Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - November 3, 2023 Issue

Consumer Protection Division New initiative launched

by GFCC

Page 17

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023 Vol. 3, No. 11

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WEB EXCLUSIVE More News

FAST adds new route to serve west Fayetteville bizfayetteville.com

Government

Q & A with Cumberland County Manager Clarence Grier Page 5

Hospitality

A Dickens Holiday returns bigger and better Page 12

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FCEDC

103 Tom Starling is home to one of two recently completed spec buildings designed to encourage new businesses to come to Fayetteville.

A CATALYST FOR

GROWTH A

s the sixth largest city in the Fayetteville Carolinas, centrally located Fayetteville, NC has Cumberland a lot to onofferI-95,businesses and residents alike.

Economic Fayetteville Cumberland EcoDevelopment Corporation Development nomic (FCEDC) is a 501(c)(6) public-priCorporation vate partnership designed to enhance growth and prosperity across the celebrates job community by attracting new indusand expanding existing industry. completion of tryRobert Van Geons, President & CEO of the FCEDC, spoke with the new projects and Greater Fayetteville Business Journal about some of the exciting growth prepares for long and development opportunities term development community is experiencing. our

Index Health Care Heroes ................................ 3 Editor's Note .......................................... 4 Government ........................................... 5 Achievers ............................................... 8 Residential Real Estate.........................11 Hospitality............................................12 Biz Leads .............................................14 The List.................................................18

>>

By Stephanie Meador

See GROWTH, page 7

Page 2

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Thank you to our sponsors for making the 2023 Health Care Heroes a success!

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November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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By Staff Report

Page 3

HEALTH CARE

And the winner is…

THE GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL SHINES A LIGHT ON THE WINNERS OF OUR FIRST EVER HEALTH CARE HEROES EVENT.

W

e at the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal would like to thank the medical community for a successful first ever Health Care Heroes event held on Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Highland Country Club.

The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal opened up the nomination process to the community for its inaugural Health Care Heroes awards in early September and received over 60 nominations from health care providers across the Fayetteville MSA. They shared stories of compassion, care experiences and triumphs with us and we are proud to highlight these members of our community.

Our outside judging panel worked diligently to choose the finalists and ultimately the winners in each of the nine categories including the Lifetime Achievement award.

This inaugural event is one way we hope to honor the sacrifice, dedication and hard work of the people who keep our communities healthy every day!

This year's 2023 Health Care Heroes award recipients are listed below! See if your nominee was awarded!

Our inaugural Health Care Heroes event was established to recognize the important role that our health care professionals play in our lives and our community.

We are proud to have this opportunity to honor these winners as well as those who will follow them into the future.”

— GFBJ Publisher Marty Cayton

HEALTH CARE HEROES

HEALTH CARE HEROES

Honors an individual or team who successfully implemented a program addressing a problem in health care administration, delivery or community outreach.

Honors an individual whose job performance is considered exemplary by people within their organizations, peers and community members.

Congratulations to the Sandhills Opioid Response Consortium of FirstHealth of the Carolinas! The award was accepted by Project Director Dr. Roxanne Elliott (pictured) on behalf of the team.

Congratulations to Michael Nagowski, CEO of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center!

COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT

HEALTH CARE HEROES

UNSUNG HEROES Honors anyone working in health care who may not fit into the other categories highlighted in Health Care Heroes and includes anyone in the field whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, colleagues and other health care providers.

HEALTH CARE HEROES

VOLUNTEER lives or improve the quality of life for a large number of people.

Congratulations Dr. Hershey Bell of Cape Fear Valley Health and Methodist University!

HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE

HEALTH CARE HEROES

NURSE HEALTH CARE HEROES

INNOVATION

Honors an individual or team behind a new scientific discovery, procedure, treatment or device that can save

Congratulations Anita Davis-Melvin of Cape Fear Valley Health!

Honors a nurse whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.

Congratulations Lori Suggs of Cape

Fear Valley Medical Center!

HEALTH CARE HEROES

NURSE PRACTITIONER/PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Honors a nurse practitioner or physician assistant whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.

Congratulations Rachel Smith of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center!

HEALTH CARE HEROES

PHYSICIAN

Honors a physician whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.

Congratulations Dr. Charles Haworth of Cape Fear Valley Neurosurgery!

Honors a volunteer at a health care provider or other health-related organization who is considered exemplary by people within those organizations.

Congratulations Dr. Rakesh Gupta of Methodist University!

HEALTH CARE HEROES

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Honors an individual for achievements throughout his or her career. Judges considered the individual's professional accomplishments, impact on the community and assistance they gave to others.

Congratulations Dr. Ashok Jain of KidzCare Pediatrics!

We would like to offer a round of applause and a hearty congratulations to our 2023 Health Care Hero winners! We look forward to hosting this event for the community again in 2024!

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November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

EDITOR'S NOTE 4424 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303 910-240-9697 bizfayetteville.com PUBLISHER Marty Cayton martyc@bizfayetteville.com EDITOR Faith Hatton faithh@bizfayetteville.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Meador stephaniem@bizfayetteville.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kate Griffin Diana Hansen Kathie Harris Suet Lee-Growney Jenna Shackelford Eddie Velazquez CONTRIBUTING WRITER MARKETING CONTENT Stacie Borrello CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Samantha Lowe samanthal@bizfayetteville.com ACCOUNT MANAGER Marshall Waren marketing@bizfayetteville.com ACCOUNTING Priscilla Nelson billing@bizfayetteville

The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal is published twice a month throughout Fayetteville and the Cumberland County region.

News related to the region’s business sector is posted daily at bizfayetteville.com.

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bizfayetteville.com

What is up with Atlanta?

