Robbinsville – What might seem like wishful thinking to some could become a reality to everyone in the next few years.
It’s no secret that Graham County’s economy relies heavily on tourism, since industry has all but abandoned the area. One needs to simply drive by the barren property on Snowbird Road that once housed Stanley Furniture and Oak Valley Hardwoods for a reality check: the latter closed up shop over five years ago and the structure today needs millions of dollars of work to even be back up to code.
But maybe – just maybe – hope is on the horizon.
MountainWest Partnership’s Josh Carpenter brought some optimism to the room when addressing the board of commissioners at July 16’s meeting. Carpenter has filled the role of the county’s economic development director, which sat vacant for quite some time.
Now, the Graham native oversees an economic development board and was pleased to report that several businesses – yes, plural – were eyeing the county for new locations.
While the names of the businesses were not revealed, Carpenter’s presentation noted that:
* A new hotel is being planned, which would usher in five, full-time jobs that would match the county’s average salary of $44,000. The hotel has the potential to invest at least $450,000 locally;
* A new restaurant could open on Rodney Orr Bypass, bringing with it eight, full-time jobs that also hit the $44,000 threshold for wages. The estimated investment is $75,000 and MountainWest is assisting the business in obtaining a building reuse grant;
* Another restaurant – with five locations in other counties – is also looking to open a spot in Robbinsville. The company is currently seeking a lease;
* Two businesses are even scoping out the previously-mentioned Stanley plant for an expansion. One is a company that produces nutraceuticals; the other, a textile manufacturer. The nutraceuticals provider could create 225 jobs and provide an average wage of $88,000, with an investment of $41 million; the textile manufacturer could open up 250-300 and a $52,000 average annual wage. The investment from the company has not been calculated, but would at least include new machinery and equipment.
If the $41 million investment sounds steep, Carpenter speculated that upgrades to the plant could run up a tab of $28 million.
He later added that the county’s Small Business Grant program – first approved Dec. 19 – has already received five applications.
Ten, full-time jobs and six part-time openings could be created.
“The Hut”
Just before Carpenter’s presentation, the first 30 minutes of the meeting was spent discussing REVVED UP’s initiative to save “The Hut,” a log cabin that currently sits on the property of Robbinsville First Baptist Church.
REVVED UP has been looking for a pair of suitable locations to move the structure. The interior has already been gutted and now, all the non-profit needs is a piece of land to put it on.
The one most appealing is a tract of acreage at the very southern edge of Rodney Orr Bypass, on a former railroad right-of-way.
The property was bought years ago by Graham County Travel & Tourism, in hopes of launching a welcome center at the location – even potentially in an old train caboose – but the tourism board later picked its current location near Black Knight Way as the spot to open its offices.
July 16’s meeting helped eliminate some confusion that existed between the two entities.
Longtime REVVED UP advocate John Colwell said that the organization felt “stonewalled” by travel & tourism, in regards to clearing up red tape standing in the way of the property exchanging hands.
Travel & tourism director Daniel Allison was in attendance for the meeting and spoke to Colwell about the misconceptions. Colwell said that the tourism board had asked for costly tax documents to accompany a project plan; Allison contended that the board simply wanted to see a project plan before moving forward.
The universal consensus coming from the discussion was that both sides want to see “The Hut” saved.
Robbinsville First Baptist Church wants to get the structure off its property, citing safety hazards associated with the multi-purpose cabin being over 80 years old.
No further action was taken, but Colwell said he would attend Aug. 1’s tourism board meeting to further go over the particulars of the proposal.