Triad Business Notes

[cityboi]

FedEx Ground unveils massive distribution hub in western Guilford County.

the 400,000 square foot grounds hub located in Kernersville in Guilford County will compliment the Mid-Atlantic air cargo hub at PTI.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2011/10/12/fedex-ground-unveils-massive.html

[cityboi]

looks like the Triad is looking at some major economic job news in the upcoming weeks.

NC Secretary of Commerce, Keith Crisco said he can't let the cat out of the bag just yet - - but the Triad could soon hear another jobs announcement in the information-technology area. "I believe there will be an announcement in the next three weeks of a company as a result of our Asian trip," shared Crisco. "I can't tell you who it is but that will be north of 100 jobs right there."

http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/198173/57/A-Look-At-The-Triads-Future-Industries

[cityboi]

A major national sports retailer coming to Burlington. Michigan based Dunham's Sports is opening up a 90,000 square foot store at Holly Hill Mall. The store will be the chain's largest dwarfing the current largest in Virginia which is 65,000 square feet. The store will also be the first location in North Carolina. Burlington has always been considered Greensboro's gateway but the city is becoming a major retail destination in the state. Tanger Outlets in Mebane just east of Burlington is already attracting people from all over the state. I predict more of Burlington's growth will crossover into Guilford County as Greensboro grows eastward. Greensboro and Burlington are becoming more like Charlotte and Concord.

http://www.digtriad....argest-Location

Edited January 17, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

The old prison farm in Guilford County east of Greensboro is being eyed for an 800 acre data center park. The site is located near the Guilford/Alamance County line.

"Economic development officials in Guilford and Alamance counties are exploring the development of the 800-acre Guilford County prison farm near Gibsonville as an industrial park catering to data centers."

http://www.bizjourna...d-for-data.html

Here is another interesting article about Greensboro leaders finding construction ready sites for industries and its focus on five industrial sectors that will fuel economic growth for the city.

The five focus sectors

1 aviation industry

2 financial services

3 life sciences

4 advanced manufacturing

5 transportation and logistics

http://northcarolinaconstructionnews.blogspot.com/

Edited February 15, 2012 by cityboi

[DigitalSky]

Can you explain what the prison farm was?

[cityboi]

Can you explain what the prison farm was?

Its basically was a minimum security prison that held inmates but the prisoners had to do manual outdoor labor.

[cityboi]

for the fifth year in a row the Greensboro-High Point metro ranks in the top 10 in the nation for attracting new industry

http://www.news-reco...ng_new_industry

Edited March 2, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

2,000 jobs with salaries ranging from $40,000 to over $100,000 per year, could be coming to the Triad. A debt collection company wants to open a call center in North Carolina and plans to look at sites in High Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Raleigh and Charlotte. The fact that the president of the company is looking at multiple cities in the Triad is telling the the Triad is a front runner. He is looking to open the call center in an existing building. One building is at 725 Regional Rd in Greensboro. Both sites in Greensboro and High Point were call center buildings. The High Point site is located on Federal Drive off of Chimney Rock Rd in the north part of the city at the High Point/Greensboro city limits. 2,000 jobs are very much needed in the Triad. That would certainly offset the loss of 1,500 call center jobs Greensboro lost with the closing of American Express. The Winston-Salem location is a building in Madison Park Business Center.

Greensboro and Winston-Salem have different advantages. The building in Winston-Salem has more parking among the three Triad sites while Greensboro has the largest building among the sites.

http://myfox8.com/20...o-the-piedmont/

http://www.news-reco...get_call_center

The building in Greensboro being considered

The building in High Point being considered

Edited May 15, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

Greensboro based NewBridge Bank will open its first Triangle branch in Raleigh.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/print-edition/2012/06/08/newbridge-bank-squeezing-into-triangle.html

[LesterA]

Glad to see NewBridge growing. TIMCO might be adding another hanger at PTI that could add 400 jobs. Link

[cityboi]

Ralph Lauren announces $142 million expansion in High Point....total of 900 new jobs. Ralph Lauren currently employs 1,400 people in High Point.

http://www.news-reco...n_in_high_point

Edited June 14, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

Looks like there could be a bidding war among a few Triad cities for 2,000 jobs. Winston-Salem offered incentives and Greensboro city leaders had met in closed session and said they would offer more than Winston-Salem or High Point. Some how the High Point incentive numbers got to Greensboro city leaders. High Point bowed out from offering incentives because the city didn't want to be involved in a public local bidding war. The company CFS II (debt collection company) is also considering sites in other states. The Jobs will pay about $45,000 a year with some jobs as high as $100,000. If Winston-Salem were to land it, it would be the biggest job expansion in over 25 years. If Greensboro lands it, it would replace the 2,000 jobs the city lost when American Express closed. The salaries are not bad and its very rare for a company to bring that many jobs to the Triad with decent salaries. The company is eyeing a building in Greensboro and a building in Winston-Salem. Both buildings have advantages and drawbacks. The building in Greensboro has more space but the building in Winston-Salem has more parking. Honestly it doesn't matter which city gets it as long as these jobs come to the Triad. We need to sell ourselves as a region instead of individual cities. But unfortunately the battle lines have been drawn and once again its going to be a Greensboro vs Winston-Salem fight. If Triad tower had already been built I could see that building being perfect for CFS because of the square footage and the abundant parking.

