Archives: Press Releases

ElectriCities of North Carolina has been named one of the nation’s top utilities by a leading economic development and site selection magazine.

Business Facilities, a magazine that focuses on economic development and site selection news, publishes a list of leading utilities that excel in providing economic development support, low-cost energy, and infrastructure.

“Promoting economic development in public power communities has always been a top priority for ElectriCities, so we’re thrilled to be recognized for our success in that area,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “Throughout this last year, the benefits of public power have helped our communities attract and retain businesses, adding a growing workforce throughout North Carolina.”

Public power communities across North Carolina enjoyed economic development successes in 2017. Two notable projects included:

⦁ EGGER Wood Products invested $700 million to build its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Lexington, N.C., creating 400 jobs.
⦁ Lionchase Holdings announced plans to develop a cold storage facility in Tarboro, N.C. at one of ElectriCities’ shovel-ready Smart Sites. This project will create 100 new jobs with $22.6 million in investments.

ElectriCities is actively involved in helping public power communities secure economic development projects. Through June 2017, public power communities in North Carolina added approximately 4,700 new jobs and attracted more than $2.18 billion in new investments.

In more than seventy cities and towns across North Carolina, homes and businesses are powered by municipal-owned utilities. These public power communities have a well-earned reputation for providing safe, reliable electric service and outstanding customer service to more than 1.2 million people in North Carolina.

This week is celebrated as “Public Power Week” in North Carolina and nationwide. Gov. Roy Cooper issued a formal proclamation declaring the first week in October as Public Power Week to “commend our state’s public power cities and towns for their outstanding contributions to our communities.” The proclamation highlights public power utilities as “valuable assets that contribute to the well-being of the community and provide economic development opportunities.”

A statewide survey of 3,000 customers conducted this year found that 86% of residents are satisfied with public power.

“You can’t underestimate the importance of being local. Public power providers have the local community’s best interest at heart with everything they do,” said Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities, a non-profit organization that serves public power communities in North Carolina and beyond. “Local crews can quickly respond to power outages to get the lights back on, and local customer service representatives provide the type of personal attention that comes from being part of your community.”

Public power providers in North Carolina — and across the nation — consistently outperform investor-owned utilities when it comes to reliability. Public power experiences fewer power outages, and gets the power restored more quickly than others.

Twenty-three public power providers in North Carolina have been recognized by the American Public Power Association (APPA) as a Reliable Public Power Provider for providing outstanding reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement.

A Rich Tradition of Public Power in North Carolina

Public power has a rich tradition in North Carolina that dates back to 1889, when the City of Statesville began using electric lights instead of gas street lamps to illuminate the tiny downtown area. Today, North Carolina is home to four of the nation’s largest public power providers: Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Greenville Utilities Commission, High Point, and Wilson Energy. The state ranks among the top 10 providers of public power in the nation.

Nationally, there are more than 2,000 public power providers who serve 49 million people.

# # #

ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. received a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2017 NC Public Power Calendar, a promotion project in the category of Special Purpose Print Promotion from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

The honor was presented at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 19, during the IEDC Annual Conference, which was held Sept. 17 – 20, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“On behalf of the IEDC board of directors and Excellence in Economic Development Awards Advisory Committee, congratulations to ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. Not only did they work to provide a necessary service to their community; but also, their participation in the awards program sheds light on their stellar projects which other communities can now use as a benchmark.” – Michael Langley, FM, CEO of GREATER MSP, Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN, and 2017 IEDC Board Chair

NC Public Power illuminates the homes and businesses of more than 1.2 million people in North Carolina—more than the population of Raleigh and Charlotte combined. They support those public power communities, providing services that include economic development.

For several years, they have created a calendar featuring interesting and unique businesses and destinations in NC Public Power communities, continuing the tradition with the 2016 NC Public Power calendar. With the theme “Superior Service,” community leaders in local businesses or destinations in 12 public power communities were featured. Also, they highlighted and connected the value of the services that the city and town officials provide for their citizens, the value of the services that ElectriCities provides, and the value of public power.
Using journalistic photography and simple stories of people caring about other people, they showed service at many levels—the types of services that people in the communities value and that those who do business in the communities value. They are further promoting economic development in the featured communities with social media posts throughout the year.

“The awards process is a thorough, non-biased and multi-layered process. These are extraordinary accomplishments for all winners, and an overall great effort by all participants. We look forward to next year’s awards competition,” Langley said.

When it comes to showcasing North Carolina’s public power communities to economic developers, the Southern Economic Development Council rates ElectriCities of North Carolina among the best. ElectriCities captured four communications awards at the council’s annual conference in Charlotte this week.

“We take pride in developing professional marketing materials that help our members get noticed by economic developers,” said Brenda Daniels, manager of economic development at ElectriCities. In the past two years, ElectriCities members have successfully attracted more than 10,000 new jobs and nearly $2.5 billion in new investments.

