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Page 2 The News-Journal February, 2002
Turning strategy into action
Recently our Raeford/Hoke
Economic Development Commis
sion asked me to coordinate
development of a three-year
Strategic Action Plan O'^^y 2001
through June 2004). We engaged
the services of the Stanford
Holshouser Business Development
Group, LLC, to assist in the plan
ning process. Local, regional, state
officials, and economic developers
helped improve and refine the
plan. We are now turning that
strategy into action.
Our Economic Development
Board has adopted the FY 2001-
2004 Strategic Action Plan that
reexamines the 1995 Hoke County
Strategic Plan and retains those
planned economic development
activities that remain valid goals
and objectives. We hav'e briefed
the plan to key leaders and stake
holders in the community and it
was well received. However, those
in attendance were informed that
we would proceed cautiously in
this endeavor since the bottom
line rests with ways and means.
The master key to economic
development is product. All that
marketing and advertising may
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bring the prospect to town, but in
the end we must show a Raeford/
Hoke County Industrial Park. The
park must be certified by the
North Carolina Department of
Commerce, which will answer
many technical questions and give
us DOC’s preferred marketing
over other counties’ similar sites
without certifications. Another
critical area is infrastructure. Water
and sewer services are the life
blood of any economic develop
ment.
Next is the shell (speculativ'e)
building. The Department of
Commerce estimated that around
80 percent of its inquiries are for
buildings. That means that without
a building, even if vve have the
best industrial park in North
Carolina, vve are automatically
eliminated by 80 of everv’ 100
prospects attracted to North
Carolina. .So. rather than having a
shot at all 100, vve end up compet
ing withal the other counties for
the remaining 20 prospects.
The tragic events of September
11th are affecting our City and
County, just as it is the rest of the
country. Issues such as high
unemployment, downsizing, and
plant closings lurk in the tall grass
of the current economic land
scape. But vve still have options
when it comes to how vve will
deal with them. One thing is
certain: We are not alone. E\ ery-
vv here people are facing tougli
times, but tough times don’t last:
tough people do. Evidence seems
to indicate that while companies
Donald L. Porter
may be sitting still at the moment,
they are still doing their home
work on our community. This
means that our job is now' more
important than ever. We must
update the materials in our hand
outs and vv'ebsite. Now is the lime
to make sure all is current. W'e are
a small city and county with
limited resources and we face
tremendous competition within
.North Carolina as well as nation
ally and internationally.
However, if we continue to
w'ork together cooperativ ely and
keep focused on visions for
improving our economy, vve can
create a dynamic entrepreneurial
economic development engine
that helps realize the aspirations of
all the citizens of Raeford and
Hoke County . I applaud and thank
those who have assisted us in our
efforts.
— Donald L, Porter
Executive Director
Raeford Hoke Economic
Dev elopment Commi.sskjn
About this directory
The 13th edition of The News-Journal s Busi
ness and Industry Guide was created with much
the same goal as previous editions: to showcase
the products produced and the serv ices offered by-
people and businesses in Hoke County. If we
missed your company in the business listings in
the pages to come, please let us know.
We hope this directory will prove useful to
newcomers, prospective businesses, local busi
nessmen and other citizens.
The Ncws-Joumal February, 2002 Page 39
Hoke
Center
1110 E. Central Avenue
Sandhills offers a wide-range of training programs. Computer training provides you with the following: hands-on classes/workshops,
individual computer for every user, high quality instruction, cost-effective training, modern computer systems, and projection
demonstrations. In addition, courses can be customized to cover specific skills and subjects.
Occupational Spanish offers a variety of classes. Sandhills will work with individual businesses to develop a program focusing on
vocabulary usage, cultural, and issues beneficial to individual businesses.
Professional Development classes are available each semester. A relatively new component to SCC offerings are online classes that will
allow you to work at your own pace. Over thirty courses are currently being offered through SCC's Division of Continuing Education,
Basic Skills Education classes are tuition-free programs which include Adult Basic Education, CED (High School Equivalency), Adult High
School Diploma, and English as a Second Language.
We will provide training opportunities at locations, dates and times convenient for you and your business.
Costs are minimal. Our goal is to offer you a quality product at a reasonable price.
For more information, call 910.875.8589 (Hoke County) or 910.695.3769 (Moore County).
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COMMUNITY
C 0 L L E G