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Rocky Mount is located in Nash and Edgecombe counties, about an hour northeast of Raleigh. The city is lucky to have both North Carolina Wesleyan College and Edgecombe Community College, offering a range of degree programs. Rocky Mount also has a growing arts community. The city operates an arts center, a children’s museum and science center, and a theater at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences. There’s a good mix of both small businesses and larger corporations here. The first Hardee’s was in Rocky Mount, ironically on McDonald Street.
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rocky mount, north carolina
2011-12 | imagesrockymount.com
®
advanced education
Students benefit from new schools and technology
take it outsideParks beckon outdoor recreation enthusiasts
sponsored by the rocky mount area chamber of commerce
bring in the new
Big changes are under way in Rocky Mount
iMageSRock yMount.coM 3
all or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.
Please recycle this magazine
on the cover Photo by Todd Bennett Rocky Mount Sports Complex action.
dePartments
6 almanac
26 biz briefs
28 chamber report
29 economic profile
30 image gallery
36 local flavor
38 health & Wellness
40 arts & culture
42 sports & recreation
44 education
47 community profile
48 through the lens
2011-12 edition | volume 12
rocky mount, north carolina
®
contents
Features
10 bring in the neWBig changes are coming to Rocky Mount
14 advanced educationSchools in Rocky Mount are getting a technological makeover
18 at your serviceNash Health Care thriving in Rocky Mount
22 for a good causeCummins Engine Plant known for giving back to community
10
42
iMageSRock yMount.coM 5
What’s online imagesrockymount.com
rocky mount, north carolina
2011-12 | imagesrockymount.com
®
advanced education
Students benefit from new schools and technology
take it outsideParks beckon outdoorrecreation enthusiasts
sponsored by the rocky mount area chamber of commerce
bring in the new
Big changes are under way in Rocky Mount
Visually explore Rocky Mount in our online photo and video galleries
Flip through the pages of this magazine and easily share articles using Facebook, Twitter or email.
Photos & Videos
digital magazine
Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more
liVing hereLearn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers
iMageSRock yMount.coM 5
Coastal Beverage Company and Miller Lite support the Rocky Mount community.
rocky mount, north carolina
®
proofreading manager RavEN PETTy
content coordinator JESSiCa WalkER
staff Writer kEviN liTWiN
copy editor Jill WyaTT
contributing Writers MElaNiE Hill,
MEloNEE MCkiNNEy HuRT, SPENCER MoHEad,
kaRi Quill, TiffaNy WilliaMS
media technology director CHRiSTiNa CaRdEN
senior graphic designers lauRa GallaGHER,
JESSiCa MaNNER, JaNiNE MaRylaNd,
kRiS SExToN, vikki WilliaMS
graphic designers RaCHaEl GERRiNGER, TayloR NuNlEy
media technology analysts BECCa aRy,
CHaNdRa BRadSHaW, laNCE CoNzETT
photography director JEffREy S. oTTo
senior photographers JEff adkiNS, BRiaN McCoRd
staff photographers Todd BENNETT, aNToNy BoSHiER
Web content manager JoHN Hood
Web project manager Noy foNGNaly
Web designer ii RiCHaRd STEvENS
Web developer i yaMEl Hall, NElS NoSEWoRTHy
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ad production manager kaTiE MiddENdoRf
ad traffic assistants kRySTiN lEMMoN, PaTRiCia MoiSaN
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accounts receivable coordinator diaNa GuzMaN
office manager/accounts receivable
coordinator SHElly MillER
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senior v.p./sales Todd PoTTER, CaRla THuRMaN
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v.p./external communications TEREE CaRuTHERS
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v.p./sales CHaRlES fiTzGiBBoN,
HERB HaRPER, JaREk SWEkoSky
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Images Rocky Mount is published annually by Journal Communications inc. and is distributed
through the Rocky Mount area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.
for advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact
Journal Communications inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at [email protected].
for more information, contact:Rocky Mount area Chamber of Commerce
100 Coast line St., 2nd fl. Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Phone: (252) 446-0323 • fax: (252) 446-5103 www.rockymountchamber.org
visit Images Rocky mount online at imagesrockymount.com
©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, franklin, TN 37067,
(615) 771-0080. all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced
in whole or in part without written consent.
Member The association of Magazine Media
Member Custom Content Council
Member Rocky Mount area Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to Rocky Mountan intRoduction to the aRea’S PeoPle, PlaceS and eventS
Riding for CharityThe laughery name is synonymous
with philanthropy in Rocky Mount. Helen
laughery’s husband, Jack, who passed
away in 2006, was the former CEo and
chairman of the Hardee’s restaurant
chain and an advocate of higher
education … and motorcycles. Combining
the two, Helen founded the annual Jack
laughery Ride for knowledge in 2008,
benefiting the Helen and Jack laughery
Honorary Scholarship fund at Nash
Community College. She also was
instrumental in launching Reach out
Rocky Mount’s fun Run for Charities,
which has raised over $1.1 million for
local charities in just three years.
Snapshots of the PastSince 2008, Braswell Memorial library has been restoring and
digitizing photographic negatives from the Charles S. killebrew
Photograph Collection, composed of nearly half a million images.
a freelance and staff photographer for the Rocky Mount Telegram,
Charles killebrew amassed this collection from the 1940s to 1990s.
The library welcomes the public to marvel at his photographs of
agriculture, weather, weddings, political events and more images
taken throughout Nash and Edgecombe counties.
almanac
The land Before TimePrepare to explore an era larger than life at the
Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center.
The Dinosaurs! exhibit that runs through december
2011 features six large animatronic dinosaurs, including
the tyrannosaurus rex, stegosaurus, triceratops and
apatosaurus, that were made half of their estimated true
size. Built in the mid-1980s by acclaimed paleontologists
and dinosaur experts, the mechanical robots were
designed to stimulate the imaginations of all ages.
admission on Sundays is free for Rocky Mount residents.
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Show and Salein 2012, Rocky Mount will host the
75th annual 4-H livestock Show and
Sale co-sponsored by the counties of
Nash, Edgecombe and Halifax, and
4-H representatives. Held at the East
Carolina agriculture & Education
Center, youths will compete for
awards in livestock showmanship,
market quality and judging. after
the awards show, the hog, steers
and lambs are sold at a benefit
auction. The proceeds are used
to offset college expenses and
purchase a new 4-H project.
Wake up and Smell the Roses
The aesthetic appeal of the
Rose Hill Conference Center
justifies the 15-minute trip from
Rocky Mount to Nashville, N.C.
fit for large gatherings, the
center is part of a countryside
estate built in 1762 from a land
grant on behalf of king George ii
to the Boddie family. Since 1982,
the Rose Hill estate has been
listed on the National Register
of Historic Places. The restored
Manor House’s heart pine floors
and thick white columns create
the perfect venue for weddings
and weekend getaways. Rose
Hill is also an 860-acre working
angus cattle farm.©2
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feast on ThisThere’s a celebration for every season in Rocky Mount.
The Nashville Chamber of Commerce’s annual Blooming
festival includes a parade honoring a Mother of the
year, band performances, a mini-farmers market and
a carnival. in preparation for the fall, the National
Spring Hope Pumpkin festival takes place downtown
the first Saturday in october and features everything
pumpkin, including the Miss Pumpkin Queen Pageant.
a weekend later, cooks compete in the Eastern
Carolina BBQ Throw down. Celebrations of diversity
are popular here, too, and include the Harambee
festival, latino festival and international festival
of Cultures.
iMageSRock yMount.coM 7
population (2010 estimate) 57,477
locationRocky Mount, in the state’s heartland
region, intersects i-95 and u.S. 64.
