KINSTON

livability.com/kinston

LENOIR COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

SHOP KINSTON

Tourist or resident, theres plenty to buy here

Creative Catalyst
The arts help fuel the future of Kinstons economy
2014 | SPONSORED BY THE KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The two-million-dollar renovation is complete, and we are waiting for you! The Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Kinston is the best value for you or your visiting guests. We provide terrific customer service, offer a hot complimentary Fresh Start breakfast, and are conveniently located off of US 70.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Kinston

Stay Real, Stay You.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites 1156 Hill Farm Rd. Kinston, NC 28504 (252) 559-8888 (252) 559-6588 fax www.hiexpress.com/kinstonnc

CONTENTS

KINSTON
LENOIR COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Editor | Mitch Kline Contributing Writers | Carol Cowan, John McBryde, Stephanie Stewart-Howard Copy Editor | Jessica Walker Boehm Staff Writer | Kevin Litwin Marketing Coordinator | Lauren Zimmerman Lead Designer | Matt West Senior Graphic Designers | Stacey Allis, Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Jake Shores, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers | Jackie Ciulla, Lindsey Higgins, Kacey Passmore Creative Technology Analyst | Becca Ary Lead Photographer | Wendy Jo OBarr Senior Photographers | Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers | Michael Conti, Frank Ordoez, Michael Tedesco Color Imaging Technician | Alison Hunter Integrated Media Manager | Elle Stewart Advertising Production/ Sales Manager | Katie Middendorf Sales Support Coordinator | Christina Morgan Ad Traffic Assistants | Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Web Project Manager | David Day Digital Project Manager | Jill Ridenour Digital Products Designer | Erica Lampley Web Developer I | Nels Noseworthy Web Designer II | Richard Stevens Chairman | Greg Thurman President/Publisher | Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President | Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales | Todd Potter, Jarek Swekosky Senior V.P./Client Development | Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./Operations | Casey Hester Senior V.P./Digital | Michael Barber V.P./Content Operations | Natasha Lorens Creative Services Director | Christina Carden Photography Director | Jeffrey S. Otto Web Creative Director | Allison Davis Controller | Chris Dudley Senior Accountant | Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator | Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinators | Diana Iafrate, Becca Sweitzer IT Director | Daniel Cantrell Database Director | Debbie Woksa Executive Secretary | Kristy Giles Human Resources Manager | Peggy Blake

2014 EDITION

VOLUME 7

Things to Do
4 The Arts Creative Catalyst 6 Shopping Shop Kinston

2 Welcome

8 Arts & Culture 9 Local Flavor 10 Sports & Recreation

4 6

Living

11 Community Profile 12 Education 14 Health

Business

Livability: Kinston-Lenoir County, NC is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com. For more information, contact: Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce 301 N. Queen St. Kinston, NC 28502 Phone: (252) 527-1131 Fax: (252) 527-1914 www.kinstonchamber.com Visit Livability: Kinston-Lenoir County, NC online at livability.com/kinston. Copyright 2014 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member The Association of Magazine Media Member Custom Content Council

16 Business Overview
18 Manufacturing Moving in the Right Direction 20 Chamber Report Look Alive
On The Cover Remnants of an ironclad gunboat are on display at the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. Photo by Michael Conti

Member Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce

18

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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AT A GLANCE

Kinston-Lenoir County, North Carolina

A QUICK, COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF WHATS GREAT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Lenoir County is the kind of place where strangers exchange smiles, friends swap stories and family members share enriching experiences. Newcomers are welcomed with scenic forests, exciting historical sites, a thriving creative community and a progressive business scene. At the heart of it all is Kinston, which twice has been presented with the All-American City Award in recognition of outstanding civic accomplishments. This area fosters creativity, rewards hard work and provides plenty of ways to play. MUCH TO DO The Neuse River, which winds through the center of Lenoir County, brought early settlers to the area. Today, fishermen share the river with canoes and kayaks, and children wade in its waters. Golfers can tee off at area courses throughout the year. Winters are mild and summers are warm, creating the perfect environment for outdoor play. Walkers, runners and bikers enjoy trails that lead to parks and playgrounds, including a special area for dogs. Pink Hill, La Grange and Kinston each feature historical attractions, art galleries, local restaurants and performance venues. Each city hosts events that bring the countys residents together to celebrate historical moments, food and music. ECONOMY GROWS Lenoir County is home to the North Carolina Global TransPark, a 2,500-acre industrial/airport site. It includes one of the longest runways on the Eastern Seaboard and is used by Spirit AeroSystems. Manufacturers, small businesses, tourism and agriculture create a broad economy. Read on to learn more reasons why Kinston and Lenoir County are among Americas Best Places to Live.
Ne eR us .

