BesTreads ~ Another Manufacturer Selects Davie County, North Carolina

Posted by admin in Top Stories on May 16, 2012

BesTreads, the commercial tire retread business owned and operated by Harry and Debbie Price, has moved from Winston-Salem to 279 Bethel Church Road in Mocksville.  The new Davie County location has provided room for expansion and has helped make the operation more efficient.

BesTreads owners Debbie and Harry Price with NC House Representative Julia Howard during a tour of BesTreads Davie County plant.

Mocksville and Davie County ~ Good for Business
According to owner Debbie Price who directs the day to day operation, “Mocksville and Davie County have been good for our business in many respects.  The permit and inspections processes in Mocksville and Davie County add value by helping to ensure employee and environmental safety while helping us reduce risk.  In addition, we hire most new employees through Temporary Resources in Mocksville and we have found that Davie County students are graduating from high school ‘work-ready’.   Moving to Davie County has also allowed us to take the best ideas and practices from across the industry and combine them into one modern plant.”

BesTreads provides retread services for 14 Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) and several municipal transportation agencies.  If you ride a public bus in Raleigh, or a school bus in Forsyth County, you are riding on BesTreads tires.

The Town of Mocksville Public Works Department is also a BesTreads customer and they have been very pleased with the performance and convenience of skid steer and other heavy equipment tires supplied by BesTreads.

Generous Benefits
BesTreads pays 100% of the cost of employee health insurance and pays a full 50% of the cost for family policies.  When they announced their move from Winston-Salem to Davie County, BesTreads paid every employee a $50 per week fuel allowance to help offset the cost of travel to their new location until those who wished to move to Davie County could do so.

No Run-Around at BesTreads.  According to Harry Price, “This is a family run operation with attention to detail and customer service that a family run operation can provide.  When you call us, you go straight to the top.  Debbie directs the day-to-day operation of the business while I work with customers to determine the best retreads for their operations.  There are no committees or upper management to give you the run around.”

For information on job opportunities at BesTreads, visit Temporary Resources at 562 Valley Road in Mocksville.  For information on other job openings in and around Davie County, please visit Davie County Jobs.

Join us as we welcome BesTreads to Mocksville and Davie County.

Additional Resources:
BesTreads
Davie County Jobs

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Davie Farm Service “Heritage Farmer’s Market” from 2 – 6 PM in Mocksville Today!

Posted by admin in Top Stories on May 15, 2012

The Heritage Farmers Market in downtown Mocksville will be open today from 2 – 6 PM and will continue weekly each Tuesday afternoon through November.

Sponsored by Davie Farm Service and Southern States, the Farmer’s Market is located outside the Davie Farm Service Southern States store located at the corner of North Salisbury and Avon Streets in Mocksville.

Farmer’s Are Invited to Participate
The market is open to farmers in Davie County (at no charge) and allows no reselling of produce or other products.  Local producers of fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, baked goods, plants, and traditional farm crafts are invited to participate.

Products that can be sold

• Vegetables grown from seeds, sets, or seedlings

• Fruits, nuts, or berries grown on land owned or leased by the seller

• Plants grown by the seller from seed, seedling, transplant or cutting

• Bulbs propagated by the seller

• Eggs produced from the seller’s hens

• Meats from animals raised by the seller

• Dairy products from animals raised by and made by the seller

• Honey produced from the seller’s bees

• Cut or dried flowers grown by the seller

• Preserves, pickles, relishes, jams and jellies made by the seller

• Baked goods baked by the seller

Contact the Davie County Agricultural Center for More Information
Farmer’s who would like to participate may contact Colleen Church, the Horticulture Agent for Davie County.  The Davie County Agricultural Extension Service is located at 180 South Main Street in historic downtown Mocksville.

Please join us in thanking Davie Farm Service for hosting this service to our community.

Additional Resources:
Historic Downtown Mocksville
Davie County Agricultural Extension Center

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Taste Award Winning Wines From Three Davie County Vineyards

Posted by admin in Things To Do, Top Stories, Vineyards on May 9, 2012

Davie County is home to three wonderful vineyards with a variety of award winning wines available to suit any taste.  Spring and summer are a great time to experience the scenic beauty, enjoy tastings and take part in a variety of scheduled events.  Event schedules for each vineyard are available on the vineyard web sites.  A map of locations with driving directions are also included below.

RayLen Vineyards & Winery

3577 Highway 158 Mocksville, NC 27028 (336) 998-3100 http://www.raylenvineyards.com Monday-Saturday 11:00AM-6:00PM The first vines for RayLen Vineyards & Winery were planted in 1999 when Joe and Joyce Neely purchased the property. Until then, the property had functioned as a dairy farm for nearly a century. Today, the rolling hills and winding drive romance our guests as they drive through 35,000 European varietal grape vines. The distinctive cupola roof top of RayLen Vineyards & Winery is a beacon for the southern portion of the Yadkin Valley Appellation. Travelers from the highway and wanderers from the surrounding country roads are drawn to the Tasting Room to discover a new experience. Loyal customers return for the lush vista and a reliable favorite of RayLen’s award-winning wines. Vintner Steve Shepard has a long history in winemaking. His education and career began in Pennsylvania; since 1980, Shepard has been making wine commercially. Drawn south, Shepard’s North Carolina career began in 1989 at the first Yadkin Valley winery. The Yadkin Valley’s unique microclimate and soils have proven to be optimal for growing European varietals. From the date of RayLen’s purchase, Shepard helped design the vineyard for optimum growth for the 10 different European varietals grown. In its first three vintages, RayLen Vineyards & Winery won over 200 medals at various statewide, regional, and international competitions. Shepard has been recognized by Robert Parker for his 1991 vintage wines, while RayLen has been lauded by the Wine Spectator as one of the premier wineries in the Southeast.

