Davie County EDC Launches Job Creation Initiative ~ “Together we are Davie”

The Davie County Economic Development Commission (DCEDC) launched the public phase of its first ever capital campaign with a kick-off breakfast at WinMock at Kinderton in Bermuda Run.

Campaign chairman Dr. John McConnell, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center CEO, hosted the event and delivered the keynote address. McConnell spoke of the absolute necessity of communities working together to advance economic development and taking ownership in determining their prosperity.

Earlier this year the DCEDC set a goal to raise $1,000,000 over the next five years to implement a strategic plan to create jobs and grow the local economy. DCEDC president Terry Bralley presented the plan’s program of work. The plan has as its fundamental goals to realize more than $100,000,000 in new capital investment and to create 1,200 new primary jobs.

The five-year economic growth initiative will utilize five key strategies to achieve the plan’s goals: New Business Recruitment, Business Retention and Expansion, Workforce Development, Product Development and an Opportunity Fund.

Seven area business leaders have joined McConnell on the DCEDC’s Together We Are Davie leadership team: Mitzie Brannon, CEO of Yadtel Group, Wayne Wilkins, CEO of EnergyUnited and Tim Holder, VP of Marketing and Economic Development at EnergyUnited will co-chair the campaign’s Platinum Division. Rocky Johnson, partner in BJR Properties, will chair the Gold Division. Todd Freeman, manager of the Mocksville branch of Temporary Resources, and Tim Stewart, manager of Walmart, will co-chair the Silver Division.

Mayors Dr. Ken Rethmeier of Bermuda Run, Lynn Rumley of Cooleemee, Dr. Francis Slate of Mocksville; Davie County Commission Chairman Robert Wisecarver,  Senator Andrew Brock, Representative Julia Howard, Davidson County Community College President Dr. Mary Rittling, Davie County School Superintendent Dr. Darrin Hartness, and Davie County Chamber of Commerce President Carolyn McManamy have demonstrated their support for the campaign by forming the Together We Are Davie Campaign Development Council.

The campaign will run through February, 2014.