Edgecombe County tire plant proposal officially deflated

EDGECOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Triangle Tyre has officially withdrawn from a project to build a tire plant in Edgecombe County.

Triangle Tyre, which is the 14th largest tire manufacturer in the world, announced in late 2017 that its first tire plant outside of China would be placed in Edgecombe County at the Kingsboro Business Park. The project was expected to be a $580 million investment and add up to 800 jobs.

However, in March, the company announced it was withdrawing from the project due to a number of issues that caused its leadership to decide to discontinue the project in order to focus on its business needs in China.

Triangle officially gave the 400-acre site back to Edgecombe County last Friday. (Read more)

Biggest investment in rural NC history held up due to conflict with China

The DCN News Blog Online TV: I travel through Kingsboro everyday going to work.

A Chinese company’s planned tire factory in Edgecombe County that was called the biggest investment in the history of rural North Carolina is being held up due to international politics.

Economic developers in the area say they’re concerned the delayed project is holding them back from pursuing other deals.

Offering 400 acres of wide-open land ready for construction, developers say the Kingsboro megasite east of Rocky Mount is one of the best locations for business in the state.

To prove it: A major international company picked the land for its US headquarters more than three years ago.

So why is there still nothing built there? (Read more)

QVC Human Relations Please Come To Edgecombe County ASAP To Check On Your Employees

I love me some QVC and just ordered an IPAD on yesterday December 17, 2021.

This morning I received a couple of messages via Facebook Instant Messenger around 2:45 AM that QVC is on fire. I was about to get ready to go to work. I go by QVC on the way to work every morning. I could see the red in the sky as I was approaching the entrance to QVC.

This evening I attended the Press Conference held by the Edgecombe County Manager along with presenters: Heartsease Fire Department Chief, Rocky Mount Fire Department Chief, Forestry and the NC Commissioner of Insurance. It was some good information however what was missing was a spokesperson, maybe an HR Representative from QVC. It is my opinion that this fire began around 2 AM this morning and I am quite sure QVC has a company jet and it should have landed in Rocky Mount sometime today.

Here we are 8 days before Christmas and the employees are out of a job and they need to know asap if QVC will be paying them some type of compensation until such time or do they need to seek unemployment. Keep in mind that some places may be shutdown beginning December 23 and December 24 which would only give them a 3 day window to make some decisions as to how to move forward which could possibly include looking for other employment.

I hope that QVC HR and/or whomever show up asap in Rocky Mount to address the employees because they are hurting and need some direction.

In my closing I hope QVC will build back because you have been a great asset to Edgecombe County and has become a household name.

Curmilus Dancy II
Curmilus Dancy II (Butch)
Videographer/Photographer/Blogger

Dancy Communications Network 
The DCN News Blog/Online TV

(252) 314-5484

Blog: https://curmilus.wordpress.com

"I have no permanent friends no permanent enemies only permanent interest!"
“I am for justice no matter who it is for or against!”

Member: Unless Specified I Am Not Speaking On Behalf Of The Following

Edgecombe County Democratic Party Precinct Chair/African American Caucus/
County & NC Democratic Party State Executive Committee

Rocky Mount NC Branch NAACP
Life Fully Paid Member 1st Vice President/Legal Redress Chair

Eastern NC Civic Group (ENCCG)
Edgecombe County Animal Welfare Advisory Council

Tarboro/Rocky Mount NC – Truck service center to locate in Kingsboro

The Political Agitator’s response: I have traveled U.S. Highway 64 since it’s inception around 2006 going to work daily and every time I go to Rocky Mount. I said one day there would be businesses and houses from Tarboro to Rocky Mount.

While trade wars may be impacting the development of what is promised by Triangle Tire to be its first manufacturing facility outside China, economic growth at the Kingsboro Business Park got another boost Monday night.

Enfield-based Eastern Petroleum, which operates EP Mart-branded convenience stores as a wholly-owned subsidiary, will open a convenience store offering truck services to be located at the northeast corner of U.S. 64 and Kingsboro Road.

Meeting in the Health and Human Services Building, county commissioners voted unanimously to approve the contract.

The facility will be built on a 7-acre parcel Eastern is purchasing from Edgecombe County for $8,000 per acre following unanimous approval of the agreement by county commissioners. Eastern will also hold an option on an additional 4.8 adjacent acres for $5,000 per acre.

According to the purchase agreement, Eastern has one year from the date of property closing to begin construction or cause the construction of the facility to begin. If Eastern fails to begin the process within one year or complete the project within three years, the property will revert to the county.

According to a site concept plan prepared by Rocky Mount-based Appian Consulting Services, Phase I will include the C-Store with seven motor vehicle fuel pumps located on the north side of the site while an eight-bay truck fueling facility is shown on the south. Vehicle parking is also shown on the east, west and north sides of the store as well as along the west property line. (Read more)

Long effort pays off for megasite – Rocky Mount Telegram

The Watch Dog response: Been a long time coming.

