The Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon meeting on Tuesday at the Cape Fear Farmers Market and heard a report from Bladen County Economic Development
Director Chuck Heustess and Jimmy Smith, director of Community and Economic Development with Four County EMC.
Chamber Executive Director Dawn Maynard announced the winners of the Chamber’s Christmas Decorating contest. The winner Fisher Ladies Shop with a theme of Fishers Frock Farm. Second place went to Leinwands ladies window with a theme of Small Town in a Small Town and third place went to Leinwands mens window with a theme of Miracle on Broad Street.
Maynard said other entries were Fishers Mens Store with a theme of Trolling for Santa, Lu Mil Vineyard with a theme of Lu Mil’s Merry Muscadine Christmas, Fowler’s Jewelry with a theme of Sparkling Christmas decorated by Whimsical Florist, global Realty with a theme of Home for the Holidays decorated by Whimsical Florist.
Maynard recognized author Cathy Kinlaw who briefly discussed her book, White Lake-A Historical Tour of the Nation’s Safest Beach.
Kinlaw said that they had so much information left over when her son made his video of White Lake that they decided to publish it in a book.
“There are historical photos that have never been published before,” said Kinlaw.
She related the story of the White Lake fire of July 2, 1957 and how the community and folks from as far away as South Carolina all rallied together to effect repairs as best they could in time to get the lake ready for the July 4th weekend.
The book be purchased from Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Two Sisters Bookery in the Cotton Exchange in Wilmington, Camp Clearwater and the White Lake Town Hall, and from Kinlaw by calling 910-876-2403. The cost is $41.
The guest speakers for the luncheon were Bladen County Economic Development Director Chuck Heustess and Jimmy Smith with Four County EMC.
Heustess said that he enjoys working with Smith becasue he has many innovative programs for financing including zero interest loans and grant programs.
Smith said he has been working in the area of economic development for more than 30 years.
Smith talked about some of the economic development programs Four County EMs offers such as zero interest loans, grant programs and partnerships with the NC Rural Economic Development Center.
Smith and Heustess discussed such things as construction of the first shell buildings in Bladen County. They ntoed those buildings were built by the Committee of 100.
Smith and Heustess discussed how Bladen’s Bloomin’ was also instrumental to the economic development picture in Bladen County.
Heustess said that six months ago there were no vacant buildings in buildings in Bladen County.
Food Safety Technology went out of business and Bladen’s Bloomin’ got that building back, according to Heustess. He said that while the loss of the business was not what they had hoped for, another business has expressed an interest in the building.
“We’ll do what we have to do to get those jobs,” said Heustess. He told those present that the company sent photos of their west coast plant and the building is exactly like the now empty Food Safety Technology building.
Heustess said that other businesses and business owners are looking to either expand or renovate their buildings.
They both said some economic development challenges faced by the county include lack of access to a major interstate highway, lack of natural gas in some areas of the county, lack of rail service in some areas of the county and an insufficient water and sewer supply in some parts of the county.
DuPont may become a future industrial site due its location and the availability of rail service and natural gas service.
“We have a huge problem with not having the infrastructure we need at all of our sites,” said Heustess.
Heustess said in Bladen County there are four incubator locations with seven bays.
He also announced that Four county and Star Telephone, Bladen’s Bloomin’ and the town of Elizabethtown are preparing to take on the master planning of the Elizabethtown Industrial Park. He said the plan would lay out roads, will have the location of water and sewer access points, and so on.
Heustess said the master plan would put the county in a better situation in terms of marketing material.
Share on Social Media using Short Link: https://bladencounty.org/?p=36034
About Author
