Economic Development at work in Wayne County

At a time when economic indicators point to a less than stellar outlook, it is exciting when one of Wayne County’s industries is able to grow and expand. Such is the case with Cooper-Standard Automotive, Inc. (CSA)

In mid-March 2011, CSA officials met with Jason Semple and Dale Carroll from the NC Department of Commerce as well as Joanna Helms and Mike Haney from the Wayne County Development Alliance at their Woodland Church Road facility to share its plans for expansion in Wayne County. Based on their figures and projections, an application for the North Caroline ONE Fund was made and so began the process of securing funds to assist Cooper Standard in their expansion.

After several months of phone calls, emails, applications, and mounting paperwork the long awaited phone call came – the governor’s office approved the state grant! This funding will assist CSA in its efforts and in affect create new jobs in North Carolina.

 Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. received $157,400 under the One North Carolina Fund with a required local match required by a unit of local government. The purpose of the One North Carolina Fund is to help recruit and expand quality jobs in high value-added, knowledge-driven industries.  It also provides financial assistance to those businesses or industries deemed vital to a healthy economy that are making significant efforts to expand in North Carolina.

 Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. was recently awarded four new contracts which will pave the way for the creation of 137 permanent, full-time jobs in Wayne County by 2014. This is in addition to the existing 370 employees currently employed at Cooper-Standard. These new jobs will have an average wage of $30,334.00, which is above the average salary paid in Wayne County. This project is paramount to the success of Goldsboro and Wayne County.

“It’s always rewarding to be able to positively assist one of our local industries as they make the effort and decision to expand here in Wayne County. The Development Alliance was able to assemble a team of local and state leaders to ensure the proposed expansion became a reality.” – Mike Haney VP/Existing Industry Specialist WCDA

 This project will lead to an investment of $39.6 million to fulfill the new equipment requirements needed to meet the demand created by the aforementioned contracts. This investment will result in over $200,000 in additional revenue for Wayne County in the first year! Subsequent years will see less revenue but this is due in large part to the affect of depreciation schedules on the new equipment.

Governor Beverly Perdue announced the NC One Fund award and subsequent expansion at the Military Summit held at Walnut Creek Country Club on Monday September, 26. It was a real honor to see and experience this first hand. A lot of great people put in a lot of hard work to get this done – Congratulations to Cooper Standard Automotive! We are excited to see and be a part of your growth in Wayne County!!

Plant Manager Patrick Clark listens as Gov. Beverly Perdue announces Cooper Standard's expansion

Cooper Standard is a leading global automotive supplier, offering solutions in the body sealing, fuel, brake and emissions, thermal management and anti-vibration segments of the industry. Its Goldsboro, NC facility manufactures rubber, metal, and plastic seals and trim for the automotive industry and has been a staple industry in Wayne County since 1984.

2011
09/27
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Impact Wayne Campaign shatters $1.3 million goal

*Courtesy of the Goldsboro News Argus – January 9, 2011

The Wayne County Development Alliance’s Impact Wayne Campaign has secured $1,488,750 in pledges — 15 percent over its $1.3 million goal.

The alliance officially introduced the campaign and its five-year strategic plan to implement an aggressive public/private economic development initiative in the county last year during a public kick-off event.

Since that time it has continued to gather broad-based support from Wayne County municipalities, businesses and community organizations, securing commitments from 73 investors, said Joanna Helms, alliance president.

Most of the money comes from private sources, businesses and industries. However, the city of Goldsboro has agreed to provide $75,000 a year for the next five years beginning in fiscal 2011-12. Mount Olive pledged $7,500 annually.

The campaign is the outgrowth of 2009′s strategic planning process that included a community assessment to determine the county’s assets and challenges.

Convergent Nonprofit Solutions was hired to assess the campaign’s feasibility. It also looked at identifying leadership for the campaign.

“Compared to other campaigns that I have run around the country, this campaign really stood out to me by the heavy involvement and sacrifice of local business and community leaders,” said Andy Coe of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions. “The early pace-setting commitments of Bill Bryan (Mt. Olive Pickle Co. president) and Jimmie Edmundson (of BB&T) set the stage for a successful campaign and we never looked back.

“As co-chairs of the campaign, Bill and Jimmie set the example that this really was an investment in the future of Wayne County and others followed their lead. The staff at WCDA was very proactive in helping finish this campaign on time and over goal — not an easy thing to do in this current economy.”

