everyone in North Carolina can celebrate,” Tuttell said in a press statement. “They’re a testament to the resilience of our businesses and our residents, and to the enduring appeal of destinations that include everything a traveler might want. The economic well-being of the state and all its communities rises with the pleasures travelers find in the natural beauty of our public spaces, our culinary traditions and innovation, our remarkable towns and our spirited cities. North Carolina can claim it all.”

The preliminary outcomes of the annual visitor spending study commissioned by Visit North Carolina reflect the economic impact of tourism on local economies across the state. The study provides preliminary estimates of domestic and international traveler expenditures as well as employment, payroll income, and state and local tax revenues directly generated by these expenditures.

Henderson, Vance County, and Kerr Lake are a traveler’s paradise. Visitors quickly realized they were welcomed outdoors to appreciate nature’s beauty, the calm of the water, and all the fun that can be had while relaxing under a golden sun or watching the stars and moon dancing across the darkened sky. Unmistakably,  Kerr Lake is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a meal outside while listening to the background harmony of  nature and waves splashing against the natural sandy shoreline. Kerr Lake is the perfect place to . . .  Relax~Relate~Retire!

When visitors are ready for a change of scenery, the area surrounding Kerr Lake offers a variety of activities. Historic Downtown Henderson offers quaint restaurants, a coffee shop, and unique new businesses. McGregor Performing Arts Center presents everything from summer theatre productions to concert tours, National Dance competitions and Broadway shows. Raleigh Road Outdoor Drive-in is the state’s oldest operating drive-in theater. Love a challenging golf course? Grab your golf clubs and head for the beautiful Bermuda greens of Kerr Lake Country Club, open to the public. Southern Classic Cars Museum, open by appointment year-round,  showcases antique and classic cars to fit every person’s dreams! Now you can see why #VanceCountyTravelersDiscoverAlot!

For a complete listing of statewide highlights as well as visitation data from all 100 North Carolina counties visit https://partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. For more information about Henderson, Vance County, and Kerr Lake contact Vance County Tourism at 252.438.2222 or vctourism@vancecounty.org.  Online at www.kerrlake-nc.com

Contact Vance County Fire Department for Smoke Alarms #SmokeAlarmSaturday

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WIZS has been asked to announce the Vance County Fire Department effort to team up with the NC Office of the State Fire Marshall to participate in #SmokeAlarmSaturday.

It’s this Saturday, June 4th!

According to the Vance County Fire Department Facebook page, which we were asked to share, “If you are in need of smoke alarms please contact the Vance County Fire Department at (252) 438-6656 option 4 for the Battalion Chief. We will be out installing in the Golden Belt Fire District, but if you live outside this area please call us and we will help you get in touch with your volunteer department.”

See more, including additional links at the Vance County Fire Department on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/Vance-County-Fire-Department-792958190754655

Or, go to facebook.com/wizsradio.