Misty Creek Tasting RoomMisty Creek Farm and Vineyards

710 Wyo Road Mocksville, North Carolina 27028 336.998.3303 http://www.mistycreekwines.com Friday:  4:00-8:00 PM Saturday:  10:00 AM-8:00 PM Sunday:  2:00-6:00 PM Misty Creek’s vineyards and tasting room lie between the communities of Huntsville and Farmington near the Shallow Ford of the Yadkin River, an area used for centuries by Native Americans as a meeting ground and natural fish trap.  Later the Shallow Ford served as a safe place for travelers, wagons and stagecoaches to cross the Yadkin River on the Great Wagon Road (known locally as the Colonial Pike) from Philadelphia to Augusta, Georgia. A thriving community developed at the ford to serve passing wagon trains, and the deep cut of the Great Wagon Road is still evident today on both sides of the Yadkin River.  By 1770, a road cut from this area to Mulberry Fields (near Wilkesboro) later became known as the Daniel Boone Trail, named after Daniel Boone who married and built a cabin on the Sugar Creek, approximately two miles east of Farmington, in 1756.   On October 14th, 1780 during the American Revolution a large group of Tories crossed the Shallow Ford to be defeated by Whig forces.  Fourteen Tories were buried in a small plot west of the crossing, and almost immediately the brash colonials built a pig lot over their final resting place to commemorate forever this event.  Later in 1781 Lord Cornwallis crossed the Shallow Ford in pursuit of General Nathaniel Green’s “Green Mountain Boys”, the two forces meeting at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in Greensboro. After the war in 1792, Charles Hunt purchased 250 acres and began to lay out 111 half-acre lots to establish the city of Huntsville.  Local history suggests that Huntsville narrowly missed being the state capital for North Carolina.  In April 1865 Union General George Stoneman’s cavalry crossed the Shallow Ford and routed the Confederacy’s Yadkin Home Guard, subsequently ransacking the town of Bethania and looting the town of Huntsville as one of the last acts of the Civil War. The Nichols family purchased this land in early 2001, naming it Misty Creek after the natural spring that bisects the property. They immediately began a series of improvements that included a lake, roads and irrigation, and planted the first four acres of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Chambourcin.  The following year an additional 10 acres were planted, and Syrah was added to the vineyard.  Finished in June 2009, the tasting room sits directly on the site of a pioneer cabin originally built in 1800 as a mule barn, and overlooks the old road bed.  The deep well and original entry road are very evident in the topography, and they continue to find hand made bricks, pottery shards, spear points and other evidence of long habitation. Misty Creek Vineyards are located in Davie County, named for William R. Davie who was a revolutionary war leader, minister to France and later governor of North Carolina.

Garden Gate Vineyards

261 Scenic Drive Mocksville, NC 27028 336 751-3794 or 336 941-7721 http://www.gardengatevineyards.net Wednesday through Saturday 12:00-5:00 PM Sunday 1:00-5:00 PM Garden Gate Vineyards, owned by Bob and Sonya Whitaker offers free tastings Wednesday through Saturday, 12:00 to 5:00 PM and Sundays from 1:00-5:00 PM.  A cozy and inviting winery, with exceptionally friendly hosts, Garden Gate produces home-style fruit wines including Scuppernog, Muscadine, Blackberry, Blueberry, Strawberry and other varieties including Sangria and “Jitter Bug.”  Garden Gate uses no pesticides on their grapes, relying instead on the large number of resident blue birds lured to their countryside setting.  In addition to the wines, Garden Gate also offers a fine selection of hand-made pottery created by the hosts. Davie County ~ Time Well Spent!  Use the map below to get driving directions.

grapevines-H120A Brief History of Viticulture in North Carolina
Sir Walter Raleigh had no idea that the vine his sailors stumbled upon when they reached the Outer Banks would be so beneficial to North Carolinians. His men reported that the coast was “so full of grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them.” Perhaps what his mates spotted was the MotherVine on Roanoke Island, still growing and producing scuppernong grapes since explorers first sighted it in 1584. The vine has a trunk two-feet-thick, and its tendrils stretch along wooden arbors that support their tremendous weight across almost an acre of land. The scuppernong is a type of muscadine grape. grape leaf and vines1 (2)In the early 1800s, Thomas Jefferson noted North Carolina taking the lead with wine culture, estimating its “wine would be distinguished on the best tables in Europe, for its fine aroma, and chrystalline transparence.” The 1840 Federal Census listed the state as the number one wine producer in the U.S.; it remained one of the highest-ranked until Prohibition in the early 1900s. Today, the state’s industry is enjoying a vigorous resurgence, shared this time with the imported European-style vinifera.