That intersection claims the No. 1
traffic count along the i-95 corridor
in North Carolina.
beginningsEuropean settlers first arrived in Rocky
Mount in 1712 after years of battling
the Tuscarora indians, but the town
wasn’t formally established for
another 155 years.
for more informationRocky Mount area Chamber of Commerce 100 Coast line St., 2nd fl. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Phone: (252) 446-0323 fax: (252) 446-5103 www.rockymountchamber.org
rocky mount at a glance
Glade Spring
Saltville
107
South H
olston Lake
EDGECOMBE
NASH
Nashville
Dortches
Whitakers
Sharpsburg
Emory
19
58 58
11
WashingtonnW nAbingdon
Holston
DamascusBristol
Meadowview
Mount RogersNationalRecreation AreaRecreation Area
Glade Spring
SaltvilleSa eS
107071
South H
olston Lake
81
Mount RogersNational
eaResreation Are
Glade Spring
Saltville
107
South H
olston Lake
Rocky Mount
COUNTY NAMME
42
58
43
301
258
64
64
95
TarboroTo Raleighheighh
Fast Factsn Rocky Mount has the distinction of having twice been named an all-american city by the national civic league, first in 1969 and again in 1999.
n if you like barbecue, don’t miss the eastern carolina BBQ throw down that takes place the second Friday and Saturday in october.
n the twin counties region comprises nash and edgecombe counties. Rocky Mount is the largest municipality in the region.
n the Rocky Mount train station is part of the city’s historic district.
n the farmers market in Rocky Mount’s historic Mill district is open on Fridays and Saturdays from april through november.
Batter upin honor of Rocky Mount’s
baseball legend, Walter fenner
“Buck” leonard, the imperial
Centre for the arts and
Sciences opened The Buck
Leonard Exhibit in 2008. it
displays artifacts from
leonard’s career as a first
baseman in Negro-league
baseball and personal items
connected to his life
accomplishments. in 1972,
Buck leonard was elected
to the Baseball Hall of fame.
after retiring in 1950, he lived
in Rocky Mount until his death
at 90 years old.
8 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 9
the douglas Block revitalization in the historic african-american business district renovated several old downtown buildings, including the historic Booker t. theatre.
10 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 11
that cool, refreshing breeze you feel blowing through Rocky Mount might just be the welcome winds
of change.Downtown revitalization, a
new pedestrian plan, a slate of new municipal leaders and a developing vision of a historic community’s future have energized Rocky Mount.
“A lot of exciting things are going on here,” says new city manager Charles Penny. “We have an opportunity to bring all segments of our community together to do strategic planning
and visioning – to really move the Twin County area forward.”
downtown revitalizationRocky Mount is building on past
successes, such as the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences and the renovated Historic Train Station. The rehabilitation of the Douglas Block, which is bringing six buildings back to life in the historic African-American business district, is another. That $8 million project, Penny says, demonstrates the city’s commitment to revitalizing downtown, now
enjoying an additional facelift in a $6.5 million Streetscape improvement effort.
“We’re widening streets, improving curb appeal, adding new street lamps, signage, furniture, trees,” Penny says. “In order to attract private investment, the government has to put money into downtown first, and we’re doing that. It shows what you can do.”
studying the futureAs sidewalks are being widened
downtown, the ambitious Rocky Mount Pedestrian Plan is
big changes are coming to rocky mount
the new
SToRy By laura hillPHoToGRaPHy By todd bennett
Bring in
10 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 11
iMageSRock yMount.coM 13 12 Rock y Mount
promoting a network of paths, greenways and safe crossings designed to make the community friendlier to those on foot.
While Streetscape unfolds – it is scheduled for completion in late 2012 or early 2013 – ambitious visioning for the entire two-county area is in the works. The Twin Counties Competitiveness Assessment, funded by the Rocky Mount City Council and Edgecombe and Nash counties, was presented in spring 2011. It outlines in detail the community’s strengths and improvements needed for the area to thrive economically in the 21st century. One example is the importance of preparing students for success in the growing global
economy, a critical goal for new Nash Rocky Mount Public Schools superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson.
schools look at the global economy
“Our role right now is to prepare our students for their futures, not our past,” he says. “Many of the jobs we are preparing our children for right now don’t even exist. We have a huge responsibility, probably more than any previous generation. We have to embrace the impact of technology, social media, all those things that are changing the way we do business.”
The challenges for Rocky Mount’s new leadership – in addition to Penny and Jackson, the community
has recently welcomed fire chief Trey Mayo and interim Edgecombe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Del Burns – are vast. But a collaborative effort by all stakeholders will meet those lofty goals, both Penny and Jackson say.
“In 10 years I see a viable downtown with interesting businesses, restaurants, the arts, more people living downtown, more activity on the streets – people taking advantage of a place that was once hustling and bustling and will be again,” Penny says. “People have to have a desire to see it happen, and I think we do. We have demonstrated that we can work together and make things happen.”
$8 millionapproximate investment in the
revitalization of the Douglas Block
$6.5 millionapproximate investment in the Downtown Streetscape Project
70approximate number of landscape pits
planned along downtown sidewalks
iMageSRock yMount.coM 13 iMageSRock yMount.coM 13
the douglas Building is another one of the structures being renovated as part of the douglas Block revitalization.
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Rocky Mount has an edge on education. A string of capital improvements and a couple of brand-
new facilities are making the educational opportunities in the area a force to be reckoned with.
breaking groundTwo of the area’s high schools
are opening new doors: Faith Christian School in 2011 and Rocky Mount High School in 2012.
“This will be a great asset to the city,” says Mark Strickland, special assistant to auxiliary services for Rocky Mount High School. “In addition to numerous other improvements, the community now has the opportunity to promote this
brand-new school, which we hope will be a great draw.”
A new facility for Faith Christian School solidifies the message that providing quality learning environments for students is a priority for area residents, across both the public and private education sectors.
“We want to have a positive impact on the community. I don’t look at us as competing with other schools, I see us as partnering with them,” says Edward Bunn, headmaster of Faith Christian School.
getting technicalSome of the most exciting
additions to both the new and
old school buildings are improvements in technology.
“Our system is really technology intensive,” Strickland says, “and it’s state-of-the-art in terms of energy efficiency.”
The new Rocky Mount High School is pursuing a LEED gold certification, employing a geothermal well system for heating and cooling and relying heavily on day-lighting, according to Strickland.
In terms of technology, both the high school and the new Faith Christian School facility will feature impressive upgrades, including interactive whiteboards. FCA will have LCD screens throughout the hallways posting
rocky mount students are getting neW facilities, more technology
Advanced education
SToRy By karen schWartzman
top: new projectors in use at Rocky Mount academy. the projectors are a big part of Phase one of edge at RMa. bottom: Rocky Mount high School is set to open a new facility in 2012.
14 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 15
information to students, from game reminders to club sign-ups.
“Wherever we can integrate technology, we are. It becomes a tool in relating to kids because it’s such a big aspect of their life,” Bunn says.
