McKinley Perkinson, Community & Economic Development Director, Warren County Economic Development Commission

In an interview with Invest:, McKinley Perkinson, community and economic development director for the Warren County Economic Development Commission, discussed the county’s investments in industrial site readiness, workforce development, tourism, and small-business growth. “We’re investing in ourselves, and I think that’s going to pay out, and people are going to start investing in us, too,” Perkinson said.

What changes over the past year have most affected Warren County’s economic development priorities?

We have been proactive in securing funding through grant sources, which is allowing us to do more site development and bring more product to market. Over the past year, we have secured more than $2 million in grant funding for work specifically related to industrial development. The goal is to prepare our sites and strengthen our ability to recruit industry to Warren County.

As a rural community, we already face additional challenges in our economic development efforts. Ongoing market changes have not affected us too significantly because we have long operated within those challenges. With the grant funding we have secured, however, I feel we will be able to make larger strides in our recruitment efforts.

How have recent economic conditions affected Warren County’s existing industries?

Some of our current business partners experienced a delayed impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. One of our industries manufactures thread used in recreational boat canopies and covers. Its business initially boomed during the pandemic because many people were participating in outdoor activities while other options were closed.

Once everything reopened, the company experienced an impact later than many other industries. It had started an expansion project but then had to place that project on hold. The company is now bouncing back and continuing its expansion in Warren County.

Because we are rural and do not have as many industrial partners as a larger metropolitan area, changes affecting one company can be felt more directly in our community. We were a little later to feel some of those effects, but things are picking back up, and the expansion is moving forward.

What are companies and site selectors seeking when they consider a rural community?

The No. 1 priority we are seeing is speed to market. Companies want to build or begin production as soon as possible. We are working to prepare our industrial sites so they are as build-ready as possible.

When a company looks at Warren County, we want it to see a site with the necessary utilities available and understand that it can begin construction, complete its facility, and bring its product to market quickly. That preparation is central to how we are using the grant funding we have secured. We want companies to know they can achieve speed to market when they choose Warren County.

How are you improving industrial sites and infrastructure to compete for investment?

We received funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation through its site readiness program. At one of our industrial sites, the water line previously reached the property, but it is a 92-acre site. With this grant funding, we are expanding the water line along the entire front of the industrial property.

That means a company could build on any part of the parcel and have access to water without first having to complete the extension itself. Removing that step helps prevent delays and supports a faster construction timeline.

We have also received funding through the North Carolina Railroad Association because this property is a rail site with the potential for a rail spur. We are working with the organization on site-readiness improvements that include grading and clearing the property. Our goal is to have the site graded and prepared so an incoming company does not have to complete as much preliminary work before building.

We want the property to be as build-ready as possible. Extending utilities, preparing the land, and taking advantage of the site’s rail access strengthen our ability to compete for projects.

How do tourism, entrepreneurs, and small businesses contribute to the county’s economy?

Warren County is a tourism destination during the summer because we have two large lakes and a strong lake community. Small businesses have built around that tourism opportunity and help capture more of the economic activity generated by visitors.

We have invested in and examined tourism’s impact on our economy. Within the past two years, Warren County created a tourism department focused solely on capturing that part of the economy and identifying opportunities to expand it.

We also have several municipalities, and our county seat, Warrenton, has done a strong job revitalizing its downtown and attracting small businesses. We work to nurture and grow the small-business community because it is vital to creating the type of community we can market to industries.

Companies want to know their workforce will have a nice community in which to live. A strong downtown, local businesses, and tourism opportunities all support industrial recruitment. These elements work hand in hand, and our small-business community is a major part of what we do.

What workforce needs are employers raising, and how are regional partners responding?

We are fortunate to have a great community college in Vance-Granville Community College. We also work with NCWorks through the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, and we undertake many initiatives in partnership with those organizations.

We are developing a program that will launch in September with our local high school and regional partners. The initiative is intended to connect with our younger and future workforce and better understand the types of jobs students desire. We want to create opportunities that encourage young people to remain in Warren County or return after college.

We are also working with Vance-Granville Community College on a training project. Warren County provided land in one of our industrial parks where the college is developing a transportation hub. The facility will provide training for commercial driver’s license holders, heavy-equipment operators, and diesel mechanics.

These are some of the positions that industries throughout our region need to fill. Developing that training capacity locally will help prepare our workforce for those opportunities.

Vance-Granville is also participating in the development of a manufacturing training facility in Granville County. We have worked as a region to understand future workforce needs and develop the training required to address them. That makes the region more marketable to companies because they can see that a trained workforce is available within our communities. We have been fortunate to have great partnerships with our community college and regional council of governments.

What competitive advantages can Warren County offer prospective companies?

We have supportive local leaders who want to bring businesses and quality jobs to Warren County. We also have land, which is the No. 1 resource a company needs to grow.

Our position along Interstate 85 is another major advantage. Transportation access is critical for companies that need to bring materials into a facility and move finished products out.

Our rail-served industrial sites also distinguish us. Not every community has rail sites available for development, and we see manufacturing projects for which rail is a requirement. Having land, interstate access, rail sites, and leaders who support economic development gives us a strong foundation.

We are rural, but we are a great county. Warren County is a great place for people to live and a great place for people to visit.

What opportunities make you most optimistic about Warren County’s next three to five years?

I am optimistic about what will happen once our industrial sites are prepared for growth and ready for companies to build on them. I feel confident that we will recruit companies that provide quality jobs for Warren County residents.

We are investing in ourselves and putting in the work. I believe people will begin recognizing Warren County and wanting to be part of this community. We have the resources, transportation access, rail sites, land, and local support needed to attract investment.

I believe Warren County will increasingly be recognized as a competitive community for economic development and as a place where developers and companies can invest. We’re investing in ourselves, and I think that’s going to pay out, and people are going to start investing in us, too.