258 70

11

La Grange

Kinston

LENOIR
258

58

Pink Hill

Kinston

LOCATION
Kinston is 80 miles east of Raleigh. Spirit AeroSystems and the Global TransPark make the area a major player in the aerospace industry, while attractions such as the Neuse River and downhome restaurants promote a family-friendly atmosphere.

POPULATION
Lenoir County

79,313
Kinston

21,625
DISTANCES TO THREE MAJOR CITIES NEARBY
Raleigh, N.C., 80 miles Richmond, Va., 192 miles Columbia, S.C., 246 miles

TIME ZONE
Eastern

ANNUAL RAINFALL

51

National Average: 30

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce

301 N. Queen St. Kinston, NC 28502 Phone: (252) 527-1131 Fax: (252) 527-1914 www.kinstonchamber.com

FAST FACT
The BBQ Festival on the Neuse takes place the first weekend in May each year. www.kinstonbbq.com

K inston - L enoir County

THINGS TO DO
Kinston-Lenoir Countys must-do attractions, activities and dining

Raise a Glass and Take a Sip

Sample beers such as Second Wind, Dark Cloud, Sunny Haze or Endless River at Mother Earth Brewing Co., where tours occur every Tuesday-Saturday. The owners are environmentally conscious and use 100 percent solar energy to power the tap room.

Educational Attractions

Farmers Market

Outdoor Recreation

Historic Home

SEE EXHIBITS
Revisit Civil War history at the First Battle of Kinston Civil War Battlefield Park and the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. The 1862 battle and the Confederate ship CSS Neuse from 1864 played key roles in the War Between the States.

THINK FRESH
Purchase everything from rattlesnake string beans to wildflower honey at the Lenoir County Farmers Market, which opens for business every Tuesday and Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Herritage Street along the Neuse River in downtown Kinston.

TEE IT UP OR GIVE IT A TOSS

Play 18 holes of golf at the private Kinston Country Club or the public Falling Creek Country Club, or try Frisbee disc golf at Barnet Parks 18-hole Kinston Disc Course that spans 1,860 yards.

TOUR HARMONY HALL

Go back in time and visit Kinstons Harmony Hall, built in 1772 and fully restored with authentic 18th-century furnishings. The mansion was once home to Richard Caswell, a Revolutionary War hero and North Carolinas first elected governor.

livability. com / kinston

THINGS TO DO

Catalyst
by CAROL COWAN

Creative
THE ARTS HELP FUEL THE FUTURE OF KINSTONS ECONOMY

The Overland Gallery features local art and includes gallery and studio spaces.

Staff Photo by WENDY JO OBARR

ttracting creative types to Kinston has been on the citys agenda for some time. What began with a few projects has blossomed into an arts district downtown that includes restaurants, music venues, galleries and public art, as well as a housing development for artists and artisans.
Eventually, the entire Old Neighborhood will be a place where artists and artisans can live affordably while creating, showing and selling their wares from their homes. ARTS PROGRAMS AND GALLERIES Meanwhile, the Community Council for the Arts runs a roster of exhibitions, art classes and workshops, educational outreach, grant assistance, gallery space, and permanent exhibits at the Arts Center, located downtown on Queen Street. The CCA is also responsible for the public art projects that comprise the largest public art collection east of Raleigh. A new addition to the arts and cultural district, the Overland Gallery opened recently in a historic building on the corner of Herritage and East Blount streets. The venue offers studio space as well as gallery viewing and sales. A MUSIC TRAIL AND A MUSIC VENUE And while visual art abounds, the city also boasts a musical heritage full of talent. Kinston is the primary hub of the African American Music Trail. And local bands take the stage every weekend at The Red Room, a downtown bar and music venue that opened in 2012. A lot of the talent that we have is local. We sell craft beer from Mother Earth and different breweries all over the country. We try to sell as many craft spirits from North Carolina distillers as we can. We make our own soft drinks, Hill says. So its like a craft place with music.
livability. com / kinston