ATL RESTAURANT SCENE FACES CRITICISM AFTER TIKTOK SHINES LIGHT ON SOME UNIQUE RESTAURANT PRACTICES

T

he City of Atlanta has found itself in a bit of a public relations crisis and it all started with a guy named Keith Lee. Now for those of you who don’t know, Keith Lee is a food reviewer who rose to popularity on Tik Tok after doing food reviews on small, local mom and pop restaurants in his hometown of Las Vegas. His honesty and transparency quickly led to him building a following of 14 million people and thus, gave him the ability to turn a restaurant that was about to close down into a thriving business with lines out the door, literally overnight, with one video.

And he may be the worst thing that has ever happened to the Atlanta restaurant scene.

Around Oct. 20, 2023, Keith arrived in Atlanta and, doing what he always does, attempted to do food reviews on some of the area’s popular restaurants along with some smaller food spots. Unfortunately, ATL was just not ready. Lee attempted to get food from multiple restaurants and was met with interesting rules and policies. Among some of the more interesting were restaurants who don’t take To-Go orders, restaurants that refused to take reservations and call in orders and wouldn’t seat parties above four people. One restaurant had a policy that you order once and that’s it. No add ons, refills, zilch.

In an attempt to keep his reviews on the food and customer service honest, Lee sent in his family to retrieve food who were met with less than satisfactory customer service until of course he went in for himself. The differences in treatment

LUIS NEGRON/PEXELS

Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

was mind blowing and, because Lee is always 100 percent honest in his reviews, it was all shown to the world via the internet.

As someone who has taken a glimpse into the economic impact of the hospitality industry, I know there are entire organizations dedicated to making an area look as appealing as possible to travelers, businesses and new residents.

Comments from locals showed that apparently, restaurants having these types of rules and policies have always been expected in Atlanta restaurants.

I am curious as to what kind, if any, of an impact this backlash and

criticism on the area's hospitality industry will have.

But in the meantime, we can rest assured that our hospitality industry is on point and that any restaurant that tried that here in NC would be quickly corrected.

Within this issue you’ll find some of the latest developments happening in Cumberland County!

We hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed watching this Tik Tok drama unfold!

Happy reading!

REPRINT For article reprints, plaques and more contact Faith Hatton at 910-240-9697.

ADVERTISING For advertising information, please email us at marketing@bizfayetteville.com or call 910-240-9697. © Copyright 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

GFBJ WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A HEALTH CARE HERO FINALIST, LAUREN BLACKMON, WHO WAS SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION WITH INCORRECT INFORMATION. CORRECT INFORMATION FOR THE NOMINEE WAS PROVIDED AND CAN BE FOUND BELOW: With an extensive tenure of over three years at Cape Fear Valley Lung Nodule Clinic, Lauren’s profound impact and dedication to patient care are truly commendable. Starting her journey as a nurse in the ICU, her pursuit to specialize in pulmonary care, obtaining her NP-C license, showcases an inspiring

commitment to enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of patients facing lungrelated ailments, particularly in the challenging realm of diagnosing lung cancer.

Lauren's exceptional empathy and attentiveness have earned her admiration

from patients who deeply appreciate her kindness and unwavering support.

Her dual role, managing pulmonary inpatient consults and outpatient care at the Lung Nodule Clinic, reflects her versatility and dedication to ensuring comprehensive care for those in need.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal >>

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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By Faith Hatton

Page 5

GOVERNMENT

Questions & Answers CUMBERLAND COUNTY MANAGER REFLECTS ON PAST YEAR OF PROGRESS

I

n November of 2022, Cumberland County made the announcement that a new County Manager would be joining the staff, following the retirement of previous County Manager Amy Cannon, who served in the role since 2014.

After he officially began his new position on March 1, 2023, County staff came together under the leadership of Clarence Grier who vowed to partner with County leaders to achieve their goals and vision for the community. Now, after a very productive 2023 and seeing progress such as the planning of the future Crown Event Center, opening a WIC office on Fort Liberty and choosing an architect for the future Homeless Support Center, Grier sat down with the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal to discuss the victories of 2023 and what continues to motivate him to continue to work for the people of Cumberland County.

GFBJ: What about Cumberland County originally appealed to you?

GRIER: I’m familiar with Cumberland County. I went to Campbell University back in the ‘80s and I played basketball and some of our home games were played here at the Crown Event Center, so I was familiar. I always considered the Cumberland and Harnett County area my home. I have a lot of friends in the area and I just feel comfortable, I feel at home.

GFBJ: What made you accept the position of Cumberland County Manager after your last position in Roanoke, VA? GRIER: I was in the city of Roanoke and it was there that I wanted to be a county manager. And I was in a car accident about a year ago and that made me think I need to move, go ahead and try. So, I decided that I needed to apply and to achieve my goal of being county manager and I was fortunate enough to be selected as county manager for Cumberland County.

GFBJ: Have you always wanted to work in a government position?

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Grier worked with the City of Roanoke from 2021- 2022 before moving to Cumberland County. Prior to that, he served as Deputy County Manager in Guilford County, NC, from 2015 until 2021 and as Assistant County Manager and Chief Finance Officer for Orange County, NC, from 2009 until 2015. He has 34 years of local government experience and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from Campbell University. He is an International City/County Manager Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM) and is a Certified Public Accountant.

GRIER: I’m an accounting major, I'm a CPA actually. All I ever wanted was to be a CPA. Once I achieved that, I wanted to be a finance director and once I achieved that goal, I kind of just morphed into other positions.

When I was Assistant Manager, Deputy County Manager, Deputy City Manager, I thought about it and a lot of the things I was doing, I was actually acting as either the City Manager or the County Manager where I was at the time. I achieved everything I could at a deputy level and thought that it was time to try to be a county manager.

