The Power of Partnership: The Case of the NC Commerce Park in Alamance County

The Times-News, 3/22/2016 <p>The N.C. Commerce Park in Alamance County, North Carolina is an economic development success story that underscores how vital interlocal and regional collaboration is for community and economic development. It highlights the power of partnership and also the importance of local leaders that share a collaborative mindset.</p> <p></p> <p>The N.C. Commerce Park is an 1,100-acre economic development zone, with parcels in the process of being certified by the N.C. Department of Commerce, located in the Hawfields area of eastern Alamance County. The area includes parcels owned by dozens of private land-owners who have voluntarily become partners with the N.C. Commerce Park in agreeing to easements and (very importantly) to provide options on their properties. The 1,100 acres includes parts of Graham, Mebane, and unincorporated Alamance County. Site development involved $12 million for infrastructure, jointly funded by the three local governments and the N.C. Department of Transportation.  Later the three local governments also each contributed $100,000 to the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce to oversee the site certification process.</p> Triad Business Journal, 3/2/2015 <p>But what is perhaps the most innovative aspect of this partnership–and what demonstrates how substantial it actually is—is that the three local governments also have created an interlocal agreement to share the financial benefits. Tax revenues from within the Park are aggregated and split equally amongst the three entities. The cities of Graham and Mebane also have agreements in place regarding water and sewer service to the site.</p> <p>Thus what we have here is a really remarkable and complex partnership. A county, two cities, [...]</p>