Pro Refrigeration Expanding Production at Mocksville Manufacturing Plant

May 16, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Teachers learn about the jobs and skill requirements at Pro Refrigeration during teacher externship presentation.

Pro Chiller Systems has announced that it will shift the production of all standard equipment from its Auburn, Washington headquarters to its east coast manufacturing facility located in Mocksville, NC effective June 30th.

Pro Refrigeration designs, manufactures and distributes state-of-the-art refrigeration systems for the dairy, winery, food processing, medical, and brewing industries. Since opening in North Carolina in 2013, the percentage of equipment produced in North Carolina versus Washington has steadily increased reaching a 75% (NC) to 25% (WA) split in 2018. Pro will continue with limited manufacturing in Auburn with a focus on product development, testing, and certification.

“From a business standpoint, it makes sense to have all of our standard products produced in a single facility,” said Jim VanderGiessen, CEO. “We’ve invested in building a world-class facility in North Carolina, adding this volume will challenge us, but the capacity is there. On a personal level, it’s really a tough call to make when decisions affect longtime members of the team.”

“Several factors were considered before making this decision. First of all, our production costs are lower in North Carolina for many reasons, primarily because we are producing more here and benefit from the economy of scale. Secondly, we have 80 percent of our suppliers within a one-day drive of our Mocksville plant which decreases inventory and transportation costs. Lastly, our facility costs are much lower. It currently costs the same to operate our 25,000 SF plant in Washington as it does to operate our 65,000 SF plant in North Carolina.”

According to VanderGiessen, the move will save the company about 15 percent in production costs of standard products.

The Mocksville facility, located on Beechtree Place, just off of Farmington Road near Interstate 40, currently employs approximately 35 people. With the consolidation, the Mocksville manufacturing facility will hire as many as five additional employees and increase production by 25 percent.
The 25,000 SF Auburn headquarters will continue to have an important role in Pro’s ongoing strategy. In addition to ongoing finance/accounting, customer service, training, and inside sales- this new shift will focus on product development and product certification. “Going forward, the priority in Auburn will be developing and testing new equipment and finding additional industries to serve,” VanderGiessen added. “We’ve spent the past 30 years disrupting some big markets and are excited about the opportunities we are working on. Having a dedicated team and facility for these opportunities is huge.”
He emphasized, “Our goal is to create some new roles in both Auburn and Mocksville and find opportunities for anyone affected, we will do everything we can to minimize the impact on the team.”

“Davie County continues to prove itself as the right location for our East Coast operation and has become home,” he said. “It has been a supportive community since day one and continues to be. That’s why we are increasing our investment here.”

Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission is pleased with that decision. “Davie County Economic Development continues to make an impact with connections across the United States. We are grateful for companies like Pro Refrigeration that believe and invest in Davie County.”

History of Pro Refrigeration in Davie County
Pro Refrigeration landed in Mocksville in 2013 after a yearlong search for a site that would fit its expansion plans. The family-owned manufacturer decided that both the Davie County facility and the community best reflected their vision. According to CEO Jim Vandergiessen, the company chose Davie County for “its skilled workforce, the business-friendly environment, and the amazing support we’ve received from everyone we’ve met.”
Two years later, the company outgrew its 40,000 square feet of space in the former Crown Wood building on John Crotts Road and expanded into its current 65,000 square feet of space in the former Renegade Tobacco warehouse. The layout of the new location doubled the amount of space dedicated to the manufacturing process and allows for the upcoming consolidation.

About Pro Refrigeration, Inc.
Pro Refrigeration, Inc. was co-founded by Jim VanderGiessen Jr., CEO, and his Father Jim Sr. in 1990. In addition to being industry leaders to the craft beverage and dairy markets, Pro designs and manufactures chiller systems for numerous industries with a complete product offering from ¾ to 300 HP serving applications that require chilled fluid from –45 F to +45 F.
Pro Refrigeration, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn, WA with a 65,000 SF East Coast manufacturing facility located in Mocksville, NC. Pro also has a network of regional salespeople serving in each corner of the US. For more information, visit www.prochiller.com.

Local Industry and Community College Join Forces at Davie County Job Fair

May 16, 2019 By Mark Schambach

Davie CONNECT and DCCC, the Community College of Davidson and Davie Counties joined forces on Wednesday, May 8^th at the Davie Campus in Mocksville for the first co-sponsored job fair.

The event brought together more than 20 employers representing a wide range of professions and industries. Career options at the job fair included positions in the areas of healthcare, advanced manufacturing, business, IT, education and more.

According to Carolyn McManamy, director of Davie CONNECT, “Our first co-hosted job fair attracted a large number of job seekers and we are thrilled with the teamwork and the support of DCCC as we strive to connect businesses to resources and kids to careers and to provide innovative workforce solutions for Davie County.”

“This job fair was open to students and to the public as well. Our employers gained access to a wide range of talent which provided wonderful direct recruiting opportunities that reached beyond the walls of the community college student body. We were very pleased that our pre-event outreach attracted both DCCC students and other job seekers from the community,” added McManamy.