Bryan said the group was pleased with the support that has been demonstrated for the county’s economic future.

“Wayne County business and civic leaders clearly understand the importance of positioning our community for opportunity and growth over the next five years,” Bryan said.

“This plan and financial support will provide the Development Alliance with tools necessary bring industry and jobs to Wayne County,” Edmundson said. “With unemployment rates at a recent all-time high, bringing jobs to the county is what it’s all about.

“The local municipalities, businesses and community organizations agree and have pledged their support with pledges that surpassed our goal.”

Initiatives outlined in the campaign include product development to identify and assess industrial sites for future development, education and workforce development and external marketing and recruiting to secure high-wage jobs in Wayne County.

Other initiatives include efforts to retain and assist existing industry as they expand, as well as to develop a comprehensive investor relations program to keep investors informed and engaged in all alliance initiatives.

Ms. Helms said that the alliance is cited as a leading economic development organization in North Carolina. It earned this recognition due to long-term consistency of leadership, innovative programming, and success in both recruitment and existing business retention and expansion, she said.

This long-range planning process is a continuation of the alliance’s commitment to remaining on the leading edge of economic development, she said.

It drives a mission to stimulate the economic vitality of Wayne County and its municipalities through the attraction of new investment, the creation of new jobs, and the retention and expansion of existing businesses and industry, Ms. Helms added.

Program initiatives and budgets over the five years include:

* Product development, $350,000

* Education and workforce development, $125,000

* External marketing and recruiting, $375,000

* Business retention and expansion, $225,000

* Investor relations and development, $125,000

* Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, $100,000

For more information on the plan, visit the alliance website at http://waynealliance.org/documents/IWCBrochurePrintableVersion.pdf.

2011
01/10
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Wayne County Approaches 6,000 Career Readiness Certificates Awarded

As Wayne County, North Carolina approaches the 6,000 mark for Career Readiness Certificates (CRC) awarded, reflection on the WORKS Initiative (started in 2006) reveals a model for success in workforce development that is unprecedented, thanks to those who pioneered the design and implementation of this phenomenal initiative.

Wayne County has accomplished what many small communities would say is impossible: Creating a workforce development program with quantitative and measurable results that meets the demands of employers and employees alike.  By taking a supply/demand approach to workforce development, Wayne County has been able to address both the employers’ need for qualified workers and the differential advantage for qualified job seekers.  

With over ten percent of the available workforce in Wayne County holding a CRC, and the numbers continuing to rise, it is no wonder that Wayne County has solidified its place as the model for community workforce development in the state of North Carolina and the nation.

Many companies in Wayne County are realizing the benefits of hiring certified… are you?

For a list of some of the Wayne County and Eastern NC businesses who endorse WorkKeys/Career Readiness Certification, click here.
2010
11/09
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Another Wayne County company is aerospace certified

For DeAnna McCullen, President of Goldsboro Machine Works, Inc., it was a no brainer. In order to be competitive and to continue to grow the business,  being aerospace certified was the next step. 

“Anybody producing products for the aerospace industry now have to be certified,’ said McCullen. “In the past you could do work for another supplier that was certified as long as somebody in the chain was certified, but now Boeing and Airbus and the big aerospace companies are requiring all suppliers all the way down to the bottom level be 9100 certified.”

On July 8th, 2010, Goldsboro Machine Works, Inc. became the second Aerospace Standard AS9100 and International Quality System Standard ISO 9001 certified machine shop in Wayne County, and one of only two with the AS9100 certification in the Eastern Region of North Carolina.  Although the company had an ISO equivalent quality control program in place, it was feeling the pressure from suppliers like AAR Cargo Systems of Goldsboro and Kidde Aerospace & Defense of Wilson to have the AS9100 and ISO9001:2008 certifications. 

The certification process took nearly two years to complete.   The training was paid for by Wayne Community College and the certification and audits were paid by Goldsboro Machine Works, Inc.  A small price to pay for the competitive advantage that Goldsboro Machine now has in being qualified to do work for aerospace companies such as Spirit AeroSystems of Kinston, and future companies that are sure to locate in the region.

“How important is this to our county and region?” asked Mike Haney, Existing Industry Specialist for Wayne County Development Alliance, Inc. “We are in North Carolina’s Eastern Region, which is one of seven economic development partnerships in the state. It encompasses 13 counties, of which Wayne is one. One of their priority clusters is defense and aerospace and this (certification) fits perfectly within that realm.”

