RECENT MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The Future Forward Economic Alliance met in Morganton on Tuesday, September 19th

The Future Forward Economic Alliance met on Tuesday, September 19th at the Morganton City Hall in Burke County. Updates were provided on many of Future Forward's ongoing projects including the North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies, the Higher Education Coordinating Council and Future Forward's sites and buildings program. As a follow-up to the June Meeting in Boone, Dr. Paul Combs also provided an update about the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center's work on promoting and supporting enterpreneurship.

Tom Freeman also gave a presentation about the Foothills Outdoor Festival---a recreation focused tourist effort scheduled for April, May and June 2007. This festival will include 20 coordinated major outdoor events in five counties, that will utilize almost 160 of the region's existing recreational resources. The organizers anticipate this event to attract hundreds of teams and thousands of families to the Foothills and thereby generate new revenue and economic growth.

Linville Gorge in Burke County

Advantage West Provides Information on Entrepreneurial Development Efforts

Over the next year, one of the key strategic priorities for the Future Forward Economic Alliance will be to enhance the region's climate for entrepreneurial development. Betty Huskins, the Senior Vice President for External Affairs with the Advantage West Regional Partnership, gave a presentation that provided an overview of Advantage West's initiatives to support the region's entrepreneurs.

Advantage West encourages entrepreneurial development through its Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (BREC) and the Blue Ridge Angel Investors Network (BRAIN). Overviews of these programs can be found in this presentation.While these programs are most active in the Asheville area, Advantage West is working to expand the presence of their entrepreneurial support programs throughout the region. Through their partnership with Appalachian State University they are currently working to provide greater entrepreneurial support services for the High Country region. The Future Forward board agreed that they should explore ways in which to further give these programs a greater presence in the Foothills region as well.

Further information about Advantage West's entrepreneurial support programs can be found here.

WINTER 2006 HIGHLIGHTS

Future Forward Economic Alliance held March retreat at Isothermal Community College

At our last meeting was held on March 8th at Isothermal Community College in Spindale. In addition to our quarterly business meeting, we took the opportunity to discuss ways to better the Future Forward Economic Alliance, as well as identify new issues and projects to address as we move ahead.

The FFEA identified several broad areas where the Alliance should focus its energies over the coming years. In addition to those issues already laid out in our original strategy, perhaps the most significant issue demanding attention was that of entrepreneurship. The FFEA agreed that it should explore ways to incorporate entrepreneurship into educational curriculum at all levels, but also to more actively support entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs. The FFEA will also place greater emphasis on securing affordable broadband access for those places in the region that currently are without it. Throughout, the FFEA will continue to pursue collaborative solutions to regional issues ranging from educational attainment to priority infrastructure projects.

The presentation the guided the retreat is available here.

Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for mid-June at Appalachian State University in Boone.

The Daily Courier of Forest City praises Future Forward's involvement in the North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies

An editorial in The Daily Courier of Forest City noted that the North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies will be a boon for Rutherford County and the region at large. It will not only meet the need for formal engineering training west of Charlotte, but will benefit both existing firms and new companies.

The full editorial is available here.

Future Forward Economic Alliance acquires a building for the North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies

The North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies moved closer to reality on Monday, February 13th with the Future Forward Economic Alliance completing the acquisition of a former Corning Cable Systems research facility.

The center will provide workforce development throughout the 12-county Future Forward region with specialized technical training and degree programs in engineering, applied science and technologies, and management education, according to Future Forward chair Ann Smith, who described the 55,200-square-foot building as “ideally suited for a wide range of educational and economic development initiatives.”

Located at 1928 Main Avenue SE, the building has been available since late 2002 when the telecommunications technology leader consolidated its optical fiber cable research and development activities into its Hickory area cable manufacturing operations. Corning agreed to sell the facility to Future Forward at a significantly reduced price in support of the effort to strengthen technical higher education in Hickory and the region served by Future Forward.

