Triad Business Notes

[cityboi]

in addition to GrowGreen project which is scouting Greensboro,

Guilford County is a finalist for major solar farm. Its a 1.4 billion project proposed by National Solar Power. The Solar farm would be able to power 32,000 homes.

"The company said the project when done would be the world's largest photovoltaic power plant. The other six finalists are Gadsden, Hardee, Osceola and Suwannee counties in Florida and Sumter and Tatnall counties in Georgia."

The company didn't say why it picked Guilford County but it could be because its centralized in a major power grid area (Duke Energy) It will be interesting to see if Guilford County wins this because Florida does have its advantages of being a very sunny state.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/06/28/article/guilford_named_finalist_for_14b_solar_project

Edited June 28, 2011 by cityboi

[twincity]

Did we get actual confirmation that GrowGreen is scouting Greensboro? I thought that was only speculation?

[cityboi]

Did we get actual confirmation that GrowGreen is scouting Greensboro? I thought that was only speculation?

The News & Record reported GrowGreen was scouting the Triad and at the same time city council was going to have a "special" meeting about a company/business opportunity coming to Greensboro. Its beyond speculation but the media has not confirmed that its a done deal.

Edited June 29, 2011 by cityboi

[twincity]

The News & Record reported GrowGreen was scouting the Triad and at the same time city council was going to have a "special" meeting about a company/business opportunity coming to Greensboro. Its beyond speculation but the media has not confirmed that its a done deal.

But that meeting was canceled.

[twincity]

GrowGreen chooses Anson County.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2011/07/05/growgreen-power-chooses-anson-co-for.html

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Great news for the Wadesboro area, which has suffered under crippling unemployment for over a decade now.

[cityboi]

GrowGreen chooses Anson County.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2011/07/05/growgreen-power-chooses-anson-co-for.html

my guess is that the dysfunctional Greensboro city-council chased them a way. The New & Record had already reported they selected the Triad so something at the last minute made them change their minds because Anson County is not in the Triad. But this has been our luck over the past 5 years. Big announcements, done deal projects falling through at the last minute.

New & Record article reporting GrowGreen coming to the Triad

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/05/31/article/local_power_plant_project_expected_to_employ_about_300_workers

Edited July 7, 2011 by cityboi

[Euphorius]

I emailed the company about the site selection when it was first announced that they were looking into sites in NC. The email was sent after this article was printed, yet the response I got said they had not chosen a specific area. I think this has more to do with speculation and unreliable journalism. As I said before, Greensboro/Triad isn't mentioned anywhere in that article, or the press release GrowGreen Power sent out. The Triad is only mentioned in the title of the article from the News and Record.

[cityboi]

well local officials think Guilford County is the front runner for the solar farm (National Solar Power) which would be the largest solar farm in the world. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. This is a much bigger deal than GrowGreen.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/07/07/article/solar_farm_deal_looks_bright

Edited July 8, 2011 by cityboi

[twincity]

In this economy, more jobs = a big deal, and this project would create less jobs for the Triad than GrowGreen. Obviously, Greensboro Economic Development Alliance is really eager to land this deal. I'm hopeful, but honestly, I do not think this is a good project for Guilford. This type of project is better suited for a rural, neighboring county since it requires so much land. Land is too precious for NC's urban counties.

Edited July 8, 2011 by twincity

[cityboi]

I agree that yes the downside is that this project would require a lot of land with very few jobs. But you have to look at the big picture. This project could lead to greater things for the area and at the very least begin to help give the Greensboro area a reputation for being a green city. It could help spur a whole green industry in Guilford County. Combine that with research development at Gateway University Research Park and we could see a lot of economic growth in the area. Going green is the wave of the future and cities that take advantage of that early on will reap the benefits.

Edited July 8, 2011 by cityboi

[cityboi]

Greensboro based Honda Aircraft Company will begin building jets in Greensboro next year. The engines will be built in a small plant in Burlington. The world headquarters and jet manufacturing plant are located at Piedmont Triad Intl Airport. Greensboro beat out Atlanta for the world headquarters and manufacturing plant. The plant will have a $12 million flight simulator. The jets will sell for around $4 million and a few hundred have already been pre-ordered.