“They are on the front end of this. You can think of it as a certificate of dreams much like you think of a field of dreams – you get the certificate and hope the business will come. Well, the business is going to be there.”

“This is a big, big deal,” said Haney. “It is the holy grail for machine shops. As DeAnna stated, this is going to open up numerous opportunities.”

Efforts to establish Wayne County and the Eastern Region as an emerging aerospace cluster are well  supported by companies like AAR Cargo Systems,  Goldsboro Machine Works, Inc. and Petra Precision Machine (Wayne County company also AS9100/ISO9001:2008 certified) who see the value of these certifications and the significant impact it has on economic development in Wayne County.

2010
09/22
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WAGES Provides Perfect Opportunity to Help Link Prospective Employees with Businesses

Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency, Inc (WAGES) is having a Career Fair at the Herman Park Center in Goldsboro on June 30th from noon to 3pm. All job seekers are welcome to come and meet prospective employers for networking and interviews.  Here’s your opportunity to get out there and network.  Bring your A-game!

In addition to those tracked in traditional unemployment statistics, there are millions of other Americans who are under-employed or working part-time when they would rather have a full-time position.

 “Attending the WAGES Career Fair is an efficient way to get some face-time with representatives of a number of local companies” says Rob Das, Assistant Director for CSBG at WAGES.

“We expect to have displays from a variety of medical, industrial, sales and financial services organizations that are looking to hire the best and brightest candidates they can find.”

Below are just a few of the companies you will see next Wednesday.

North Carolina Troops to Teachers
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Employment Security Commission
Wayne Community College (2 tables)
Verizon Wireless/Cellular Sales
First Command Financial Services
Bojangles
O’Berry Neuro Medical Treatment Center
Assurance Wireless
Southco Distributing
Home Health and Hospice
US Marines
TheraPeds

There will also be skill-sharpening seminars going on for the public to increase their knowledge of current techniques that can help them score an interview and land a job. Wayne Community College’s Lori Waller will conduct three seminars that last 30 minutes each. At noon the topic will be resume writing. At 1 pm the class will focus on networking. And at 2pm the final seminar will discuss interviewing skills. Ms. Waller is the Director of Cooperative Education and Coordinator of the WORKS Employability Lab. She brings a wealth of teaching and academic experience in helping students successfully transition from school to work.

According to Dr. Marlee Ray, Executive Director at WAGES, “this is a great opportunity to help the community understand the diverse employment prospects available here in Wayne County and the surrounding area.” There is no charge to participate in the Career Fair. We encourage all potential job seekers to dress for success, bring copies of their resume and business cards, and come see the exciting opportunities available at the WAGES Career Fair.

2010
06/24
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Goooooooooal! If economic development were a sport

Wait… economic development IS a sport, right? 

I see it like this.  Each morning we wake, grab a heaping bowl of Wheaties (or three mugs of Original Blend Dunkin Donuts coffee – because after all, Lindsey Savell runs on Dunkin), throw on our uniform and rush to the clubhouse for some strategizing and film watching.  What are we doing right? Wrong? And more importantly, what are our opponents doing?

Many hours are spent in the clubhouse reviewing film, discussing plays and tactics, and fantasizing about ‘the victory’.   And although we have many small victories and losses along the way, the BIG one only comes around every few years.

I like to think of it as our World Cup.  And the reward, or shall I say trophy?  It’s simple… creating better paying jobs for the citizens of Wayne County.  And what would victory sound like?  I think it would go a little something like this…

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!!!

  Lindsey

2010
06/16
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All Needles, No Hay

Needle StackOne of the toughest obstacles for employers today is finding the right employee with the skills necessary to perform a particular job.  Although each job requires a different and unique set of skills, there are a few fundamental skills that remain universal: applied mathematics, reading for information, and locating information.  Wayne County has a way to measure and document the level of these fundamental skills.  As a result, employers in Wayne County are finding more needles than hay in the workforce pool these days.

Wayne County consistently ranks #1 in North Carolina for the number of Career Readiness Certificates awarded, and currently hold 9.1% of CRCs in the state.  Let’s put that into perspective. 