A survey of job seekers attending the job fair indicated that 98% of job seekers attending the job fair were satisfied with the variety of employers represented while 97% of job seekers found the schedule of the job fair was convenient. 40% of attendees spoke with less than 5 employers, while more than half of the attendees spoke with more than 5 employers.

Employers attending the job fair included Ashley Furniture, Avgol, Blakley Landscaping, Brakebush Brothers, CPP Global, DCCC Human Resources, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres, First Choice Personnel, Gildan, Home Instead Senior Care, Ingersoll Rand, Morrisofa, NCWorks, O’Callahans Publick House, PalletOne, Patterson Company, REEB, The Resource, Sabeti Wain Aerospace, Sheetz, Smith Excavating, Summershine Resort Staffing, Woodman Life, and Workforce Unlimited.

The Piedmont Triad Regional Council was also on hand with the PTRC Mobile Career Center to assist prospective employees with resume preparation and career advising.

Given the success of this first DCCC/Davie CONNECT job fair, we can expect additional job fairs to be scheduled moving forward.

About Davie CONNECT
An initiative of the Davie County Economic Commission, Davie CONNECT is designed to connect businesses to resources and kids to careers and to provide innovative workforce solutions for Davie County. For more information, contact Carolyn McManamy at 336.753.6670 or cmcmanamy@daviecounty.com.

About Davidson County Community College
Founded in 1963, Davidson County Community College is a fully accredited, multi-campus college where students of all ages and backgrounds pursue academic and career-focused education in order to build successful futures. As one of 58 institutions within the North Carolina Community College System, DCCC offers more than 40 degree and professional certificate programs to students in Davidson and Davie counties, as well as affordable college-credit coursework to students who plan to transfer to 4-year universities. With a mission to serve the changing needs of students competing in a global environment, DCCC is committed to quality education, innovative and equitable learning experiences, training, and support across a wide range of 21st-century career fields.

Davie Industry Connecting with Future Workforce through Davie County Schools CTE Programs

Apr 24, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Anthony Davis, Director of Career and Technical Education and Federal Programs for Davie County Schools leads discussion during CTE/STEM Alliance Business Advisory Council meeting

“It’s all about exposure,” says Anthony Davis. “It’s exposing the students to the businesses but also exposing the businesses to the students.”

Davis, Director of CTE and Federal Programs for Davie County Schools, was referring to the Davie High CTE (Career and Technical Education) Program’s efforts to connect its students with area businesses.

“There are some communities in our state that don’t have any large businesses, others have big businesses but they don’t interact with the schools, and some places have multiple school systems within their county fighting for the same businesses. We are very blessed here to have one high school and several businesses willing to come out and work with us.”

Janet Barnes, Career Development Coordinator (CDC), agreed, adding,” We have quite a bit of interaction, but we’d always like more. We can never have too much interaction.”

“We were super pleased with the number of business and industry representatives that we had willing to reach out to our students during the Career Expo, but we want local businesses and industry to know that there are many more ways to get involved with our students throughout the year.”

“We have these amazing businesses and industries out there, wonderful places that will eventually provide wonderful opportunities for our students full time. Often the students know the names of the companies, but they don’t know what goes on there. By industries opening their doors to us I think that it will definitely open up a pipeline of potential employees.”

A student learns about career options and opportunities at Gildan during 2019 Career Expo at Davie County High School

Davis believes this could be especially beneficial to businesses in helping to recruit younger workers. “Now that it is such a competitive job market, they are having to learn what it takes to recruit a millennial. Job recruiting today is nothing like it was 20 or 30 years ago. We are having to work together to figure out how we mesh today’s workforce with the current needs of employers. Millennials sometimes get a bad rap, but they have a lot to offer. Millennials do a great job of multitasking and they were born into technology whereas we were not. We have to be able to utilize their strengths to develop the workforce businesses need.”

Job Shadowing
An easy first step for businesses to get involved is to allow a student to job shadow.

“Some businesses are limited on the amount of time they can host students and that’s fine,” said Barnes. “Job shadowing can be half a day, a full day, or even a couple hours, whatever will allow a student to get a snapshot of the type of work that is done at that particular workplace.”

Internships
“If job shadowing is successful, they might want to consider an internship which allows a student to work 135 hours over the course of a semester. Maybe they will really like the student and want to continue working with them through a pre-apprenticeship and even an apprenticeship.”

“We’d love to have businesses willing to have our students come to serve as interns throughout the year, summertime, or whenever they can do it,” said Davis. “We can do internships at any time.”

As part of an internship, students earn course credit and are required to provide several items of evidence to demonstrate what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown.

Left to Right, Makayla Smith,10th grade, Mrs. Sandra Hinkle Food and Consumer Sciences Teacher, and Samantha Perdue, 10th grade, discuss the anatomy of protein during egg dissection in Food and Nutrition class

Businesses Don’t Need to Worry about Insurance Liability
When approached about offering job shadowing or internships opportunities, some businesses have expressed concerns about having students under 18 in their buildings because of insurance liability. “We’d love for our business community to understand that our students are insured by us through state and CTE funds so it’s okay for businesses to open their doors to the students,” said Davis.