Also on the technology front, the independent college preparatory school Rocky Mount Academy successfully completed Phase 1 of its EDGE (Engaging the Digital Generation in Education) initiative. The program raised over $210,000 to fund equipment and professional development that provides teachers with additional tools to educate all students in grades PK-12, including 44 laptops for teachers, 35 interactive data projectors for all classrooms,
four desktop computers for every PK-5 classroom, an iPad mobile lab and more. Phase 2 will equip every student in grades six through 12 with an Lenovo ThinkPad beginning the 2012-2013 school year.
modern outlookThese educational advances fall
perfectly in line with those being made throughout the entire Rocky Mount area, Strickland says.
“It’s another jewel in the crown for the city, in terms of what the city’s been trying to do to upgrade amenities and aesthetics. The curriculum will be as good as ever, but now it’ll be housed in a space that is more in keeping with the quality of those programs.”
from top: interactive whiteboards are among the upgrades at Faith christian School; the high school addition to Faith christian School
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Frank J. Courts, D.D.S, Ph.D.
Pediatric Dentistry
73 Success Ct. Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252-443-7136Dedicated to Children’s Oral Health
We accept most insurance, cash, checks, care credit, debit and credit cards.
Associates Elizabeth K. Miller, D.D.S., M.S. Pediatric Dentist
Heather H. Kim, D.D.S., General Dentist
SPECiAliziNG iN DENtiStRy FoR
infants, Children & Patients with Special Needs
First visit recommended between 12 months and 18 months
16 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 17
at your Service
18 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 19
nash Health Care is bringing world-class health care home. Comprised of five
hospitals, the nonprofit system is in the midst of a five-year expansion that’s bringing never-before-offered services to patients from Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson and Johnston counties.
nash regional heart centerIn 2011, Rocky Mount welcomed
the Nash Heart Center. Developed as a partnership between Nash Health Care, Boice-Willis Clinic in Rocky Mount and University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina in Greenville, N.C., Nash Heart Center allows patients to receive stent placement and other interventional services locally.
“This partnership has enabled us to expand the level of service we’re performing in the hospital now,” says Larry Chewning, president and chief executive officer of Nash Health Care. “Our patient volume has doubled since we began the program, but most importantly the number of patients being transferred to tertiary care or teaching hospitals has dropped dramatically.”
SToRy By melanie hill
at your Servicenash health care thriving
in rocky mount
nash general hospital claude Mayo Jr. Surgery PavilionT
od
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18 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 19
Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website
Top 10Pet-Friendly Cities
Rocky Mountmade the list.Top 10 Pet-Friendly CitiesSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.
EUGENEOregon
LOUISVILLEKentucky
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iMageSRock yMount.coM 21
pediatric emergency care center
Another significant part of Nash’s growth includes expansion of Nash General Hospital’s Emergency Care Center, which currently sees some 66,000 visitors a year. In 2012, an adjoining Pediatric Emergency Care Center will provide a separate treatment area for children and teens.
“Nearly 20 percent of our emergency patients are children, so we want to be able to treat them in a child-friendly environment,” Chewning says. “From the front door in they’ll have an entity that’s entirely their own, away from the potentially frightening trauma of a traditional emergency room.”
nash breast care centerRocky Mount also is home to
the Nash Breast Care Center, which opened in November 2010. The center provides each patient with a personal registered nurse breast health navigator to help guide her
through screening, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Digital mammography, high-definition ultrasound and bone densitometry are among the services available.
“Patients now have the ability to receive everything they need for diagnostic and physician services in one place,” Chewning says.
The center is housed in a new medical office building on the hospital’s main campus. Located behind Nash Day Hospital, the easily accessible site also is home to the Nash Sleep Disorders Center and 42,000 square feet of rentable space that includes Rocky Mount Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Center, Nash OB-GYN Associates and Boice-Willis Clinic General Surgeons.
building health care in rocky mount
In 2011, Nash Health Care also broke ground on a 5,600-square-foot Middlesex, N.C., medical office building in southern Nash
County. And in 2013, Nash Health Care will become a satellite campus for third- and fourth-year medical students from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Chewning says the addition will bring a higher sense of clinical decision-making and help the system compete with other hospitals for new physicians.
“All of our programs, projects and expansions are designed with the purpose of providing the maximum amount of health-care services locally,” Chewning says. “We realize we have a broad role in the community, and that involves bringing in new physicians, growing medical staff and bringing primary care to underserved areas.”
Nash Health Care is comprised of five licensed hospitals totaling 403 beds: Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center, Community Hospital and Coastal Plain Hospital.
from left: a doctor talks with a patient at the nash Breast care center; nash general hospital’s new Surgery Pavilion
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Business
a pillar in the community since 1982, the Cummins-Rocky Mount Engine Plant
employs more than 1,400 full-time employees and more than 300 temporary employees.
The Rocky Mount plant builds diesel and natural-gas engines ranging from 90 to 600 horsepower. Ken Anderson, who joined the Cummins-Rocky Mount plant in 2008 and became plant manager in 2010, says they make nearly 4,000 different engine configurations from heavy duty automotive to construction equipment.
economic rebound hits rocky mount plant
The plant started to see some growth in 2010 in terms of economic recovery with increases in business from South America, Asia, China and Korea. As a result, the Cummins plant here has added roughly 600 jobs. Anderson says of those positions, most are skilled workers with about 25 or so being professional staff.
“Many of the added positions came through temporary
employment, but we have since converted more than half of those to full-time, and will probably add another 100 full-time employees by the end of the year,” Anderson says. “We are on pace for record volume produced in the plant in 2011.”
“We are certified to produce the Dodge RAM engine, but we don’t,” he says. “We make the industrial version of the same engine. By changing a few components and a computer program, it becomes something that’s hauling industrial loads.”
The production lines are capable of producing more than 750 engines per day and currently are running two full shifts. Of the company’s many philosophies, a major one is stewardship in the community.
company philanthropy is its backbone
Anderson and the founders of Cummins Inc. believe the success of the RMEP stems from its steadfast commitment to community involvement and corporate responsibility,
which focuses on education, environment and social justice.
The company has completed several major projects through the years that have made a difference for the communities, not to mention the array of resources provided through partnerships with many of the nonprofits in Edgecombe, Nash and Halifax counties. The Rocky Mount Homeless Shelter, Phillips Middle School grounds, the Battleboro Community Center, Enfield Warriors Athletic Field and, most recently, the Whitakers Public Library, are among the major renovation or restoration projects the company takes pride in, as well as hosting a hazardous waste amnesty day, which was centralized at Golden East Mall to accommodate anyone who wanted to participate.
The company partnered with the City of Rocky Mount to provide free energy assessments for residential customers and recently donated engines to three community colleges to assist in training programs to better
cummins engine plant knoWn for giving back to community
For a
SToRy By melonee mckinney hurt
good cause
22 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 23
prepare potential candidates for employment and workforce preparedness in general.
united Way contribution hits six figures annually
To validate all that it continues to do, the plant’s annual contribution to the Tar River Region United Way has skyrocketed each year. The plant’s support makes up one-third of the community’s United Way budget. The plant was recognized in February 2010 with a Spirit of North Carolina Award for its
campaign. The award provided statewide recognition for exceptional commitment and support to the community through the local United Way.