 

County & County Seat          Civilian Labor Workforce     % Holding CRC
Wayne (Goldsboro, NC)                 53,261                                                   8.9%         

Wake (Raleigh, NC)                       454,777                                             2 .1%                                        

Guilford (Greensboro, NC)           244,008                                                1.3%

Mecklenburg (Charlotte, NC)        461,405                                               0.1%                        

State of North Carolina                4,571,156                                              1.1%     

Nationwide                                       154,715,000                                        3.3%

*Figures represent civilian labor workforce for April 2010.  Data gathered from the Employment Security Commission website http://www.ncesc1.com/lmi/default.asp on 6-2-10

Wayne County, NC currently holds 1% of all CRCs in the Nation.
*source http://www.act.org/certificate/maps/

Nearly 9% of the civilian workforce in Wayne County holds a CRC.  What does that mean for existing employers and prospective employers considering relocation to Wayne County?  We have a quality workforce and documentation to prove it.  How many other communities can say that? 

The recruitement and retention efforts of the Wayne County Development Alliance are enhanced by the ability to market our workforce as skilled and, more importantly, certified.  Our existing industries have enjoyed the benefits of hiring individuals holding a CRC.  Not only are they experiencing an increase in the quality of workers, they are also seeing a decrease in turnover as a result of seeking out individuals with a CRC.   

So, go ahead and take advantage of our certified workforce - We don’t mind.

2010
06/02
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Wayne County 1 of 10 Emerging Aerospace Clusters in the South

 GOLDSBORO, NC – Wayne County, North Carolina is featured in Southern Business & Development Magazine’s Aviation and Aerospace Special Edition as one of ten emerging aerospace clusters in the south, and is touted as a prime location for aviation and aerospace companies to locate. A certified workforce and support from AS 9100/ISO 9001 companies are cited as compelling reasons to locate in Wayne County, NC. A link to the article is listed below, with the hard copy edition to be released in May 2010.

SJAFB Aerospace Employee

Photo Credit: Seymour Johnson AFB

http://www.sb-d.com/Features/Winter2010/TenAerospaceClusterMarketsintheSouth/tabid/336/Default.aspx

“We’ve been diligent in our efforts to become known in this cluster because it has so much opportunity. And our association with North Carolina’s Eastern Region’s Defense/Aerospace Advisory Committee has certainly afforded us additional exposure and expertise,” stated Joanna Helms, President of the Wayne County Development Alliance.

Southern Business & Development magazine has been reporting on successful economic development practices in the South since 1992. SB&D’s journalistic endeavors have been recognized on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and PBS and in such publications as the Weekly Standard, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and others. The magazine reports on economic development opportunities in the South, but is designed to be read by executives and other decision makers from outside the region. Readership is nearly 16,000 c-suite executives, real estate executives, site colsultants, and press from around the globe.

2010
04/23
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Workforce? Yep, got that covered!

Over half of retiring and separating military from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base choose to stay right here in Wayne County, NC. Get first dibs on this highly disciplined and skilled workforce.

2010
04/21
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55,000 Sq.Ft. Beauty in Mount Olive, NC

A leisurely drive into a bustling town, a town most known for its near-celebrity status tenant – Mount Olive Pickle Company – reveals a hidden gem.  The Mount Olive Shell Building, a 55,000 sq.ft. expandable shell building located in the Mount Olive Industrial Park, stands a beautifully crafted structure – fully customizable to your needs.

Specs:Mount Olive Shell Building Small

  • 10 Loading/Dock Doors
  • 40 x 40 Column Spacing
  • 24′ Clear Ceiling Height
  • Ballasted Single Ply Rubber Roof
  • Pre-cast Masonry
  • Water & Sewer  at Site
  • Located on 10 Acres
  • Located in a Certified Industrial Site

Logistics

  • Only 1 mile to Highway 117, and from there an 8 mile stretch with no traffic signals to I-40 means your goods get to their destination more quickly and efficiently.
  • Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City are within 2 hours, giving you quick and affordable access to imports and exports.
  • The Global Transpark in Kinston, new home of Spirit AeroSystems, is just 30 minutes away.

Workforce:

  • Population estimate of 386,000 within a 30 mile radius, providing your company an ample supply of qualified and certified applicants
  • Your company gets first dibs on retiring and separating military personnel from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, giving your company access to highly disciplined, exceptionally educated, and technically trained talent for your new or expanding company.

For more information about the Mount Olive Shell Building, visit our website or click here for a quick summary of the additional features of this property.  Or just give us a call! 919-731-7700

2010
04/13
CATEGORY
Buildings & Sites
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