He’d also like businesses to know that there are students looking for internship opportunities in all different areas. “My daughter did an internship in a doctor’s office. It doesn’t have to be a huge corporation, small businesses can offer opportunities for students. We had a student who wanted to work with pets who completed a semester internship with a pet groomer. It can be anything.”

Barnes would like to assure businesses that in addition to insurance the school provides a confidentiality statement. “These things are in place to protect both our students and businesses.”

Pre-Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships
“If a company wants to expand beyond an internship we can go to a pre-apprenticeship,” said Davis.

“Pre-Apprenticeships and apprenticeships offer great educational and employment opportunities for our students and graduates. A student still in high school can join a cooperating business for a pre-apprenticeship or if they wait until after high school a full apprenticeship. Businesses can create their own apprenticeship programs or collaborate in a consortium of companies. In Davidson and Davie Counties, we have Davidson & Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) which has a focus on advanced manufacturing. Consortium members include Ingersoll Rand, Avgol, BMK Americas, CPM Wolverine Proctor, Egger Wood Products, and Kurz. Consortium members and Davidson County Community College collaborated with ApprenticehipNC to set expectations for students and businesses. Eventually, we are hoping to see an expansion of this consortium to include other academic and career pathways as well.”

“In either case, through a consortium or individually, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships are win-win situations for students and businesses. Businesses get a reliable, educated employee whom they have trained from the beginning, and our students get a quality education debt-free and are guaranteed employment.”

According to Davis, Davie High is currently in the process of developing a pre-apprenticeship program with Davie Construction and hopes to expand into other industries and with other companies.

Davie Student Landon Reynolds leads the CTE/STEM Alliance Business Advisory Council members on tour of the horticulture greenhouse at Davie County High School

Lunch & Learns, Classroom Collaborations, STEMinars, and STEM Field Trips
Barnes is always looking for business owners, industry representatives and other professionals to conduct a Lunch & Learn session during Smart Lunch, the 40-minute time slot students have to make up school work, receive tutoring, or attend lectures or club meetings.

There are also opportunities for individual class-based collaboration to occur. “For example, both Members Credit Union and the State Employees Credit Union have come into our Personal Finance classes as guest speakers.”

“STEM teachers also invite local businesses and individuals to Smart Lunch sessions,” said Davis. “In these STEMinars, businesses help students learn about their business or occupation through discussion and hands-on activities. Recently, STEM teachers have included pertinent CTE classes to share in this opportunity. Field trips are taken to area businesses and attractions, mainly during the summer, to expose students to STEM-related fields. We are always looking for partner businesses who will open their doors for tours and who would be willing to join us on our campus for STEMinars/Lunch and Learns.”

CTE/STEM Alliance Business Advisory Council
Another way businesses can be involved with the high school is to join the CTE/STEM Alliance Business Advisory Council, which is mandated by law, according to Davis. “Thankfully, ours is well attended. We have a good group of people who come and want to be involved. We certainly want to showcase to our businesses what we are doing, but we also want input from them as to what we can do better to help them.”

Externships
Equally important is the summer externship program for teachers.

“Getting our teachers exposed to what our businesses are doing is very beneficial for helping them to guide students,” said Davis. “Businesses can host the externs for as little as an hour or as long as a couple of days. Offering that type of flexibility turned out to be very successful last summer.”

New Collaboration Opportunities in the Works
Barnes and Davis are constantly brainstorming additional ways to enhance the business/student connection.

They are exploring credentialing options through state-approved modules on specific soft skills or professional skills since those are areas business advisory members have expressed concerns about. Students would receive a certificate detailing the modules and skills they had completed. Examples of available modules include balancing work and home life, proper use of technology, and teamwork.

“The certification would let potential employers know that the student has been properly vetted in that skill,” Davis said.

Teachers learn about the jobs and skill requirements at Pro Refrigeration during teacher externship presentation.

“Manufacturing Day has been a wonderful experience for our middle schoolers,” said Davis “We would like to be able to do the same thing for the high school students. We don’t know what that would look like yet because there are so many more students but getting the high school students into the businesses would also be valuable.

Barnes would like to establish a job board as well as a job link on the school’s website to assist both students and employers.

“We want all of our businesses to know that there are so many opportunities available to them,” said Davis. “You can come to a STEMinar, you can come to a Lunch & Learn, you can be involved with the business advisory council, or come participate in our Career Expo. We want to be involved with you and we want you to be involved with us”.

Barnes added, “We are so grateful for all of the business owners and industry reps who’ve chosen to be involved with our students and we look forward to continuing to expand that.”

