COLUMBUS JOBS FOUNDATION

The latest census numbers show that Columbus County is getting older and expected to lag behind the rest of the region in growth over the next several years. Yet, there is a very bright spot that isn’t reflected in those numbers: a surge in young people who are not only living and working here, but who are also ready and willing to take leadership roles in improving the county. That’s something to celebrate, so The News Reporter asked its readers to nominate 15 up-and-coming

A revitalized team approach taken by Columbus County economic development groups and the county commissioners paid dividends with the announcement today that a railroad crosstie recycling company, Singley and Associates, will move its operations to a site near the former Georgia-Pacific plant. S&A CEO Marjorie Singley-Hall said the local team and business community “get it” when it comes to industrial recruitment. Wooing S&A started in much the way most deals do: with a simpl

A railroad crosstie recycling company that will eventually bring 50 new jobs to the county announced it is locating near the former Georgia-Pacific plant. Marjorie Singley-Hall, CEO of Singley and Associates, Inc., an Atlanta-area based company, said operations could commence in as soon as two weeks. The company plans to recycle more than 1 million ties a year. Railroad tie recycling became a growing business when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandated that used ra

A party to celebrate the Class of 2016 Fifteen Under 40 winners is set for Friday evening, July 29 at the Batten Pavilion at Vineland Station. The News Reporter’s Fifteen Under 40 celebrates 15 Columbus County residents under the age of 40 who make a difference to others and their communities through their professional or civic lives. Each winner will be recognized in a special publication to be included in the July 28 edition of The News Reporter. A party will follow on July

In a split 6-1 vote, the Columbus County Board of Commissioners last Monday approved a $100,000 grant to the Columbus Jobs Foundation’s revolving loan fund to be used for economic development. Commissioners had to tiptoe in their discussion around revealing confidential economic development matters concerning what has been code-named “Project Splinter,” said to involve a company that will support another larger company that wants to locate on the vacant Georgia-Pacifi c indus

Two of six proposed routes to connect local rail service to the port would utilize much of the abandoned rail bed between here and Wilmington, Columbus County commissioners learned Tuesday night as they agreed to underwrite $10,000 of the cost of a conceptual study expected to cost more than $70,000. Paul Worley, director of the rail division of the N.C. Dept. of Transportation, said the study, which will examine options for extending direct rail service from Columbus County

Rick Edwards has a tough time hiding his enthusiasm. “I feel very good about Columbus County,” the president of the Columbus Jobs Foundation (CJF) said Wednesday. “Our time has come. There’s no question.” On the heels of a June 2 annual dinner meeting of the Columbus Jobs Foundation – formerly the Columbus county Committee of 100. Edwards says,
“There was a lot 
of vim and vigor
at that meeting be
cause of the young
er people ages 28 to 
41 who have gotten 
involved. We’ve go

North Carolina State University economist Dr. Michael Walden told about 150 members of the Columbus Jobs Foundation Thursday that, while economic challenges still confront Columbus and other rural counties, opportunities abound. He predicts a continually improving outlook in the future. “There are many challenges,” Walden said, “such as globalization, automation, a movement away from manufacturing jobs to service sector jobs, but with those come many opportunities.” Walden sa

Columbus Jobs Foundation Chairman Rick Edwards told more than 100 people Monday night that efforts to reactivate economic activity at the former Georgia Pacific site west of Whiteville might be about to come to fruition. Edwards’ remarks came at an event at the Museum of Natural Sciences that was billed as a social/membership drive function. “The Georgia Pacific site, folks, is under contract,” Edwards said to applause. “They’re working through it, piece-by-piece. There are s

What started as just an idea for Angela Norris and several other supporters of area veterans will soon become reality. A groundbreaking will be held Thursday, Jan. 14, at 11 a.m. at the Columbus County Veterans Memorial Park. The park is being built at 6354 James B. White Hwy. S., Whiteville. The facility will eventually feature static displays, walking trails, memorials to the county’s war dead, and a small museum featuring the Hall of Honor. Organizers hope to display a pho

CresCom Bank has added five new team members to its growing staff, including one for the Whiteville branch. Kayla Watts will serve CresCom Bank as a customer care specialist in the Whiteville market. Watts joins from Lowe’s Home Improvement where she served as head cashier and previously worked as an office clerk at Southeastern Community College. Other new hires include two in Charleston, S.C. Doretta McHugh joins the team as a loan processor at the West Ashley branch. Audra