County Backs Economic Designation for Robbins

As of Monday, March 7, 2011

The Moore County Board of Commissioners has gone to bat for the town of Robbins with adoption of a resolution supporting the town’s economic designation.

Adopted at the March 1 meeting, the resolution backs the initiative to designate Robbins as a HUBZone, enabling the municipality to market itself for businesses locating in North Carolina through BRAC. HUB stands for Historically Underutilized Businesses.

The county’s action comes on the heels of a Feb. 24 promotional effort in which Congressman Howard Coble and state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco visited Robbins and toured industrial plants, including the American Growler facility where combat vehicles are produced for the Marine Corps.

“Coble and Crisco are both 100 percent on board for this,” said Commissioner Craig Kennedy, who made the motion to adopt the resolution.

County Attorney Misty Leland crafted the resolution, which expresses endorsement of concessions “to grant any federal and/or state economic designations for the town of Robbins that will increase the town’s attractiveness and competitiveness in recruiting new businesses, facilitating expansions and fostering entrepreneurial activity, and consequently enable the town to improve its economic circumstances.”

Under BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure), Fort Bragg is undergoing a major expansion, and the growth is expected to impact surrounding counties, including Moore.

Because of economic setbacks, Robbins has lost 710 jobs since 2000, according to the 2005-09 American Community Survey. That loss represents 31 percent of the total job losses in Moore County.

The Small Business Administration uses American Community Survey data to determine HUBZone certification. The survey assigned a 35.9 percent poverty rate to the Robbins census area, and the poverty rate threshold level for HUBZone certification is 25 percent.

Although the town’s 1,279 population represents only 1.5 percent of the county’s total population, the loss of 710 jobs since 2000 accounts for 31.4 percent of all job losses in the county, according to the resolution. Most of the jobs lost were in the manufacturing sector.

The resolution further says that despite its non-metropolitan category, Moore County has never statistically qualified for any advantageous economic designations, such as a Tier I status with the N.C. Department of Commerce or as a HUBZone with the Small Business Administration.

“Such designations signify areas of evident economic distress and are designed to encourage economic activity in these less prosperous areas,” the resolution says.

County leaders have long complained that communities outside the densely populated resort areas have suffered when it comes to distribution of economic development funds because of the relatively high per capita income of the tourism center.

The resolution also calls attention to this in the opening paragraph that says, in part, that Robbins in the rural northwestern part of the county, “is distinctly removed geographically and economically from the thriving industrial, commercial and tourism hubs of Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen in southern Moore County.”

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.

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None 2 years, 2 months ago

“to grant any federal and/or state economic designations ..." No doubt that Robbins could use some federal STIMULUS money. However, correct me here, isn't that the reason the Republicans received such an overwhelming vote last November? To eliminate earmarks that Coble recently voted against according to his statements on his webpage: http://coble.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=9870

“As you know, there has been considerable debate about transparency in how federal dollars, particularly for earmark or special projects are spent. As a fiscal conservative, I have always worked hard to make sure that your tax dollars are spent wisely and, in order to do this, we must cut waste, fraud and inefficiency from the system. Recently, the House Republican Conference voted to impose a one-year moratorium on all earmark requests. As a result, our office will not submit earmark requests for any business, group or organization”.

So are the foto ops’ just that? Or to impress the dumb crowd with useless words that are contrary to what his voting record is in Washington. To Earmark or not to Earmark, that’s the 64 thousand dollar question for the TEA party members who support earmarks…unless those pork rinds are George Bush’s or POTUS’O’s.

Bflat 2 years, 2 months ago

Robbins has been struggling for several years. Hosiery mill comes in and leaves, with the building up for sale. Other businesses come in and leave. The recession is taking its toll on lots of businesses. My guess is that Robbins will continue to struggle and it will take lots of pulling together by the majority of its citizens.

SoPinesNo1 2 years, 2 months ago

I try and understand what Toda is saying. However, the grants to HUB areas will occur, and I'd rather them occur here in Moore County than in other places that we as Moore County citizens will never reap a benefit. A very very small portion of each grant is funded by my tax dollars, and I like seeing my tax dollars go to benefit local efforts.

difflook 2 years, 2 months ago

SoPinesNo1---AMEN!! Thank Moore County Commissioners for trying to help Robbins, they are penalized due to Moore County's wealth according to the article.

None 2 years, 2 months ago

SoPinesNo1 March 7, 2011 at 3:11 p.m. It's not really about the stimulus funds but how the double speak comes out of Washington. The politicians make front page news when they visit their home districts and go back to where the Lobbyist are in charge only to vote along party lines against stimulus funds. Makes the TEA Party bunch feel good about their efforts to control spending, just wait until the school budget is proposed with the top down executive salaries.

HUBZone money is federal taxpayer money...and we are also federal taxpayers which trickles back down to those who need the funding. My ire is with Washington double speak...if Congressman Coble is true to his word then why did he vote against earmarks?

difflook 2 years, 2 months ago

I would think if one is against this, they would write, e mail or call their reprsenetative, not critize a small, economically challenged town in their own county, who is adhering to the current rules and trying to better themselves, why not leave Robbins alone and be HAPPY that they may get this, since it seems that they have lost hundreds of jobs over the past years.