For more information about how your business can connect with Davie High please contact:
Anthony Davis, CTE Director – davisan@davie.k12.nc.us or 336-751-5921 x1015
Janet Barnes, Career Development Coordinator – barnesj@davie.k12.nc.us or 336-751-5905

Jobs! ~ Larson Manufacturing, Largest Manufacturer of Storm Doors in USA, Opens New 130,000 Square Foot Distribution Center in Mocksville for Comfort Bilt Windows and Doors

Apr 22, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Community and business leaders from Mocksville and Davie County tour new Comfort Bilt distribution center at Southpoint Business Park in Mocksville.

Community and business leaders from Mocksville and Davie County tour new Larson/Comfort-Bilt distribution center at Southpoint Business Park in Mocksville.

Larson Manufacturing, the largest manufacturer of storm doors and storm windows in the United States, has opened a new 130,000 SF distribution center adjacent to its Comfort Bilt Windows and Doors manufacturing facility in the SouthPoint Business Park in Mocksville.

Comfort Bilt began operations in Mocksville in 1999 with one production line. Today, nine different product lines are manufactured by 200 dedicated employees residing in Davie and surrounding counties, and the shared 194,000 SF facility had become a growth-limiting factor for both divisions.

Relocating the distribution center increases distribution space from 70,000 SF to 130,000 SF which will increase the company’s ability to service its East Coast customers and will expand its manufacturing capacity explained Troy Bunker, director of sourcing and logistics at Larson Manufacturing, during a grand opening celebration facilitated by the Davie County Chamber of Commerce. “That will be a 40 percent increase in our manufacturing capacity at that facility and a 90 percent increase in our storage capacity here, so we are really set up to succeed into the future. This is a really nice opportunity for Larson.”

“The new distribution center will allow Larson to optimize the picking layout and increase efficiencies in all areas,” said Dale Albright, eastern operations manager for Larson. “This relocation will set us up for future expansion and allow Larson to more effectively utilize its premier east coast location.”

The manufacturing facility will be up-fitted and reconfigured to improve efficiency and productivity and will begin producing a line of storm doors with retractable screens this fall.

Community and business leaders from Mocksville and Davie County tour new Larson/Comfort Bilt distribution center at Southpoint Business Park in Mocksville.

“With this move, and the added square footage it brings, we have the unique opportunity to focus on the efficiency of the entire Comfort Bilt operation and not just a single line or department,” said Michael Barron, Comfort Bilt plant manager.

A $212,000 grant from the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority awarded to the Town of Mocksville last October is supporting the renovation. The company plans to invest over $500,000 to expand production at the facility, creating as many as 50 new jobs over the next two years.

Comfort Bilt became the first tenant of the SouthPoint Business Park on Hwy 601 after Larson, its parent company, headquartered in Brookings, South Dakota, began seeking an East Coast location.

According to Barron, the company desired a location in a growing area near an interstate, with competitive property prices, good utilities, and a skilled labor force where it could develop a good working relationship with city and county government. It found all of that in Davie County.

Comfort Bilt and the SouthPoint Business Park have helped fuel the manufacturing boom that has provided Davie County with hundreds of needed jobs as well as an increased tax base.

“There’s something pretty special about hosting the biggest company in the world at something,” said Terry Bralley, president of Davie County Economic Development. “Larson and Comfort Bilt have demonstrated the leadership it takes to not only become number one but to stay number one.”

“For logistics, there is probably no better location on the eastern seaboard than the one you are in today. We are just so excited to see you grow and to have you grow with us in this community. You represent so much to our citizens to whom you’ve provided stable jobs in both good times and bad. I wish you much success today and in the future.”

About Larson Manufacturing
Larson Manufacturing is recognized for making homes better with a market-leading selection of storm doors, high-efficiency interior and storm windows, a patented porch window with retractable screens and other door and window innovations. For over 60 years, the company has placed a high value on its employees as part of a long-standing commitment to product excellence and customer satisfaction. LARSON is headquartered in Brookings, SD, and has additional plants in Lake Mills, IA; Mocksville, NC; and Salt Lake City, UT. The company maintains its own distribution centers and a national field sales team. LARSON products are widely available from home improvement retailers and dealers in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.LARSONdoors.com.

Davie Community Foundation Breaks Ground on Cognition Interactive Learning Center and Makerspace in Mocksville!

Mar 27, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

It all starts with a scoop of dirt! The Davie Community Foundation (DCF) broke ground last week on COGNITION, an interactive learning center and makerspace coming to downtown Mocksville in January 2020.

The mission of COGNITION is to create an interactive space for children, families, and the community to acquire knowledge through adventurous play, investigative learning, and creative growth.

Jane Simpson, president of the Foundation, envisions COGNITION as a space where learners of all ages are able to ask questions and then discover answers through inspiring learning. “The exhibits and programming will have a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) focus. From the factory floor to the executive suite, workers skilled in science, technology, engineering, and math are essential in today’s market. Employers want both entry-level employees and upper management to be equipped with critical thinking skills, problem-solving ability, and a teamwork mindset. The Davie Community Foundation fostered the creation of COGNITION to fulfill our vision to equip our next generation with enthusiasm for STEAM concepts and to facilitate a qualified workforce for the community. At COGNITION, young learners will have early opportunities to explore career paths through real-life STEAM situations and hands-on learning as they build the skills Davie County needs for tomorrow.”