A fundraising campaign designed to solicit funds to purchase the building, outfit the facility for educational purposes and acquire initial equipment has generated cash and in-kind commitments from local public and private sources totaling more than $1.7 million. Former Congressman Cass Ballenger and Phil Walker, BB&T senior vice president for western North Carolina, co-chair the campaign on behalf of the center.

Smith said that Future Forward is seeking additional grants and support from the regional business community and local governments.
“The North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies will also provide product development, business process improvement and manufacturing competitiveness assistance; serve as a manufacturing/industrial incubator; impart intellectual property transfer know-how; and support regional economic development activities,” she said.

Future Forward expects to transfer ownership of the center to the University of North Carolina system next July after completing enhancements to the facility that make it more suitable as a higher education center. Western Carolina University will deliver the initial engineering technology program at the center.

To be determined by the specific needs of prospective employers, a variety of higher education offerings may be presented through the center’s educational partners including vocational skills training such as advanced machining and welding techniques; manufacturing and engineering technologies; industrial, mechanical and electrical engineering degree programs; computer technologies and robotics; printing and publishing technology; and logistics and supply chain management.

More information about the NC Center for Engineering Technologies can be found here.

DECEMBER 2005 HIGHLIGHTS

Future Forward Economic Alliance helps Launch the North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies

On Monday, November 21, the North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies publicly announced plans for Future Forward to acquire the Corning research facility to house the Center.  This 55,200-square-foot building is ideally suited for a wide range of educational and economic development initiatives. It will provide an excellent platform for the area’s community colleges, the UNC system and other educational providers including the Hickory Metro Higher Education Center to deliver courses and degree programs that will develop a 21^st century workforce and get the region’s economy growing again.

When fully operational, the Center, located at 1928 Main Ave., in Hickory, will provide workforce development through specialized technical training and degree programs in engineering, applied science and technologies, and management education. As envisioned, the Center also will provide product development, business process improvement and manufacturing competitiveness assistance through public-private partnerships; serve as a manufacturing/industrial incubator; impart intellectual property transfer know-how; and support regional economic development activities.

More information about the Center here.

Future for Kids continues to expand in the Future Forward Region

Futures for Kids (F4K), is an interactive, business-driven, career orientation program for high school students. It is designed to assist students in both choosing and preparing for future careers. Due in part to its successful pilot programs and financial support from the North Carolina State Legislature, Futures for Kids continues to grow.

As of September, 6 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) high schools—3 in Rutherford County, 2 in Burke County and 1 in Mitchell County, were introducing the Futures for Kids programs. The students in these high schools, as well as the middle schools, will be added to the F4K program. The addition of middle schools students came about as a result of the pilot program. Catawba County was one of the counties that participated in the pilot program and 7 Catawba County Schools began the program last year.

Whereas ARC grants and private secotr donors contributed funding for the initial roll-out of F4K in Future Forward Area schools, more recently the state has provided an important contribution. Futures for Kids recently received a $500,000 appropriation from the North Carolina State Legislature. This appropriation will allow additional school systems across North Carolina—including the remaining ARC counties, to add the program both at the high school and middle school levels. Moreover, this appropriation permits Futures for Kids to hire an additional staff person to work exclusively on bringing employers into more active partnerships with schools.

More information about Futures for Kids can be found at their website: www.f4k.org.

Future Forward Economic Alliance Brownfields and Certified Sites Programs Moves Forward

In collaboration with McGill and Associates, the FFEA has submitted six sites for inclusion in the North Carolina Site Certification Program. Properties bearing the NC Certified Site logo have undergone a rigorous test to ensure that the property is ready for development. These tests include:

• Phase I environmental audit
• Geo-technical studies
• Topographic analysis and map
• Aerial photography
• Availability of public utilities
• Industrial quality power
• Engineered site development plans
• Detailed analysis of development cost
• Competitively priced
• Marketed for Business/Industrial use.

