Gov. Mike Easley called the legislature into session for one day for the purpose of studying a Dell proposal, which offers the prospect of a plant to be built in Forsyth or Guilford counties providing an estimated 2,000 jobs.
State Rep. Richard Morgan, a co-speaker of the House, was guarded in his reaction to the proposal when quizzed about the special session last week. He said he was waiting for more details from the governor’s office but expressed respect for Easley despite their political differences. Morgan is a Republican, Easley a Democrat.
In the end, Morgan voted in favor of the proposal.
Some legislators were cranky about the incentives package but most went along with the proposal.
One complaint focused on the fact that the jobs would be costly to the state, costing an estimated $200,000 apiece. Others argued, however, that the state has been hard hit by job losses, especially acute in the Triad region with losses in the textile and furniture manufacturing fields.
INCENTIVES — To qualify for the tax benefits, Dell must create at least 1,200 full-time jobs and make an investment of at least $100 million, all within the first five years.
Dell officials told the state that the company would create as many as 2,000 jobs with an average annual wage of $28,000. The company would spend about $115 million to build and equip the plant.
State officials said there is the possibility that the Dell plant would attract other businesses to the region, possibly adding another 6,000 jobs.
Dell does not have facilities in North Carolina at this time. The Texas-based company sells personal computers, servers, storage systems and other technology products and services.
This is not the first time the legislature has convened for a special session to consider economic development incentives. Easley called a similar session last winter, when incentives were approved for a tobacco manufacturing company and a pharmaceutical company.
ADOPTIONS — November is Adoption Awareness Month, and the Moore County Board of Commissioners took time to issue a proclamation to that effect at the Nov. 1 meeting.
The proclamation calls attention to the recent permanent adoption of 14 children previously in the foster care program administered by the county’s Department of Social Services. The department provides services to almost 75 children in temporary care situations.
The department “actively promotes the timely adoption of these children so that they might have permanent families who can provide them with security, guidance and love,” the proclamation says.
To call attention to the observance, the department staged a carnival-type event Saturday at Hillcrest Park.
PIP — On the local scene the Moore County commissioners have adopted limited incentives to attract three smaller businesses to the community.
In this case, the scale is miniscule compared to the state’s incentive package to Dell.
As part of their consent agenda on Nov. 1, the commissioners approved investment assistance agreements for Hampton Capital Partners LLC (Gulistan Carpets), Plastic Packaging Inc. and Pinnacle Furnishings Inc. (to occupy the former Doxey furniture building). The town of Aberdeen is sharing the cost of these agreements.
The three projects, negotiated by Partners in Progress, have been discussed at previous board meetings. The incentives are expected to cost the county and Aberdeen about $70,500.
The three companies are promising to expand existing operations or relocate here, moves expected to generate 107 new jobs and $10 million in new investment.
Partners in Progress is the nonprofit economic development organization serving local governments and businesses.