The initiative coincides with social scientist Richard Floridas theory that cities focused on arts and culture thrive. Its an idea that likewise drives Kinston entrepreneur Stephen Hill, who is behind Mother Earth Brewing, The Red Room music club, the artist housing development hes calling the Old Neighborhood and other creative ventures around town. A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ARTISTS Hill also travels extensively as an appointee to the North Carolina Arts Council. Ive seen what arts have done for communities in changing their economic future, that they can be a catalyst for growth of a community, Hill says. So over time Ive thought, why cant we do this in our own town? Hill acquired 25 of 70 homes in the downtown neighborhood that adjoins the Arts Center, Mother Earth Brewing and a burgeoning restaurant row. The homes had become dilapidated over the years, and while Hill says not all 70 will be able to be saved, historically accurate restoration and remodeling have been completed on the first 10. All are occupied and theres a waiting list. Theyre full of brewers, musicians, glass blowers, a welder and bakers workers who are affiliated with either the Chef & the Farmer, Ginger 108, The Boiler Room, musicians from The Red Room, or Mother Earth Brewing, Hill says. These few brave pioneers are helping the whole cause.

LIVING

Shop
I

Kinston
by STEPHANIE STEWART-HOWARD

TOURIST OR RESIDENT, THERES PLENTY TO BUY HERE

f shopping is your passion, then Kinston offers plenty. From the Lenox outlet to a sportsmans paradise at Neuse Sports Shop, and everything in between, theres undoubtedly something for everyone.

Weeping Willow Boutique offers stylish clothing and accessories for women.

Staff Photo by MICHAEL CONTI

DOWNTOWN AND HERRITAGE LANDING Herritage Landing is a multiblock district connecting excellent boutiques, galleries and shops with great local dining, museums and more, bordering the growing new arts district, says Jan Parson, director of Visit Kinston. On and around Herritage Street, youll find a bevy of fine mid- to high-end boutiques, including Weeping Willow, with a grown-up, professional vibe, and the youthful, trendier spots like Pink Daisy and Turquoise Boutique. Find original jewelry and clothing at Designs by Shelia. Adrianas brims with jewelry, baby items, gourmet foods, home dcor and elegant gift baskets. The Overland Gallery on West Blount Street showcases exquisite artisan works, from paintings to glass and ceramics. Herritage Street is also home to the Lenoir County Farmers Market, where local farmers provide plenty of outstanding farm-to-fork fare and fine crafts. Especially worthwhile is H. Stadiem on North Queen Street, a century-old classic mens shop offering alteration services on exquisite menswear, along with fine womens and childrens clothing and shoes. Also downtown, Barbaros Kitchen Tools celebrates all things gourmet, including marvelous kitchenware and cookware. Youll also want to visit Living Well Down East on West Gordon Street, an organic market and natural food shop. Local favorite Parrotts Store is an old-fashioned feed, hardware and seed emporium, known for its customer service and gardening advice. HOUSEHOLD NECESSITIES At Herritage Street and Plaza Boulevard, Kinston Plaza Shopping Center is a ready source of necessities: groceries, popular chains like Hibachi Grille and fast food faves, plus a furniture store, and other answers to household needs.

Get Ready to Make a Gourmet Feast

Kinstons Barbaros Kitchen Tools draws culinary enthusiasts with cookware, bakeware, cutlery, electric appliances and more.

