WASHINGTON, D.C. — Scotland County Economic Development Corporation Director Mark Ward represented North Carolina in the nation’s capital, while also managing to put his hometown in the minds of foreign companies and congressional leaders.

Ward was in Washington recently as part of the North Carolina Southeast Partnership to promote North Carolina international companies.

The event, SelectUSA Investment Summit, included representatives from South American, Thailand, Japan, Germany, and Italy — all of which have an interest in locating to the US and North Carolina, according to Ward. Participants at the first three summits announced more than $20.6 billion in foreign investments into the United States between 2014-2016.

“These companies were not just being polite and stopped by to say hello, they have an interest in being in the U.S. and N.C.,” Ward said. “During our meetings, we took the opportunity to highlight the benefits of locating in N.C. We mentioned our great Community College System, highway and interstates, the Port of Wilmington, current fortune 100 companies in the state, and other international companies.”

Ward and other officials with the partnership made an effort to promote the entire state of North Carolina by setting aside their specific territories and those involved acted as one organization for the greater good of the state.

“One company actually commended us on the support we showed for the state, while not specifically highlighting one particular county,” Ward said.

The local economic developer still managed to highlight Scotland County. “I just did it tactfully and respectfully of my peers.”

Ward also met individually met with Sens. Richard Burr and Tom Tillis, and U.S. Rep. Robert Pittinger to discuss Scotland County.

“Before our photo Sen. Burr asked how his good friend James McDougald (of Maxton) is doing. I have to admit I was a little take back by the comment, and then I remembered they played college football at Wake Forest,” Ward said.

Ward and Burr briefly discussed the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport having the 10th longest runway in the North Carolina and the need for an additional 1500 feet to attract additional industries.

Ward was able to get into specifics with Burr’s legislative assistant, John McDonald, about needs in Scotland County, including Interstate 74, broadband internet, EDA funding, and Lumbee Tribe recognition.

McDonald told Ward that I-74 continues to be a high priority, but until other states start updating their highway, it’s hard for the Federal Government to get behind the effort.

Ward shared that Laurinburg has a fiber optic system that connects all the schools in the county and can provide a company light and dark fiber. Dark fiber is a secure dedicated line that allows a company to send data back and forth to their locations.

Ward also brought up the need for Burr and Pittenger to continue their support for economic development funding. “While the president’s budget does eliminate EDA funding, it is not expected to be affected based on how EDA benefits rural counties in the United States,” McDonald said. “Since the 1980’s EDA has been fully funded even though several president’s budgets initial listed the program to be eliminated.”

Some past funded EDA projects in Scotland County have been the Small Business Investment Company, Water and Sewer improvement for the city of Laurinburg and infrastructure for Richmond Community College, according to Ward.

The southeastern partnership is a regional public-private partnership that markets the southeast region, nationally and globally to encourage new economic growth. It’s board of directors is made up of private sector investors with an interest in promoting regional economic development.Whit Gibson and David Burns of Scotland County are both members of the board.

Courtesy photo Sen. Richard Burr, Mark Ward, Scotland County Economic Corporation director, and Sen. Tom Tillis pose on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_burr.jpgCourtesy photo Sen. Richard Burr, Mark Ward, Scotland County Economic Corporation director, and Sen. Tom Tillis pose on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building.

 

Nolan Gilmour

[email protected]

 

 

Reach Nolan Gilmour at 910-276-2311.