GFBJ: What was it like switching from your position as a Deputy City Manager to county manager, were there any growing pains?

GRIER: No, since Virginia cities are independent cities, they have all of the same departments as a city, but also have all the departments as a county. All of those same functions that you would have in a county you have in an independent city in Virginia. The big transition is a level of responsibility, because before I was just responsible for particular departments in the organization, now I'm responsible for all the departments of the organization regardless of if I

have assistant city managers, now, the final decision rests with me to take to the County Commissioners.

GFBJ: When you came to Cumberland County, did you have any particular goals in mind?

GRIER: Yes, during the interview process, the board alluded to a couple of projects that they wanted to have handled. One was the Crown Event Center, so I wanted to make sure that the Crown Event Center was approved. Secondly, was a compensation plan for employees that the board just recently approved. Most important, for the time I came on, was making sure that the budget for FY2024 was completed on schedule.

Last was getting the Homeless Support Center off the ground. And so, I wanted to make sure that all of those things happened within six to seven months after I got here.

GFBJ: In the original announcement, it was shared that you’ve had experience dealing with homelessness in other communities, what was your train of thought going into that in Cumberland County?

GRIER: I’ve been impacted at a family level by some family members who

have been homeless in the past. So, homelessness and dealing with the opioid issues within the County have been issues that are close to my heart.

Those two things are dear to me and just trying to find a way in which we can help people in a homeless situation. And I just wanted to make sure that we in this time and age with homelessness [presenting] such an issue, that we found a way to get the [Homeless Support] Center going and moving in the right direction.

GFBJ: This year the County has seen a number of big projects start to become a reality. Is there a specific project that you as an individual are particularly proud to have been a part of ?

GRIER: I’m proud of all of them because they all will have a transformational impact on some particular community within Cumberland County. I don’t have any favorites. I'm happy that we're doing all of them because I see what the impact is.

Editor’s Note: These responses and questions have been edited for clarity and article length.

Page 6

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Simply Better

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal >>

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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By Stephanie Meador

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

From GROWTH, page 1

NVR, Inc., a Virginia-based company that sells and constructs homes under three different brands across 15 states, has nearly completed construction of a 145,000-square-foot manufacturing operation on Dunn Road.

The project was initially announced in 2022 stirring up much excitement, and now the facility and its 189 new jobs are not just a promise but a product of sustained hard work. Van Geons shared that NVR is actively recruiting employees and that according to his understanding the company will hopefully be able to occupy the new facility sometime between now and the start of the new year.

Van Geons also shared that the completion of the NVR facility will anchor and open up additional acreage for new development.

“There’s a new industrial access road going in that we received a grant from NCDOT to do and so we hope to see that anchor a new industrial park for the community,” remarked Van Geons.

Intentions and efforts to get more buildings developed in the area, including industrial sites and even a mega site, aim to boost recruitment of new businesses that can benefit from the talent pool we have here.

“You have to have the talent to do the work, which we have here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, but even with the talent, if you don’t have a facility, a site and a building for companies to occupy, then you can’t be successful in recruitment…85 percent of or more projects start looking for an existing building. And that’s why having the inventory down on Tom Starling and Corporation drive is so important to us.”

In addition to the new NVR facility, which was built to suit the company’s needs, additional buildings without established tenants have recently been constructed and added to the market.

“Having available buildings and available sites is, I would say, one of the most important [aspects], second only to workforce and talent.

And in some ways without one, it doesn't matter if you have the other…many communities end up using public funds to build spec buildings, but we're very excited, we’ve been able to convince the private sector into investing in Fayetteville and Cumberland County to build these,” shared Van Geons.

These new buildings are a 125,000 square foot facility located on Tom Starling Road and a 140,000 square

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FCEDC

A 140,000 square foot facility located on Corporation Drive. Fayetteville has the talent to meet the needs of large businesses, and now we have the facilities to accommodate them as well.

foot facility located on Corporation Drive.

“We are actively showing the buildings to projects, and we've actually had the busiest year that we’ve ever had as far as project interest. And we’re looking to convert some of those into announcements, hopefully here in the near future.

It's a matter of just the right tenant for the right space at the right price because we also have to work for the private sector building owner. So we actually were able to get them in front of a number of different deals, and hopefully we’ll see something soon,” commented Van Geons.

“

... I think that supporting and growing existing business is one of the best ways to improve your local economy.”

— Robert Van Geons, President & CEO FCEDC

Van Geons shared that though these sites could be subdivided once, they are designed to be best used by one large tenant.

“That’s what we were lacking in our inventory. We’ve got a number

Page 7

of smaller spaces around the county, but having modern, large buildings was something that a few years ago we did not have any available and now we’ve built some and filled them and now we have two more coming out of the ground, so it’s really exciting for us here,” remarked Van Geons.

As Van Geons and the rest of the FCEDC team work to recruit new businesses to the region, they consider what industries may be underrepresented in the area as well as what industries have the greatest potential to thrive within our community.

“It depends on the size, the larger ones, we’re working with a number of advanced manufacturing companies, many of them in the energy storage or EV space, but not just that, food processing is another common client of ours. And then we have some folks looking at [space here] for logistics and distribution operations as well. And then I think in the medium sized space, we have a number of defense contractors and defense industries we’ve been talking to,” shared Van Geons.

In addition to recruiting businesses across various industries, Van Geons and his team aim to recruit businesses from different locations.

“Exciting for us, we’ve got either projects with or we’re being evaluated by projects from at least eight countries right now, so we’re really pushing to recruit international operations here as well,” stated Van Geons.

While recruitment of new business is crucial to economic growth, Van Geons emphasized the importance of maintaining relationships with and support of already established businesses in the area.