“It stems from the fundamental base of our company,” Anderson says. “We have paid time off budgeted for each employee to do community service because we realize at a minimum, a job puts food on the table. But if it’s a positive environment that affords you the opportunity to make a difference in the community, it is very satisfying, making RMEP
a great place to work.” But you won’t find the
Cummins-Rocky Mount plant plastered all over the press for its endeavors. The company doesn’t make a practice of sending out press releases about its charitable contributions. The plant simply empowers its employees and takes pride in a job well done.
ADDITIonAL EDIToRIAL
conTRIBuTIons pRovIDED By
GLoRIA WIGGIns-HIcks, RMEp
coMMunITy RELATIons MAnAGER
cummins-Rocky Mount engine Plant
22 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 23
Business
other major businesses in rocky mountkaba ilco corp.
a leading provider of mechanical and electronic
access control solutions. The Rocky Mount location,
which employs almost 700 people, specializes in key
blanks, key machines, transponder equipment, brass
cylinders, security hardware and locksmith supplies.
hospiraa global specialty pharmaceutical and medication
delivery company that manufactures and supplies
specialty injectables, medication management
systems and infusion therapy solutions and supplies.
one of its six manufacturing facilities in the united
States is located here in Rocky Mount and employs
nearly 2,000 people.
honeyWell Honeywell’s Rocky Mount operations serve the
commercial air transport and helicopter markets
with support for a variety of aerospace equipment
systems. among the components supported
are mechanical and hydraulic actuators and
hydromechanical and pneumatic fuel controls.
QvcMultimedia retailer QvC constructed a distribution
center in Rocky Mount in 1999 and recently
announced plans to expand the facility by 1 million
square feet while creating 500 full- and part-time
jobs by the expected completion in fall 2012. The
company currently employs approximately 541 full-
time and 998 part-time workers at the facility.
sara lee bakery Sara lee Bakery is a manufacturer of brands that
make up one of the world’s best-loved portfolios
of food, beverage, household and body care
products, including ambi Pur, Ball Park, douwe
Egberts, Hillshire farm, Jimmy dean, kiwi, Sanex,
Sara lee and Senseo. Collectively, these brands
generate more than $13 billion in annual net sales.
The Tarboro location employs 1,100 people locally.
24 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 25
P.O. Box 7897253 NC Hwy. 48Battleboro, NC 27809(252) 972-2500 Ph(252) 973-6791 Faxwww.mclaneco.com
ABOUT USMcLane Company is one of the largest and fastest growing nationwide distributors of grocery and general merchandise products in the country.
OUR MISSIONTo become the world's premier logistics company.
OUR PEOPLEMcLane Company has, for well over 100 years, been built on a heritage of honesty, integrity and high Christian principles, both in our customer relationships and teamwork of our employees.
OUR TENUREMcLane Company is celebrating 15 years of service to our customers and the community in the Rocky Mount area.
OUR AFFILIATIONSUnited Way • Children's Miracle Network
more is betterrocky mount residents can noW enjoy faster, more expansive technology
residents and businesses in Rocky Mount and
Nash and Edgecombe counties can now enjoy
more media than ever – at faster speeds, too –
thanks to a multimillion-dollar network upgrade
by Suddenlink.
The company recently completed an eight-month
project that involved constructing and upgrading
about 1,500 miles of cable and fiber-optic lines
across Suddenlink’s North Carolina operations,
including approximately 650 miles in the Rocky
Mount area.
“The Rocky Mount upgrades are part of Project
imagine, a program we started in late 2009, calling
for $350 million in capital investments companywide,
above and beyond our traditional capital
investments,” says Phil ahlschlager, senior
vice president of regional operations for Suddenlink
in North Carolina. “The ultimate goal of Project
imagine is to make sure our technology and
service are second to none.”
as a result, area residents have access to a more
expansive selection of Suddenlink services, such as
video on demand, more than 80 high-definition Tv
channels and speedier internet. additionally, the
company is transitioning to an all-digital Tv lineup
that will improve picture and sound quality.
and that’s not all. By the end of 2011, Suddenlink
plans to invest more than $25 million in North
Carolina, with approximately $10 million of that
invested in the Rocky Mount area.
“The investments we’ve made in Rocky Mount
will provide our customers with better service and
an expanded array of choices,” ahlschlager says.
“The upgraded network has 1 gigahertz (GHz) of
capacity, making it a state-of-the-art system; no
other cable system in the u.S. surpasses the ability
of this one to provide residential and business
customers with leading services.”
– Jessica Walker
24 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 25
scorecardbusiness at
a glance
$875 million
annual retail sales
$15,625retail sales
per capita
$98 millionannual hotel
and food sales
4,171total number
of firms
source: u.s. census QuickFacts
Business
Biz BriefsBuSineSSeS – Both laRge and SMall – that helP deFine
Rocky Mount’S econoMic cliMate
b&m roofing contractorsBiz: Roofing contractorBuzz: For 13 years, this family-owned business serves residential, commercial, industrial and repair needs for clients throughout the U.S. Instead of using a nail gun, its employees hand-nail every shingle to ensure an even and sound roof and offers superior warranties. B&M was named among the Top 200 Roofing Contractors in the U.S. by Roofing Contractor magazine.www.bmroofingcontractors.com
PHoTo CouRTESy of loNGSTREET WidE foRMaT PRiNTiNG aNd CuTTiNG
PHoTo CouRTESy of oSSid CoRPoRaTioN
PHoTo CouRTESy of B&M RoofiNG CoNTRaCToRS
PHoTo CouRTESy of RoCky MouNT ElECTRiC MoToR SalES aNd SERviCE
26 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 27
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Discover the cost-cutting secrets
of outsourcing.
You name it. We can do it!
ISO 9001 andAS9100C Registered
Tri-County Industries 1250 Atlantic Ave.
Rocky Mount, NC 27801
(252) 977-3800(866) 605-7765 Toll-free
(252) 977-2283 Fax
www.tciworks.com
longstreet Wide format printing and cuttingBiz: Custom digital printing and cuttingBuzz: LongStreet Printing produces the highest-quality printed graphics and cut material such as banners, signs, stand-up cut outs and custom orders using all digital machinery. The business offers environmentally friendly inks for all graphics.(252) 467-2174
babington technologyBiz: Advanced manufacturingBuzz: The father-son team and its employees received the 2011 Small Business of the Year award for its innovation, community involvement, growth and power. Since Bob Babington’s invention of the Airtronic Burner, a smokeless and odorless oil-fired burner used in mobile kitchens, the company has become the leading manufacturer of mass feeding systems for all branches of the U.S. military.www.babingtontechnology.com
rocky mount electric motor sales & service inc.Biz: Electric motor repairBuzz: Also a recipient of the 2011 Small Business of the Year award, this 24-hour business repairs AC electric motors, DC motors and generators among other speciality machines for industrial clients within a 150-mile radius. It recently opened a new warehouse to house new and rebuilt motor inventory.(252) 446-1510
ossid corporationBiz: Packaging equipment designBuzz: Ever wonder how your ground chuck was so neatly packaged on its foam tray before you grabbed it off the shelf at the grocery? Machines like those produced by Ossid Corp. are the answer. The company, headquartered in Rocky Mount, designs, makes and leases this type of food packaging equipment to companies who produce fresh meats, medical devices and other consumer goods.www.ossid.com
26 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 27
reuben Blackwell is pleased
that all freshmen entering
Edgecombe Early College High
School receive a free laptop
computer and keep their laptops
throughout high school.
