Projects give Randleman a huge boost
By Judi Brinegar
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
RANDLEMAN - It verged on being a great year for the city of Randleman
and Randolph County, according to Bonnie Renfro, executive vice president
of the Randolph County Economic Development Corp. (EDC).
Renfro gave the EDC's annual report at the Randleman Board of Aldermen
meeting Tuesday night.
"I feel like the report is full of good news," Renfro said.
"Rheem Air Conditioning made the decision to relocate its North American
distribution center for replacement parts to the West Randleman Business
Park. It is currently constructing a 180,000 square foot facility with a
completion date of April. The city of Randleman and its employees have helped
make that a seamless process."
Nycoil Extrusion Corp. also moved its corporate offices and some manufacturing
to Randleman, bringing 30 new jobs to the area. Renfro said that company
will continue to consolidate and grow its Randleman location.
The Timken Company also added 30 new jobs during 2004, thanks to expansion.
Also during 2004, the EDC purchased an additional 3.3 acres with road
frontage on Island Ford Road in the West Randleman Industrial Park, making
that property more marketable to future business.
"When the three projects (Rheem, Nycoil and Timken) are complete,
there will be $10 million in new and expanded development in Randleman,"
Renfro said. "This will also add a total of 102 additional jobs for
Randleman."
In other matters, the board unanimously approved revisions to Sections
1-6 of the Randleman City Code.
The board also heard updates from City Manager Tony Sears on the Randleman
Community Center and the search for a new police chief.
Sears said that the community center is making progress, although he
would not name a date for completion of the long-awaited facility.
"All previous attempts have been unsuccessful and disheartening,"
he said. "I think it is best to focus on completing a quality product,
one that everyone will be proud of."
Sears said an advertisement has been placed in the N.C. League of Municipalities
League Letter and the Southern City job advertisement section for a new
police chief. The city has been without a chief since the resignation of
Richard Weinblatt in March 2004. Weinblatt had only been in office 14 months
when he resigned. Sears said that he would begin reviewing applications
at the end of January.
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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