Robert Misenheimer

By Bob Misenheimer

For the Citizen

As work gets underway at the N.C. Research Campus site, one aspect of the construction has me particularly excited for our local business community. Castle & Cooke and Turner Construction have put in place a process where local firms will be given priority to complete sub-contracting projects on the campus.

For many years, Castle & Cooke has been an outstanding corporate citizen, and its commitment to retaining Kannapolis businesses to do as much work on the N.C.. Research Campus as possible is a great opportunity for our local firms.

Companies from Cabarrus and Rowan counties that specialize in a number of areas — from HVAC to interior carpentry to painting — are being strongly encouraged to pursue bids.

At a recent event hosted by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce, I had the opportunity to meet Carol Lilly, owner of Lil Associates II. Her firm has been retained by Turner to accomplish one goal — get as many local firms contracts to complete work on the project as possible.

Lil Associates is in the process of compiling a database of local sub-contractors, landscaping firms and others that have the qualifications to work on the project. Those that would like to be included in the database can contact either the Cabarrus County or Rowan County Chambers of Commerce for inclusion on the list.

Local and regional firms are already working on the project. Concord Engineering & Surveying is engaged in civil engineering and surveying work, Trident is performing concrete forming, Combs is supplying caisson concrete and McCloud is supplying concrete. These are likely the first of many area sub-contractors that will be able work on the project.

Other local operations are coming back on line to fulfill the construction needs of the campus. Concrete Supply on Linda Street, which went dormant after the Pillowtex bankruptcy, is working to bring its seven-acre plant back on-line. Not only is the firm putting the plant, which was constructed in 1973, back into service, but they also plan to expand its capacity. They will hire locally and should be finished with the re-opening by fall. Their decision to put the Kannapolis plant back into service is directly related to the N.C. Research Campus project.

Officials with Castle & Cooke estimate that several hundred jobs will be available on the Core Lab site, possibly as many as 350 per month.

Moreover, once the project is completed, in five years, Castle & Cooke will act as property manager for the site and employ a large number of people in various roles — from landscaping to maintenance to property management positions.

Since the initial announcement of the N.C. Research Campus last September, we knew that the impact of the project would mean solid growth for our local economy. Amazingly, those opportunities are beginning to present themselves.

Bob Misenheimer is mayor of Kannapolis. He can be reached at 704-920-4300.