Facts about North Carolina Wines
North Carolina is home to more than 80 wineries. The number of wineries has more than tripled since 2001. The industry has two focuses – native muscadine grapes and European-style vinifera grapes.

  • Commonly planted vinifera grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier. They are planted in the Western and Piedmont regions of the state.
  • Plantings of native muscadine grapes, also known as Scuppernongs, are relatively pest resistant and thrive in the hot sandy conditions of the Coastal region. Muscadines contain high levels of Resveratrol and other health-enhancing antioxidants. Some wineries even sell grape skins to nutraceutical companies.
  • Scuppernong is the first grape cultivated in the United States and is the official fruit of North Carolina. The Mothervine in Manteo on Roanoke Island, North Carolina is a 400-year old Scuppernong vine and is the oldest known cultivated grapevine in the nation.
  • North Carolina ranks 10th for grape and wine production in the United States.
  • More than 400 individually owned grape vineyards are spread across the state, covering 1,450 acres.
  • According to a recent study, the annual economic impact of the North Carolina wine and grape industry is $813 million with 5,700 jobs created.
  • The Yadkin Valley is North Carolina’s first federally recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA). It is located in northwestern North Carolina, and there are currently more than 20 wineries and 400 acres devoted to vineyards in the Yadkin Valley.
  • Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate Winery, which receives more than one million visitors annually and is the most visited winery in the United States.
  • Medoc Vineyard in the town of Brinkleyville in Halifax County was the first commercial winery established in North Carolina and led the country’s wine production in 1835.
  • At the turn of the century, 25 wineries operated in North Carolina, making it one of the most productive wine states in the U.S. The industry closed with the onset of Prohibition.
  • A 2007 national survey sponsored by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) in partnership with Gourmet magazine and the International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA), cited North Carolina as one of the top five state destinations for wine and culinary tourism activities in the United States.
  • Duplin Winery, the largest and oldest winery in the state, is the world’s largest producer of Muscadine wine.
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Don’t Miss It – Cow Pie Bingo & Silent Auction at the Daniel Boone Family Festival This Saturday!

Posted by admin in Things To Do, Top Stories on May 4, 2012

Cow Pie Bingo is Back ~ $300 Grand Prize!
Cow Pie Bingo is back again this year.  The Davie County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Davie High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) once again to bring Cow Pie Bingo to the festival.  Tickets are $10 each and are available at the Chamber office or from members of the FFA.  Any remaining tickets will be sold on the day of the event by FFA members and at the Silent Auction Tent.   Grand Prize is $300 and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Davie High FFA.

Silent Auction ~ Something for Everyone
The Davie County Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Spring Auction at the upcoming Daniel Boone Family Festival on Saturday, May 5th, in historic downtown Mocksville.  Dozens of local businesses have donated items to the silent auction – including a bicycle, wine baskets, set of tires, designer sunglasses, furniture, gift certificates, golf package, Dine in Davie package, TV and other electronics,  photography services – just to name a few. With such a wide array of items to bid on, there is treasure for everyone!

The Silent Auction Tent, donated for this event by INKIT/Rain or Shine Tent Rentals, will be located at the end of Depot Street and will be open for bidding from 10:00 am to 4:00pm.  Many of the donating businesses will also be set up as vendors that day to further showcase their products & services as they meet and greet festival goers.

Silent Auction Items
Below is a partial list of items that will be available through the silent auction.  As you can see, there something for everyone!