“We try to have members of our team personally visit up to 100 businesses a year, industries a year. We have a manufacturers association, a transportation logistics group and a defense contractors group that we meet with a number of times throughout the year, and so I think that supporting and growing existing business is one of the best ways to improve your local economy” remarked Van Geons.

“Your relationship with the [existing] industry sets the stage for your success with people considering you. If we can't support the people that we have here, why would others want to come? They’re actually our best marketing partner, existing industry. When existing industry is talking good about the community, that’s the best way for us to recruit new investment,” added Van Geons.

By this standard, Fayetteville’s existing industry is painting the community in a positive light. Van Geons shared that they’ve had 108 new projects come in that are considering our community this year, as well as 45 companies visiting so far this calendar year.

Eager to see these expressions of interest translated into announcements, Van Geons shared that he is really optimistic that two or three of these projects will fall into place.

“We would love to see three or four announcements right around the holidays here,” Van Geons said.

Most important to Van Geons and his team is creating jobs in the community. Van Geons acknowledges the support the FCEDC receives from the city and the importance of their cooperation in achieving this goal.

“Over the last few years we’ve announced roughly 4500 jobs in the community, and…I really do want to thank our supporters from the city…without them wanting economic development to happen we would never be able to accomplish anything…” stated Van Geons.

Future projects for the FCEDC include ensuring sites and buildings are equipped with proper utilities, establishing a mega site that could accommodate very large employers and conducting a next generation workforce development study to help ensure the future economic prosperity of students and young professionals in our community.

Van Geons and the rest of the FCEDC team continue to promote Fayetteville and Cumberland County as a community where affordability, opportunity and accessibility permit businesses and residents to thrive.

Page 8

ACHIEVERS Donald Porter to serve as 2023-24 PWC Chair RETIRED COL. DONALD L. PORTER, who was appointed to the Public Works Commission in December 2021, has been elected as Board Chair for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Following a 30year distinguished military career, Porter served more than 20 years as Executive Director of the Raeford/Hoke County Economic Porter Development Commission. In addition, he has been active in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community, serving as Chairman of the Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees (20132015), the Cape Fear Valley Health Board of Trustees and the BB&T Advisory Board. He also served on the Board of the Cumberland Community Foundation and Airborne Special Operations Museum.

In April 2021, Porter was appointed

by Gov. Roy Cooper to serve as a citizen member of the state Judicial Standards Commission.

The Public Works Commission (PWC) is a Public Authority that serves the Fayetteville/Cumberland County area with award-winning, reliable electric, water and wastewater services. The PWC consists of four Commissioners who are appointed by the Fayetteville City Council and govern PWC within the guidelines of the PWC Charter, established by the North Carolina General Assembly, including having rate-making authority.

Other members of the PWC Board are: Ronna Garrett, Chris Davis and Richard King who joined the Board on Oct. 11, 2023.

Cape Fear Valley hospital expansion wins "Excellence in Structural Engineering" award

Cape Fear Valley’s hospital expansion has been awarded the award of Structural Engineers Association of North Carolina (SEA of NC) 2023 Excellence in Structural Engineering, Retrofit/Alterations over $10MM. As part of Cape Fear Valley Health System’s long-term master plan, this $110 million expansion is a 93,000-sf vertical expansion of two levels (plus a helipad) that adds 92 new beds, enhancing the hospital’s capacity and reducing the emergency department delays.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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What are you and your peers achieving? Have you reached a new goal? Have you acquired another business? Maybe your business has a new hire you would like to highlight.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal wants to hear from you and your business to shine a spotlight on your accomplishments.

To nominate someone for GFBJ’s Achievers section, email editor@bizfayetteville.com with the subject line “Achiever.”

Expected to be completed in February 2024, the project will allow this flagship hospital to provide better healthcare services for the Fayetteville community.

In addition to a strong focus on overcoming structural challenges, the design team has focused on a new floor plate and approach to patient rooms/unit layout, the utilization of prefab (walls and bathroom pods) and a bold new exterior.

By implementing a vertical expansion in lieu of demoing and building new, the team lowered the carbon footprint of the building, eliminated the need for additional land use and has allowed the existing building to stay in use during construction.

The Structural Engineers Association of North Carolina (SEA of NC) is a technical organization dedicated to the advancement of the practice of Structural Engineering. Founded in 2008, the statewide organization has chapters based in Asheville, Charlotte, the Triangle and Wilmington.

SEA of NC’s “Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards” program acknowledges outstanding achievement in creative design, technical innovation, best practices and demonstrated contributions to the public and profession.

Project engineer Adam Ralston accepted the award during the SEA of NC 2023 Annual Conference held Sept. 15, 2023, at the Wilmington Convention Center.

CCS receives zSpace

'District of Distinction' recognition

diverse subject matter, providing an immersive learning experience for students.

“Targeted professional development is an essential component for our premier professionals to prepare and focus on career and technical essential standards,” said Chip Lucas, the executive director of CCS' CTE program in a press release.

FSU announces inaugural Chancellor’s Fellows Leadership Program Fayetteville State University recently announced its Fall 2023 Chancellor’s Fellows Leadership Program recipients at a Board of Trustees meeting in September.

Cumberland County Schools (CCS) is proud to announce its latest recognition as a ‘District of Distinction’ by zSpace, a leading technology vendor in the field of augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) solutions.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FSU

From left to right: Tyrone Salters, Souleymane Sow, Jadelyn Velasquez, FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, Morgan Jackson, Olivia Jackson and Shawn McNeill.

An award ceremony took place on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Seventy-First High School. CCS' CTE and Technology leadership was recognized as top in the nation because of their exceptional support of their teachers through professional development and tech support. CCS was selected for this award because of the district's strategic focus on providing students with innovative, industry-relevant experiences while showing best practices in tech implementation.