The local Vernon Park Mall is anchored by Belk, along with standard mall fare like Goodys, and local gems including Sondas Gift Gallery and Christmas @ Sondas. Sondas really does Christmas right, Parson says. When in need of basic staples, make your destination Kinston Pointe, where youll find Wal-Mart, Aldi, Sally Beauty, RadioShack and all the mainstays of daily living. GRACIOUS LIVING AND OUTDOOR LIFE The Lenox outlet on Dobbs Farm Road is an enormous draw for tourists and locals alike. Its a true outlet; the fine china is manufactured here, and youll find discounts as high as 50 percent in the store. Folks make the drive to Kinston just to purchase Lenox, Parson says. Set on Highway 70 East, the distinctive Spice Bouquet Factory Store produces original spice blends, selling more than 100 different herbs, rubs, extracts and spices, and provides marvelous cooking classes. Its a must stop for gourmands and home cooks. Frenchmans Creeks laid-back, gracious retail collection includes the ultimate sportsmans locale, Neuse Sports Shop, providing

anyone looking for the latest in hunting and fishing needs, kayaks, camping equipment, beach accessories and every other critical element for outdoor life, plus the Blue Bird Caf, a popular breakfast and lunch spot. Nearby, find La Petite Boutique, specializing in gifts and childrens clothing. After shopping, stop in for a meal at Kings World Famous BBQ, a Kinston tradition. Across the highway, Berts Surf Shop provides the latest beachwear and surfing supplies, as well as fashionable clothing and footwear for men, women and kids. Whether you call Kinston home or a destination, theres always an opportunity to buy, whether you need an exceptional gift or just the basics.

DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends.
livability. com / kinston

THINGS TO DO: ARTS & CULTURE

Local Nonprofit Makes Arts Accessible

The Community Council for the Arts provides Lenoir County residents with opportunities to enjoy and create art. The councils home, the Arts Center, is in downtown Kinston and features a collection of galleries exhibiting local artists. The council provides workshops for children and adults, and also organizes annual shows and events.

Talent Show

LENOIR COUNTY FEATURES MANY CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS Lenoir County offers a front row pass to several interesting cultural attractions, including museums, plays, galleries and historic sites.
Civil War Sites Lenoir Community College

DISCOVER LOCAL HISTORY

Harriets Chapel was a former church that served as a Civil War field hospital following the 1862 First Battle of Kinston. The church was destroyed, but today the New Beaverdam Primitive Church, similar in design to the chapel, is on the same site on U.S. 258 South and open to visitors. A historical marker on the grounds describes a Starrs Battery bloody encounter there during the First Battle of Kinston. Also in Kinston is the Gov. Caswell Memorial that commemorates the life of Richard Caswell, who was the first governor of the independent state of North Carolina. In addition, there is a First Battle of Kinston Civil War Battlefield Park as well as a CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center, which pays tribute to the gunboat CSS Neuse that the Confederate navy sailed in battle.

PURSUE AN EDUCATION IN THE ARTS

The fine arts are well represented at Lenoir Community College, with LCC offering associate degrees in drama, music and music education. Also on the LCC campus is Heritage Place, which provides genealogy information from the late 1700s to 1930 focusing on Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. Caswell No. 1 Fire Station Museum

SEE THE ARTIFACTS AND EXHIBITS

This actual fire station was constructed in 1895 and its main attraction is a 1922 LaFrance Pumper truck, plus there is a collection of old-time helmets, nozzles, ladders and fire extinguishers. Admission to Caswell No. 1 is free, and the museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

K inston - L enoir County

THINGS TO DO: LOCAL FLAVOR

Restaurant Roundup

LOCAL EATERIES TANTALIZE WITH A RANGE OF MENU SELECTIONS Kinston-Lenoir County restaurants serve up a tasty mix of regional and international cuisines as well as farm-to-fork fare.

Try New Flavor Combinations

For Asian fusion food thats authentic, but not traditional, Ginger 108s chef Tripp Sauls incorporates local and global ingredients to achieve innovative flavors. Customers rave about the seared Ahi tuna in ponzu sauce; the grilled flat-iron stake with Thai chimuchurri sauce; and Hollys salmon topped with lump crabmeat. Situated in downtown Kinston, Ginger 108 is open Tuesday-Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Boiler Room Oyster Bar

