2 min read July 2023 — In an interview with Invest:, Kip Padgett, Wake Forest town manager, discussed the unique strengths and advantages the town offers to businesses and residents, challenges, such as affordable housing, and the town’s commitment to inclusivity.
What unique strengths and advantages does Wake Forest offer to businesses and residents?In addition to our location, we really focus on the entrepreneurial community. We partnered with the Loading Dock on their first location outside of the Beltline. This new facility serves as a co-working and technology incubator. We collaborated with them and with the Wireless Research Center to establish and enhance the space. We provide training and support through a program we initiated called the Founders Program, in conjunction with Loading Dock. Essentially, this program offers training to entrepreneurs who already have a well-established business but want to take it to the next level. We provide them with training from experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders. Additionally, we have an “entrepreneur in residence,” who acts as a mentor for entrepreneurs to consult with and talk through ideas. This initiative is still in its early stages but is gaining momentum. We are excited about offering these opportunities to entrepreneurs.
From the perspective of attracting entrepreneurs, of course, our quality-of-life opportunities, such as our greenways, are appealing. However, we are also aware of the traffic issues. In the upcoming FY24 budget, we have allocated $18 million, with $6 million allocated each year for three years, to invest in repaving our streets. Some streets may require milling down to the base due to their conditions. We are analyzing the areas with the most significant resurfacing problems on our town streets and dedicating this budget to significantly improving those roads.
Wake Forest has a reputation for being business-friendly. What factors contribute to creating this atmosphere?We strive to make customer service a priority. We streamlined our permitting process, ensuring a 24-hour turnaround for inspections and are handling all submittals online, prioritizing customer convenience.
As a community partner of the Chamber of Commerce, we provide funding to support local businesses, considering ourselves integral to their success. We also collaborate with Launch Wake Forest, a local group that operates a business incubator program. This program offers valuable business training and assistance in developing comprehensive business plans, specifically catering to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, we allocate funds to the Chamber of Commerce to assist in a young entrepreneur’s program. This program connects students with experienced business professionals, allowing them to explore their interests, discuss potential products and receive guidance in developing their ideas. We want to support entrepreneurs at all stages, from youth to established businesses seeking growth, addressing the diverse needs of entrepreneurs in Wake Forest.
What developments is the town actively seeking to attract?
With the Grove 98 development, located off Calvin Jones Parkway, we have observed significant growth in the retail sector. Additionally, our Downtown area is experiencing a surge in residential development, unlike anything we’ve seen before. There are some new commercial developments taking shape Downtown. However, if you venture to our industrial park, you’ll discover that it remains the main location for industrial businesses. We continue to witness expansion in various industries, such as technology and construction. The success of our flex office space is also noteworthy. Merritt Properties has exceeded its initial expectations with its facility off Ligon Mill Road. They are ahead of schedule and continue to expand their operations. Due to Merritt’s achievements, other companies have approached our economic development team expressing interest in establishing additional flex office space within Wake Forest.
What challenges does the town face and what strategies does your office employ to mitigate them?Ensuring affordable housing remains a key challenge for us and we have implemented an affordable housing plan to address it. We provide approximately $50,000 in seed money to support homeowners in the northeast community with renovations and repairs, improving housing quality and affordability.
To maximize our land resources, we have engaged a consultant to assess our available properties. Our goal is to utilize these properties for affordable housing or develop them in a way that reduces costs for development, increasing the availability of affordable housing units.
How does the town celebrate and promote its heritage and cultural attractions?
We promote inclusivity through various initiatives in our community. One notable event is our multicultural festival held at the Renaissance Center, where vendors celebrate diverse cultures. We also organize Good Neighbor Day, offering free food and handing out Good Neighbor of the Year awards. This fosters unity and camaraderie, encouraging interaction and community engagement. Despite the pandemic’s impact, we are gradually reintroducing these events as conditions permit, including the return of Good Neighbor Day last year.
What are your top priorities and goals for Wake Forest in the next few years?
We remain committed to affordable housing despite rising land prices and ongoing challenges. While supply issues have improved, labor shortages still pose obstacles. To tackle these challenges, we must stay dedicated to our affordable housing plan and prioritize its implementation.
Infrastructure is a significant concern and we recognize the importance of maintaining and improving our roads. Our road resurfacing project is a step toward addressing this issue but we must continue prioritizing infrastructure development to meet our community’s growing needs. Additionally, creating a business-friendly environment is crucial to us. We have programs in place and respond swiftly to emerging needs, aiming to provide streamlined processes that facilitate business establishment and growth.
Last year, our voters approved a $75 million bond, a significant milestone. This funding will support our greenway projects, particularly the essential north-south connections between Raleigh and Franklin County. It will also expand road networks, improving transportation and connectivity. The bond will also address athletic needs, including pickleball facilities. Over the next six to seven years, we anticipate exciting developments and progress resulting from the bond’s implementation.
Are there any initiatives or partnerships with educational institutions or other organizations to foster a healthier pipeline of employees?
Our economic development team collaborates with various organizations like the Raleigh Chamber, the Capital Area Workforce Development and Wake Tech to provide targeted training aligned with our community’s needs. For example, Wake Tech offers comprehensive law enforcement classes to meet demand. We have also partnered with community colleges for specialized training in our utilities department, particularly recruiting utility line workers. To address this, we have collaborated with Vance/Granville College, just north of us, which offers a utility line workers training program.
An interesting initiative we implemented involves our inspections department. We established an apprenticeship program, selecting two high-school students through a thorough interview process. Our inspectors mentored these students, assessing their potential as apprentices. With this year’s approved budget, we officially launched the apprenticeship program. One of the high-school students now serves as an inspector apprentice and we cover their certification classes in electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and other requirements. Our aim is to expand this program to other departments, addressing our workforce challenges by providing career paths for high school students who might not want to pursue higher education.
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