Over the past school year and during the summer, CCS actively engaged in a comprehensive case study in collaboration with zSpace. This innovative case study centered around the integration of zSpace's cutting-edge products within the educational curriculum, specifically targeting the fields of health science, agriculture and various sciences.

In 2022, the district initiated the deployment of 19 zSpace glasses-free Inspire laptops as part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing CTE programs. These laptops, equipped with zSpace's built-in curriculum, have empowered educators to delve deeply into

The Chancellor’s Fellows Leadership Program is designed to prepare, empower and promote elite scholars for remarkable lives of leadership and service to the local community, state, nation and globally. As one of FSU’s most prestigious programs, the fellows will participate in an intensive executive leadership program that provides cultural enrichment opportunities, professional development, project management and implementation, meaningful community service and transformative personal growth. The six fellows will also receive a $3,000 scholarship.

“We are immensely proud to recognize these exceptional students. Our inaugural cohort of FSU Chancellor’s Fellows, individually, not only decided to ultimately enroll at Fayetteville State University, but they issued an unspoken charge to our faculty, staff and administration. That decision was to excel at the highest academic levels possible while enrolled at FSU. These six leader scholars have done that and more; therefore, it is our honor to showcase these outstanding student leaders in this fashion,” said Darrell T. Allison, Chancellor at FSU, in a press release.

The recipients are: MORGAN JACKSON, OLIVIA JACKSON, JADELYN VELASQUEZ, SHAWN MCNEILL, SOULEYMANE SOW AND TYRONE SALTERS.

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November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

PSYCHOLOGY-INFUSED CUST0MER JOURNEYS Identify how consumers interact with email marketing Distinguish potential touchpoints based on your avatars Develop engaging funnels with Clicksuasion’s ACCAL Journey Map

CLICKSUASION.COM/CUSTOMER-JOURNEYS

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November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

A pre-existing medical condition and subsequent medication caused Kristen to gain a large amount of weight. She tried diets and exercise but the scale never moved much.

Ready to take charge of her health, Kristen decided to have gastric sleeve surgery at Cape Fear Valley. Just one year later, she is down 70 pounds and is back to enjoying her childhood love of horseback riding.

“ Gastric sleeve

surgery was the tool I needed to be successful in my weight loss journey.”

– Kristen, Gastric Sleeve Patient

From gastric sleeve to bypass surgery and beyond, Cape Fear Valley’s bariatric team is here to walk you through your weight loss journey.

To learn more about our bariatric program, visit capefearvalley.com/bariatric or call (910) 615-BARI(2274).

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By Rachel Townsend

Page 11

REAL ESTATE

Help for home buyers FAYETTEVILLE BASED REAL ESTATE AGENT KAI “HOLLYWOOD” MURPHY BREAKS DOWN WHAT FINANCING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HOMEBUYERS IN NC

W

hen we think of the “American Dream” something along the lines of a car and a house with a white picket fence and a family will most likely come to mind. Growing up in America we’ve been conditioned to believe this American dream is achievable to any and everyone who works hard enough to obtain it. Some may say this dream was more attainable for previous generations than it is for generations today due to financial obstacles. In fact, CNBC has found that after factoring in inflation American workers are only earning 12 cents more than they did in 1972.

While these figures can be discouraging, there is hope. North Carolina, sensitive to the plight of the home buyer, has created housing assistance programs making the American dream more attainable for North Carolinians and especially for the citizens of Fayetteville. The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency has released new programs to include the NC Home Advantage Mortgage program, The NC Home Advantage Tax Credit, The NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment and the Community Home Buying Program.

Kai Murphy, a realtor with Keller Williams said he’s helped between 30-40 families in the area purchase homes with these programs and hasn’t found any assistance programs that are better.

The NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment Program offers $15,000 of assistance for a down payment. This $15,000 loan is unique because it has a zero percent interest rate and as long as the buyer lives in the house and purchases with the loan for 15 years, they don’t have to pay the amount back. Almost anyone can participate in this program; however, in order to qualify for it their salary cannot be more than $104,000 and the home they are seeking to buy cannot cost more than $480,000.

Murphy shared that the average home in Fayetteville costs between $250-300 thousand, so finding a home that costs under $480,000 is not a challenge.

RDNE STOCK PROJECT/PEXELS

The State of North Carolina offers a number of financing options and programs for anyone looking to purchase a home.

THOSE THAT WANT TO PARTAKE IN THIS PROGRAM MUST: • Be a Veteran • Be someone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years or • Be someone purchasing land along the census tract

If buying a home along the census tract in Fayetteville, buyers are eligible for this loan even if they already own a home. The reason why this program in particular is such an asset to the Fayetteville community is because several areas within Fayetteville have been identified as census tract areas.

The NC Home Advantage Mortgage program offers assistance up to 3 percent of the loan amount.

This is a fantastic option for first time buyers and Veterans but it is an especially great tool for individuals who already own a home but would like to move into a larger space.

Oftentimes mortgage assistance programs are only geared towards first time buyers or low income buyers, but this program is open to assist those who don’t fall into any of those categories. Another positive feature of this program is that it can be paired with the NC Home Advantage Tax Credit.

The NC Home Advantage Tax Credit Program saves home buyers up to $2,000 in taxes every year if they are accepted into the program.

First time home buyers and Veterans are eligible for this program but must be approved for this program before purchasing a home. The tax credit

deduction the buyer can receive is based on the yearly interest rate of their mortgage. The hope is through this program buyers will be able to pay off their home quicker since they won’t have to pay as much in taxes.