  • Basket of household cleaning supplies from Habitat for Humanity ReStore
  • 2 x 2 Barn Quilt  from Barn Quilt Gals
  • $250 gift certificate from Portraits by Deborah
  • 1/4 page ad for DavieLife Magazine from DavieLife Magazine
  • Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s Sunglasses from Carolina Center for Eye Care
  • Gift Certificate for 3 hrs in home care from Home Instead Senior Care
  • One Free Night Stay from Persimmon Grove Cabin
  • Rounds of Golf from Lake Louise, Pudding Ridge and Oak Valley Golf
  • Gift Certificates from New Jin Jin Buffet, Classic’s Grille, Deano’s, Restaurant 101, KFC, Subway, Miller’s, La Carreta, East Coast Wings
  • Blanket from Galliher Farms
  • Relaxation Gift Basket from Hospice & Palliative Care Center
  • Cat 5 Gift Basket from RayLen Vineyards
  • Chocolate Lover’s Gift Basket from Ketchie Creek Bakery
  • Ornament Basket from Community Development Corp
  • 1 Ultimate Body Wrap from Just Relax Massage & Wellness
  • Beiju Purse from Beneficial Skinworks
  • Set of 4 tires from Osborne Tire & Automotive
  • Adirondack chairs – Grill – Cooking utensils from Lowes Home Improvement/Wal-Mart
  • Wine Basket from Garden Gate Vineyards
  • 3 room carpet cleaning  from ServPro of Davie & Yadkin Cos
  • Gift Certificate toward set of tires from The Tire Shop
  • Lego Collector Set from Kaplan Early Learning Center
  • Magazine Basket from Thirty One Gifts – Angie Bailey
  • Free Monthly Membership from Studio ZT
  • Summer Reading Pkg – 5 books & tote bag from The Book Rack – Davie Chamber
  • Bike – Bronco Mini by SE from Skinny Wheels Bike Shop
  • 1/4 page ad for Davie Life Magazine (Nov issue) from Davie Life Magazine
  • $50 gift card – paint tray & roller from Sherwin Williams – Wal-Mart
  • Car Care Bucket from Napa Auto Parts
  • 46″ Samsung TV from Wal-Mart
  • Beach Package:  cooler, towels, glasses from Wal-Mart
  • Ted Baker polarized Men’s Sunglasses from Mocksville Vision Center
  • CD Player from Davie Chamber
  • One month membership w/ gym bag from Davie Family YMCA – Davie Chamber
  • Dash Game – A:  4- Founders Club tickets from Ventlab Corp
  • Dash Game – B:  4- Founders Club tickets from Ventlab Corp
  • Hitting Zone birthday party package from The Hitting Zone
  • Furniture from Meg Brown Home Furnishings
  • Garden Tools – Easy Go cart – flowers from Davie Chamber – Wal-Mart
  • Trunk Bag from Davie Chamber
  • “Corinthian Bells” windchimes from Davie Farm Service
  • 1 facial applicator from Just Relax Massage & Wellness
  • $50 Lowes Gift Card from Blakley Landscape Service

Silent Auction Hours ~ 10 AM until 4 PM
The Silent Auction Tent will be located at the end of Depot Street and will be open for bidding from 10:00 am to 4:00pm.  Many of the donating businesses will also be set up as vendors that day to further showcase their products & services as they meet and greet festival goers.

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Peachtree Farmer’s Market Opening in Bermuda Run This Friday

Posted by admin in Things To Do, Top Stories on May 2, 2012

The Peachtree Farmers Market will open on Friday, May 4, 4-8pm and continue weekly on Friday evenings through November.  An official grand opening is planned for Friday, June 1.

The market is located at 111 Peachtree Lane, on the corner of Peachtree Lane and NC Highway 801 in Bermuda Run (behind the Wells Fargo Bank Building).

Farmer’s Are Invited to Participate
The market is open to farmers that reside within 50 miles of Mocksville and allows no reselling of produce or other products.  Local producers of fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, baked goods, plants, and traditional farm crafts are invited to participate.

Products that can be sold
• Vegetables grown from seeds, sets, or seedlings
• Fruits, nuts, or berries grown on land owned or leased by the seller
• Plants grown by the seller from seed, seedling, transplant or cutting
• Bulbs propagated by the seller
• Eggs produced from the seller’s hens
• Meats from animals raised by the seller
• Dairy products from animals raised by and made by the seller
• Honey produced from the seller’s bees
• Cut or dried flowers grown by the seller
• Preserves, pickles, relishes, jams and jellies made by the seller
• Baked goods baked by the seller

Contact the Davie County Agricultural Center for More Information
Farmer’s who would like to participate may contact Colleen Church, the Horticulture Agent for Davie County.  The Davie County Agricultural Extension Service is located at 180 South Main Street in historic downtown Mocksville.

Additional Resources:
Davie County Agricultural Extension Center
Peachtree Farmers Market Grower Certification
Peachtree Farmers Market Vendor Application
Peachtree Farmers Market Vendor Rules

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Daniel Boone Family Festival ~ Historic Downtown Mocksville on Saturday, May 5th

Posted by admin in Things To Do, Top Stories on April 25, 2012

On Saturday, May 5th, 2012 the town of Mocksville will host the annual Daniel Boone Family Festival all day until 6 PM.  With Fort Dobbs Re-enactors, historical tours and kids areas, it is a day of history, shopping, downtown crafters & local merchants, and plenty of entertainment for the entire family.

All Day Entertainment at Junker’s Mill Outdoor Theater
These are free concerts ~ Bring a chair for these events.
10:00 – 4:00 PM ~ Chamber of Commerce Silent Auction

12:30 – 1:45 pm ~ The Flying Saucers ~ Rockabilly and Oldies

2:00 – 3:15 pm ~The Folsom Prison Gang ~ Johnny Cash Tunes

3:30 – 4:40 pm ~ Matt Dylan and Most Wanted  ~ Country

5:00 – 6:15 pm ~ Legend ~ 70′s and 80′s Rock

Davie County Historical Tours ~ These bus and van tours are $5
10:15 AM, 12:30 PM & again at 2:15 PM
Joppa Cemeter (burial site of Squire & Sarah Boone)
Bear Creek Boone Site
Boone Trail Marker in Farmington
Pudding Ridge

11:45 AM
Jesse A. Clement House (interior)
Joppa Cemetery
Boone Marker
Bear Creek
Center Arbor

1:15 PM
The Bull Hole
Tour of Veach’s Musterground
Revolutionary War Hero Richmond Pearson’s Gravesite
Historic Zachary Holt House
Village Museum of Cooleemee

The video above was produced during the 2006 Daniel Boone Family Festival. We hope to see you at the 2010 Daniel Boone Family Festival in historic downtown Mocksville, NC on Saturday, May 5th, 2012.

