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The annual "State of the Region" luncheon was hosted by the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, successor to the Smithfield-Selma Chamber that includes the towns of Kenly, Princeton, and Wilson's Mills in addition to Selma and Smithfield. Speakers included the mayors of those five towns plus leaders of Johnston County Government, Johnston Community College, Johnston County Public Schools, and the Triangle East Chamber. Here are summaries of their reports:  TRALEE, a large subdivision off Swift Creek Road that continues to expand, is within the Wilson's Mills "city limits." Wilson's Mills is "the growing place" Wilson's Mills Mayor Jim Uzzle was the last official to speak at last week's "State of the Region" luncheon --- and his report may have been the most surprising: "We're the growing place," he declared, noting that the municipality of Wilson's Mills currently has more than 700 houses under construction and 350 more on the drawing board. "We are primed" for even more growth, he added. To that end, the town has put together an ambitious long-range plan that includes a "downtown" for a village that never had a central business district like Johnston's other towns. "We haven't built that yet, but we're thinking about it," Mayor Uzzle exclaimed as he showed the gathering a rendering of a two-block-square "downtown." Wilson's Mills was established as a station on the North Carolina Railroad in the 1860s but wasn't incorporated as a municipality until 1927. Growth didn't follow as anticipated, and in 1971 the town relinquished its charter, only to have it reinstated in 1996 as suburban growth from the west crept closer. In the not-too-distant future, Wilson's Mills should have more than 6,000 residents, Mayor Uzzle predicted. (The 2010 U.S. Census put the town's population at 2,277, and that was up from 1,291 in 2000 and just 521 in 1990.) Smithfield attracting more residents Smithfield's Mayor Andy Moore said the most encouraging news from his town is an upswing in home sales. In July of 2018, he noted, houses for sale in Smithfield stayed on the market an average 47 days, and the average sales price was $201,917. In July of this year, houses sold after 33 days on the market, and prices averaged $221,141, reported Mayor Moore (whose wife, Lydia, is a Realtor). Furthermore, more developers are making inquiries about Smithfield's potential for residential growth, he said. Presently under construction is a subdivision on Buffalo Road that will have almost 300 lots; and other projects are in the works, he noted. Borrowing a slogan used by First Citizens Bank years ago (when his father was a bank employee), Mayor Moore said he'd like Smithfield to become known as the "can do" town. Selma "done woke up," says the mayor Selma's Mayor Cheryl Oliver said her town is "realizing our potential as never before" with projects like Eastfield Crossing on I-95, "uptown revitalization" including new awnings and facade fix-ups, and a soon-to-open civic center in a refurbished WPA-era gymnasium. She also noted the re-opening of Selma's swimming pool and a project to establish a memorial for veterans at Selma Memorial Gardens. "Someone told me recently that 'Selma done woke up' and they're right about that," she exclaimed. Mayor Oliver praised the principals of the community's high school, middle school, and elementary school for working together to make things better. They "have forged a very strong alliance over the summer," she said. Princeton and Kenly join the chorus Princeton's Mayor Don Rains said his town is "no longer an island," thanks to the Triangle East Chamber. Plans to convert US 70 into Interstate 42 "will bring economic opportunity" --- with "no stoplights!" the mayor exclaimed. Already, Princeton has seen an uptick in residential growth, he noted, with two new subdivisions in place and two more in the works. Downtown buildings are "90 percent occupied" and a $717,000 community center housing Princeton's public library as well as Scouts and civic clubs is coming soon, he reported. Kenly's Mayor Bonnie Williamson said the town is refining its ordinances to encourage more residential variety and improvements to vacant buildings. Meanwhile, a major civic project just getting under way is replacement of the old Kenly school auditorium and cafeteria with a brand-new community center. Demolition of the dilapidated structure is coming soon, along with a fund-raising drive to construct the new facility, the mayor noted. Reports from county institutions County Commissioners' Chairman Ted Godwin touted major economic development projects under way: Eastfield at Selma, the Ashley Furniture distribution center at Four Oaks, the Petro 95 truckstop at Kenly, Blue Line Aviation's training center and other improvements at Johnston Regional Airport. In the works for County Government, Mr. Godwin noted, is participation in a regional commuter-rail study, construction of the new Detention Center, employment of a parks, recreation, and open-space coordinator, and long-range planning for "smart growth." Speaking for Johnston Community College, Twyla Wells said the school has about 13,000 students with an average age of 24 (63% female), an average class size of 18, and student-faculty ratio of 19 to 1. The 50th anniversary of JCC's opening in the fall of 1969 as Johnston Technical Institute will be highlighted by the opening of a "Student Success Center," the re-opening next spring of the renovated Paul A. Johnston Auditorium, and construction of a building for the school's new engineering program, said Mr. Wells, who is director of the JCC Foundation. Speaking for Johnston County Public Schools, Brian Vetrano reported enrollment countywide last week was up more than 500 from last year. "We grow about a new school a year," he noted. Mr. Vetrano, the school system's chief of human resources and financial services, this past week was temporarily filling the vacant superintendent's position. "We are in a period of transition," he acknowledged as he listed a "dedicated (school) board," a "strong force of employees," and the arrival (this week) of Jim Causby as interim superintendent as reasons for continued progress in student achievement, school safety, and "community engagement." Priorities for the Chamber of Commerce Mike Mancuso, president (CEO) of the Triangle East Chamber, wrapped up the session by emphasizing a couple of major topics his organization is addressing: One is transportation. Major road projects that will have big impacts on the region, he said, are upgrades to I-95, conversion of US 70 into "Interstate 42," construction of the southern leg of I-540 around Raleigh, and commuter rail, which could be "the biggest game changer" of them all. The other is education. Mr. Mancuso said the emphasis there is "workforce readiness," which will require the Chamber "to get business at the table to work with our educators." The biggest thing going just now, he noted, is "JoCo Works," which is focusing on an event November 14-15 that will introduce all of Johnston County's eighth graders to "10 worlds of work." For more information about that, visit www.jocoworks.net> |
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