November 15, 2010 STEP Meeting Minutes

Red Springs NC STEP Meeting Minutes November 15, 2010

Respectfully submitted by Margie Labadie

Reports on E2 and Rural Partners meetings by Margie Labadie and Johnny Robertson

Community Profile shown to group – narrative still needed.

Tony White & Willie Goodyear will redo vision statement into a paragraph

Community Assessment will be done in 4 meetings.

Part 1 is PLANNING IN CONTEXT:

What are other people around us doing and how can we collaborate?

Speakers:

A. Gregg Cummings-- markets to incoming companies

Marketing: I-95, industrial sites, location, population I74, I-20 BRAC Population in 45 miles They have info on crime rates, education levels deep water ports, Wilmington, Charleston, Norfolk -- Deal with incentives to get industries to come here.

B. Jan Maynor -- Council of Governments

Serves 5 counties, 35 local governments

1. Workforce development, training, retraining, "all about green" green construction Sustainable farms, Youth Services, adult service

2. Aging, meals on wheels, caregivers assistance, home care, respite care, grandparents voucher program for school supplies, ombudsman for nursing homes, Senior employment program (!)

3. Technical assistance, recreation plan, PRTF- parks, recreation funding.

"Planning process is more important than end result". MUST get everyone involved.

4. Rural transportation authority

5. Code enforcement.

6. Housing program, emergency housing from tornado/hurricane 7. Water studies, water supplies LumberRiverCOG.org, com tech park Note:County planning starting -strategy planning if we need to know how to do something, call them

 

C. Joe Melvin: Marketing Robeson Cty, NC Southeast, economic development

Regional Partnership, subset of Dept commerce, their job is to meet people and convince them to come here. So he makes Red Springs different to make people want to be here.

1. Market SE NC as ideal location

2. Create jobs

3. Generate Investment to keep taxes low

www.ncse.org

Partnerships with Red Springs, Tredegar

Logistics, I-95

Labor, is the workforce ready

Love, unity and desire

D. Sylvia Pate, UNCP Regional Center - see brochure

1. Community development

2. Strategic Planning

3. Studies, profile

4. Entrepreneurship and regional development (Kim Pevia)

5. Youth Development

6. Professional development

E. Bob Moore, SBC at RCC

"What makes industry stay? Good things for their children."

1. 90% of his work is with entrepreneurs

2. Make new jobs/retain jobs

3. Private no fee counceling

4. 1-5 million dollars in loans

5. Free Seminars on credit and debt

Wrap up and picture for paper.