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From Don Kirkman, President & CEO, Piedmont Triad Partnership
As WIRED Concludes, a New Beginning
Moving into new offices is often a time for reflection. Going through file drawers and cabinets offers reminders of things past. There are studies and reports, conference summaries, and reams of correspondence. There are remembrances of new job announcements, as well as reminders of unsuccessful projects and work still uncompleted.
The Piedmont Triad Partnership’s U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant was an opportunity to practice regional economic development. While many economic development organizations support education and workforce development, leadership engagement, entrepreneurism and cluster-based strategies, resources are insufficient to proactively support these activities. The WIRED grant provided the resources required to do all of those things in the Piedmont Triad, and much more.
Following the adoption of the legislatively mandated Piedmont Triad Vision Plan in June 2005, there was a consensus that business as usual was no longer sufficient if the Piedmont Triad was going to reverse its downward economic development trajectory. Only through an ambitious and comprehensive economic “Marshall Plan” could the Piedmont Triad restore economic growth and prosperity and compete successfully in the global economy.
Because local economic development funding was already stretched and no resources were available to implement the Vision Plan’s recommendations, the WIRED grant solicitation could not have been more timely. After first competing to be one of three proposals that North Carolina would submit for the national competition, the Piedmont Triad Partnership proposal was chosen by the U.S. Department of Labor as one of thirteen applications nationwide to receive a prestigious WIRED grant. Originally envisioned as a 3-year grant, the WIRED program was extended to 4 years nationally, and the Piedmont Triad Partnership, like many WIRED grantees, successfully sought an additional extension so that the grant conclusion would coincide with the organization’s June 30, 2010 fiscal year end.
The body of work supported by the Piedmont Triad Partnership’s WIRED grant is very impressive and has been chronicled in a book captioned “WIRED Works. Driving Regional Transformation in the Piedmont Triad.” The goal of the WIRED initiative was to transform regional economies by identifying differentiating regional competencies and by aligning regional economic development and workforce development systems to assure a pipeline of skilled workers to support occupational expansion in those growth clusters.
The Piedmont Triad WIRED grant has been transformational. Institutions, organizations and individuals have been transformed. The Piedmont Triad Partnership itself has been transformed, and the PTP is now poised to play a critically important role in leading economic growth in the Piedmont Triad. For the thousands of individuals who have been engaged in the Region’s successful WIRED-funded initiatives, and to all of the PTP staff who have worked very hard to help make the Piedmont Triad a national model for regional economic development, thank you. Even as we celebrate the successful conclusion of the WIRED grant and discard many files and folders accumulated over the last 53 months, we begin an exciting new journey toward a prosperous Piedmont Triad future.
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WIRED Capstone Conference & Celebration
More than 250 people attended a day-long celebration June 3, 2010 of the Workforce Innovation in Economic Development (WIRED) initiative that began life as a U.S. Department of Labor grant to the Piedmont Triad Partnership in the early days of 2006.
The event showcased more than four years of programs, products and services that have been made possible by the $15 million grant first announced in January 2006.
Over that period, the Piedmont Triad WIRED grant has succeeded in building a new leadership structure of top business, government, civic and education leaders from across the Region who are working together to create jobs and to get people ready to fill those jobs.
More than 60 grants worth more than $3.5 million have been awarded to encourage better training, more collaboration and less duplication. These grants have in turn leveraged more than $6.8 million in local and private funding to sustain these programs.
The program has engaged hundreds of business and education leaders, and thousands of workers have been trained under the grant for better jobs and more productive lives. The grant has produced a dozen innovative technologies, more than 50 products and more than 10 new and better curricula in community colleges, four-year institutions and in secondary schools. It has produced some firsts, such as the State’s first pharmacy tech program.
All of these and more were on display at the Koury Convention Center, in more than a dozen exhibit booths, in 16 different workshops and in morning and lunch sessions that highlighted the best of the WIRED program and included a speech by former U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Emily DeRocco.
PTP President and CEO Don Kirkman poses with former U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Emily DeRocco, who delivered the event’s keynote address.
Panelists at a lunch session emphasized that the WIRED grant provided opportunities for people to collaborate across geographies and political boundaries, creating efficiency, effectiveness and innovation.
“This grant will impact this region, literally, for generations to come,” Don Kirkman, president and cheif executive officer of Piedmont Triad Partnership, told the morning audience. “The Region has been transformed with this grant.”
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Connecting Local Economic Developers to the Commercial Real Estate Network
The Piedmont Triad Partnership has held two events this year to assist the economic developers of our Region in reaching and building relationships with North Carolina’s network of commercial real estate brokers.
In January, the PTP hosted the Charlotte Brokers’ Luncheon. Fifteen commercial real estate brokers from the Charlotte area attended the event. In April, the PTP hosted the Triangle Brokers’ Luncheon. Held in Raleigh, it was attended by approximately 9 commercial realtors from the Triangle area and Business & Industry developers from the Raliegh office of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
At both events, representatives from the Piedmont Triad economic development community were in attendance, and used the opportunity for face-to-face networking.