“Ever since that initiative began,
test scores are up, dropout rates
have decreased and behavioral
problems at Edgecombe have
lessened,” says Blackwell, vice-
chairman of the Workforce
development Education
Committee, formed in late
2010 by the Rocky Mount
area Chamber of Commerce.
The committee is a
collaboration among private-
sector business and industrial
leaders, educators, small-business
Business
chamber reportchaMBeR coMMittee FocuSeS on education
owners and government
leaders working to develop the
knowledge infrastructure of Nash
and Edgecombe counties for
economic growth and success.
“The Twin Counties have been
hit by unfortunate occurrences
over the past decade or so,
including NafTa opening the
trade borders and costing our
community about 10,000 jobs,
then Hurricane floyd in the late
1990s flooded our whole region,”
Blackwell says. “We’ve also been
enduring the current national
economic recession. So the
Workforce development
Education Committee is backing
business and education initiatives
earmarked to grow our
community better than we were
before. a key goal is to prepare
our students and workforce to
be globally competitive.”
Blackwell says another way
the local knowledge infrastructure
is strengthening is by Nash and
Edgecombe school systems
working together to establish
collaborative technology
programs to benefit students
in both districts. That particular
mission aims to get students
started on a pathway to eventual
success in the hottest, most
challenging and rewarding
careers of the future.
“also, East Carolina university,
North Carolina State university
and North Carolina Wesleyan
College are partnering with our
local business and industry
community to bring higher-
learning opportunities to our
region, including several beneficial
online programs,” he says. “a lot
of things are happening these
days in the Twin Counties, and the
chamber’s Workforce development
Education Committee will continue
to do whatever we can to achieve
more success stories.”
– kevin Litwin
28 Rock y Mount
top employers
Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools
Hospira, inc.
Nash Health Care Systems
RBC Bank
Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant
Edgecombe County Public Schools
QvC Rocky Mount, inc.
Centurylink
universal leaf North america
City of Rocky Mount
Sara lee Bakery
tax structure
Residential Property taxProperty Taxes for 2008-09 (per $100 valuation) are $.94 in Edgecombe County, $.70 in Nash County and $.55 in the City of Rocky Mount.
income
$20,788Per capita income
$53,172average annual household income
transportation
amtrak
101 Hammond St.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 446-3646
www.amtrak.com
Rocky Mount-Wilson
Regional airport (RWi)
7265 air Terminal drive
Elm City, NC 27822
(252) 446-7057
rwiairport.com
Highway 97 between
Rocky Mount and Wilson
The closest international
airport is Raleigh-durham
international (Rdu), which is
approximately 70 miles west
of downtown Rocky Mount.
Workforce
74% White-collar Jobs
26% Blue-collar Jobs
education
8.8%associate degree
11.1%Bachelor’s degree
5%advanced graduate degree
distance to major cities
Charlotte, 220 miles
Greensboro, 135 miles
Raleigh, 60 miles
durham, 69 miles
fayetteville, 95 miles
economic profile
Belgian Quality
6610 Corporation pkwy. | BattleBoro, nC 27809252-442-4016 | Fax 252-442-3191
www.poppies.Com
STAMP OUT BREAST CANCERWITH YOUR FEET.
This space is provided as a public service. ©2008 Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Learn more about the Komen Race for the Cure
by visiting www.komen.org or calling 1-877 GO KOMEN.
business climateThe Rocky Mount region has a thriving small-business sector.
While some startup businesses remain small by design, many
local companies have experienced rapid growth and now
employ hundreds of people. large corporations like Boddie-
Noell Enterprises and MBM Corp. are headquartered in the area.
iMageSRock yMount.coM 29
Rocky Mount Train Station, also home of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce
Photo by Todd Bennett
image Gallery
30 Rock y Mount
Visitors to City Lake Park enjoy a sunny morning.
Photo by Todd Bennett
iMageSRock yMount.coM 31
image Gallery
32 Rock y Mount
The Rocky Mount Sports Complex
Photo by Todd Bennett
iMageSRock yMount.coM 33
Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park
Photo by Todd Bennett
image Gallery
34 Rock y Mount
An American flag is reflected in a window at the Edgecombe County Courthouse.
Photo by Todd Bennett
iMageSRock yMount.coM 35
home to food-focused
festivals, a thriving farmers
market and local businesses
producing nationwide favorites,
Rocky Mount tempts foodies
from all over.
food-focused festivalsPerhaps the city’s biggest
culinary claim to fame is the
Eastern Carolina BBQ
Throwdown, a major barbecue
cook-off every october. The
contest is an official North
Carolina State Barbecue
Championship as well as a
sanctioned competition of
the renowned kansas City
Barbeque Society.
The Spring Hope National
Pumpkin festival is a fall favorite
in the town of Spring Hope. There
are contests for all ages, including
a pumpkin weigh-in, recipe
competition, pumpkin queen
pageant and a pumpkin creation
contest. it doesn’t just stop at
the pumpkins though. other
activities include a street dance,
crafts show, antique car show,
music, carnival and parade.
The Tar River Wine festival
combines upscale wine tasting
and fundraising efforts to offer
one of the most popular
charitable events in Eastern
North Carolina. Participants enjoy
an elegant evening of Southern
cuisine and wine sampling.
food products from the rocky mount area
for fresh produce and some
meats, the Rocky Mount farmers
Market sells fruits‚ vegetables‚
herbs‚ jams‚ country meats and
more. The market is located in a
building on Peachtree Street,
and operates Wednesdays from
June to august and Saturdays
from april to october.
Peanuts are big business in
the region. aunt Ruby’s Peanuts
and america’s Best Nut Company
both sell and distribute gourmet
nuts nationwide.
Braswell foods in Nash County
produces Eggland’s Best eggs,
which are sold at stores such
as Walmart, Costco and other
grocers across the country.
Eggland’s Best eggs have 25
percent less saturated fat than
other eggs, and are available
in white, organic and cage free.
atlantic Natural foods llC
in Nashville produces health
and natural foods like tofu.
From Farmer to FestivalRocky Mount enticeS Food loveRS With FeStivalS, a FaRMeRS MaRket and MoRe
local flavor
tar river Wine festival
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36 Rock y Mount
rooted in agriculture
f rom peanuts to sweet
potatoes, roots run deep in
eastern North Carolina. County
agriculture cooperatives and youth
organizations like future farmers
of america and 4-H are working to
promote – and protect – the
region's thriving croplands.
“it's very important for kids to
realize they live in such a strong
agricultural area,” says Sandy Hall,
Nash County extension agent for
4-H and youth programs. “you
can get fresh produce right here
in Nash County, and kids who
don't get out in the countryside
need to know the things going
on in their community.”
Each year, the organization reaches more than 5,000 kids through school enrichment programs, traditional 4-H programs and their annual Heritage days celebration showcasing agricultural exhibits and demonstrations.
in Edgecombe County, 150,000 acres of cropland comprise 1,200-plus farms yielding the nation's best commodity crops. Cotton, soybeans, peanuts, tobacco and sweet potatoes are found here, along with a thriving livestock industry.
