NEWS BRIEFS

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School board retains traditional calendar for 2019-2020 school year

BEAR CREEK — The Chatham County Board of Education voted Monday to keep the traditional calendar for the 2019-2020 school year, while keeping an eye toward any potential legislation coming from Raleigh.

The board had been considering a slightly different calendar that would schedule first-semester exams for high school students prior to Christmas break. But after seeking teacher input, the board decided to keep the traditional set-up, which has first-semester exams in January immediately after Christmas break.

The approved calendar has classes starting on August 26 with the first semester concluding on January 17, 2020. The second semester will start January 23 and end June 10.

The other calendar option ended the first semester on December 20 for high schoolers.

Superintendent Derrick Jordan told the board that there have been discussions in the N.C. General Assembly about allowing districts to start their school year on August 15, earlier than the required start date no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26. August 15 is on a Thursday this year.

“That’s certainly better,” Jordan said. “Doesn’t quite get us to where we’d like to be. I think we’d prefer to have the flexibility to begin at least with the community college,” referring to Central Carolina Community College.

The board discussed possibly delaying a decision until the General Assembly acts, but Jordan said a “drop-dead date” was needed at the meeting Monday. If any legislation passed, the calendar could be revisited.

The board met Monday at Chatham Central High School to mark the school’s designation as an AVID Demonstration School.

EG-Gilero chooses Pittsboro for 3rd N.C. location

PITTSBORO — EG-GILERO, a Morrisville-based medical device manufacturer, has announced plans to invest more than $4 million and create 60 jobs in Chatham County, at what will be its third North Carolina location.

EG-GILERO will take over a 40,000-square-foot industrial space in downtown Pittsboro to accommodate production and workspace for employees.

“We are very excited to be expanding our manufacturing footprint and to be calling downtown Pittsboro our new neighborhood,” said Ted Mosler, president and chief technology officer of EG-GILERO. “Pittsboro and Chatham County residents and staff have been very welcoming to us and we look forward to being a good neighbor for years to come. For EG-GILERO and our customers, Pittsboro is a hidden gem; but with the expected growth in the area, many others will come to realize the charm and benefits Pittsboro has to offer – as we have.”

EG-GILERO, a vertically-integrated contract manufacturer, said it plans to hire engineers, laboratory technicians, operators and other support roles to staff the manufacturing facility. The salaries will vary by position but average $44,317, higher than Chatham County’s average of $36,731.

Founded in 2002, EG-GILERO designs, develops and manufactures products for the medical device and drug delivery device markets.

“By expanding to Chatham County, EG-GILERO can take advantage of strong talent, educational resources, and other competitive benefits the Research Triangle region offers life science companies,” said Alyssa Byrd, president of Chatham Economic Development Corporation (EDC). “They found a unique opportunity in Pittsboro, and we look forward to continuing to work with them as they establish their new facility.”

“We’re thrilled that EG-GILERO has chosen Chatham County for its planned expansion, and particularly that they’ve chosen an existing under-utilized facility in downtown Pittsboro,” said Chatham County Commissioner Mike Dasher. “This project aligns perfectly with Plan Chatham, the county’s long-range comprehensive plan, which directs more growth and economic development within our municipalities. The Board is so appreciative of Alyssa and the EDC’s work in attracting EG-GILERO to Chatham County.”

EG-GILERO’s expansion to Chatham County will be facilitated, in part, by an economic development incentive agreement approved at the March 18, 2019 meeting of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. The five-year agreement takes into account new tax revenue generated by both real and personal property improvements and authorizes potential grant awards based on a proportion of the property tax. The grant payments occur only when the company has verified meeting its targets for investment and job creation.

“EG-GILERO is bringing new jobs and opportunities for our residents, and reviving an underused property in the downtown corridor. This is a good economic development opportunity that strengthens our town,” said Pittsboro Mayor Cindy Perry.

The town of Pittsboro will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on April 22 at Pittsboro town hall in begin the process of applying for a Community Development Block Grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce which could supply funding for improvements to the building. The first public hearing is to obtain citizen input on economic needs and desired economic development activities.

— CN+R Staff Reports

Byrd, Henry win NCEDA Scholarships

Raleigh — Two economic developers from the Research Triangle Region are taking advantage of additional education and training opportunities courtesy of the North Carolina Economic Development Association (NCEDA), the Raleigh-based organization that works to advance the interests of the state’s economic development professionals.

Alyssa Byrd, president of Chatham Economic Development Corporation, has been awarded the Governor James E. Holshouser Professional Development Scholarship for 2019. The award helps cover the cost of attending the Economic Development Institue at Oklahoma University. Byrd was named to the top position at Chatham Economic Development Corporation earlier this year after serving as its Director of Communications and Interim President. She is active in numerous leadership roles in Chatham County and the Research Triangle Region.

NCEDA’s Dan Stewart EDC Scholarship for 2019 will go to Kathleen Henry of Wake County Economic Development. That award offers tuition for the Basic Economic Development Course at UNC Chapel Hill. Henry is a key player on Wake County’s business retention and expansion team. Among her accomplishments there was the organization of a foreign direct investment (FDI) event for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce that attracted more than 160 attendees.

“In economic development, knowledge equals power,” said NCEDA President Mark Pope, who announced this year’s scholarship recipients at the organization’s Spring Conference in Pinehurst on March 13. “Communities rely on well-trained economic development professionals as they embrace job-creation opportunities in today’s fast-moving global economy.”

For additional information, visit www.nceda.org.

Registration for CCCC’s summer youth camps under way

Central Carolina Community College is offering a variety of youth summer camps. They include:

• Kids Cooking Camp, for ages post-K to age 9, will be offered June 10-13 and July 15-18 at the CCCC Chatham Main Campus in Pittsboro; June 17-20 at the Dunn Center in Dunn; and June 17-20 and June 24-27 at Southern Lee High School in Sanford. Cost is $97.