The FFEA is initiating the reuse of brownfields by offering existing adn prospective property owners assistance with environmental assessment work. The Alliance has contracted with MACTEC to perform Phase I Environmental Assessments on sites in Avery, Caldwell, Catawba, Lincoln, McDowell, Watauga and Wilkes counties. To date, assessments have been completed in Lenoir, Conover, Marion and Boone. Local governments in these communities are using the data to make decisions regarding purchasing property, applying for grants and determining what to do with potentially contaminated property within their jurisdictions.

Sites in both the certified sites and brownfields programs were selected by the Economic Development Committee of the Future Forward Economic Alliance. The Committee is also searching for a potential mega-sites in the region. The mega-sites would be available for mixed (e.g., retail, flexible office, and residential) use and a possible second site for industrial (e.g., flexible distribution, light industrial, or assembly) use. The site(s) identified would be subject to a Phase I environmental analysis on targeted sites as well as be potentially governed by North Carolina’s new Economic Development Authority legislation (which allows multiple counties and municipalities to jointly own the site). The goal is for the sites to be managed through an Authority with responsibility for overseeing pre-development, site assembly and development of the targeted sites to share costs and benefits of the project.

Future Forward Economic Alliance asked to launch Higher Education Coordinating Council

The Higher Education Coordinating Council was recently commissioned by Congressman Patrick McHenry to work with the region to tap into appropriate state and federal resources to strengthen our region’s opportunities for education, and help prioritize requests for funding assistance. Members include Rudy Wright, Rick French, Herb Greene, Jeff Morse, R.B. Sloan, Kenneth Wood, Mike Fulenwider, Dr. Jane Everson, Dr. Sharon Pennell, and Dr. Art Robarge. The committee will work closely with representatives of the region’s four higher education centers.

Future Forward Industry Growth Analysis Completed

The Future Forward Economic Alliance recognizes the urgent need to assist the 12-county region in recovering from the recent economic recession and the net loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs.

Phase One the Future Forward Industry Growth Analysis identifies industries that pay above the Area’s average salary ($540 a week) and are expected to grow nationally over the next seven years, as well as to examines existing manufacturing and service sectors in analysis, charts and tables. The “Most Favored Industries” identified in Phase One will become the focus of economic development efforts in the Future Forward Area.

Phase Two of the analysis evaluates what training programs exist within the region that will be needed to prepare local workers for employment in the high-paying, high-growth industries identified in Phase One. To view a copy of the report click here.

JANUARY 2005 HIGHLIGHTS

Future Forward Economic Alliance Honors Outgoing Congressman, T. Cass Ballenger

On Wednesday, December 8th the Future Forward Economic Alliance Board met to discuss the progress of the Future Forward initiative. In addition to various committee updates, the Board discussed issues such as committee membership and the selection of consultants for the Certified Sites and Brownfields Assessment Programs. The Board also gave special recognition to Congressman T. Cass Ballenger, whose efforts led to the creation of Future Forward.

This meeting was held at the Hickory Metro Higher Education Center. The Center's Director, Dr. Jane Everson provided the Future Forward Board with an overview of the Higher Education Center's activities.


Future Forward Begins Implementing Strategy

In Fall 2002, Congressman T. Cass Ballenger initiated the Future Forward Project. This matched state and local funds with two successful grant applications from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). With the initial funds, the Future Forward Economic Alliance (FFEA) hired consultants to work in conjunction with local leaders to identify strategies to redirect and strengthen the local economy. The FFEA will now use the most recent $250,000 grant award to implement these strategies through efforts to:

• Provide market research to support efforts to identify those companies with the greatest potential for expansion or relocation.
• Identify one or two “mega-sites” as locations for mixed use of industrial development across the 12-county area.
• Analyze local “brownfield” sites as certified industrial land, valuable for future economic development.
• Continue monitoring and expanding the work of the Future Forward Economic Alliance.

*Click here for the most recent news related to then Future Forward Economic Alliance.

