[slideshow_deploy id=’62945′]
Business leaders from across Bladen County gathered at Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery on Monday morning to talk about ways to attract more businesses to Bladen County. The brainstorming session was part of a grant received about three years ago by Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial, according to Bladen County Economic Development Director Chuck Heustess.
Heustess explained to those gathered that about three years ago the county received a $250,000 grant for an industrial project in Bladenboro. He said as a result of that project, a poultry plant is now located in the Bladenboro Industrial Park.
Heustess of the $250,000 received, $10,000 of the funds are specified for finding ways to improve the business climate in the area. He added this is the final year of the grant.
He said that Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial will make the final decision from among the suggested priorities based on the level of importance the group assigns to each of the ideas.
He asked those present to define a small business and explain why they are important. Many said a small business ranges in size from one or two employees to as many as 200. Heustess said a small business is defined as having less than 500 employees.
Heustess said small businesses are important because when the economy is rough, small business tend to be able to adapt and survive the downturn more easily than larger industries.
As the session began, Heustess said his staff has already received 14 ideas/suggestions.
One of the ideas on the list was streamlining regulations. Heustess said the rules and regulations for the Elizabethtown Industrial Park have already been streamlined.
Heustess said that another suggestion was to develop a pro-growth strategy. For example, Heustess said that a Brazilian industry drove through the county on Friday and stopped by the Economic Development office. He said company officials were surprised to learn the county has a population of 33,000 people. He said the company’s employment needs are in fields such as chemistry. Heustess said company officials wanted to know if they could find employees with the types of job skills they would need. He said the reply was yes and he pointed out DuPont has similar staffing needs and they are able to recruit employees.
Another suggestion was to create a guide that will tell prospective companies what types of permits are required in various locations in the county and where they go to acquire them.
A Tourism Co-op and a A Shop Bladen Initiative were also on the list as was an Elizabethtown-White Lake promotional video and the creation of a County Chamber.
Also on the list were small business incubators. Heustess said that Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial is working on creating a small business incubator in the former post office facility. Heustess said it will have space for about 7 or 8 businesses as well as a lobby and two small conference rooms.
“It’s a great opportunity for a small business start up,” said Heustess.
He said if the endeavor is successful, Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial will attempt another small business incubator in Bladenboro.
Other suggestions included tax incentives for small businesses, investing in the Chamber of Commerce, looking at Bladen County Crowd Funding as a possible source of funds for new business start ups.
Heustess another idea being looked at is a “Shark Tank” type of opportunity where small business can compete for some type of small business package and a group of businesses leaders will judge the competition.
Other suggestions included adding speculative and industrial buildings, offering industrial incubators, development of a housing revitalization program, creation of an advisory committee to take all of the ideas and begin working towards implementing them, adding natural gas lines to the Elizabethtown Industrial Park.
Bladen County Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson said, “I think it should be a county effort. I’d like to see more of a county effort.”
Mac Campbell suggested creating a webpage that would like to the websites of the different towns and the county government to make it easier for industries and businesses and visitors to see what the county has to offer.
The creation of regulations regarding abandoned homes and substandard housing were also discussed. Joe Tatum said that industrial representatives who are driving through the county see the homes standing empty and impacts their decisions.
Bladen County Planning Director Greg Elkins said there is no specific ordinance in the county. He noted there is a lot of substandard housing throughout the county.
Heustess added he is seeing more abandoned mobile home parks.
Mayor Campbell said the town does have a nuisance policy. She said, for example, if a resident lives in a neighborhood and notices the grass growing up in the neighbor’s yard they can contact town staff and something can be done.
Education was mentioned as a concern as industries are often requesting information regarding the schools. Also, there was discussion about adding vocational education into the school system.
About Author