“Why agriculture and 4-H? Next time you sit down to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, you'll be eating the answer,” says lesa Walton, extension agent for 4-H and youth programs for the Edgecombe County Extension Center. T
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36 Rock y Mount
nash General, Heritage and
lifeCare hospitals are major
medical centers in Rocky Mount,
but health care in this city of
57,000 residents is even more
than that. Partnerships, satellite
clinics and specialty offices also
provide quality care to patients of
Rocky Mount – and beyond. Some
of the health care facilities are:
nash general hospitalCounty-owned Nash Health Care
Systems owns this hospital which
provides services usually found
only in major metropolitan areas.
“Physicians who come to our staff
from hospitals like duke [university
Medical Center] say the quality of
services here is equal to, if not
better than, what’s available at the
big teaching centers,” says larry
Chewning, NHCS president and CEo.
The campus is home to
specialized facilities such as
Rocky Mount Heartburn Treatment
Center, Joint Replacement Center
and Nash Wound Care Center.
NHCS also locally operates Nash
day Hospital, the Bryant aldridge
Rehabilitation Hospital, Coastal
Plain Hospital and the Emergency
Care Center.
heritage hospitalThe Tarboro-based center
has 117 beds and 20 physician
specialties and services ranging
from same-day surgery to critical
care and rehabilitation. There is
also a level iii intermediate care
nursery, family birthing center,
cancer center, pain management
clinic, chronic heart failure clinic,
orthopedic services and a 24-hour
emergency department.
lifecare hospitallifeCare was formed in 1992 and
has 50 licensed beds and a medical
staff of 35 physicians. The hospital
is accredited with The Joint
Commission and the College
of american Pathologists, and
specializes in the treatment of
medically complex patients who
require extended hospitalization.
boice-Willis intermediate care
The physician-owned practice
opened in 1914 and covers 16
different medical specialties.
Boice-Willis has seven locations
and services that include a
women’s imaging center, physical
therapy, and health and diabetes
education departments.
carolina Quick careThe Carolina Quick Care clinic
treats minor injuries and non-life-
threatening illnesses, including
sprains, lacerations, sore throats,
coughs and colds, flu, sinus
infections, burns and rashes. it
is open seven days a week and
patients never need an appointment.
oic medical centeroiC Medical Center services
include family care, women’s health
and imaging. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-
5 p.m. Monday-friday, Thursdays
until 9 p.m. and three Saturdays
each month from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
family medical center of rocky mount
Services at the family Medical
Center include complete family care,
women’s health, a coagulation clinic
and diabetes education classes.
a regional cure-allFacilitieS PRovide healthy outlookS FoR ReSidentS and Region
Health & Wellness
university health systems - heritage hospital
boice-Willis clinic
38 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 39
All Board-Certified Radiologists providing diagnostic imaging interpretation as well as vascular and interventional radiology services at Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, Nash Open MRI, Nash Breast Center and Hardees Heart Center.
• Diagnostic Radiography• Fluororadiography• Digital Mammography• CT Imaging• MR Imaging• PET Imaging• Ultrasound Imaging• Nuclear Isotope Imaging• Image Guided Biopsy and Drainage• Image Guided Vascular Access• Catheter Directed Angiography• Therapeutic Spine Injections• Vein Ablation• Uterine Fibroid Embolization
131 Roundabout Ct. • P.O. Box 7946 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 443-4024 • (252) 443-5021 Fax
Department of Imaging Services – Nash General Hospital: (252) 962-8083
Department of Imaging Services – Nash Day Hospital: (252) 962-8946
Cardiovascular and Interventional Services – Hardees Heart Center: (252) 962-8202
Richard T. Fritz, MD
Tillman Bailey III, MD
Ivan Y. Peacock, MD
Gerald W. Capps, MD
Allen M. Johnson, MD
Linda L. Willis, MD
Todd H. Duncan, MD
family medical center
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38 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 39
40 Rock y Mount
Whether it’s music, dance,
theater or good ol’
fashioned visual arts one craves,
there are plenty of cultural
centers in the Rocky Mount area
to satisfy even the most
sophisticated arts appetite.
tarboro historic toursExplore significant stops
within Tarboro’s 45-block historic
district, downtown and Calvary
Churchyard via Tarboro Historic
Walking Tours. The tours begin
at the 1808 Blount-Bridgers
House, also known as the Grove,
a national historic landmark that
houses a permanent collection
celebrating the 200-year-old
material culture of Edgecombe
County and the creative
achievements of Tarboro-born
artist, Hobson Pittman (1899-
1972). The two-hour tours cost $5
and are available most Saturdays
from april through September
and by appointment fridays or
Sundays. for reservations, call
(252) 823-4159 or (252) 641-6465.
albemarle historic toursventure through Northeast
North Carolina on the expansive
albemarle Historic Tour (HaT),
the state’s oldest heritage trail,
that will carry you through
centuries of american history. The
tour will take you to 32 historic
places with sites spanning across
the 17-county Northeast region.
Some sites within the state
include Stonewall Manor and
Hope Plantation, and the historic
cities of Halifax, Jackson,
Murfreesboro and Tarboro.
on the coast, there are numerous
attractions such as the Elizabethan
Gardens, frisco Native american
Museum and island farm, to name
a few. Taking the tour is as easy as
following the signs. The recently
added brown HaT signs are along
the state’s major thoroughfares
connecting the roadways to their
historic destinations. for more
information, call (800) 734-1117
or visit historicalbemarletour.org.
having an artistic Bentthe aRtS take centeR Stage in Rocky Mount
arts & Culture
from left: the 1808 Blount-Bridgers house is part of the tarboro historic Walking tour; Sculpture at the imperial center for the arts and Sciences
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Caring for You in All the Stages of Your Life
www.nashobgyn.com 200 Nash Medical Arts Mall • Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 443-5941 or (800) 521-5199
Diplomate American Board Obstetrics and Gynecology
Frederick G. Kroncke, Jr., M.D., FACOG
Dennis J. Van Zant, M.D., FACOG
Ingrid S. Bullard, M.D., FACOG
Christina R. Peyton, M.D., FACOG
Douglas D. Boyette, M.D., Retired
Matthew T. Collins, M.D., FACOG
Mel W. Fryar, M.D., FACOG
Christopher D. Chandler, M.D., FACOG
imperial centre for the arts & sciences
The historically renovated,
135,000-square-foot imperial
Centre for the arts & Sciences
is located in downtown Rocky
Mount and houses an arts center,
multiple arts exhibits, a children’s
museum and science center, and
community performing arts
theater, which stages more than
100 productions each year.
dunn center for the performing arts
one such facility is the state-
of-the-art dunn Center for the
Performing arts, located on the
North Carolina Wesleyan College
campus. Best known for its stage
performances and top-notch
sound and lighting systems, the
center seats more than 1,200 in
its revered Minges auditorium and
133 in its intimate Powers Recital
Hall. The center also houses two
visual arts galleries dedicated to
showcasing artists in the
community, as well as from
around the world. Mims Gallery
features professional and
international art, while the Civic
Gallery showcases the creative
talents of local artists. located
nearby in NCWC’s Pearsell
Building is the world-renowned
four Sisters Gallery. featuring
self-taught, visionary artists from
the Coastal Plain, the gallery
often features selections from the
lynch Collection of outsider art.
keihin auditoriumThe two-story‚ 70‚000-square-
foot keihin (pronounced
kay-HEEN) auditorium at
Edgecombe Community College
in Tarboro is another facility
devoted to enhancing the arts
quality in the Rocky Mount
community. Seating 1,029, the
keihin auditorium, located in the
college’s fleming Building, has a
70-foot-wide stage, flown acoustic
panels and a cutting-edge lighting
system – attracting top musical
talent, ranging from legendary
blues artist BB king to folk
guitarist doc Watson to country
music star Taylor Swift.
nash arts centerHoused in the former first
Baptist Church is the Nash arts
Center, built back in 1914. Slated
for demolition in 1983 to become
a parking lot, the center has
remained a thriving entity in
the Rocky Mount arts scene
with the help and support of
the community – today, still using
the original pews from the church
for its seating. Run by Nash arts
Council and the North Carolina
arts Council, the 200-seat center
features performances by local
music acts‚ plays written and
directed by North Carolina
playwrights and works of art
by area artists.