For additional information, please visit Daniel Boone Family Festival or call (336)909-2263

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Video ~ Manufacturing in North Carolina ~ Ashley Furniture Investing $80 million, Creating 550 New Jobs in Davie County

Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, People, Top Stories on April 24, 2012

High Point Furniture Market Showcases Major Announcement
Ashley Furniture, the world’s largest home furnishings manufacturer, has been part of the High Point Furniture market for more than 40 years.  The eve of the 2012 Spring Furniture Market on Friday, April 20th was an appropriate time and place for announcing Ashley’s $80 million investment in Davie County, North Carolina creating at least 550 new furniture manufacturing and distribution jobs.

Projected ~ 3.2 Million Square Feet on 640 Acres ~ 1100 Jobs
On behalf of North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, North Carolina Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dale Carroll opened the High Point Furniture Market by announcing Ashley Furniture’s commitment to open the Ashley Furniture Mid-Atlantic Manufacturing and Distribution Facility on 640 acres in Advance, North Carolina.  Site plans unveiled at the announcement show a total of 3.22 million square feet of manufacturing and distribution facilities.  At that size, the plant would eventually support 1,100 new jobs.

Video
In the video below, Dale Carroll officially announced the project and presented a state flag of North Carolina to Ashley Furniture Chairman Ron Wanek and Ashley Furniture President Todd Wanek.

Ashley Furniture Announcement Video ~ Part 1

Stay tuned for part II of our video later this week from the Ashley Furniture announcement.

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Ashley Furniture to Create 550 Jobs in Davie County, North Carolina

Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, Top Stories on April 20, 2012

Governor Bev Perdue announced today that Ashley Furniture, a manufacturer and distributor of home furnishings, will locate a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Davie County.  Ashley Furniture expects to create 550 new jobs over the next five years and invest $80 million in land, buildings, machinery and equipment. The announcement was made possible in part by a state Job Development Investment Grant and a One North Carolina Fund award.

“North Carolina continues to attract manufacturers that are drawn to our top-ranked business climate and highly-skilled workers,” said Gov. Perdue.  “These companies choose North Carolina because of our past investments in education, economic development and in quality infrastructure.”

Todd R. Wanek, Ashley’s President and CEO said, “As we see Ashley’s global demand for its products increase, Ashley continues to make long-term investments in its facilities to meet consumer demand.   North Carolina’s strong furniture manufacturing tradition, along with the cooperation of Governor Bev Perdue, the Department of Commerce and Davie County Development Commission, has made this project possible.”

Ashley Furniture has been in business since 1945.  It began manufacturing furniture in 1970 in Arcadia, Wis.  Today Ashley, who has been showcasing its products at High Point Market for close to 40 years, is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world.  The company currently operates manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and California and has a distribution warehouse facility located in Brandon, Fla.  Today Ashley employs 12,000 employees in the United States. All of Ashley’s manufacturing operations are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and technology to maximize efficiencies to better serve our customers’ needs.  Ashley is a global company doing business in 123 countries.

The total payroll for the new jobs is estimated to be $15.5 million once the project is completed.

“Ashley looked all over for a home for its new facility and realized, like more and more companies have, that North Carolina’s skilled, educated workforce is second to none,” said Rep. Julia Howard, of Mocksville.

To help facilitate this expansion, the company has been awarded a grant of up to $825,000 from the state’s One North Carolina Fund.  This fund assists the state in industry recruitment and expansion deemed by the governor to be vital to a healthy and growing state economy.  One North Carolina Fund grants require a local match, and this grant is contingent upon approval of local incentives.

In addition, the state Economic Investment Committee today voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to Ashley. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.

Under the terms of the JDIG, the company is eligible to receive a grant equal to 60 percent of the state personal income withholding taxes derived from the creation of new jobs for each of the 10 years in which the company meets annual performance targets.  If Ashley Furniture meets the targets called for under the agreement and sustains them for 10 years, the JDIG could yield as much as $3.19 million in maximum benefits for the company.

Other partners who assisted with this announcement include: The N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Department of Transportation, N.C. Department of Revenue, N.C. Community Colleges, Davie County, Davie County Economic Development Commission Inc., N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Golden LEAF Foundation, and Duke Energy.   

For more information about Ashley Furniture, including job opportunities, visit www.ashleyfurniture.com or call the Division of Employment Security at (336) 751-3315.

For more information about commercial development and site location opportunities in Davie County, North Carolina, please contact Terry Bralley, President of the Davie County Economic Development Commission at 336 751-2714 or via email to terry.bralley@daviecounty.com.

Why Ashley Furniture Selected Davie County
The decision on where to invest in a new manufacturing plant is one of the most important decisions a company makes. Long term success for the company requires the right location, the availability of a skilled workforce, strong workforce development programs, and well developed utility, energy, communication, and transportation assets.