But what really turned off High Point city leaders, was a news article where Greensboro city leaders spoke about what was said in High Point’s closed session meeting, and how they promised to outbid High Point. What was said in the meeting was not meant to be public but Greensboro staff managed to get a hold of the information and reveal it. Greensboro is definitely playing hard ball here.

“Why another jurisdiction chose to speak publicly about our incentive I cannot say. They got it I assume from the discussion I had publicly with my counterparts in the region. We speak very closely,”

http://myfox8.com/20...-up-to-2k-jobs/

http://www.news-reco...to_lure_company

http://www.bizjourna...fs-bidding.html

btw I did notice the Triad Tower website is still up although it hasn't been updated in a while. If that tower ever gets built, I hope there are some major design changes. It looks boxy and I would prefer something sleek, all glass or mostly glass with steel. I'd also like to see a spire at the top.

http://www.triadtower.com/

Edited July 20, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

Wow. I was stunned by the remarks from one Greensboro city council person in regards to the incentives for CFS II.

Councilwoman Nancy Vaughan was glad to see High Point withdraw. She said Greensboro needs to be aggressive at attracting new business. Then she said:

"I was tired of hearing of High Point with all this good news." referring to other companies recent decisions to bring jobs to High Point. Councilwoman Vaughan said about High Point:

"I know they're our neighbor...but Greensboro needs a headline."

Greensboro city council also vowed to offer more incentives than Winston-Salem. Over the past few years, small to medium sized companies have been selecting cities outside of Greensboro and other adjoining counties for new jobs. Apparently Greensboro leaders don't understand why these businesses are moving to cities outside of Greensboro. For starters the tax rate is lower in places like High Point, Davidson County and Forsyth County. Secondly Greensboro is slow at getting sites ready for businesses. Greensboro lost out on a 15-story office tower next to NewBridge Bank Park in the center city several years ago. A company was looking to relocate to downtown Greensboro but the city was dragging its feet. But what surprises me is Greensboro's anti-regionalism attitude.

Edited July 21, 2012 by cityboi

[krazeeboi]

This isn't a good look for Greensboro...not at all. Make the changes necessary to become more competitive (adjusting tax rates, increasing site availability, etc.), but don't be shameless poachers. And it really sounds bad that city leaders are vowing to offer more incentives than Winston-Salem because that just sounds like they willing to sell their souls, no matter the cost.

[cityboi]

This isn't a good look for Greensboro...not at all. Make the changes necessary to become more competitive (adjusting tax rates, increasing site availability, etc.), but don't be shameless poachers. And it really sounds bad that city leaders are vowing to offer more incentives than Winston-Salem because that just sounds like they willing to sell their souls, no matter the cost.

I agree. It really does make the city look bad. If Greensboro wants more jobs there are other ways to entice companies to move here like both of us mentioned. But not this way. Greensboro just delivered a low blow to High Point and its just wrong. Don't Greensboro leaders realize that no matter which Triad city the company moves to, a portion of those workers will live in Greensboro? We need to focus on regionalism. RTP is in Durham but its benefiting the whole Raleigh/Durham area.

Look at it from a company's perspective. They aren't going to locate to a city just because its larger. The Triad is all the same because the company would be drawing from the same worker pool. If I were the president and CEO of a company I would be looking at a number of things including tax rates.

Edited July 23, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

U.S. Commerce Secretary and Obama Cabinet member Rebecca Blank will make a major economic development announcement at Greensboro City Hall Thursday 9/20. I wonder if this has something to do with Gateway University Research Park and the Nano School.

"U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank will be in Greensboro Thursday to announce "an investment that strengthens the city and the region, spurring economic development and creating jobs,"

"Blank will be joined at the noon announcement at the Melvin Municipal Building by Mayor Robbie Perkins and Greensboro City Manager Denise Turner Roth."

"Mayor Perkins, when asked about the announcement, said little more than that he was "a very happy mayor" and would have a big smile on his face during Thursday's announcement."

http://www.bizjourna...ry-to-make.html

Edited September 19, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

We now know what it is. I said it could be a grant and that's exactly what it is. Greensboro will receive a $1 million grant to help spur economic development, acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank will announce today at an event at city hall. Greensboro is one of three cities nationwide chosen to participate in the Obama administration’s “Strong Cities, Stronger Communities” program. So this doesn't seem to directly produce jobs but indirectly it does by helping the city move forward with a worthy project paid for with the grant money.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/09/19/article/us_commerce_secretary_to_make_announcement_in_greensboro_thursday

[cityboi]

PC computer maker Lenovo will make a major expansion announcement at its Morrisville headquarters and says will have "an important impact on the state of North Carolina and Guilford County," Lenovo is apparently gearing up to expand its operations in the Triad where it already has a huge 200,000 square foot-plus distribution center/light manufacturing facility in Greensboro. MMI Public Relations, the media relations agency issued a media alert for an "important impact" economic announcement that will be made Tuesday. I would love to see a full blown computer manufacturing plant in Greensboro. If that happens, hopefully a PC plant in the Triad will stay this time. Such a plant would likely produce laptops and tablets. The FedEx hub clearly makes Greensboro attractive and its a big reason Lenovo came to Greensboro in the first place. "We’re fast growing. We’re adding and making investments in North Carolina, and clearly North Carolina is a center for what we want to do in North America.”