The recent milestone announcement of Chinese tire manufacturer Triangle Tire Co. bringing 800 jobs and nearly $580 million in investment to the Kingsboro megasite was the accomplishment of years of development and recruitment efforts by local officials and economic developers to finally land a major firm at the 1,449-acre site that was created to lure a large manufacturer to Edgecombe County.

“It’s great to believe in something for so long and be committed to it,” Edgecombe County Manager Eric Evans said. “I’m very happy for our (Edgecombe County) board of commissioners and a number of them have been on the board for a long time. This was a 20-or-more year process that started from someone having an idea of saying here is some land right here that’s well drained by the U.S. 64 bypass and has great access.” (Rocky Mount Telegram)

Edgecombe dropped from auto plant list – Rocky Mount Telegram

The Political Agitator response: Them Republicans are going to hold us right where we are, little to no progress. This makes no sense. I agree with the following: N.C. Sen. Angela Bryant, D-Nash, said she blames the uncertainty to resolve the state’s incentive package issue on Republican state lawmakers.

North Carolina appears to have missed out on landing another major automobile plant.

According to multiple reports, China-based Volvo Car Corp. is the latest car company to drop the state from its list of choice locations to build a $500 million factory and Volvo’s first auto plant in the United States. Reports say Volvo officials have narrowed its search to Georgia and South Carolina. Landing a large-scale automaker has eluded North Carolina for more than two decades going back to 1993 when Mercedes-Benz picked Alabama over a site near Mebane. In recent years, North Carolina economic developers have tried to lure the North American headquarters of both Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, which went to Texas and Georgia, respectively.

Most other states in the southeast have at least one automobile plant. States compete fiercely for such plants because they bring thousands of jobs and a large network of suppliers. (Source: Read more)

McCrory comment ties mystery United Kingdom trip to Rocky Mount industrial site

The Political Agitator response: Well reading this article it appears that something is coming to Kingsboro.

Gov. Pat McCrory dropped some strong hints Thursday about why he traveled to the United Kingdom last month for an economic development trip.

While in Rocky Mount promoting historic preservation tax credits, a reporter asked McCrory for an update on the Kingsboro Industrial Site, a 1,200-acre “megasite” there. The property is one of three in North Carolina being marketed for a major automotive plant. Would an automaker fit there, the governor was asked?

“It is perfect for it,” McCrory said. “It’s a very good site, and we’re in ongoing recruitment mode, and I won’t say anything other than that.”

But then he did.

“I don’t travel overseas for nothing, especially sitting in the back of a plane,” he said. “It’s a long flight.” (Source: Read more)

Golden LEAF earmarks $50m to help lure automaker – Rocky Mount Telegram

The Political Agitator response: This would be awesome for Edgecombe County. Wow! Sure hope this happens because it would bring about a change for Edgecombe County.

“The Golden LEAF Board took this action to demonstrate its commitment to this emerging opportunity,” Rhyne said. “An automobile manufacturer and its suppliers can create thousands of jobs and serve as a catalyst for long-term economic advancement.”

Recently, officials in Randolph County approved plans to spend $4.2 million for the purchase of 255 acres at a megasite near Liberty. Meanwhile, a 1,818-acre site west of Siler City called the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site is also vying to attract an automobile manufacturer. The site received state certification in June 2014. It is the largest site in North Carolina with certification.

Carolina Gateway Partnership officials said Edgecombe County’s Kingsboro megasite that spans more than 1,200 acres has been named an ideal location for an automaker. Frank Harrison, chairman and acting president of Carolinas Gateway Partnership, said established outside consultant companies consider the Kingsboro site the top megasite in the state and among one of the best in the Southeast. (Source: Read more)

Edgecombe site attracts some interest – Rocky Mount Telegram

The Political Agitator response: Auto manufacturer? Wow that would be awesome for this area!

Edgecombe County has built it. Will they come?

Maybe “built” is a slight exaggeration. Edgecombe County has helped develop a 1,200-acre “megasite” at Kingsboro along U.S. 64 between Rocky Mount and Tarboro. The land would be perfect for a large manufacturer, and it’s no secret that economic recruiters have a carmaker on their wish list.

Local and state officials reportedly have been engaged in talks with an automaker that is interested in locating in North Carolina. As Telegram business writer Corey Davis reported last week, the Kingsboro tract is one of three large-scale sites that could be home for such a manufacturer.

There are plenty of other factors that enter such a decision, of course – available labor pool, access to markets, education, proximity to suppliers and economic incentives, to name a few. And there will be plenty of other states and even countries that hope to land such a plum. (Source: Read more)

Edgecombe County: CSX gives Kingsboro Select Site designation – Daily Southerner

TARBORO — In reference to a much needed job boost in the county, Edgecombe didn’t quite get that shot in the arm during the commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, but a distinctive designation was bestowed on the county that may prove that help is on its way. (More)