Location, Location, Location
Davie County’s location in central North Carolina, bisected by I-40, with I-85 and I-77 only minutes away is within a one day drive of 60% of the US market, one half of the nation’s population and one trillion dollars of industrial production. Rail freight services available through Southern and Norfolk Southern and two major airports within about an hour’s drive also make Davie County an attractive location for manufacturing.

Skilled Workforce
The commuting pattern for workers in Davie County indicates that over 12,000 people, or 70% of our workforce travels out of the county for work each day while 5,000 people travel into Davie County for work.  This 37% workforce net out-migration pattern translates into the availability of an available skilled workforce in Davie County.

Workforce Development Training and the High Performance Manufacturing Association hosted by DCCC, the Community College of Davidson and Davie Counties, provides cutting edge, globally competitive workforce development solutions through campuses in Davidson and Davie Counties.

HPMA ~ Lean, Continuous Improvement and Sustainability
In addition to workforce development and training programs, DCCC also coordinates the activities of the High Performance Manufacturing Association.  In cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the North Carolina State University Industrial Extension Service, HPMA helps local companies develop and maintain competitive advantages in the areas of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and sustainability.

Additional Resources
Ashley Furniture Careers
North Carolina Department of Commerce
One NC Fund
NC Rural Economic Development Center
Golden Leaf Foundation
North Carolina Named Nation’s ‘Top Business Climate’ for 5th Consecutive Year
DCCC ~ The Community College of Davidson and Davie Counties
Piedmont Triad Partnership

Davie County Economic Development
Davie County Jobs
Davie County Economic Development Commission
$80 Million New Hospital Construction Project Begins in Davie County
140 New Manufacturing Jobs Coming to Davie County
Marketing Davie County & Our Region to the World! Piedmont Triad Partnership
Davie County EDC Receives Land Donation from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Workforce Development Grants Bring Jobs, Help Spur Aerospace Industry Growth & Opportunities in Davie County
Site Selection Alert! Seneca Medical Chooses Davie County for New Distribution and Logistics Center
HondaJet Presentation in Davie County – 400 new jobs coming to North Carolina
National Flooring Distributors ~ Manufacturing Jobs Coming to Mocksville, North Carolina
47 Acre Site Adjacent to Medical Complex Offers Exceptional Visibility in High Growth Location!
Avgol Expansion Bringing 42 New Jobs to Mocksville!
Furniture Design and Manufacturing Firm Bringing Jobs to Davie County
DCCC Awarded $2.6 Million ~ Delivering High Skilled Training for High Wage Jobs
Travel and Tourism ~ Visitors to Davie County Spent $28 Million Here in 2010
Davie County Students Excel
Nature’s Pearl ~ North Carolina State Fruit the Cure to Cancer?
Global Business Leaders Visit Mocksville to Tour Ingersoll Rand Manufacturing Plant

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Public Forum on Davie County Schools Facilities/Assessment Tonight

Posted by admin in Davie County Schools, Top Stories on April 19, 2012

A public forum to discuss the school facilities needs of Davie County Schools will be held on April 19, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Brock Auditorium in Mocksville. The Brock Auditorium is located at 622 North Main Street in Mocksville.

The Little Diversified Architectural Firm will provide a short summary of their assessment, some ideas they have developed for addressing the needs at Davie County High School, and their demographer will provide a summary of the demographic forecast of Davie County for the next 10 years. The team and Board of Education will also field questions.

Davie County High School — Avenues for Consideration and Recommendation for an Enriched, Immersive, Learning Environment Future

As part of the analysis and recommendations, the team has explored three avenues for how to address the future of Davie County High School:

Avenue A — Continue to Expand, Replace, and Improve the Existing High School Campus
Avenue B— Construct new Davie County High School on new Greenfield Site
Avenue C— Construct new Davie County High School on Existing Site

After reviewing these avenues for the future facilities for Davie County High School, it is the recommendation of this long range plan, based on the information data, that a new high school be constructed on a new site, preferably centrally located to the population of the county.

Analysis of the three explored avenues is the subject of discussion at the public forum tonight.

Additional Resources:
Davie County Schools ~ Public Forum on School Facilities/Assessment

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Furniture Design & Manufacturing Firm Bringing Jobs to Davie County

Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, People, Top Stories on April 18, 2012

Bill Bongaerts ~ President, Beaufurn LLC

Welcoming Beaufurn to Davie County
Beaufurn, a designer and manufacturer of high quality, innovatively designed furniture for hotels, restaurants, universities, airports, food courts, coffee shops, hospitals and commercial customers world-wide is moving its furniture manufacturing operations to Davie County, North Carolina.

Made in the U.S.A.
Bucking the trend of outsourcing manufacturing to overseas locations, Beaufurn has increased its domestic manufacturing output by 30% over the last 2 years.

Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing
Environmental sustainability and green manufacturing are also a key focus for Beaufurn and its customers. Wood used in the manufacturing process is primarily sourced domestically and is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.  In addition, bio-based foams, recycled steel, environmentally friendly finishes and adhesives are also part of the Beaufurn manufacturing processes.

Beaufurn furnishings can be found in Starbucks, Marriott Hotels, Cheesecake Factory Stores, Burger Kings, Verizon Wireless stores, Universal Studios, Las Vegas Casinos and more.

