Greensboro-Randolph Megasite achieves site certification
July 11, 2016
By J.D. Walker
jdwalker@courier-tribune.com
Twitter: @JDWalkerCT
ASHEBORO —The Greensboro-Randolph Megasite has reached a major milestone with designation as a KPMG-certified site, according to a report by the Randolph County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) Monday.
Industrial site certification is a key status that verifies and documents the site’s construction readiness for a large-scale industrial user.
“Securing this stamp of approval from an internationally recognized firm will give company decision makers confidence that they will be successful at our site,” said Darrell Frye, Randolph County Board of Commissioners chair.
At Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting, commissioners discussed how to provide security at the site as it is being marketed, the removal of unneeded structures and debris, and the possibility of allowing use of some of the property for agricultural purposes (crop harvests, etc.) through time-sensitive lease agreements.
On Tuesday, the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite Foundation will host its first public meeting from 4-7 p.m. to get community input on installing a new transmission line to provide electricity to the megasite once a customer is secured. Duke Energy will conduct a study to identify the preferred route in the area to connect the utility’s transmission infrastructure to the megasite.
The meeting will be held at Southeast Guilford High School, 4530 SE School Road, Greensboro, and is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to explain the siting process, discuss how the preferred route will be selected and obtain valuable feedback from the community.
The KPMG site certification is also a step in the process of developing the project. KPMG Global Location and Expansion Services is a global network operating in 155 countries, providing professional and advisory services to public and private clients. It provides corporate site selection services to clients in the automotive, banking, healthcare and energy sectors among others.
According to the EDC report, KPMG consultants have worked with the regional economic development team over the past several months to review factors deemed important to potential industrial clients such as workforce, infrastructure, site due diligence and construction readiness to support a major industrial operation. They have also assisted with establishing a high-impact marketing strategy, highlighting key community strengths and site features.
The certification notice states the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite is strategically located in North Carolina, approximately 30 miles southeast of Greensboro, adjacent to U.S. 421 and within 11 miles of Interstate 40. This 1,480-acre, rail-served site is strategically positioned to support a high-impact industrial investment, such as an automotive original equipment manufacturer.
“This is a significant step to help showcase the megasite and our community to consultants representing major, global advanced manufacturers as we work to attract a major prospect to the site,” said Jim Melvin, president of the Joseph Bryan Foundation and Greensboro-Randolph Megasite Foundation board chair.
Partners in the process include Randolph County, the City of Greensboro, the Greensboro Randolph Megasite Foundation, the N.C. Railroad Company, Randolph County EDC, the Greensboro Partnership, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Norfolk Southern, Randolph Communications and the N.C. Department of Transportation.
For more information about the megasite, the Tuesday meeting or specifics about the study area, go towww.greensboro-randolphmegasite.com/infrastructure/electricity or call 800-342-0966.
Source: The Courier Tribune