RALEIGH — For many, farmers markets are synonymous with summer. But the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is reminding consumers that many of the state’s more than 200 farmers markets are open late into the fall, with some open year-round. “The four state-operated farmers markets in Asheville, Charlotte, Colfax and Raleigh are open all year, as are many farmers markets operated by counties, cities and towns,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This has a lot to do with …
White House: President Obama Explains the Shutdown
Yesterday, eight days into the Republican government shutdown, President Obama spoke from the White House about the need for Republicans in Congress to stop threatening another recession just to sabotage Obamacare, stop demanding ransom just for doing their jobs, and just vote to reopen the government. He talked about the toll this shutdown is already taking on our country and the economy, and warned against the dire consequences of a default if Congress doesn’t act to prevent an economic shutdown. …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Oct. 10 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, take in the ArtQuilts Freezeframe exhibit at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center in Cary. Talk to the animals at the Aloha Safari Zoo in Cameron. Enjoy a tour of Lake Lure. Lift a glass at Autumn Creek Vineyards in Mayoden. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Marrakesh Mediterranean Restaurant in Jacksonville. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. …
Thursday Open Line
The head of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, Aldona Wos, and other department leaders were grilled by lawmakers at an oversight committee meeting Tuesday in Raleigh. Lawmakers and some members of the public questioned the department’s hiring policies, new payment systems and future plans for the state’s Medicaid program. Wos fielded tough questions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle all day. The hardest ones concerned high paying jobs for young political hires in the department …
VGCC awarded $1.75 million Federal Grant for Training
Vance-Granville Community College will develop and enhance innovative training programs for advanced manufacturing careers with support from a new grant worth more than $1.75 million, awarded on Sept. 18 by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant is the single largest competitive grant award received in VGCC’s history. U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez recently announced $474.5 million in such grants to community colleges and universities across the country. The …
Ceramics Manufacturer to Expand in Iredell County
Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced on Oct. 4 that NGK Ceramics USA will expand its operations in Iredell County. The company plans to create 18 new jobs and invest more than $22 million in Mooresville. NGK Ceramics USA Inc. is a subsidiary of NGK Insulators, Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan. NGK Ceramics USA manufactures automotive ceramic substrates used globally in gasoline and diesel catalytic converters and directly supports and supplies all major automobile manufacturers, and heavy-duty …
State Farmers Market hosts annual Decorated Pumpkin Contest Oct. 10
RALEIGH — A parade of pumpkins will be on display during the 28th annual Decorated Pumpkin Contest at the State Farmers Market on Oct. 10. Contestants can carve, paint and use other art media to decorate their entries. Decorated pumpkins will be judged on use of color and shape, the quality of the pumpkin used and creativity. No artificial pumpkins will be accepted. Winners will be selected across three age divisions: 8 and under, 9 to 15, and 15 and …
Nonwoven Manufacturer to Create 72 New Jobs in Davidson County
Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced on Oct. 4 that Custom Nonwoven Inc., a global producer of polyester staple fiber, will locate a new manufacturing facility in Davidson County. The company plans to create 72 jobs and invest more than $12.8 million over the next three years in Thomasville. April Kappler of the N.C. Department of Commerce and Leland Gaskins of the State of North Carolina Japan Office were the developers on this project. Custom Nonwoven …
Valve and Piping Manufacturers to Expand in Robeson County
Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced on Oct. 4 that Flo-Tite Valve Controls and sister company Titan Flow Control will be expanding their manufacturing operations in Lumberton in Robeson County. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Ken Allen served as the developer on this project. Flo-Tite plans to create as many as 25 new jobs and invest more than $1.5 million. Titan Flow Control plans to create up to 15 new jobs and invest more than $2 …
Jacob Holm Industries to Expand in Buncombe County
Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced on Oct. 4 that Jacob Holm Industries, a global nonwoven manufacturing company, will expand its operations in Buncombe County. The company plans to create 66 new jobs with a minimum qualifying investment of more than $45.9 million. The total capital investment is likely to exceed $60 million when the final project is complete. This growth will take place over the next three years in Candler. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s …