Move to Davie County
Founded in 1996 and currently located in Winston-Salem, Beaufurn will be moving in to the former Jeffco Building, a 72,000 square foot building located at 5269 US Highway 158 in Bermuda Run, NC.  The move is scheduled to be completed by August 1st, 2012.

The move to Davie County will provide Beaufurn with space for expansion of its manufacturing operations, access to Davie County’s experienced workforce, and a location adjacent to Interstate-40, reducing the cost of getting goods to market.

Beaufurn is Hiring
With 21 full time employees and 4 seasonal workers, Beaufurn is hiring.  Beaufurn is currently looking for experienced furniture upholsterers.  Please see the Davie County Jobs resource for details on how to apply for current openings (www.daviecountyblog.com/jobs).

Welcome to Davie County
Terry Bralley, President of the Davie County Economic Development Commission, said, “Please join us as we welcome Beaufurn to Davie County.  I would also like to thank Ellen Moore, of Coldwell Banker, who represented the landlord in the move and Philip Stewart of Stewart Realty who represented Beaufurn.  Both were instrumental in bringing these manufacturing jobs to Davie County.  Thanks also to the Bermuda Run Town Board for paving the way and helping to make this project happen. Beaufurn is certainly a rising star in the commercial furniture industry and we expect to help them bring even more jobs to Davie County in the future.”

Additional Resources
Beaufurn
Davie County Jobs
Davie County Economic Development Commission
Town of Bermuda Run

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Join Area Golfers, Wake Forest Baptist Health and Davie County Hospital for Healthcare Scholarship Golf Tournament

Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, Things To Do, Top Stories on April 16, 2012

Join in the fun and relaxation with golfers from across the Piedmont Triad as they “tee it up” at beautiful Bermuda Run Country Club for the 6th annual Davie Challenge Captain’s Choice Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 10, 2012.

This will be an enjoyable afternoon and a wonderful opportunity to join friends and co-workers who support Davie County’s healthcare services as area Golfers raise scholarship money to benefit Davie County students pursuing a healthcare career!

Tournament proceeds will be donated to a new scholarship fund established by the Davie County Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization that recognizes a need for qualified individuals to enter a career in healthcare. Future projections demonstrate a clear disparity in the numbers entering the field and the rising demand for healthcare services.

The Foundation established the fund to award scholarships to deserving Davie County students who are currently enrolled or will be enrolling in a college or university granting a degree in a healthcare field.

Please download the tournament brochure for instructions on registering a team or an individual golfer for the tournament.

While the official registration deadline is April 30th, you may want to get your application in a little early as the tournament is close to fully subscribed.

Resources:
Tournament Brochure and Registration Form
Tournament Advertising Flyer

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Enjoy a Davie County Sunset Musical Flight this Friday at Raylen Vineyards and Winery

Posted by admin in Things To Do, Top Stories, Vineyards on April 12, 2012

Free Event ~ Come out to RayLen Vineyards and Winery in Davie County for the springtime Sunset Musical Flight on Friday, April 13th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  Pack a picnic and bring your friends.  This is a free event so come on out to enjoy great wine, music, and socializing.

Picnic baskets and lawn chairs are permitted, but no pets or coolers for this event.

Musical Entertainment by “Lean In”
Accompanying the award winning wines from Raylen Daniel Seriff’s band “Lean In” will provide entertainment for the evening.  A rich tapestry of melody, rhythm and harmony, “Lean In” musical selections will include soulful tunes by Van Morrison and Sam Cooke and more.

About Raylen Vineyards and Winery
The first vines for RayLen Vineyards & Winery were planted in 1999 when Joe and Joyce Neely purchased the property. Until then, the property had functioned as a dairy farm for nearly a century. Today, the rolling hills and winding drive romance our guests as they drive through 35,000 European varietal grape vines. The distinctive cupola roof top of RayLen Vineyards & Winery is a beacon for the southern portion of the Yadkin Valley Appellation. Travelers from the highway and wanderers from the surrounding country roads are drawn to the Tasting Room to discover a new experience. Loyal customers return for the lush vista and a reliable favorite of RayLen’s award-winning wines.

Vintner Steve Shepard has a long history in winemaking. His education and career began in Pennsylvania; since 1980, Shepard has been making wine commercially.  Drawn south, Shepard’s North Carolina career began in 1989 at the first Yadkin Valley winery. The Yadkin Valley’s unique microclimate and soils have proven to be optimal for growing European varietals. From the date of RayLen’s purchase, Shepard helped design the vineyard for optimum growth for the 10 different European varietals grown. In its first three vintages, RayLen Vineyards & Winery won over 200 medals at various statewide, regional, and international competitions. Shepard has been recognized by Robert Parker for his 1991 vintage wines, while RayLen has been lauded by the Wine Spectator as one of the premier wineries in the Southeast.

Visit Raylen Vineyards and Winery and see why Phil Lambert announced on the Today Show in March 2008, “Napa is out, North Carolina is in.”

Resources:
Raylen Vineyards and Winery
Lean In

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Got Books? Davie County Library Book Sale This Week!