• Culinary Teen Cooking, for ages 10-15, will be offered June 17-20 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center in Sanford and June 17-20 at the CCCC Chatham Main Campus in Pittsboro. Cost is $97.

• Culinary Teen Baking, for ages 10-15, will be offered June 10-13 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center in Sanford, June 10-13 at the CCCC Dunn Center in Dunn, and June 24-27 at the CCCC Chatham Main Campus in Pittsboro. Cost is $97.

• Adventures in Art, for ages 9-14, will be offered June 24-27 at the CCCC Siler City Center. Cost is $135.

FBI Future Bio Investigators, for ages 10-14, will be offered July 22-25 at the CCCC Harnett Main Campus in Lillington. Cost is $70.

Registration begins April 8th. To register by telephone or for more information, call 919-545-8044 in Chatham and Lee counties, and 910-814-8823 in Harnett County. To register online, visit the website www.cccc.edu/youth.

For more information on Central Carolina Community College, visit the website www.cccc.edu.

Community Storm Resiliency grant application now open

After a year of record-setting weather events — from tornadoes and flooding to ice storms and hurricanes — Duke Energy has announced a grant program help North Carolina communities increase their resiliency to these major weather events through advanced preparation and planning. The Duke Energy Foundation’s State Strategic Impact: Community Storm Resiliency grant application is open now through June 15.

This is a one-time-only opportunity for Storm Resiliency Grants. Grant applications may include, but are not limited to, projects that focus on:

• Specialized training for first responders for severe weather scenarios

• Organized planning initiatives for communities to prepare for extreme weather

• Equipment necessary for severe weather rescues to preserve human life

• Community storm preparedness trainings, materials, kits or shelters

• Emergency communication tools for severe weather scenarios

• Improved outcomes for low-income communities experiencing extreme weather

All regions of the state served by Duke Energy Carolinas or Duke Energy Progress are eligible to apply. Communities impacted by severe weather in recent years and programs serving diverse populations will be given priority. Applicants may request funds up to $50,000. Both nonprofits and governmental entities are eligible to apply.

If your organization, or one you know of, would be a good fit for this opportunity, please consider applying. For more information, contact Indira M. Everett at indira.everett@duke-energy.com.

Chatham seeks applicants for Climate Change committee

Chatham County has a new vacancy on the Climate Change Advisory Committee.

The committee makes recommendations to Chatham’s Board of Commissioners related to climate change impacts in Chatham County. The committee looks at such concepts as reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (primarily CO2) with related improvements in air quality; promoting the use of renewable energy, promoting carbon neutral/green building standards for new and existing buildings (both public and private) and encouraging resilient conservation–oriented land uses and both residential and commercial land development standards that foster climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The person appointed by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to fill the vacancies would serve an initial term until June 30, 2020, and would be eligible for reappointment to a three-year term at that time.

Interested residents should submit a committee application no later than 5 p.m. on May 10. An online form can be found at https://chathamnc.seamlessdocs.com/f/CommitteeForm. Or contact Lindsay Ray at 919-542-8200 or lindsay.ray@chathamnc.org to obtain an email or printed application.

The Board of Commissioners seeks applicants who live in the county, support the mission of the committee and who have with the time and resources available to devote to the work and research required. The committee typically meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.

Expertise in one of the following areas is desirable, but not required: renewable energy systems, building efficiency, green building standards and conservation standards (in both residential and commercial settings), transportation efficiency standards and fuel options, forestry and agricultural practices and management, ecology and environmental science, and literature relating to the science of climate change.

Public encouraged to provide feedback to shape N.C.’s transportation future

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation is encouraging residents and leaders to participate in a brief survey on potential impacts to transportation in North Carolina. The input will be used to help develop and prioritize strategies for NCDOT to proactively address future challenges.

The survey can be taken through June 2 at ncmoves.metroquest.com. This is the second survey in NCDOT’s effort to develop its 30-year strategic transportation plan, called the NC Moves 2050 Plan.

“Long-range planning keeps us thinking ahead to prepare for transportation challenges to come,” said NCDOT Chief Deputy Secretary David Howard. “It also provides opportunities like this survey for citizens to have an active role in developing these plans. We encourage residents and others who use North Carolina’s transportation system to be part of this effort.”

The NC Moves 2050 Plan is focused on creating a more responsive, diverse and inclusive transportation system to keep people and freight moving safely and efficiently across the state.

Please visit www.ncdot.gov/ncmoves to sign up for information or learn more about the project.

People who do not speak English or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English may receive interpretive services by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Transportation Secretary Announces Commission to Create Future Transportation Investment Strategy

RALEIGH — State Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon has announced that he has formed a commission to develop recommendations for modernizing North Carolina’s transportation investment strategy.

The commission will research the impact that emerging technologies, shifting behavior patterns and changing demographics will have on North Carolina’s transportation investment system and then develop new ways to meet the need for critical resources in the future.

The N.C. Future Investment Resources for Sustainable Transportation Commission (NC F1RST Commission) consists of a diverse group of North Carolinians with expertise in the fields of finance, business and public policy. They will work collaboratively for an estimated 18 months before making recommendations for changes to North Carolina’s current transportation investment strategy.

“The transportation industry is on the cusp of fundamental changes that will forever change our relationship to moving goods and people,” Secretary Trogdon said. “The work the NCF1RST Commission will do will be critical for the economic vitality of North Carolina.”

The commission will hold its first meeting from 9 a.m. to noon on May 3 in Raleigh.

More information regarding the current members of the NCF1RST Commission, meeting dates and other resources can be found at http://www.ncdot.gov/ncfirst.