THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170479
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B01 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY REGINALD WORLDS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
The need to promote northeastern North Carolina as a region and the need to increase cooperation between state and local agencies were among the strategies endorsed Wednesday at a public hearing on economic development.
``This is a great region,'' said N.C. Secretary of Commerce Dave Phillips. ``But we must work together to make it the best region. How do we do this? We reach out.''
Phillips was among about 20 state officials and legislators who came to Elizabeth City to solicit comments for the North Carolina Economic Development Board.
The 36-member panel is charged with helping North Carolina create high-quality jobs, high-performance enterprises and prosperity for people throughout the state.
A common idea expressed was: Northeastern North Carolina communities may fare better if, in addition to marketing themselves collectively as a unit, they work on learning to resolve differences among themselves.
As an example, Phillips cited differences concerning the proposed Lake Gaston water pipeline to Virginia Beach that North Carolina official oppose.
Some of the 10 business, civic and local government leaders who spoke at the hearing lauded the group's efforts to promote entire areas instead of individual counties.
``It's a real breath of fresh air to hear all the talk about regionalism across the state,'' said Bob Paciocco, executive director of the Mid-East Commission in Washington.
Paciocco also asked the economic board to consider consolidating other economic agencies that now compete for funding and resources. The large number of them often confuse citizens and elected officials, he said.
Other speakers included officials from Watermark, a crafts cooperative based in Camden and the town manager from Edenton who echoed Paciocco's point as well as voicing their own concerns on such subjects as tourism and infrastructure for small towns in the area.
Bob Jordan, chairman of the state economic board, was upbeat about the hearing and felt that most at the meeting had the same concerns, mainly cooperation and organization.
``It turned out pretty good,'' Jordan said after the hearing. ``This is our first cut at this, but many of the ideas put forward we were pretty much aware of. I think we all want to go in the same direction.'' MEMO: Staff writer Anne Saita contributed to this report.
by CNB