PAIR YOUR MEAL WITH BEER FROM LOCAL BREWERIES

The Boiler Room Oyster Bar is a fun, inexpensive ... updated version of the Eastern North Carolina oyster bar, say owners Ben Knight and Vivian Howard, who also own the renowned, upscale eatery Chef & the Farmer. Their new venture, set in an old industrial building, features raw or steamed oysters with a selection of dipping sauces and house-made saltine crackers, as well as mouthwatering burger options. Patrons recommend the butter bean and smoked gouda veggie burger. Local beef is ground fresh daily, and local beers from Mother Earth Brewing and Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery are also on the menu. Lou-Lous Oyster Bar/Kings BBQ SweetFrog Frozen Yogurt

This was a great dinner suggestion. The food was excellent and the staff was great. An unexpected find off the beaten path.
BRAIN SCOTT, GREENSBORO, NC VIA YELP ON GINGER 108

Sagebrush Steakhouse

ENJOY CUE, OYSTERS, BEER

Lou-Lous Oyster Bar, located inside Kings BBQ, serves up oysters and a large selection of craft beer. Kings Carolina-style barbecue has been a Kinston institution for more than 25 years, but Lou-Lous just opened in 2012. Get all-you-caneat oysters every Tuesday night.

LOAD UP ON TOPPINGS
A sweet new addition to Kinstons restaurant scene, SweetFrog offers premium, selfserve frozen yogurt in 14 flavors (several with no sugar added) and seven twist combos; choose from 60 different toppings for a totally unique dessert.

HAVE IT COOKED YOUR WAY

Regional chain Sagebrush Steakhouse opened its Kinston location in September 2013. The casual family steakhouse serves hand-cut Angus steaks and burgers as well as ribs, chicken, seafood and salads. Kids eat free on Wednesdays.
livability. com / kinston

THINGS TO DO: SPORTS & RECREATION

Its Fun Here

RESIDENTS ENJOY COMMUNITY CENTERS, FITNESS FACILITIES, PARKS AND MORE Go have fun and play in Kinston, where indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities such as sports, swimming pools, training centers and the Neuse River are available.
Parks and Recreation Grainger Stadium

JOIN A LOCAL TEAM AND PLAY BALL

Eleven parks are managed by the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks & Recreation Department, and the various venues provide adults and children with organized sports programs such as baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, basketball, football and soccer. Outdoor pools are available at Emma Webb Park and Holloway Recreation Center, and a Senior Olympics program is active in the spring and fall. Neuseway Nature Park Tulls Mill Pond

WATCH A BASEBALL GAME

Kinstons historic 4,100-seat Grainger Stadium welcomes a Freedom Classic three-game baseball tournament each summer where members of the U.S. Naval Academy and Air Force Academy come together to play ball. The stadium, which opened in 1949, also hosts occasional games each spring for area prep schools such as Kinston High and Arendell Parrott Academy. Wellness and Education Center

SEE THE NEUSE RIVER AREA

The Neuse River remains the most utilized waterway in Lenoir County, and a great way to access it is at Neuseway Nature Park. The 55-acre sanctuary features stocked catfish ponds for fishing as well as canoe and kayak rentals, hiking trails and an 18-foot wall for rock climbing.

CAST A LINE, REEL ONE IN

The 200-acre Tulls Mill Pond is open to the public from March 1-Nov. 30 for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Hours are 7 a.m.dusk, with kayak and canoe rentals available. Fees for fishing on the privately owned pond are $5 for boat fishing and $3 for bank fishing.

GET YOUR HEART RATE UP

Pink Hill Wellness and Education Center features a pair of exercise rooms with strength equipment, treadmills, elliptical machines and recumbent bicycles, along with fitness rooms for Zumba, kickboxing, aerobics and yoga classes. Also on site is a nursery and rooms to host various Lenoir Community College classes.

Just Keep Swimming

The 53,000-square-foot Woodmen Community Center opened in 2012 with a 25-yard competition lap pool, wellness pool, double gym, cardio and strength training center, and a walk/jog track. In 2013, the center added Lions Water Adventure water park with a lazy river and three water slides.

Find more ways to get active in Kinston-Lenoir County at livability.com/ kinston/nc/activities.