The Community Home Buying Programs are loan programs done in collaboration with local nonprofits and government agencies to assist with down payment. Only those with an income 80 percent lower than the county’s median income are eligible for this program. Those who qualify could receive up to $50,000 in loan assistance through the Community Partners Loan Pool. Furthermore, if one utilizes the Self Help Loan Pool option they may receive assistance at a 0 percent interest rate.

These housing programs are perfect for the Fayetteville community. The high number of census tract identified areas, heavy Veteran population, moderate income rates and reasonably priced homes make the majority of our citizens eligible for these programs. Considering home ownership is the largest source of wealth among families, these programs are an outstanding way to improve the economic wellness of Fayetteville citizens.

Page 12

HOSPITALITY

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

bizfayetteville.com

>>

By Kate Griffin

Bigger and better

A DICKENS HOLIDAY RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN FAYETTEVILLE WITH EXPANDED FOOTPRINT AND NEW ADDITIONS

T

he City of Fayetteville is home to many festivals and community events throughout all seasons of the year, but there is just something special about the holiday season. As winter approaches rapidly, Downtown Fayetteville in particular gets festive with the greatly anticipated 24th annual A Dickens Holiday event. A Dickens Holiday is produced by the Downtown Alliance in partnership with Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum and this year, will be presented by Dream Finders Homes and Jet Home Loans. A Dickens Holiday takes place in Downtown Fayetteville on Nov. 24, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“The goal of A Dickens Holiday is bringing people together in ways that are fun and celebrate the uniqueness of our community. It’s having a good time with your band of people so to speak, whether it’s your family, friend group or spouse.

But then, being part of a larger collective that is a community all celebrating the holiday spirit,” said Event Spokesperson Beth Hess. “It is the bringing in of the holiday season as it happens the day after Thanksgiving so, it’s kind of the official community way to say ‘It’s Christmas now!’”

Downtown Fayetteville undergoes a whimsical transformation for the event, with numerous businesses getting in on the fun with decorating for the holiday season, with select businesses extending their hours to cater to the event’s visitors. The classic event spans a broader footprint this year, including Franklin Square, Maxwell Street and Hay Street. This not only opens up more space for vendors, visitors and event activities, but also provides exposure and foot traffic to the local businesses of Downtown Fayetteville. Areas of the event are going to feature a restyled Victorian look, to resemble an old-fashioned vignette of Christmas charm. A Dickens Holiday gives a romanticized twist to the environment depicted in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

“Even though the story is old, it provides a backdrop to be the people we want to be and love people in better ways,” said Hess. “All those themes from “A Christmas Carol”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE OF FAYETTEVILLE

While A Dickens Holiday welcomes guests as they are, event-goers are absolutely encouraged to dress up.

continue into what we hope the holiday spirit will be for a long, long time. Plus, it's fun to imagine what a town like Fayetteville could have been like in the 1800s.”

Over 100 vendors of artisanal items will be featured for guests to get some early Christmas shopping done. In addition to food trucks and multiple venues downtown

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE OF FAYETTEVILLE

Performers in Victorian apparel and horse-drawn carriage rides will offer immersion and fun for guests.

offering events and festive activities, there will also be an impressive array of activities for visitors to choose from. Events include a gingerbread house competition, a costume contest, music and more. Some activities require tickets such as the carriage rides and the Royal Tea Room Experience, being done in partnership with the Heritage Square Historical Society’s “A Christmas Tea Room.”

Guests can also look forward to more events after the sun goes down such as the Candlelight Celebration and Tree Lighting Ceremony. New extended hours of A Dickens Holiday offers the holiday spirit well into the night with Dickens After Dark — a Victorian Metaphysical and Oddities exhibit presented by Garnet Skull which will feature tea leaf readings with the Ghost of Christmas Future and the Ghost of Christmas Past. Exhibits at the History Museum will also educate guests on how Christmas was celebrated in the 19th and 20th century.

“In the past the event sort of culminated in the candlelight parade, tree lighting, that type of thing and then it was ‘Okay, merry Christmas, see you.’ This year though, there’s a number of activities that are happening afterwards,” said Hess. “There’s going to be plenty of things people can hang out and do after the tree lighting as well.”

While A Dickens Holiday welcomes guests as they are, event-goers are absolutely encouraged to dress up for the occasion! Wearing Victorian attire will certainly add to the immersive holiday spirit of A Dickens Holiday and a helpful wardrobe guide is available at faydta.com/adickensholiday for those who wish to look the part.

A Dickens Holiday retains all of the elements that make it a classic Fayetteville staple holiday event, while improving and updating with more varieties of activities to keep it fresh for visitors.

“We stay true to the tradition, but continue to evolve in the ways that express that. Making sure that we have that balance of things that people have always enjoyed, but also new things to see every year,” said Hess.

There are volunteer opportunities at A Dickens Holiday that are certifiable as community service hours, so for students or anyone interested, this serves as a dual opportunity. There are also sponsorship opportunities available for businesses.

“We are doing this as a community all together, no matter what we came to the event for, in this moment we are all one community celebrating the season,” said Hess.

“I hate the phrase “there’s something for everyone,” but there’s something about remembering to sort of slow down and think about how our world and our everyday way of life has changed significantly since the Victorian era. That is what Christmas is about, it never changes, the holiday season is universal,” said Hess. “There’s no time period in which the magic and wonder of Christmas has become an outdated idea.”

