The county chapter of NAACP says it will challenge any economic development projects that come before the board of commissioners until the panel addresses the school merger issue.
David Harvey, president of the county's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, made the statement during a public hearing on a grant to fund incentives to lure a manufacturing firm to the Enfield area that promises to bring 350 jobs to the county.
“We will challenge any economic development opportunities that come to the county,” Harvey stated during the public hearing this morning.
“Are you saying you're opposed to economic development?” Commissioner Rives Manning asked.
“We are opposing it if you're not going to address the other issue,” Harvey replied. “We're going to make sure they know why for years Halifax County has not progressed.”
Board Chair James Pierce said while there are important education issues in the county, the issue comes down to the chicken or the egg. “Do we raise taxes? Where do you start first?”
Allen Purser, president and CEO of the chamber of commerce, said it is important to bring manufacturing jobs to the county as the economic impact, “Starts at the top and trickles down to different areas.”
Commissioners following the public hearing ratified a resolution which spells out the specifics of the agreement.
The county wishes to offer the firm a cash incentive package of $5,206,650 payable in annual installments over a 15 year period.
The company, according to the resolution, is expected to make a $50 million investment within its first year of locating in the county and will make a taxable equipment and machinery investment of $95 million in the first year.
The resolution notes the company will bring 350 jobs to the county, 300 in the first year, which will pay wages currently more than current annual weekly wage in the county.
“Whereas, due to the level of taxable investment, the number of good paying jobs and the need for competitive incentives necessary to attract this new manufacturing company to Halifax County, the board of commissioners specifically find that a deviation from the guidelines set forth in the county's economic development grant program — by offering an incentive grant to be paid over a 15 year period rather than a five year period of time — is justified,” the resolution says.
The resolution continues that any given installment payment under the proposed appropriation and expenditure is contingent upon the level of taxable investment made by the company in the form of land, buildings, machinery and equipment as well as the creation of a specified number of new jobs in the county, the establishment of certain wage levels and maintaining a specified level of taxable investments, jobs and wages over the grant period.
The document also notes other incentives are being considered and will be the subject of future public hearings and the source of the funding will be from the general fund.
During the meeting, Cathy Scott, executive director of the Halifax County Development Commission, told the board the weekly average salary is $611 compared to the county average of $527, that reflects an annual wage of $31,818.
In answering questions posed by Harvey, Scott said the company is based in Germany and is wood related.
