Tolson: Marketing the key to Global TransPark’s success – Rocky Mount Telegram

A local economic developer has been tapped to serve on the oversight authority of an industrial park adjacent to one of the larger commercial airports in the Southeastern United States.

Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed Norris Tolson, CEO of Carolinas Gateway Partnership, to the Global TransPark Authority, which oversees a 2,500 acre, multi-modal industrial airport in Kinston, about an hour’s drive from Rocky Mount. The airport runway is 11,500 feet, one of the longer commercial runways in the nation.

“The reason I accepted is because I see a lot of synergy between what the Global TransPark is trying to do and what we’re trying to do in the whole area of logistics,” Tolson said. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

City Council considers gentrification concerns – Rocky Mount Telegram

The Rocky Mount City Council voted Monday night to guard against gentrification in impoverished neighborhoods during an unprecedented time of economic growth in the area.

The council is stepping up plans to prevent poor residents from being pushed our of their long-time neighborhoods due to revitalization efforts. The unanimous decision makes anti-gentrification a top priority in the first year of implementing plans based on a new fair housing assessment.

The council took the action after a required public hearing as part of an Assessment of Fair Housing that is due to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by Dec. 31. HUD is requiring the assessment from the city and the Down East HOME Consortium, of which the city serves as the lead entity.

City Councilman Reuben Blackwell made a successful motion to move gentrification talks to year one, diversify avenues of notification and establish a workforce housing committee. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

See related:

Video/Photos – Rocky Mount City Council Committee Of The Whole Meeting Monday December 11, 2017 6 PM

Photos/Video: Willie Williams Appointed Rocky Mount Police Chief During December 2017 Rocky Mount City Council Regular Monthly Meeting