“By collaborating with local businesses and additional partners, COGNITION will act as a catalyst for workforce development and equip families to engage with their community.”

Hands-on exhibits will highlight our community’s past as well as its future. Below is a list of exhibits currently under consideration for the learning center although they are still being developed and subject to change:

AGRICULTURE AVENUE
Agricultural Avenue will highlight the agricultural industries of our community featuring seasonal crops specific to our county, a tractor element, water and energy elements, a chicken coop, and ways to learn about weather.

MARKET LANE
Market Lane will blend the look of a brick and mortar grocery store and an open-air farmers market with an interactive checkout counter, stocked shelves, and dress up and pretend play elements.

HEALTHY FOOD HALL
This open-air food hall will feature a Food Truck vignette and focus on health and wellness. With the back of the food truck being a mock kitchen, young minds can explore what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle.

WEAVERS WAY
Weavers Way allows for the exploration of the textile industry with an interactive loom, spinning elements, a pulley system, and a sliding shuttle.

CONSTRUCTION COURT
With a focus on hands-on interactive tinkering, Construction Court will be a living house with “real” interactive building activities. This exhibit will show the inner workings of a structure with pipes, wiring, and electrical connectivity. With blueprints and an interactive bulldozer, imaginations can run wild.

LITTLE COG CORNER
Built for children ages 0-2, Little COG Corner will be enclosed with multi-sensory interactive walls and seating that encourages the interaction of parents with their learners.

THE MAKERSPACE
The makerspace will include tools and equipment for people of all ages to enjoy tinkering and creating. Planned options include: laser cutter, table top router, tabletop milling, home and industrial sewing and textiles, circuit vinyl cutter, a large variety of art materials, small electronics for building and tinkering, and various smaller tools and machinery that may be used to accomplish a project.

History of COGNITION: The Community Spoke and the Community Foundation Listened
In 2016, the Davie Community Foundation (DCF) purchased the building located next door to their office on N. Salisbury Street. Their goal was to make an impact investment to continue to improve downtown Mocksville and find a use that would revive an older building while benefitting the entire Davie County community. DCF reached out to the community for feedback about the best use of the building and brought a variety of community leaders together to discuss self-sustaining uses for the space. After more than a year of research, conversations, and visits to other communities, it was agreed that an interactive children’s museum and makerspace had the best chance to meet all of the criteria. The DCF Board approved moving forward with COGNITION in February 2018.

In April 2018, COGNITION of Davie County was incorporated and a new board was established from interested citizens including two recent graduates of Davie County High School who have returned to Davie County to live and work! The eleven-member board is comprised of a variety of talents including educators, school principals, attorney, non-profit leader, educational consultant, early childhood specialist, marketing, design, and finance. Committees have also been formed comprised of passionate citizens who want to share their talents and expertise in order to make COGNITION a reality!

A capital campaign for $500,000 has begun to support the renovation and development of the space. Your donation will be a COG in the wheel of progress as COGNITION of Davie County becomes a reality! A COG transfers motion by engaging with projections on another wheel. Just as every COG is essential to the running of an engine, the support of donors like you is essential to creating an interactive space that promotes exploration, learning, and innovation.

Donations of all sizes are appreciated and a number of named opportunities are available. Named COGS may be purchased in three sizes for display in the building: $1,000 – Exploration, $2,500 – Learning, or $5,000 – Innovation. Checks can be made out to COGNITION Davie, P.O. Box 816, Mocksville, NC 27028.

The community is invited to a preview of exhibits on Thursday, May 9th from 8:30- 11 a.m. at COGNITION Davie at 119 N. Salisbury St. Mocksville, NC.

To learn more about COGNITION, visit the Cognition Davie on Facebook or visit https://www.CognitionDavie.org.

Davie Health and Rehabilitation Center ~ New, State-of-the-Art Skilled Nursing Facility Open in Mocksville

Mar 22, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Davie Health & Rehabilitation Center celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the opportunity for area residents to explore the new 59,000 square foot, 108-bed state-of-the-art skilled-nursing facility on Madison Road in Mocksville.

Davie Health and Rehabilitation hosted a ribbon cutting and after hours event in conjunction with the Davie County Chamber of Commerce

Owned and operated by Saber Healthcare, the facility replaces Autumn Care of Mocksville which the company purchased in March 2016. The old 33,000 square foot facility on Howard Street was built in several phases beginning in the 1950s and continuing through the early 1990s.

The new location provides an expanded rehabilitation center, more private rooms with private bathrooms, and an indoor courtyard where residents can visit together or with their guests. The new facility also allows the company to offer outpatient therapy which will be accessed through a separate entrance.