Mac Williams, president of the Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce, is clear on the importance of such events to his organization and to Alamance County. “These brokers have influence on the commercial real estate climate,” said Williams. “In Alamance County, as in all counties in the State, direct and concise communication with the commercial real estate community can be the difference between welcoming a new corporate client or watching them go elsewhere. Events like the ones hosted by the Partnership make it possible for economic developers to establish rapport with people of influence.”
Randolph County Economic Development Corporation President Bonnie Renfro agrees; she has taken part in several such events sponsored by the Partnership. “Networking with more than a dozen brokers at one event is something we could not do without the Partnership. The connections we make are foundational to generating business in the future,” she says. “We don’t know when that will happen, but we’re investing now for business that we know will come in the future. The Partnership’s willingness to facilitate these events is of tremendous value to our organization and to the entire Region.”
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Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine in the Piedmont Triad
Supported by the Clusters of Opportunity fundraising campaign, efforts to establish and promote Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine in the Piedmont Triad have produced world-class results.
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM)
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM)is a research and training program that focuses on tissue and organ engineering and stem cell research.
Located in Winston-Salem’s Piedmont Triad Research Park , WFIRM’s goal is to use clinical research to speed the safe and efficient delivery of new therapies to patients with conditions ranging from diabetes to heart disease. WFIRM is also working to apply regenerative medicine to battlefield injuries and solving the shortage of donated organs available for transplant.
Education is an important part of WFIRM’s mission. In addition to offering internships to Forsyth Technical Community College students , the Institute provides opportunities for hands-on experience in translational research.
For students interested in a career in research, WFIRM provides the opportunity to conduct independent, hypothesis-driven research through applying regenerative medicine technologies to individual projects.
For the corporate community, the Industry Pathways Program provides opportunities to interact with Institute leadership and faculty, collaborate in translational research projects and gain advanced knowledge of research breakthroughs, technologies and therapies. This program creates meaningful interactions among students, faculty and corporate professionals who will engage in solution-centered research that results in scientific problem solving and the commercialization of high-caliber technologies.
Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) is a partnership between NC A&T University and UNCG. Its mission is to train students to conduct basic and applied research in nano-related fields.
Located at Gateway University Research Park in Greensboro, the JSNN works with the local community to establish applications of nanobioscience, nanotechnology and environmental nanoscience.
Input from Piedmont Triad companies -- such as Nanotech Labs and Quartek International -- can help the JSNN develop potential new applications and determine plans for training students to be competitive in pursuing careers in nanotechnology and nanoscience.
In return, the program offers access to breakthrough research and continuing education to help companies remain efficient and competitive. Through ties with the JSNN, companies can benefit from access to the universities’ relationships with governmental agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and NASA.
In the long term, the JSNN and the business community are developing a regional pool of complementary technologies that can be used to attract more companies to the area. In addition, it pulls together academia, government and business, which is pivotal to transforming the Piedmont Triad into a national leader in biotechnology research and innovation.
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Media Tour Puts Focus on the Piedmont Triad Aviation Industry
The Piedmont Triad Partnership hosted a media tour for six reporters from national aviation industry-related trade publications on May 17-18, 2010. The event was intended to provide a close-up view of the Piedmont Triad’s aviation industry and to highlight the Region’s economic vitality in this emerging sector.
Magazine representatives included top-level editors from Aviation Week, Aviation International News, Avionics, Speed News/Air Transport World, Site Selection Magazine and Foreign Direct Investment. These publications were chosen because they are widely read by upper-level decision makers who influence corporate location and relocation decisions.
“I was impressed with the long tradition and the commitment to aviation I observed while visiting the Piedmont Triad Region as well as the layered approach to economic development involving industry, academia, foundations and local and state governments,” said Bill Carey, editor-in-chief of Avionics Magazine. “This would seem to be the team approach needed to grow and prosper in challenging economic times.”
The media tour began with a reception with regional officials, economic developers, and members of the Piedmont Triad aviation industry, that featured a regional overview presentation. The event also included tours of several of the Region’s prominent aviation facilities and one-on-one interviews with community leaders and aviation executives and included a presentation by Honda Aircraft Company, Inc. Senior Manager for Corporate Affairs, Stephen Keeney.
The tour included visits to B/E Aerospace in Winston-Salem, TIMCO Aviation Services and Atlantic Aero in Greensboro and a brief presentation at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Liam O'Boyle, vice president, operations for B/E Aerospace, conducted a tour of the Winston-Salem facility.
One-on-one interviews were available with top executives from B/E Aerospace, Honda Aircraft Company, TIMCO Aviation Services, Atlantic Aero and GTCC's T. H. Davis Aviation Program. The aviation media tour should allow the Piedmont Triad Region’s aviation cluster to enjoy national exposure from leading trade publications.