Honda Aircraft Company at PTI

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/07/12/article/hondajet_production_nears

Edited July 13, 2011 by cityboi

[cityboi]

Greensboro/Guilford County's chances improve in landing massive solar farm. representatives will be coming to Greensboro and looking at sites. One of the sites the company has looked at includes portions of the White Street landfill which closed several years ago. Currently there is a controversy brewing over re-opening White Street Landfill. Landfill opponents could use this solar farm project as a reason for not re-opening the landfill. The landfill is a perfect site for this project because it includes land that will not likely become prime real estate for industry coming to the area.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/07/13/article/solar_farm_site_team_will_look_at_landfill#nrcRgn_PgBody

Edited July 14, 2011 by cityboi

[twincity]

This news makes me happy. I much rather them reuse undevelopable land within the city limits than clearing out or taking over an empty field. I hope this works out.

[AlmaPinnix]

First Citizen's Bank started construction on their 4-5 story building right off of battleground behind Kick Back Jacks. I didn't have time to take pictures, but it looks like it will be a very nice building. It looks very close to being topped off, the top of the building makes it look a lot taller then your normal 4-5 story box building.

[cityboi]

Thanks for the update Alma Pinnix.

Looks like the last remaining Borders bookstore in the Triad could be closing. Winston-Salem Borders could close this week. Thats good news for Barnes & Noble

http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/183490/57/Winston-Salem-Borders-Could-Close-This-Week

Edited July 19, 2011 by cityboi

[cityboi]

Honda may open jet service center in Greensboro

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/07/19/article/honda_may_open_jet_service_center_here

[DigitalSky]

Thanks for the update Alma Pinnix.

Looks like the last remaining Borders bookstore in the Triad could be closing. Winston-Salem Borders could close this week. Thats good news for Barnes & Noble

http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/183490/57/Winston-Salem-Borders-Could-Close-This-Week

Good space for a Trader Joe's?

[twincity]

Winston really wants one...makin a facebook page, petitions and videos. This would be a good location since Fresh Market went out. Hopefully Saul Centers wont divide up the space.

Maybe Books-A-Million?

[twincity]

National Solar Power eliminates Guilford County as a potenial site for the 1.5 billion solar farm but could be interested in a future project somewhere in the county.  Not really a big loss IMO.  Hardly any jobs would have been created and like I stated earlier, this farm would have eaten up way too much land.

http://www.bizjourna...ng-for-15b.html

[cityboi]

National Solar Power eliminates Guilford County as a potenial site for the 1.5 billion solar farm but could be interested in a future project somewhere in the county.  Not really a big loss IMO.  Hardly any jobs would have been created and like I stated earlier, this farm would have eaten up way too much land.

http://www.bizjourna...ng-for-15b.html

The solar company left the door open for future expansion in Greensboro...Also Greensboro approved incentives for HondaJet expansion for an additional 400 high paying jobs."HondaJet said, if given these new incentives, it would invest $88 million to expand onto 30 acres, construct two new buildings and improve the airport's land."http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-hondajet-wants-524k-more-in-incentives-from-greensboro-20110816,0,4512505.story

[cityboi]

Guilford County approved incentives for second HondaJet facility in Greensboro. Currently Honda Jet world headquarters and jet factory in Greensboro employs over 600 workers. If Greensboro gets the Jet service center, an additional 400 workers would be added. The average salary for the current HondaJet facility is over $70,000 well above Guilford County's average.

http://www.myfox8.co...0,5271530.story

original news announcement

http://www.myfox8.co...0,3279334.story

Edited August 26, 2011 by cityboi

[AlmaPinnix]

Has anyone else seen the construction going on where the old City Motors used to be on Battleground, near Cornwalis?

They have already put up the walls of a new building and have knocked out all of the glass on the old building. There are a couple of signs, but I didn't get a chance to read them. Anyone know what is going in at that location?

[cityboi]

Has anyone else seen the construction going on where the old City Motors used to be on Battleground, near Cornwalis?

They have already put up the walls of a new building and have knocked out all of the glass on the old building. There are a couple of signs, but I didn't get a chance to read them. Anyone know what is going in at that location?

I heard of two projects in that vicinity. One is a residential project and I think they are building a hotel on the site you mentioned. Personally I think its an odd location for a hotel. Its amazing because I've heard no one criticize a hotel being built there but as soon as a developer proposes one downtown (which is a better location than Battleground at Cornwalis) its pie in the sky.

Edited September 22, 2011 by cityboi

[twincity]

Trader Joes was considering this site at one time.