– Tiffany Williams
anyone who seeks fun and
relaxation outdoors – from
paddling a canoe to participating
in basketball and baseball
leagues – will find an array
of recreational opportunities
in the Rocky Mount area.
rocky mount sports complex
With its disc golf course, six
youth baseball fields, four dual-
use baseball and softball fields,
championship regulation baseball
field, four soccer/football fields,
two basketball courts and walking
trail, the sprawling Rocky Mount
Sports Complex has diverse
offerings. Proposed extensions
of the Tar River walking trail will
link to the complex. The disc golf
course features three different
tee lengths that allow players of
different abilities to fairly compete
against each other. The course
also features water hazards and
mandos for a complete disc golf
experience.
sunset parkSunset Park offers a number of
unique attractions and activities
including a miniature train,
historic carousel, a skate park and
a spray park with 10 computer-
controlled water spray fountains
within a traditional playground
structure. The outdoor skate park
features ramps and hills for kids
of all ages including halfpipe, rails
and quarterpipes.
city lakeRocky Mount’s City lake is the
ideal place to feed ducks, fish or
just lounge in the sun-soaked
grass. in the winter months,
Christmas lights are doubled
in the lake’s placid surface. a
planned trail will officially join
City lake to the Tar River Trail.
tar river trailThe Tar River Trail is a paved
walking/bike path that links 4
miles of parks from City lake to
Martin luther king Park. along
this verdant stretch of the Tar
River you’ll find a miniature train
and tennis courts in Sunset Park,
the falls of Tar River, the historical
homes of Mill village and Battle
Park, the site of the town’s “rocky
mound” namesakes.
a comprehensive map of
recreational opportunities in the
Tar River area is available at:
www.rockymountnc.gov.
tar river Waterwaysfollowing the course of the Tar
River and Stony Creek, the gentle
take it outsideRocky Mount oFFeRS outdooR RecReation in aBundance
Sports & Recreation
the Rocky Mount Sports complex hosts a tournament with 25 youth baseball teams from across the state.
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42 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 43
Class i canoe and kayak trails
wind through downtown Rocky
Mount. for an in-depth river
experience, or just an afternoon
picnic, camping platforms are
available along the river trail in the
Rocky Mount Reservoir and Battle
Park. visit www.rockymountnc.gov for information about campsite
reservations and canoe rentals.
harrison family ymcaJust up the road from the river,
Harrison family yMCa seeks to
improve Rocky Mount by
providing day camps, after-school
care, athletics and a variety of
special events to its members.
The yMCa organizes recreational
activities for adults in swimming,
rock climbing, karate, basketball
and volleyball groups, while youth
activities range from preschool
tumbling to flag football and
soccer. in addition to athletics,
the yMCa also hosts youth clubs
like Teens in Philanthropy, child
care before and after school, and
summer daycare.
sylvan heights Waterfowl park
a brief drive to nearby
Scotland Neck will bring you
to Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park,
a wetlands sanctuary and highly
successful breeding center for
rare birds. The park echoes with
the calls of more than 180 species
of waterfowl and tropical birds
that can be observed from a
wheelchair-accessible tree house
observation deck. apart from the
main waterfowl enclosure, the
park houses 1,500 birds in its
breeding area. Here, rare and
endangered species like the
Madagascar teal, african pygmy
goose, australian freckled duck
and the fragile white winged
wood duck are coaxed back from
the edge of extinction by park
founders Mike and ali lubbock.
Park hours and admission can be
found at www.shwpark.com.– spencer Mohead
city lake
canoeing the tar river
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44 Rock y Mount
rocky Mount provides a true
educational continuum with
quality primary, secondary and
continued education options for its
residents. from the cradle to the
office chair, the Rocky Mount area
meets the needs of those who call
it home.
public schoolsNash-Rocky Mount Public
Schools’ commitment to
excellence is evident when one
considers the fact that 122 of the
school system’s teachers are
National Board Certified. This is
the highest credential available to
primary and secondary educators.
NRMPS is able to shape the
minds of approximately 18,000
kindergarten through high school
students on 29 campuses while
still maintaining the ecological
responsibility that won them
the Environmental Protection
agency’s Energy Star Partner
of the year award.
Edgecombe County Public
Schools offer their 7,800 students
the kind of advanced, modern
educational opportunities they
need to succeed in today’s
fast-paced world. With the
implementation of the 1:1 laptop
initiative, high school students
receive personal laptop computers
to strengthen their computer
literacy and increase the
interactivity of their lessons. North
Edgecombe High School was
selected as a pilot for the North
Carolina virtual Public School
program, allowing students more
access to online courses. Career
academics, advanced placement
courses, and Edgecombe Early
College High School provide the
pre-k through high school
students with further benefits.
College prep school Rocky
Mount Preparatory School is a
nationally accredited independent
charter public school. This means
the not-for-profit school has
no tuition besides the rigorous
academic and ethical standards
to which its kindergarten through
grade 12 students adhere.
Programs and tools like Rocky
Mount Prep’s online homework
assignments are instead supported
by donations and endowments.
private schoolsRocky Mount’s private schools
also set the bar high. Rocky
Mount academy provides an
education that, since 1971, has
had a 95 percent success rate in
sending the graduates of its pre-k
through grade 12 school to
college. an 8:1 student-to-teacher
ratio assures a personalized
experience for students, while the
50 hours of community service
they complete during their four
years of high school aims to teach
them social responsibility.
There also are faith-based
educational options in the area,
including our lady of Perpetual
Help Catholic School and faith
Christian School.
higher educationfor continuing and technical
education, Rocky Mount has
options ranging from the four-
year North Carolina Wesleyan
College and its affiliated Gateway
Technology Center, to the
Nash Community College and
Edgecombe Community College,
all the way to the College of adult
and Professional Education.
Gateway Technology Center
is located on the Rocky Mount
campus of North Carolina
Wesleyan College, as well as
the closest possible destination,
a home computer. Gateway offers
distance learning in association
with NCWC and North Carolina
State university in a variety of
degrees and programs of study.
online courses at Gateway can
also be used as credit hours for
two years of a bachelor’s degree
at Nash Community College and
Edgecombe Community College.
an online MBa program is a
recent addition.
Edgecombe Community
College is a two-year institute
that provides 25 degrees as well
as diplomas, certificate programs
and study areas in such fields as
human resource training, nursing
assistance, emergency medical
services and business training.