Posted by admin in Things To Do, Top Stories on April 10, 2012

Great bargains on new and gently used books can be found at the Friends of Davie County Public Library book sale this weekend.  Held every spring and fall, the book sales are the volunteer organization’s main fundraiser. The book sale is located at Davie County Public Library, 371 N. Main St. Mocksville. Book sale organizers are happy to report no price increase for books in 2012.

Blue Dot “Booktique”
A highlight of this sale will be the “Blue Dot Booktique,” a special area with new and higher value books for only $2.00.  And, to encourage young readers to shop the book sale, children’s book prices start at $.25 each.

Members Only Preview this Thursday
Members only preview is Thursday, April 12, 5PM – 8PM.  For those who are not members but would still like to attend the preview sale, memberships will be available at the door.  The sale is open to the general public on Friday, April 13, from 9AM to 6PM and again on Saturday, April 14, from 9AM to 3PM. Book sale proceeds benefit Davie County Public Library.    Become a member of Friends of the Davie County Library for $5/year or less to be eligible for the preview sale.

About Friends of the Library
The purpose of the Friends of Davie County Public Library shall be to establish closer relations between Davie County Public Library and its patrons; to focus public attention on Davie County Public Library’s resources and services; foster appreciation of its value as a cultural and educational asset to the community; receive and encourage gifts to Davie County Public Library for use in developing library services for the community.

Friends of Davie County Public Library co-sponsor special speaker and visiting writers’ events that are free to the community.  They support the children’s summer reading program that encourages children to read while school is out, hosts library staff/volunteer appreciation luncheons, purchase resource materials and hold semi-annual used book sales.

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21st Century Learning ~ Davie County Schools Robotics Competition

Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, Davie County Schools, NCSTEM, Things To Do, Top Stories on April 4, 2012

Davie County STEM Education in collaboration with Wake Forest Baptist Health ~ On Friday, April 27th, from 4-7 pm, teams from all 6 Davie County elementary schools and all 3 middle schools will converge at Davie County High School for an afternoon and evening of friendly but fierce competition! Each team has been issued 10 logistics challenges with a hospital theme developed in collaboration with North Carolina Baptist Health to celebrate the building of a new hospital in the county.

Engaging Curriculum with Cutting Edge Science and Real World Relevance
Teams will program LEGO NXT robots to do such things as slide “kidney stones” off a human image in the operating room and then administer Lego “medicine” to the patient after surgery. Each challenge completed will earn the teams designated numbers of points as they compete head-to-head in a double elimination tournament. At the end of the evening, four teams, two from the elementary bracket and two from the middle school bracket, will emerge as champions and runners up. The top two of these teams will then compete for the Grand Champion trophy.

Students solve increasingly complex problems
The programming skills students develop through these sets of challenges are important and impressive. Learning the program language to make Lego NXT robots move and perform in the fashion students desire requires technical skills and the development of logical thought about the progression of logistics challenges.

At least as importantly, students develop sets of soft skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. They learn to budget time, prioritize the importance of completing one challenge versus another, work with their peers to negotiate who completes which task and when, and to work their way through increasingly complex problems one step at a time

Davie County Schools Teaching 21st Century Skills
The Davie County Robotics Skills Challenge Series was designed in order to provide a venue for students to program NXT robots on the spot in order to complete challenges utilizing a number of key skills.

In addition to an introduction to object based programming, Davie County students are learning soft skills such as problem solving, time management, critical thinking, strategic thinking, cooperative effort and teamwork, and establishing priorities.

Join Davie County students and share the thrills as students watch something they have created come to life in a robot at this free indoor event at Davie County High School from 4-7 pm on Friday, April, 27th..

Additional Resources:
Davie County STEM Education
Davie County Schools

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New Davie County Government Web Site Launched

Posted by admin in Top Stories on April 2, 2012

On Saturday, March 31st, Davie County Government launched a new website designed to help citizens stay informed and up to date on news, events and other information you care about.

Easy to find exactly what you need
From contact information for every department in the County Government, how to apply for a marriage license, voter registration information, to County Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, the new site is well designed making it quite easy to find exactly what you need.

Sign up for email alerts
A community calendar on the site makes it easy to find the dates, times and locations of county meetings and users can even sign-up for email alerts to receive the agenda for the Board of Commissioner meetings ahead of the meetings which occur on the first Monday of each month.

A slate of e-services, like register of deeds searches, geographic mapping, Davie County staff directories, and lists of frequently asked questions is also available.  While some of these e-services were available on the previous county web site, the new site makes it much easier to locate and access these services.

Mobile ready
A “search” box prominently displayed at the top of each page is another time saving device which helps visitors locate information quickly.  Another welcome feature is the “mobile” site which formats site content for display on smaller screen mobile devices.  This mobile version of the site is important because mobile web traffic will soon exceed desktop traffic across the internet.

An excellent way to familiarize yourself with all of the information and services available on the new site is to visit the site map which lists all web site resources on one page.

The new site is a work in progress and additional features will continue to be rolled out over the coming months.  Please join me in thanking Davie County for another great online resource.

Resources:
Official Davie County Government Web Site
Davie County Government Site Map

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