“Our goal at Davie Health and Rehabilitation is to provide high-quality healthcare and customer service to the Mocksville and surrounding communities we are privileged and fortunate to serve,” said Michael Demagall, Saber Health’s VP of Population Health & Business Development. “We believe if we provide good care, improve the health of the population we serve, and ensure our patients and families are satisfied with that care and services then we bring a much-needed value to that community and area healthcare partners. We then are able to connect in a meaningful way! We are excited to reinvest with our newest facility Davie Health and Rehabilitation and have the ability to “Give Back” in support of Mocksville and the surrounding communities.”

Davie Health and Rehabilitation currently employs 102 full-time, part-time, and PRN employees, and is still hiring, particularly nurses and CNAs. Interested in a job? Stop by the facility and fill out an application.

Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission, is thrilled with the expansion and considers it a testament to the ease of doing business in Davie County and to its prime location near I-40. “One of Davie County’s greatest assets is its existing industries and businesses,” said Bralley. “It is always so rewarding to see them reinvesting here because when they succeed our community succeeds. Please join me in thanking Saber Healthcare for its continuing commitment to our community.“

Construction Begins on Park at former Davie County High School

Mar 7, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Five years after Davie County residents voted overwhelmingly to pass the Parks and Recreation general obligation bonds, construction is now underway on Phase One of the new Davie County Community Park being built at the former site of Davie County High School.

“Today is a day of celebration and today we celebrate community ownership and a partnership that is fundamental in serving the ever-changing needs of the Davie community …,” said Terry Renegar, chairman of the Davie County Board of Commissioners, during the groundbreaking ceremony. “In 2014, the residents of Davie County voted overwhelmingly to spend $5 million to make this facility the centerpiece of its recreation plan. …It has been a lot of work ….. there have been a lot of hurdles, but those challenges have been met and the hurdles overcome.”

Davie County Community Park Groundbreaking

The Davie County Community Park project is a 3-year culmination of extensive resident input, park design master planning, and construction preparation. According to Paul Moore, director of recreation and parks, Davie County’s public park needs survey return rate of 22.8% was one of the highest return rates in the nation for a community population of 40,000-50,000. “Anytime a controlled survey reaches double-digits, you have statistically valid results. Hence, Davie residents were paying very close attention!”

“From contemplation and initial dialogue to the creation of shared vision; from deliberations to the formulation of strategies, and through communication, collaboration, and coordination, our design team has made the vision of our Davie residents happen. The new park will contain most of the key features that Davie County residents specifically identified as top priorities,” said Moore.

Slated to be completed Spring 2020, the County-owned park’s initial Phase One facilities will include the largest Vortex splash pad in North Carolina, an amphitheater and civic green, an inclusive playground, a 310° baseball/softball field, a dog park (for small and large dogs), walkways and trails (including a boardwalk), a horseshoe and bocce courtyard, a 625 square foot medium shelter, and gymnasium renovations along with a number of other infrastructure elements.

The County also secured additional support from the General Assembly to reconstruct the old parking lot which will include a road course for local law enforcement and emergency services vehicular training.

Additionally, the County is pursuing grant funding from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) for other park features that would become part of phase one construction if successfully awarded.

“We want our residents to know that this new park will not only lead as a regional destination park, but will serve as a joyful experience through recreation and play for individuals, families, seniors, and pets too!” he added.

He went on to say, “Working in the field of Parks and Recreation and public service is not just a job for us, it’s a calling. We’ve committed ourselves to this profession and our mission to enrich the quality of life in Davie County because we’re all striving to be part of something that makes a real, meaningful difference. We couldn’t have made it this far without all of you!”

Moore gave credit to the many individuals and organizations who have devoted themselves to the future of Davie County by supporting recreation and parks with the construction of the new park. “On behalf of our Board of Commissioners, community residents, and the DCRP Team, we express our heartfelt appreciation to:

The citizens of Davie County, this is your park and we want you to be proud of it!
The Staff of Davie County, from our Administration Office, Finance, Development Services, to our Recreation and Parks team.
Our dedicated team, including members of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, consultants, McAdams, Fuller Architecture, Davie Construction Co. and Vortex.
To the first sponsoring organization, The Davie Community Foundation, we extend a thank you for their ongoing helpfulness and support for a Healthy Davie.
Our Officials in Raleigh who have represented us so well with obtaining support for the park.”

Recreation and Parks is seeking resident input on the PARTF application. Public input meetings will be held at the Brock Recreation Center on North Main Street in Mocksville on Thursday, March 21st from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday, March 23rd from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

To follow the development of the community park, visit www.daviecountync.gov/DCRP and click on the tab labeled “Davie County Community Park”. Davie County Recreation and Parks can be reached at 336-753-8326.

Local Businesses Reach 500 Students at Davie Career Expo!

Feb 26, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Davie County High School hosted its annual career expo at Davie High on February 21st to bring students together with local businesses. The goals of the expo were to:

Help students connect with all of the various industries and careers available to them in Davie County.
Identify future workforce needs in our community.
Align educational programs offered at Davie High and Davidson Community College to meet the needs of our local businesses.
Communicate employment needs and necessary credentials to students.

