LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 12, 2003


LOCAL LEADERS LAUNCH TWO ECONOMIC PROJECTS
WITH CEREMONY AT LEE COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK

SANFORD -- In the face of a soft national economy, more than 100 local 
officials and guests gathered today to break ground for two major 
economic projects in north Sanford.

The dual ceremony celebrated construction of a new building to house the 
North Carolina School of Telecommunications and expansion of the Lee 
County Industrial Park. Though the official kickoff and luncheon was 
held today, land grading for the school actually began early last month. 

Launching new industrial projects, particularly in a tough business 
climate, should be commended, according to Doug Byrd, manager of 
community relations for the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Byrd 
told those attending the 35-minute ceremony that both are examples of 
the progressive thinking and planning in Lee County.

"Right now, times are bad in economic development, just like they are in 
a lot of other things," he said. "But, I tell people as I go around the 
state, as they've heard me say, you can't sell out of an empty wagon."

When the economy does bounce back, Byrd predicted, Lee County will have 
plenty of good places for industry to expand or relocate.

When completed, Central Carolina Community College's $3.2 million 
telecommunications school will include an administrative hub and one 
wing of classrooms, with additional instructional wings projected for 
construction over a 16-year period beginning in 2004.

The central portion of the 20,295-square-foot school -- the section now 
being built -- features a library, student lounge, conference room and 
offices.

Construction should be completed in late December or early next year.

The North Carolina School of Telecommunications is the first tenant 
committed to the new phase of industrial development along an 8,500-foot 
stretch linking Colon and Womack Roads.

Scheduled work on the site also includes installing a sanitary sewer 
system to serve new industries at the park and about 2,200 other acres 
around the Colon Road area.

Bob Heuts, director of economic development for Lee County, believes the 
new section will be very attractive for companies. "This land runs along 
U.S. 1, which is where many companies want to operate," he said. 
"Because it provides such easy access to Apex, Cary and the Research 
Triangle Park, some industries looking at those areas of Wake County 
might travel a few miles south and discover how much better it can be 
doing business here."

Ending his brief comments, Byrd said it is entirely appropriate that so 
many people came out to celebrate both the industrial park and 
telecommunications school at the same time.

"The community college system in this state of North Carolina is the 
greatest tool that the Department of Commerce has to work with," he 
said. "You can have roads. You can have product, such as this 2,200-acre 
industrial site. You can have magnificent shell buildings. You can have 
the greatest livability of anywhere in the world.

"But if you do not have educated people to go into whatever is coming or 
will come, folks, those roads are just going to take the client past 
you."

The Lee County Economic Development Corp. is a nonprofit organization 
established to attract industry, enhance job opportunities and promote 
sound planning across Lee County. Funding is provided by the county, as 
well as the City of Sanford and Town of Broadway, the county's two 
municipalities.

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Press Contacts:

Bob Heuts, Director
Jane Haber, Administrative Assistant
Lee County Economic Development Corp.
919-774-8439 (phone)
919-775-5410 (fax)
info@lcedc.com

Media Web:    http://www.lcedc.com/media/
This release: http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/nr031203.txt
College Web:  http://www.cccc.edu