Gildan Activewear to Create More Than 500 New Jobs in Bladen, Davie, and Rowan Counties
Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced Tuesday that Gildan Yarns, LLC, a subsidiary of Gildan Activewear Inc., will expand its existing yarn spinning manufacturing facilities in Bladen and Rowan counties and establish a new yarn spinning facility in Davie County. David Spratley served as the developer on the project for the N.C. Department of Commerce. The company confirmed today that it will invest in excess of $250 million to build a yarn spinning facility behind …
Broadband Survey Initiative Aims to Grow State’s Digital Economy
Raleigh, NC – N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker invites all North Carolina households and businesses to participate in a new broadband survey. NC Broadband is launching a statewide survey and scorecard project during the month of October to help households and businesses throughout the state increase their economic vitality by better utilizing broadband technologies. “The vision of NC Broadband is to improve the competitiveness of North Carolina’s businesses and workforce by promoting the use of information technology in education, health …
Fan Manufacturer Expansion Brings 184 Jobs to Cleveland County
Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced on Oct. 4 that Greenheck Fan Corporation, a leading manufacturer of air movement and control equipment, will expand its operations in Cleveland County. The company plans to create 184 new jobs and invest $30 million over the next five years in Shelby. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Uconda Dunn was the developer on this project. Greenheck Fan Corporation is a broad spectrum manufacturer of commercial and industrial air movement and …
Wednesday Open Line
Voting results are in, and congratulations goes to Sara Coffey, Michael Inscoe, Garry Daeke, and Fearldine Simmons for the wins. Thank you to all the runners for wanting to be a part of and better the community. There are still many ways you, and all the rest of you readers, can help our town. Ideas? Post them here!
Audio: Vance County Board of Commissioners October 7th, 2013
[jwplayer mediaid=”52575″] You may also download the audio file here: http://dataforge.s3.amazonaws.com/hih/2013/10/20131007_vcboc_meeting_audio_m.mp3 We’re looking for feedback if you find this helpful, and would like us to do more of these. Let us know in the comments below, or discuss the meeting below as you like.
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BoC October 7th, 2013)
The Commissioners worked so swiftly through their long agenda those of us in the Peanut Gallery thought the meeting would end in record time, alas that did not happen. Issues with County Wide Water drowned that potential. But I’ve gotten ahead of myself. Public Hearings and appointments The Commissioners’ completed two public hearings and two appointments in record time, about 15 minutes total time. First of these was the approval to close the Community Development Block Grant for Scattered Site …
City of Henderson Council Boards and Commissions Committee Meeting
The Henderson City Council’s Boards and Commissions Committee will meet on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. The purpose of the meeting, among other items, is to establish advisory board guidelines. This meeting is open to the public.
Butterfield Applauds Greene Early College High School’s Receipt of National Blue Ribbon School Designation
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded Greene Early College High School in Snow Hill, North Carolina for being honored as a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Greene Early College High School is one of only six schools in North Carolina, and the only school in eastern North Carolina, to receive the 2013 National Blue Ribbon School designation for academic excellence from the Department of Education. Greene Early College High School was …
N.C. Structural Pest Control Committee announces case settlements
RALEIGH –The N.C. Structural Pest Control Committee recently approved settlement agreements for cases in Avery, Beaufort, Davie, Forsyth and Union counties and Hiawassee, Ga. Following are the case settlements: Ralph D. Naylor of JP Green Milling Co. in Mocksville agreed to pay $1,000 for failing to maintain written records of commodity fumigation, failing to store Phostoxin, a restricted-use pesticide, in a locked storage area when not in use and for failing to post warning signs in the storage area at …
Tuesday Open Lines
Across North Carolina, many license plates read “First in Flight” — a tribute to Orville and Wilbur Wright. Their plane first flew there 110 years ago. Today, the state has one of the nation’s busiest airports and dozens of aviation companies. And finding workers to fill those jobs has been a challenge. No longer are workers building legs of furniture, hemming shirts and rolling cigarettes. They’re fixing GPS technology, working on stabilizers and manufacturing the next era of aviation. So …