Commissioner: We need jobs

Bensman says Lake Norman regional economic growth group hasn't done enough for Cornelius.

By Joe Marusak
jmarusak@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010

CORNELIUS Town commissioner Jim Bensman says the Lake Norman region's economic development group hasn't done enough to bring industry and jobs to his town, and he wants Cornelius to consider hiring its own person.

Bensman said he thinks Huntersville has benefited most from the nonprofit Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corp.

"Cornelius has not received a heck of a lot of benefit from the EDC over the years," Bensman said at a commissioners' meeting last week. "I'm beginning to think Cornelius needs its own EDC."

Bensman also questioned the EDC in his Jan. 16 e-mail newsletter.

"I must say that I am very disappointed with the performance of this group and believe it is badly managed," Bensman said. "While they have had limited success in attracting businesses to the region, it has virtually all been for Huntersville."

A recent e-mail from the EDC announcing more than 600 jobs coming to north Mecklenburg turned out to be a goal set by the EDC board, "not an actual accomplishment," Bensman said.

Jerry Broadway, EDC executive director, apologized to the commissioners for that jobs announcement. He said an EDC staffer wrote the announcement of 600 jobs in the subject line of an e-mail merely to draw attention to the e-mail.

Broadway was on the agenda last week to update commissioners on the EDC's efforts.

Because of the poor economy, he said, inquiries from companies interested in moving to the region were flat "at best" in 2009. And EDC budget cuts led to reduced marketing, he said.

But there's good news, too, he said:

Plans continue for preparing the industrial park site known as Davidson East, and the EDC is considering about 85 acres off Bailey Road in Cornelius for another such site, Broadway said.

{foliobull}The EDC will unveil a "much more aggressive program to market the region" this year, Broadway said.

Local entrepreneurs Dale Tweedy and Jeff Wakeman plan to open the not-for-profit Cornelius Business Factory in March in the Champions Pointe office building at 16930 W. Catawba Ave. The firm will provide monthly workshops and peer strategy sessions to help small and early-stage businesses expand.

"Several of the small, growing companies we serve through Lake Norman Regional EDC's existing industry program will likely find this program very beneficial," EDC board chairman Craig Norfolk said in a news release.

Broadway also mentioned how 11 Cornelius properties are listed on the EDC's Web site and how the EDC has held several of its meetings at Cornelius locations. "We've looked for ways to be more involved with the town," he told the commissioners.

Bensman said a meeting should be arranged to further discuss the town's economic development concerns. The meeting should include a couple of commissioners along with EDC and town staffs, he said.

Broadway said he would contact Cornelius Town Manager Anthony Roberts to arrange a meeting.