“Our goal is to provide information on all options regarding college and career opportunities for the students of Davie County,” said Anthony Davis, director of CTE and Federal Programs. “It is imperative we have a positive, collaborative relationship with the community college and businesses in our community in order to ensure the future success of our young people.”

Fifteen local businesses and DCCC took advantage of the opportunity to meet with around 500 students and to share what their company has to offer. Participants included: Ashley Furniture, Avgol, Davie Construction, Davie County Government, DCCC, Debbie’s Staffing, Dunlop Tyres, Foster Drug, Gildan, Ingersoll Rand, Members Credit Union, SafetyNetAccess, State Employees Credit Union, The Resource, UTI, Wake Forest Baptist Health.

Davie CONNECT and the Davie County Chamber of Commerce were instrumental in organizing the event.

Although this year’s career expo is over, there are still many ways for your company to connect with this future workforce. For more information, contact Davis at davisan@davie.k12.nc.us or 336-751-5921 x1015 or Janet Barnes, career development coordinator, at Barnesj@davie.k12.nc.us or 336-751-5905.

For more information about Davie CONNECT, a new economic development initiative focused on connecting businesses to resources, kids to careers and providing innovative workforce solutions for Davie County, contact Carolyn McManamy, director, at 336-753-6670 or cmcmanamy@daviecounty.com.

Employee Training – DCCC Can Help You Improve Business Performance, Profits, & Morale

Feb 19, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Davidson County Community College, Davie Campus

Training is a valuable way to improve business performance, increase profits, and boost staff morale.

Training helps a company stay ahead of competitors and keep up with the latest industry and technology changes. Ensuring that your employees’ skills and knowledge are up-to-date can grow your business and boost its competitiveness.

Training has many benefits for your staff: acquiring new skills, increasing their contribution to the business, and building self-esteem. Employees who receive the necessary training perform their jobs more effectively. Training also helps prepare employees to grow within their companies as they aspire for positions with increased prospects and pay.

When companies plan their employee’s training schedule, Davidson County Community College (DCCC) makes a variety of options available, such as on-site or off-site, training professionals or internal resources, formal classroom instruction or on-the-job training. DCCC has training options to meet all of your needs.

DCCC Workforce Development and Customized Training
DCCC’s Workforce Development and Customized Training programs can provide classes that meet most of a company’s training needs, anything from OHSA safety, CNC machining, welding, and LEAN Manufacturing to notary certification, computer skills, and leadership training.

Elizabeth Kilby, Program Director Customized Training and Workforce Development at the Davie Campus, and Carolyn Davis, Director of Customized Training and Workforce Development at DCCC’s Davidson Campus, meet with representatives of local companies to determine specific employment and training needs.

DCCC offers classes in the areas of business and computers, construction, manufacturing and transportation, inspection and licensure, leadership, safety, continuous improvement, hospitality, health and wellness, advanced law enforcement training, fire and rescue, and EMS, EMT, paramedic programming. The college also offers around 230 online classes that run for eight weeks and can be offered for as few as one student making the classes accessible to even the smallest companies. A complete list of options can be found at https://davidsonccc.edu/academics/continuing-education/.

Kilby and Davis will also assemble a customized program if a company has multiple or specialized needs that can’t be met through continuing education classes.

“Classes can be customized to the specific company,” Kilby said. “And because it isn’t a curriculum course, we can cater uniquely to the company, be it a variable class schedule, location, or additional soft skills training added to the class.”

Through either method, classes that don’t require special equipment can be offered at the college or at the industry and do not have to fit into a traditional semester model. Classes can be offered during the day, at night, or weekends based upon an instructor’s availability. The college even has an advanced manufacturing mobile lab that can be brought onsite for training when needed.

Classes can be started quickly if there are enough students and an instructor and class space are available. As an added bonus, Kilby and Davis handle all of the registration and paperwork.

For more information about how DCCC’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development program can benefit your company, please contact:

Elizabeth Kilby
Program Director, Workforce Development and Continuing Education
DCCC – Davie Campus
elizabeth_kilby@davidsonccc.edu
336-751-2885 ext: 4852

Carolyn D. Davis
Director, Customized Training and Workforce Development
Continuing Education and Workforce Development
Davidson County Community College
Carolyn_davis@davidsonccc.edu
336-751-2885 ext 6331

$300,000 Interest Free Loan from Energy United Helping Bring Jobs to Davie County

Feb 8, 2019 By Jeanna Baxter White

Energy United has awarded the Davie County Economic Development Commission a $300,000 interest-free revolving loan to help build a 324,000 SF industrial space which will enable Davie County to attract larger manufacturing companies and enhance its ability to continue growing its industrial base.