Given who is on the attendee list of the announcement, this could be more than just the usual new jobs commitment because Gov. Bev Perdue, U.S. Senator Richard Burr and and Triangle area Congress members David Price and Renee Ellmers. is supposed to attend and Guilford County is the focus. I don't think that many dignitaries would be attending if it were just 100 more or so distribution positions and the press announcement indicates something more than distribution positions. Lenovo is the world's No. 2 PC manufacturer.

http://www.bizjourna...nouncement.html

Edited September 28, 2012 by cityboi

[DCB]

In other news, the conversion of the former MJV hosiery mill in Lindley Park into 150 residential units appears to be moving forward - http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/print-edition/2012/09/28/former-hosiery-mill-to-get-20-million.html It's always great to see these old buildings preserved and renovated. You can look at more images of the proposed renovation at the company's website.. http://www.octagonpartners.com/port_MJV

[cityboi]

http://www.bizjourna...n-whitsett.html

Lenovo notebooks/laptops and desktop PCs for domestic, business, government and educational customers will be assembled in the Greensboro area. The current facility recently expanded its distribution center but its unclear if Lenovo will build a new building or expand the existing building. More details will be announced tomorrow.

"Chinese computer maker Lenovo will build a U.S. personal computer production line in Guilford County to build the company’s signature Think-brand notebook and desktop personal computers"

"The additional jobs will expand Lenovo’s U.S. personal computer production line where workers will build the company’s signature Think-brand notebook and desktop PCs for domestic, business, government and educational customers, according to the announcement."

Also Greensboro based Honda Aircraft Company will start making jets at the end of the year.

http://www.news-reco...h_with_progress

Edited October 1, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

More on Lenovo. In addition to standard desktops, laptops, engineering workstations and servers, the manufacturing line will be capable of turning out some of Lenovo’s newest products, such as the recently announced ThinkCentre M92p Tiny desktop and ThinkPad Tablet 2.

No state or local incentives will be sought for the expansion.

http://www.bizjourna...on-line-at.html

These two new product lines are just a few of the model that will be manufactured in the Greensboro area plant

ThinkPad Tablet 2

ThinkCentre M92p Tiny desktop

l

Edited October 2, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

BB&T to add 1,700 jobs in Greensboro

BB&T Triad Corporate Center to open in former American Express building

Eventually there will be 2,500 employees at the new corporate center.

BB&T will lease the former American Express customer service center near PTI Airport and plans to add 1,700 jobs there over the next 5 years. "The new BB&T Triad Corporate Center allows us to consolidate offices, many of which are nearing capacity, in a central location and provide space for future expansion." BB&T to add 1,700 jobs near Greensboro airport : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

http://www.bizjourna...x-building.html

Edited October 16, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

The Piedmont Triad is trying to lure a Volkswagen assembly plant. Several sites have been mentioned including the "prison farm site" in Guilford County a few miles east of Greensboro, a site in Davidson County and a mega site in Randolph County.

http://www.digtriad....?storyid=251676

http://www.bizjourna...-triad-get.html

Edited October 30, 2012 by cityboi

[cityboi]

Guilford County may have missed out on a Wal-Mart distribution center. The Guilford County planning board voted down rezoning for the prison farm east of Greensboro citing a lack of knowledge about the proposed plan for the area. At the time the county board didn't know who was interested in the site, only that it would be related to food/retail and there would be a lot of trucks coming in an out. The Guilford County Commissioners could have overturned the board's decision but the company said it didn't have time to wait. Now the project, rumored to be a Wal-Mart distribution center is eyeing 1425 acres in Alamance County between Mebane and Graham. If the Wal-Mart distribution center were built on the prison farm site in Guilford County, it wouldn't be too far away from the K-mart distribution center on the eastern edge of Greensboro. This just kills me. It's a big reason why our area lags behind Charlotte and Raleigh. Leaders are more concerned about the affects on a hand full of nearby residents (NIMBYs) than being aggressive about attracting jobs. Its why the proposed Trader Joe's in Greensboro stalled. Those dang NIMBYs!

http://myfox8.com/20...nty-misses-out/

Edited November 27, 2012 by cityboi

[krazeeboi]

Where did the article imply that NIMBY's were to blame here? Looks like it was because of a lack of information concerning the proposed company.