ElectriCities received two of the council’s highest awards for its development of a print calendar featuring North Carolina’s public power communities and for creation of a “Shop Local” logo for the town of Albemarle. A video focusing on how public power communities responded to Hurricane Matthew received an award of excellence and a newsletter targeted at economic development professionals received an award of merit.

Entries are based on graphic appeal, clarity of message, and quality of information. Judges include economic development consultants and design professionals from across the southern United States who work with clients to develop strategies for growth in their communities.

About the Southern Economic Development Council
The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) is the oldest and largest regional economic development association in North America. It has more than 900 members in 17 states who share a common interest: the promotion and enhancement of the economic development profession. Learn more at www.sedc.org.

ElectriCities announced today that a $22.7 million commercial cold storage facility will be developed on one of its designated Smart Sites in Tarboro, N.C. The facility is expected to create more than 100 new jobs in the community and attract national and international customers needing large-scale cold storage capabilities for produce, meat and other goods.

This is the first major economic development project to be located at one of ElectriCities’ designated Smart Sites. ElectriCities has worked with public power communities across the state to develop shovel-ready Smart Sites that are located within five miles of a major highway and already have access to municipal electric service, water and sewer within 500 feet. These sites must also undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts before earning the Smart Site designation.

“Economic development is a competitive business, so we created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in public power communities across the state,” said Brenda Daniels, ElectriCities director of economic development. “It’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property, so we’ve worked to develop shovel-ready sites that can significantly reduce the amount of time needed for construction.”

Construction on the 200,000-square foot cold storage facility in Tarboro will begin this summer and the facility is expected to open within 18 months. The facility will be located at the Tarboro Commerce Center, an industrial park that is currently home to a Japanese auto parts manufacturer.

There are 11 properties in North Carolina that have received the Smart Site designation, including sites in Battleboro, Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, Laurinburg, New Bern, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson. ElectriCities promotes Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world.

ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. has designated a 38-acre Smart Site in Battleboro’s Whitaker Business and Industry Center. The designation guarantees that the site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new development.

Located at 6751 N.C. Highway 48, the Smart Site is about one-third of a mile from Interstate 95, 16 miles from Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport, and within 140 miles of three deep-water ports. The City of Rocky Mount supplies the site’s utility services, including electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer, and CenturyLink provides fiber-optic internet access.

ElectriCities Economic Development Manager Brenda Daniels announced the designation to community leaders, including Norris Tolson, CEO and president of Carolinas Gateway Partnership; Krista Ikirt, vice president of Carolinas Gateway Partnership; Nash County Manager Zee Lamb; and Wayne Outlaw, vice chairman of Nash County board of commissioners.
The site will now be marketed to growing businesses as a prime site for development in North Carolina.

About the Smart Sites Program
ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program in 2014 to help member communities prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

“In today’s competitive environment, it’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property,” explains Daniels. “New and expanding companies expect existing buildings or a prepared, shovel-ready site to shorten the amount of time needed for construction. We created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in NC Public Power communities.”

Earning the Smart Sites designation is challenging. Potential sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts, including Engineering Consulting Services and Creative Economic Development Consulting. Each site must have municipal electric service, have water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within five miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway.

ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world. Other Smart Sites are in Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, Laurinburg, New Bern, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson.

Learn More
To learn more about Nash County’s new Smart Site, the Smart Sites program, or economic development in NC Public Power communities, contact Brenda Daniels at bdaniels@electricities.org or 919-760-6363, or visit https://www.electricities.com/EconDev.

A leading economic development and site selection magazine has named ElectriCities of North Carolina one of the nation’s Top 20 Utilities.

Business Facilities, a magazine that focuses on economic development and site selection news, publishes an annual list of leading utilities that excel in providing economic development support, low-cost energy, and infrastructure. Click here to view the list.

“Promoting economic development in public power communities is a top priority for ElectriCities, so we’re thrilled to be recognized for our success in that area,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “Helping bring new jobs and added investment to North Carolina is one of many ways we deliver value to the communities we serve.”

ElectriCities is actively involved in helping public power communities secure economic development projects. Public power communities in North Carolina added 5,410 new jobs and secured over $900 million in new investments in 2016. Those investments added 59 megawatts of new load.

“Having ElectriCities at the table in any economic development discussion is always a major plus. They take a pragmatic ‘let’s get it done approach’ that clients and developers like us find extremely valuable,” said Norris Tolson, CEO & President of Carolinas Gateway Partnership, a public-private economic development organization serving Nash and Edgecombe counties. “This no-nonsense approach creates jobs and adds tremendous value to local communities like ours.”

Carolinas Gateway Partnership worked with ElectriCities as part of its successful recruitment of CSX’s $270 million Carolina Connector cargo terminal. The project is expected to create 1,500 jobs across North Carolina, including 300 jobs in Rocky Mount.

ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., has announced the recipients of the 2016 Public Power Awards of Excellence. The awards honor public power communities across the state for outstanding performance in five key areas: business environment, energy efficiency, financial stability, legislative involvement and customer service.

“It is an honor to recognize these outstanding public power communities for their commitment to providing exceptional service to their customers and communicating the value of public power,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “These hardworking employees and community leaders are truly at the heart of public power, showing tireless dedication and exemplifying what it means to be a committed community partner.”

The Competitive Business Environment Award recognizes a city’s efforts to create a strong business climate by participating in activities such as promoting economic development. This year’s winners are Albemarle, Concord, Fayetteville, Greenville, Kinston, Morganton, Rocky Mount, Statesville and Wilson.

The Energy Efficiency Award recognizes communities’ efforts with energy-efficient building programs, energy education, energy audits and weatherization programs. The winners in this category are Albemarle, Concord, Fayetteville, Greenville, Kinston, Morganton, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Statesville and Wilson.

The Financial Stability Award recognizes communities that provide convenient, customer-friendly billing and payment options that help communities maintain financial stability. This year’s recipients are Albemarle, Concord, Fayetteville, Greenville, Kinston, Morganton, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Statesville and Wilson.

The Legislative Involvement Award recognizes city and town officials’ and staff members’ involvement in the legislative process on issues pertaining to public power. This year’s award goes to Albemarle, Concord, Fayetteville, Greenville, Rocky Mount, Statesville and Wilson.

The Service Excellence Award honors outstanding efforts to communicate with customers through advertisements, online resources, social media or other community-based methods. This year’s winners are Albemarle, Concord, Fayetteville, Greenville, Kinston, Morganton, New Bern, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Statesville and Wilson.

ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., has designated Laurinburg Industrial Park a Smart Site. The designation guarantees the site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new development.

The 105-acre Smart Site is located at 1000 Stewartsville Road, near the interchange of Interstate 74 and South Caledonia Road. The City of Laurinburg supplies the site’s utility services, including electricity, water, sewer, and high-speed internet, and Piedmont Natural Gas provides nearby gas service. The site is adjacent to a Gulf & Ohio Railway line.

ElectriCities Economic Development Manager Brenda Daniels announced the designation, and Senior Economic Developer Carl Rees was on hand for the site’s inauguration. Rees was joined by several city and county leaders, including Laurinburg City Manager, Charles Nichols, and Director of the Scotland County Economic Development Corporation, Mark Ward.
The site will now be marketed to growing businesses as a prime site for development in North Carolina.

About the Smart Sites Program
ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program in 2014 to help member communities prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

“In today’s competitive environment, it’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property,” explains Daniels. “New and expanding companies expect existing buildings or a prepared, shovel-ready site to shorten the amount of time needed for construction. We created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in NC Public Power communities.”

Earning the Smart Sites designation is challenging. Potential sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts, including Engineering Consulting Services and Creative Economic Development Consulting. Each site must have municipal electric service, have water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within five miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway.

ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world. Other Smart Sites are located in Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, New Bern, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson.

Learn More
To learn more about Laurinburg’s new Smart Site, the Smart Sites program, or economic development in NC Public Power communities, contact Brenda Daniels at bdaniels@electricities.org or 919-760-6363, or visit https://www.electricities.com/EconDev.

ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., has designated Shelby’s Washburn Switch Industrial Park a Smart Site. The designation guarantees the site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new development.

Located at 2215 Randolph Road in Shelby, the 64-acre Smart Site is about a mile from U.S. Highway 74 and less than a half mile from the future U.S. 74 Bypass. It is within the city limits. Rail service is provided by CSX, and the City of Shelby provides the site’s electricity, water and natural gas services.

ElectriCities Economic Development Manager Brenda Daniels announced the designation to Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony, Cleveland County Manager Jeff Richardson, and Kristin Reese of the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership. The site will now be marketed to growing businesses as a prime site for development in North Carolina.

About the Smart Sites Program
ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program in 2014 to help member communities prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

“In today’s competitive environment, it’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property,” explains Daniels. “New and expanding companies expect existing buildings or a prepared, shovel-ready site to shorten the amount of time needed for construction. We created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in NC Public Power communities.”

Earning the Smart Sites designation is challenging. Potential sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts, including Engineering Consulting Services and Creative Economic Development Consulting. Each site must have municipal electric service, have water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within five miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway.

ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world. Other Smart Sites are located in Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, New Bern, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson.

Learn More
To learn more about Shelby’s new Smart Site, the Smart Sites program, or economic development in NC Public Power communities, contact Brenda Daniels at bdaniels@electricities.org or 919-760-6363, or visit https://www.electricities.com/EconDev.