“We are so fortunate in Davie County to have Energy United,” said Terry Bralley, president of DCEDC, during a check presentation ceremony Tuesday. “They’ve been a great economic development partner for us. We’ve built water tanks, been able to pay for incentives up front, and put in water and sewer lines with their assistance and access to zero-interest money. Those loans have helped us develop infrastructure, bring jobs to our neighborhoods, and grow our community. In fact, the loans helped bring Avgol and Gildan, now two of Energy United’s largest customers, to Davie County.”

Pictured, left to right: Bill Junker, Davie County landowner; John Reece, managing partner, Commercial Realty Advisors; Buddy Seymour, president and manager of Windsor Commercial; Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission; Keith Wingler, business development manager, Energy United; and Roy McDonald, general counsel, Energy United.

DCEDC then loaned the money to the Davie Industrial Group to support the construction of the Davie Industrial Center at Interstate Drive and Gildan Drive in Mocksville. When completed, the center will offer 920,678 SF of manufacturing/warehouse space. The first of three precast concrete industrial buildings is currently under construction and will be available as early as May.

“This $300,000, zero-interest loan is for five years or until the building is sold or leased. The idea is to do it again and again. We hope it truly is a revolving loan fund. What a great asset for us! And had we not had a successful private capital campaign we would not be in a position to leverage these dollars.”

“I say all the time that economic development is a team sport and it takes everybody at the table working hard. Since we are a small community we have to work even harder.”

Artist rendering of Davie Industrial Center phase one building

Recognizing the struggles faced by small rural communities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDLG) program to promote rural economic development and job creation projects. The USDA partners with nonprofit utility organizations to distribute the funds. The funds provided by the REDLG program must be used to help finance projects such as business start-up costs, business expansion, community development, and business incubator projects. This program contains two subprograms that administer funding opportunities. They are the REDLoan program and the REDGrant program.

Under the REDGrant program, the USDA provides grant funds to local nonprofit utility organizations which are used to establish a revolving loan fund. Loans are made from the revolving loan fund to finance projects that will create or retain rural jobs. The utility applies to USDA for funding support on behalf of specified local projects.

These funds are made available for projects in rural areas or towns with a population of 50,000 or less and up to $300,000 in grants may be requested to establish the RLF. The funds can then remain in the community as part of a revolving loan program where the repaid money is loaned out again.

Under the REDLoan program, the USDA provides zero-interest loans to awardees which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) at zero percent interest for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly and the utility repays the Agency.

Davie Industrial Center Phase One Under Construction

“Energy United is one of the co-ops in the state that has access to USDA funds. The USDA uses the co-ops as a conduit to provide funds to projects like this,” said Keith Wingler, manager for business development for Energy United, the largest energy co-op in North Carolina which serves more than 125,000 customers in 19 counties. “Davie County is one of our strongest partners with economic development projects. Terry has the unique ability to pull private investors, the community and the county together to make things happen. He has been very aggressive at tapping into those funds and we are glad to be able to offer them. We stay very busy in the Davie County area and appreciate everyone who worked together to make this project happen.”

“This is the first of two checks we plan to do on this project. This check for $300,000 is from Energy United’s revolving loan fund which was created with money from the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. There is also a REDLG loan of $1 million in process for this project.”

Bralley explained the significance to the community of a project of this magnitude. “About 18 months ago I had the opportunity to meet with the Davie Industrial Group to look at doing some more industrial projects. In today’s world, things move pretty rapidly. Within 90 days from when I get the phone call, that company needs to be up and operational. Companies have contracts to meet and business moves at an extraordinary speed. If you don’t have a building up or at least a graded site with water, sewer, electricity, natural gas, and fiber in the ground you are playing way behind. We are blessed in this county to have the opportunity to partner with the Davie Industrial Group.”

He shared an example of how important the project is. “Yesterday, I got a phone call from a broker in South Carolina who was meeting with a client who needed 400,000-600,000 SF and I was able to tell him I could help him with that. I was able to send the information to the broker. We are able to play for bigger projects now. You are going to see different clients looking at these type of buildings. We are excited about that.”

Davie Industrial Group partners, John Reece of Commercial Realty Advisors, Buddy Seymour, president-manager of Windsor Commercial, and Bill Junker, owner of Trailers of the East Coast, who supplied the land also shared their thoughts on the project.

“We feel very fortunate to be here in Davie County with this project,” said Reece. “I’d like to thank Terry and the economic development staff. Without these types of loans, I’m not sure we could pull off these types of projects. The effort that has gone into this on behalf of Terry and his staff is unbelievable. We’ve found that Davie County is just an awesome place to do business.”

Seymour added, “We are excited about Energy United’s participation because not only are we constructing a 324,000 SF spec building which allows us to meet the speed our clients require, this loan also help us to prepare the other sites. By the time we finish the first stage of our project, we will have a 324,000 SF spec building a 425,000 SF pad and another 175,000 SF pad ready and these funds were very important for us to be able to do that. We are very thankful for this opportunity.”

Junker praised the teamwork involved to make the project happen, saying “I’m so proud of how this partnership has come together. Every partner brings a lot of value to this deal.”