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

BIZ LEADS Reader’s Guide

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal bizfayetteville.com

Cleaning LLC HOLLEYS HAND 3011 Town Center boutique LLC Nicole Green Wisdom Within Drive Ste 130 Unit 3808 Queen Anne CUTZ L.L.C. 928 Montclair R Chris Manning Counseling PLLC 100 Loop Apt 305 2024 Merrimac Dr Fayetteville Communities Inter- 439 Westwood BizLeads is a collection of information Fayetteville Fayetteville Fayetteville national Club LLC Agent: Tamika gathered from greater Fayetteville Shopping Center courthouses, state government offices Agent: Latrice Agent: Detaurius Agent: Jarvis Holley Lashelle Jones 5511 Ramsey St Fayetteville and information websites. The listings are Stokes Tawtila McCallum STE 100 Agent: Laura Ingalls intended to help the business community find new customers and stay on top

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LLC 328 Barcelona Dr 943 Ronald Reaning tion LLC 6440 Rockford Dr New Corporations lists firms from the 2301 Robeson St. Apt 19B gan Drive Fayetteville 5613 Toggel Ave Greater Fayetteville Business Journal region Suite 204 Fayetteville Fayetteville Bully Proof AcadeTerrell A. Agent: Fayetteville that were recently incorporated in the State Fayetteville of North Carolina.

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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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Nighttime Could Be the Right Time to Save.

With PWC’s New Super Off-Peak Rate On May 1, PWC introduced a new optional Whole Business rate that features significantly lower rates (more than 46% lower than our current Off-Peak rates) for electricity used during Super Off-Peak Hours, 9:00 PM – 5:00 AM daily, all year long.

Business customers who sign up for this option pay a slightly higher basic facility charge and Peak rate, while benefiting from much lower rates during the nighttime hours.

Your business may be able to lower your electric bills with this rate plan. Some of the ways you can save money with this plan include doing things like: • Charging fleet-managed EVs, or providing managed EV charging for multi business/residential units, during Super-Off Peak hours

Super Off-Peak Hours For PWC Business Customers

• Performing power-hungry tasks or running large machinery/ non-essential equipment between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM For more information, visit: FayPWC.com and click on the TOU Rates for Business in the business section of the website.

Or call 910-483-1382 to speak with a PWC representative and learn how our new Whole Business electric rate may benefit your business.

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Page 20 2 Page 16

March 5 -10, 18, 2021-- February February 2023 November 3, 2023 2023 November23, 16, 2023

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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal >>

By Staff Report

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

Page 17

bizfayetteville.com

Consumer Protection Division

THE GREATER FAYETTEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BRINGS A NEW DIVISION TO HELP PROTECT CONSUMERS AND BUILD TRUSTWORTHY CONNECTIONS

T

he Greater Fayetteville Chamber has announced the establishment of its new Consumer Protection Division, an initiative dedicated to promoting consumer rights, ensuring fair business practices and fostering a trustworthy business environment within the Cumberland County community.

The Chamber made the announcement at a press conference held after their monthly Chairman’s Coffee Club event on Oct. 19.

It was also announced that former Chair for the Chamber Ambassadors Angela Selitto will be leading the new Chamber entity as the Director of the Consumer Protection Division.

“I’m excited to lead this initiative, bringing confidence back to the consumer and highlighting a network of businesses that have shown integrity in that area. We will create accountability that fosters trust and transparency in the marketplace thus promoting ethical business practices.

As it says [in] our mission statement; with the transient nature of Cumberland County the ever changing consumer can benefit from a network of trusted businesses,” said Selitto.

Committed to advancing economic prosperity for Chamber members, CPD also prioritizes the interests of consumers. The Consumer Protection Division is set to become the cornerstone for a thriving Cumberland County marketplace in which businesses and consumers can interact with confidence. The Division will play a pivotal role in upholding ethical standards, resolving disputes and promoting the “certified blue checkmark” for their network of screened businesses.

HERE ARE THEIR KEY OBJECTIVES: • Advocating for Fair Practices: By publishing a network directory and working closely with local businesses, the Division will encourage ethical conduct, fair pricing and quality products and services, ultimately fostering a business environment built on trust and integrity.

• Empowering Consumers: The Division

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GFBJ

From left to right: Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West, CPD Director Angela Selitto, WRAL reporter Keely Arthur, and GFC President and CEO Nat Robertson.

is dedicated to educating consumers about their rights, equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions and providing resources to address concerns effectively.

Customers may contact the CPD for information regarding area businesses so they may shop with confidence while looking for their Certified Blue Checkmark.

• Swift Conflict Resolution: The Division will offer a mediation platform for resolving disputes between consumers and our network of businesses, ensuring that grievances are addressed promptly and fairly, reducing the strain on legal resources.

“Our aim with the Consumer Protection Division is to create an environment where both consumers and businesses thrive,” said Nat Robertson, CEO of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber in a press release. “By promoting fairness, transparency and accountability, we believe we can foster a lasting trust between the business community and the consumers we all serve.”

Selitto also shared the three primary ways the CPD will work to increase awareness of legitimate businesses by working to form a network of members that have been screened and pledged to conduct businesses

ethically and honorably. In addition, the CPD will publish a directory of businesses within their network so consumers know which local establishments are trustworthy.

The CPD will also publish scam warnings for both the establishment within the division’s network and for consumers that are interested in a greater sense of security.

The effort received the support of several state and community leaders including North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, and District Attorney of Cumberland County Billy West, Honorable Chief District Court Judge Toni King, Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden and more.

West took time and spoke on how this will affect vulnerable consumer populations such as the elderly.

“In the United States, over 70 percent of the wealth is controlled by people 50 years of age or older. So that’s one of the reasons that they are a target and senior citizens lose about $3 billion a year to scams nationwide. So it’s a very serious problem,” shared West.

He also gave examples of some of the most common types of scams such as phony calls from the “government” demanding money and construction. He explained that some may fall victim to upcharging practices, incomplete work or paying for

work and never seeing the suspected scammer again.