The main campus is in Tarboro,
with several buildings in Rocky
Mount. Besides its distance-
learning endeavors, ECC offers
a youth training program for 14
to 21-year-olds that provides job
training and work experience for
young people emerging onto the
job market.
if you’re looking for workforce
development or a diverse field of
study from accounting to electric
lineman training, Nash Community
College fits the bill. NCC often
works directly with local and
emerging businesses to create
a technically skilled body of
future employees. This is the
crux of NCC’s focused industrial
Training program. The two-year
college offers 68 degrees,
diploma and certificate studies
through its business technology,
health science, social science,
human services and computer
information technology
departments.
–spencer Mohead
all about a’sRocky Mount excelS in education
Education
44 Rock y Mount
production planarea community colleges planning for Workforce development
in Rocky Mount, education doesn’t end after
the diploma. Schools like Nash Community College
and Edgecombe Community College are making sure
that area workers are well prepared to meet industry
needs.
Both schools have developed plans for workforce
development, providing local industries with
programs to help business and workers grow.
“We find out what the need is for those industries
and build customized training programs around
them,” says debbie lamm, president of Edgecombe
Community College.
Both schools meet with industries on a regular
basis to find out which areas of production are most
in need of improvement, and then design training
modules to cover those areas, including computer
classes and securing teachers for particular classes.
Not only do the industries improve, but state needs
are satisfied as well, according to lamm.
The program represents a wide variety of
industries; some major players for ECC include Sara
lee and QBC, while Nash Community College has
worked with well-known companies such as Hospira
and the Cheesecake factory Bakery.
So far, both schools have seen success, both in
building their own programs as well as successfully
meeting the needs of area industries.
“Many of our industries have expanded,” lamm
says, “which verifies that we’ve been able to meet
their needs.”
– karen schwartzman
Rocky Mount campus of edgecombe community college
To
dd
BE
NN
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visit ouradvertisersBobby Murray Toyotawww.bmurraytoyota.com
Carolinas Gateway Partnershipwww.econdev.org
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Edgecombe Community Collegewww.edgecombe.edu
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Hampton Innwww.rockymount.hamptoninn.com
Heritage Hospitalwww.uhseast.com/heritage
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McLane Company Inc.www.mclaneco.com
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Nash Community Collegewww.nashcc.edu
Nash Health Care Systemswww.nhcs.org
Nash OB/GYN Associateswww.nashobgyn.com
Nash X-Ray Associates
Nash-Rocky Mount Public School Systemwww.nrms.k12.nc.us
North Carolina Wesleyan Collegewww.ncwc.edu
Poppies International Inc.
Rocky Mount Preparatory Schoolwww.rockymountprep.org
Rocky Mount Public Utilitieswww.rockymountnc.gov
Suddenlink Communicationswww.suddenlink.com
TCI Workswww.tciworks.com
6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1 3/22/10 11:40:09 AMJust the facts, please.Many factors will determine your move, and now you’re just a click away from all the basic facts you’ll need. visit imagesrockymount.com for our enhanced facts & Stats section, now rich with quick, pertinent details about the community.
We
at
he
r
PoPulation
SCHoolS
NEIGHBORHOODS
uTiliTiES
Businesses
iNduSTRytRanSPoRtation
ME
DIA
MOVING
SalaRySENioR liviNG
volunteering
cultuRe
RECREaTioN
diningHEalTH C a R E SHoPPiNG
46 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 47
marital status:
49% Married
51% Single
ethnicity:
46% White
49% Black
2% hispanic
3% other
transportation
16 minutes Median travel time to Work
climate
89°
July high temperature
30°
January low temperature
44”
annual Rain Fall (vs. national
average annual Rain Fall of 37”)
time zone
Eastern
cost of living
$43,210Median household income
$89,926Median home Price
$582Median Rent for a two-Bedroom apartment
household information
age:
37Median Resident age
28% 19 and under
45% 20-54
27% 55 and over
snapshotThe Rocky Mount area is located in Nash and Edgecombe
counties. The region offers a small-town feel and charm but big-
city amenities, such as sophisticated arts and culture, abundant
sports and recreation, and the security of quality health care
and excellent educational opportunities.
community profile
Rocky Mount PRePaRatoRy School• ATuition-FreeCollegePreparatorySchool
• GradesK-12
• 100%CollegeAcceptance
• 17AthleticTeams
• NineAdvancedPlacementOfferings
• AccreditedbytheSouthernAssociationofColleges andSchools
(252) 443-9923 • www.rockymountprep.org
thiS Section iS SPonSoRed By
46 Rock y Mount iMageSRock yMount.coM 47
Ad Index C3 BoBByMurrayToyoTa
8 Carolinas GaTewayParTnershiP
5 CoasTalBeveraGeCoMPany
45 edGeCoMBe CoMMuniTyColleGe
17 FrankJ.CourTsddsPhd
1 haMPToninn
2 heriTaGehosPiTal
37 liFeCarehosPiTals oFnorThCarolina
25 MClaneCoMPanyinC.
C4 nanCyliiPFerT assoCiaTesinC.
17 nashCoMMuniTyColleGe
C2 nashhealTh CaresysTeMs
41 nashoB/GynassoCiaTes
39 nashX-rayassoCiaTes
8 nash-roCkyMounT PuBliCsChoolsysTeM
4 norThCarolina wesleyanColleGe
29 PoPPiesinTernaTionalinC.
47 roCkyMounT PreParaTorysChool
28 roCkyMounT PuBliCuTiliTies
5 suddenlinkCoMMuniCaTions
27 TCiworks
Through the lens
The 1920s-era carousel at
Sunset Park in Rocky Mount,
N.C., was severely damaged
by hurricane floyd in 1999. The
carousel spent several days under
8-10 feet of water and completely
devastated the ride.
Estimates for repairs went into
six digits. only with the help of
private donations could the city
of Rocky Mount even fathom the
idea of repairing the ride instead of
just scrapping it. To raise money,
individuals and groups were given
the chance to adopt a horse for
restoration. People throughout the
area responded. Some with fond
childhood memories of making
the trip to Rocky Mount just to
ride the carousel.
one group in particular, a local
elementary school, plunged head
first into raising funds for the
restoration. They held candy sales
to raise the money to nurse one of
the injured animals back to health.
in the end, the children
were able to name their horse,
which they unanimously, and
appropriately, named “Hurricane.”
From our Photo Blog: rocky mount
PoSTEd By Todd BENNETT
more online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.
Now that you’ve experienced Rocky Mount through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.
get the story Behind the Photo
48 Rock y Mount
B e a t s a t B o b b y M u r r a y
The Hea r t of Rocky Mount
Bobby MurrayTOYOTA
943 N. Wesleyan Blvd.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 977-0224
Toll-free: (800) 745-2686
Service: (252) 977-0225
Fax: (252) 442-2448
Email:
www.bmurraytoyota.com
Rocky Mount Area RelocationRelocating is more than just about changing houses.It is about all the parts of your life that make a home.
Nancy Liipfert Associates understands. Please let us help.
We are a member of North America’s leading independent broker network.Whether you are moving to or from Rocky Mount, please call
on our team of trained professionals.
NaNcy Liipfert associates iNc. 3709 Westridge Circle Dr. • Rocky Mount, NC 27804-0218
(252) 937-7000 (800) 831-0114
nancyliipfert.com
Helen Williams HannaH JOnes nanCY liiPFeRT Dean Janke
an all Broker office
a Leader in corporate relocation for 22 years