• Replace Highway 321 Bridge over the Catawba River
• US 221 Improvements
• NC 226 Feasibility Study
• Brushy Mountain Parkway – Phase One of Foothills Parkway
• NC 150 Improvement Feasibility Study
• Highway 16 Improvement
• 321/I-40 Interchange – Widening of Frontage Road
• Hickory Airport Improvements
• Morganton-Lenoir Airport – Fly-In Industrial Park
• Tri-County Morrison Field Industrial Park Complex (Avery, Mitchell, Yancey Counties)
• ASU Millennium Campus/Watauga County Technology Park
• Brownfield / Vacant Building Survey
• Fiber Optic Corridors Cost and Gap Analysis
• W. Kerr Scott Reservoir Water Project
• Western Catawba /Broad Regional Water Distribution System
• Regional Water and Sewer Utility Efficiency Studies

Development Planning Corridors Task Force

Co-chaired by Burke County Commissioner Wayne Abele and Burke County Planning Director Judy Frances, this task force will focus on three corridors, I-40 in McDowell and Iredell Counties, NC 16, and US 421 (and possibly US 19E). Committee members and staff will contact county officials in those areas to assess interest in completing corridor planning strategies similar to the completed I-40 Corridor Study in Burke County and US 321Corridor Study in Hickory and Caldwell County.

Nominating Committee

The 11 counties currently participating in the Future Forward process have each committed funding and appointed one elected and one private sector person to represent them on the Future Forward Economic Alliance. The Nominating Committee, chaired by Future Forward Co-Chair James Cowan, met to discuss the appointment of 11 at-large members to represent key regional interests including municipal, education, industry, civic associations, or other issues of concern. The group also considered persons to serve as officers and at-large members of the Alliance Executive Committee. Recommendations will be considered at the Future Forward Economic Alliance meeting on December 8.

Economic Developers Work Group

Economic Developers representing the Future Forward region met to discuss two Requests for Proposals which will be released November 4 for a Certified Sites Program and a Brownfield’s Site Assessment Program. A proposed market research analysis project was also discussed. Links to these RFPs are on the Future Forward web site (www.future-forward.net).

Jobs-People Search

This powerful job search engine (www.ncjoblink.com) accesses job openings from both public and private sector web pages. It is being tested in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey, Anson, Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Union, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin Counties. It will search a 75-mile radius from the most distant point.

SEPTEMBER 2004 HIGHLIGHTS

‘Futures for Kids’ receives funding, begins programs in Catawba High Schools

The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded the Futures for Kids (F4K) program a $77,000 grant to begin establishing this innovative web-based career search tool in the eight high schools of Catawba County. This program has also received considerable local support, as local contributors provided an additional $93,000 in matching funds. 17 high schools in ARC counties will begin the project in January 2005 and continue through 2006. To date, local and federal sources have raised nearly $150,000, but in order to fully implement the project across the entirety of the Future Forward region, another $181,000 must be raised.

Developed by Geoff Cramer, F4K introduces students, parents, counselors and the business community to career options, provides motivation for students and offers professional development opportunities for teachers and counselors. It helps students match their interests and skills with potential careers, connects them with local career mentors and directs them toward the academic work needed to get “real world” jobs.

Further details are available on the FF website (www.future-forward.net).

SUMMER 2004 HIGHLIGHTS

Future Forward receives $250,000 from the Economic Development Administration

• Future Forward received a $250,000 grant from the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development agency. This grant is designed to assist the Future Forward Region efforts to achieve four strategic goals. These goals include:
• Provide market research to support efforts to identify companies with the greatest potential for expansion or relocation.
• Identify one or two “mega-sites” as locations for mixed use or industrial development across the 12-county area.
• Analyze local “Brownfield” sites as certified industrial land, valuable for future economic development.
• Continue monitoring and expanding the work of the Future Forward Economic Alliance.
• Matching funds were further provided by NC Department of Commerce CDBG funds and are expected from the Golden Leaf Foundation.