TIMCO Aviation Services President and CEO Ron Utecht and Christine Boynton, Speed News/Air Transport World editor
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NC Center for Global Logistics will Position Piedmont Triad as a Logistics Leader
The idea to establish a regional entity to coordinate educational curricula to accentuate regional logistics strengths was identified through a sub-committee of the PTP’s Logistics Roundtable, a group consisting of regional logistics stakeholders from business, government and educational institutions.
Through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Labor WIRED grant, this idea evolved into the North Carolina Center for Global Logistics, a collaboration among 19 of the Region’s colleges and universities, which will contribute to the economic transformation of the Piedmont Triad through the potential for job creation and economic development in logistics and distribution.
The Center, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011, will be a 75-80,000-square-foot building located on Guilford Technical Community College’s Northwest Campus, near the Piedmont Triad International Airport. The 100-acre campus will house a 250-seat auditorium, as well as a 5,000-square-foot teaching warehouse and distribution center.
Artist rendering of the NC Center for Global Logistics.
Through participating institutions, the Center will provide continuing education classes for job skills training and upgrading, college curriculum classes, certificates in Global Logistics and associates degrees in Global Logistics, in addition to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
The initiative will be strengthened by the participation of businesses and industries in the 12-county Piedmont Triad Region. Several local companies have been instrumental in developing the model for the Center, including Old Dominion Freight Line, Epes Logistics, Tyco, Volvo Logistics, Fastenal and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Building on relationships created by and collaborations strengthened through PTP’s Logistics Roundtable, the Center will also assist economic developers in recruiting new business and industry to the Piedmont Triad. As a clearinghouse for inquiries, education, outreach and research related to the logistics industry, the NCCGL is expected to quickly emerge as the premiere provider of logistics services in the eastern United States.
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Teleflex, a medical device manufacturer based in the Research Triangle Park, is expanding in Asheboro. The company has already hired 120 full-time employees in the last year and is planning to increase employment to 720 over the next two years. Teleflex assembles and distributes heart catheters at its Asheboro facility. Most new positions will be in production and assembly.
Ultra Mek is expanding in Davidson County. The company makes hardware for reclining chairs in both the residential and commercial sectors. Ultra Mek has also targeted market segments that are showing growth, including high-end residential and health care. The company is planning a $1.6 million expansion at its Denton facility. The company currently has 150 employees.
WhiteRidge Plastics LLC , a national supplier of custom-molded plastic parts for the automotive, industrial, agricultural, tool and custom-part markets, will expand its operations in Rockingham County. The company plans to create 55 jobs and invest more than $1.2 million during the next three years in Reidsville. WhiteRidge produces custom-injection, blow-molded parts for cars and trucks, agricultural equipment, recreational vehicles, industrial applications and other uses. The company currently employs about 100 workers in Reidsville and plans to install new product lines at the Reidsville facility to manufacture parts for Honda light trucks and all-terrain vehicles. >>PRESS RELEASE
Bekaert Textiles, a Belgian mattress ticking manufacturer, is expanding its U.S. headquarters and production operation in Winston-Salem. The company has already added about 40 jobs over the past several months and plans to add another 20 jobs over the next year. Bekaert has completed the purchase of an 83,000 square foot facility at Union Cross Business Park that will increase the company’s production and storage capacity. The new facility is next door to Bekaert’s existing 232,000 square foot building, which functions as both the headquarters and production base for Bekaert USA.
American Express has chosen Guilford County to build a new data center. >>MORE INFORMATION
Vitacost.com Inc. , a leading online retailer and direct marketer of health and wellness products, will expand in Davidson County. The company plans to invest $6.7 million and create 228 jobs over the next three years. Vitacost.com, headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, currently operates a call center and a manufacturing and distribution facility in Lexington. The company sells brand name items and makes and sells its own branded products, including Nutraceutical Sciences Institute (NSI), Cosmeceutical Sciences Institute (CSI), Smart Basics and Best of All. The expansion of the facility in the Lexington Business Park will allow Vitacost to increase its manufacturing and distribution capabilities to meet growing demand. The Lexington plant currently employs 168 people. >>PRESS RELEASE
DataChambers, a North Carolina-based technology firm, announced that it has secured financing from NewBridge Bank to support construction of a new data center on its 80-acre Winston-Salem campus. Work is already under way on the 20,000 square foot, $9 million project, which was announced last spring. The expansion will more than double the company's capacity to serve clients, including more than 110 firms in 28 states. DataChambers specializes in electronic data storage, network and monitoring solutions, managed information technology solutions, co-location services, secure tape vaulting, and offsite records storage and management. >>PRESS RELEASE
Tri Vantage , the distribution subsidiary for Glen Raven, broke ground in Mebane for its new distribution facility. The 100,000 square foot facility will be located in the North Carolina Industrial Center and will employ 35 individuals when complete. The company secured $205,000 in incentives from Alamance County plus $80,000 from the City of Mebane for the project. Glen Raven is a global provider of innovative fabric-based solutions serving awning, marine, furniture, automotive and military markets worldwide. >>PRESS RELEASE
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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We've Moved!! |
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