Moore County Partners in Progress recently released their Quarterly Progress Report highlighting their activities and initiatives in the areas of economic development, community development, and workforce development for the quarter ending March 31.
“What’s especially notable about our report this quarter is that Partner in Progress is working with several municipalities — including Carthage, Vass, and Robbins — on various projects to help these towns achieve specific economic development goals for their respective communities,” said Natalie Hawkins, executive director of Partners in Progress. “This report directly reflects our concerted efforts to focus on economic development throughout all of Moore County, not just the southern half, as we strive to achieve our mission.”
Some of the more significant activities highlighted in the Partners in Progress Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended March 31 include:
• Assisted the Town of Aberdeen with obtaining a $167,670 Build Ready Sites grant — one (1) of only six (6) grants awarded in the state — from the NC Railroad Company to clear and grade 40 acres for development in the Iron Horse Industrial Park in Aberdeen.
• Assisted the Town of Robbins with applying for a Golden LEAF Foundation SITE Program grant to help identify potential industrial sites for development within the Town and surrounding area.
• Assisted the Town of Carthage with pursuing the renovation of the historic Buggy building into a restaurant/brewery in their downtown district.
• Continued work through the Entrepreneurship Task Force assembled by Partners in Progress to complete the Certified Entrepreneurial Community® program that will designate and promote Moore County as an “entrepreneur-ready” community.
• Co-hosted the inaugural Workforce Development Roundtable meeting with the Moore County Chamber attended by more than 50 representatives from local employers who learned about the workforce development programs and services Sandhills Community College (SCC) offers. Employers are invited to attend the second Roundtable meeting on May 25 at 9 a.m. at Union Pines High School that will focus on Moore County Schools’ Career & Technical Education (CTE) program.
• Collaborated with the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, Moore County Schools, and SCC to create the 2022 Moore County Employer Survey that will be distributed to 3,400 local employers in all industry sectors to gather feedback about their workforce needs, business outlook, and overall satisfaction with Moore County’s business environment. In May, employers will receive a postcard in the mail with a unique link to access the online survey.
• Collaborated with the USGA, Pinehurst Resort, SCC, and other partners to develop a new Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program at SCC beginning in January 2023 that will be another career pathway for golf course maintenance staff.
• Participated in the Town of Vass’ stakeholder group for the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center’s Community Economic Recovery & Resiliency Initiative (CERRI) created to help small towns and rural communities recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and build local economies that are more resilient to future crises.
• Gathered a panel of Planning Directors from Moore County, Aberdeen, Pinehurst and Southern Pines to speak with the Partners in Progress Moore 100 group about local development trends.
• Hosted the 15th Annual Progress Cup Golf Tournament, a primary fundraiser to support Partners in Progress’ operations and initiatives.
The full Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended March 31 can be accessed on the Partners in Progress website. “We truly have so many exciting projects on our plate right now, and we look forward to our ongoing collaboration with our government, business, and community partners to advance these initiatives that will create quality jobs, generate capital investment, and increase the tax base,” said Hawkins.
Moore 100 is a group of individuals and businesses who want to be more informed about topics of community importance, be more engaged in economic & community development, want to build local relationships, and have dialogue with business & community leaders. Moore County business leaders who want to learn more about Moore 100 are encouraged to contact Partners in Progress staff for more information at 910.246.0311 or [email protected].
Moore County Partners in Progress is a 501c(3) not-for-profit economic development organization and public-private partnership serving all of Moore County, NC. Partners in Progress’ mission is to “increase economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for Moore County’s citizens through the creation of quality jobs and capital investment in our communities.”
For more information about Moore County Partners in Progress, please visit www.moorebusiness.org. Also, visit www.moorealive.com to learn how you can “Stress Less and Live Moore” in beautiful Moore County.
Feature photo of Village of Pinehurst by Sandhills Sentinel Photographer Melissa Schaub.
Contributed.