The CPD is also expected to impact the local courts systems, with the expectation being that less civil court cases will be filed since people will be able to identify and avoid sham businesses.

“With regard to the court system, we see approximately 200 cases a week. On Monday we process what we call our “people's court.” We have people that are suing people for failing to work after being paid for breach of contract because they’ve not gotten the services that they have contracted for. And so, our court system has become overloaded,” shared Honorable Chief District Court Judge Toni King. “It is great to see that this type of program is coming to Cumberland County.”

The launch of the Consumer Protection Division marks a significant step forward in the Greater Fayetteville Chamber's ongoing commitment to economic growth, while ensuring the welfare of Cumberland County residents.

With a strong emphasis on collaboration, education and dialogue, the new division of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber is poised to set new standards in consumer protection within the region.

The CPD officially began operations on Oct. 18 and membership is open to all businesses whether they are members of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber or not.

Initial membership and business certification is $299.

Memberships for companies with more than 20 employees costs an additional $249.

The annual window decal and listing in the Business Directory is included at no additional cost.

According to Chamber CEO and President Nat Robertson, the first CPD Directory will be published in January to give businesses time to get certified.

More information can be found at www.faycpd.com.

Page 18

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

THE LIST

Largest Employers - Cumberland County Largest Employers - Cumberland County As ranked rankedbybyNCNCDepartment Department of Commerce of Commerce RANK RANK

COMPANY NAME NAME COMPANY

EMPLOYEE RANGEEMPLOYEE RANGE SECTOR INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY

1 1

DEFENSE ARMY NAVY & AIR DEFENSEEXEX ARMY NAVY & FORCE AIR FORCE

Public Administration

2 2

CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS

Educational Services

3

3

4

4

5

CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS

CAPE FEAR VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEMS

> 1,000 Public Administration > 1,000

Educational Services

Assistance

WAL-MART ASSOCIATES INC.

Retail Trade

> 1,000 Health Care and Social

Assistance Retail Trade Manufacturing

COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

Public Administration

6 7

COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE

Public Administration

7 8

Private

Public Administration > 1,000

> 1,000

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION VA RO318

CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE

Health Care and Social Public Administration > 1,000 Assistance

> 1,000

8 9

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION VA RO318 FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COM COLLEGE

Educational Services

10 9

US POSTAL SERVICE FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COM COLLEGE

LION 11 FOOD US POSTAL SERVICE 10

12

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

13

MANN+HUMMEL PUROLATOR FILTERS LLC

11

15

14

MANN+HUMMEL PUROLATOR FILTERS LLC

PRUITTHEALTH VETERAN SERVICES NC

ARMY & AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE

16

NONAPPROPRIATED FUND ACTIVITY-ARMY

15

PRUITTHEALTH VETERAN SERVICES NC

17 19

> 1,000

Public

Public

FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION

> 1,000

500—999

Retail Trade Manufacturing

> 1,000

Educational Services

500—999

Health Care and SocialManufacturing 500—999 Assistance

Public Administration

Health Care and Social

Assistance 500—999

Health Care and Social

500—999

Assistance Public Administration

Public

Private Public

500—999 > 1,000

Public

Private

500—999

500—999

Health Care and Social

CAROLINA POWER & SIGNALIZATION INC

Private Public

> 1,000

Public Administration

Retail Trade

17

> 1,000 Educational Services

Educational Services

HOME CENTERS FUND INC ACTIVITY-ARMY 18 LOWES NONAPPROPRIATED 16

Public

Public

Warehousing

Construction

Public

Public

Public

Retail Trade Transportation and > 1,000

CAROLINA POWER & SIGNALIZATION INC

Public

Private

> 1,000

Transportation and

Assistance

Public

> 1,000

Assistance

FOOD LION

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY 12 14 ARMY & AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE

13

Health Care and Social

Private Private

> 1,000

> 1,000

Public

Public

> 1,000

Manufacturing

Warehousing

Public

Public

Public

> 1,000

5 6

Public

> 1,000

> 1,000

WAL-MART ASSOCIATES INC. GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER INC

> 1,000

Health Care and Social

CAPE FEAR VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEMS

GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER INC

> 1,000

SECTOR

Public Public Public

Public

500—999

500—999

500—999

Private Private

Private

Public

Public

Construction

500—999

Retail Trade

500—999

Private

Administrative and

LOWES HOME CENTERS INC 18 ALLEN HAMILTON INC 20 BOOZ

Support and Waste

19

FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION

Remediation Services Public Administration

21

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC

BOOZRIDGE ALLEN HAMILTON INC 20 POWER LLC 22 BLUE

500—999

Management and

Administrative 500—999 and Support and Waste

Construction

250—499 Management and

METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Educational Services

21

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC

Accommodation and

MAIDEN PLANT

22

BLUE RIDGE POWER LLC

25 MCDONALDS METHODISTHAMBURGERS UNIVERSITY 23

500—999

250—499

Transportation and Warehousing250—499

Food Services; Manufacturing

Construction

Private Public

Private

Remediation Services

23 24

500—999

Transportation and Warehousing

Private

Private

Private

Private

500—999

Private Private

250—499

Private

Accommodation and Food Services; Retail 250—499 Educational Services

250—499

Private

Private

Trade Cumberland County data was available from the North Carolina Department of Commerce through the fourth quarter of 2022 at the time of collection.

24

MAIDEN PLANT

Accommodation and Food Services;

250—499

Private

250—499

Private

Manufacturing

25

Accommodation and

MCDONALDS HAMBURGERS

Food Services; Retail Trade

Cumberland County data was available from the North Carolina Department of Commerce through the fourth quarter of 2022 at the time of collection.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

November 3, 2023 - November 16, 2023

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