Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:21:16 -0400
From: Donna Kelly
Subject: a megasite in Chatham County?
Karen Crowell drew some very odd conclusions from the article Gene posted on Saturday about the potential certified megasite in Siler City. The county will not be signing any contracts, securing any deals or luring any contracts away from neighboring counties. Here’s a little more background on certified sites.
“Since 2001, North Carolina has offered an official Certified Sites program to provide a statewide inventory of industrial sites that have undergone a rigorous prequalification process to ensure they are “shovel ready” for immediate development.
A North Carolina Certified Site reduces the risks associated with development by providing detailed information about the site including price and availability, utilities, access, environmental concerns and potential development costs. Sites are periodically recertified in order to ensure accurate, reliable data.”
http://www.nccommerce.com/business/certified-sites
To become a certified site developers prepare an application addressing 31 prerequisites that are reviewed by a state panel.No one just takes their word for anything.The application must involve a letter of support from the local town and/or county government.That letter is the extent of the county’s involvement in the project.
The commissioners approved a resolution in support of the megasite this afternoon as part of the consent agenda. Here’s the link to this item from today’s BOC meeting.
The 2 people involved already own the land and are marketing it as a potential industrial site.The state certification will be an additional marketing tool and represents their level of commitment and investment in the project.There’s no guarantee that they will ever attract a large manufacturing facility but that’s a chance they are willing to take.
In some cases government develops these sites but the one here in Chatham was put together privately.With willing investors making this type of effort there’s little reason for the state to be handing out grants to develop sites.
Donna Kelly