September 07, 2004

Site prioritization work is under way to determine which site in the five-county Kerr-Tar Region will be developed first as an advanced technology hub to attract jobs and investment.

Each of the five counties – Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren – has submitted sites for consideration. A team of engineering and consulting companies will evaluate the sites to recommend the order in which each will be developed in coming years. The first Hub site will be chosen based on its high potential for early success in attracting investment to the entire five-county region.

The Sanford Holshouser Business Development Group is under contract with the Hub to lead the evaluation process. Sanford Holshouser has subcontracted a portion of the work to Engineering Consulting Services (ECS), which is working with additional subcontractors – Koontz-Bryant, O’Brien Atkins and Aerial Dimensions. A recommendation on site prioritization is expected by year-end.

As part of the site prioritization process, the firms will work with the N.C. Department of Commerce to certify each of the five sites as “development-ready.” The certification program is a statewide initiative to help market sites for commercial development.

Sites proposed by each county for certification and development as a Hub are:

• Franklin County – 502 acres located on US 1 west of Youngsville.
• Granville County – about 600 acres near exit 206 on Interstate 85, running along the west border of I-85 into Vance County near exit 209, ending at US 158 near Vance-Granville Community College.
• Person County – about 600 acres on US 501 South within and around the Person County Business and Industrial Center.
• Vance County – 504 acres located at Exit 209 on Interstate 85. The site is across I-85 from the Vance-Granville Community College main campus.
• Warren County – 870 acres off Interstate 85 and US 1/158 in Manson.

Funding for the site prioritization work is estimated at $300,000.

The Hub has received $480,000 in grants for Hub development work this year, which will include site prioritization, cluster identification, organizational, ownership and management structure development and public outreach.

Grant funds were provided by:

• U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration ($250,000)
• Community Development Block Grant Program ($180,000)
Region K Workforce Development Board ($50,000)