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K inston - L enoir County

COMMUNITY PROFILE
ETHNICITY
White 36%
25%

COST OF LIVING

$25,925
Median Household Income

Hispanic Other

Black

$86,040
Median Home Price

3% 29%

39%

$605
Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

AGE
19 and Under 20-54 55 and Over 65% 3%

TRANSPORTATION
Median Travel Time to Work

TEMPERATURE
January Average Low July Average High

14 minutes
91 76

35 31

Raleigh-Durham International - 95 Miles Pitt-Greenville Airport - 30 miles New Bern Airport 37 miles

January Low National Low

July High

National High

Airports

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

Oering 24-Hour Customer Service

Allstate Insurance Company

Chris Humphrey, LUTCF
ERA Humphrey Realty Group Agency Principal

252-361-5300 cell
900 W. Vernon Ave. Kinston, NC 28501 252-527-3666 tel 252-527-3233 fax humphrey@allstate.com email

(252) 526-0400
101 N. Herritage St. Kinston, NC 28501 Email: info@ERAHumphrey.com View our listings online at www.ERAHumphrey.com.

LIVING: EDUCATION

Getting Schooled

LENOIR COUNTY HAS STRONG ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Kinston students are well-educated, and its easy to see why. Public, private and charter schools are thriving, and new programs are on the way. In addition, Lenoir Community College is in Kinston, which is located near two four-year schools.

Exposing students as early as possible to career opportunities in the region is a primary goal of STEM East , an offshoot of the NC Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Learning Network. The group partners with several corporations who gain the ability to communicate with educators, influence curriculum and introduce needed skills sets to the area.

STEM Education

Lenoir Community College provides a friendly environment conducive to learning. The college offers opportunities for me to change my world and pursue a degree in public relations and marketing.
DUSK STROUD, LCC STUDENT VIA EMAIL

Public Schools

Charter School

LENOIR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Lenoir County Public Schools prestigious offerings include the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Kinston High School, a nationally recognized pre-engineering program at South Lenoir High School, and cyber campuses that provide distance learning and video conferencing at three high schools. Each middle and high school offers the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, which targets students with average grades and helps them prepare for college. The district is home to five high schools, including Sampson Alternative and Lenoir County Early College. The Early College, located at Lenoir Community College, allows students to gain a high school diploma plus an associate degree or two years of transferable college credit in five years. The district also has eight elementary schools, three middle schools and a K-8 school.

CHILDRENS VILLAGE
Founded in 1997, Childrens Village Academy was the first public charter school in Lenoir County. Childrens Village Academy has small class sizes and uses a variety of strategies and styles to reach all students. Read more about education in KinstonLenoir County at livability.com/ kinston/nc/schools.

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K inston - L enoir County

Private and Specialty Schools Serve Students

Arendell Parrott Academy is a K-12 college preparatory school, while Bethel Christian Academy is a ministry of Bethel Free Will Baptist Church. Nova Five Points Day School works with children 17 years old and younger who have a mental illness, emotional disturbance or substance-related disorder.

LIVING: HEALTH

Doctors Orders

REGION HAS ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTH FACILITIES, PROGRAMS Residents of Lenoir County have good medical options, ranging from specialized surgeries and clinics to a Lenoir Family Access Portal website for health agencies to share resources and information that can also be viewed by the public.

FAST FACT
Lenoir Memorial Hospital includes the Minges Wellness Center, which has exercise equipment and offers group fitness.

Lenoir Memorial Hospital handles more than 41,500 emergency room visits annually.

Health-Care Website

LENOIR FAMILY ACCESS PORTAL

The Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce administers a website called the Lenoir Family Access Portal , designed to be a resource for health agencies to post medical information and ideas for the general public. Besides the chamber, other partners in the portal initiative include Care Coordination for Children Program, Common Ground Community Garden, Gate Community Development Center, Kinston Community Health Center, Lenoir County Health Department, Lenoir Memorial Hospital and the Neuse Regional Library. The portals website is www.lenoirfap.org. The website provides the community with information on topics ranging from insurance plans to food nutrition, and its very focused toward families with children especially those at risk for obesity, says Laura Lee Sylvester, chamber president. Were hoping for good parental involvement with the website. The more the community is aware and gets involved, the greater the outcome will be toward healthier families.

Hospital

LENOIR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

This nonprofit hospital with 261 beds and more than 100 physicians serves the residents of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. Specialized services include cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology, urology, thoracic surgery and vascular surgery, and in 1986 the Lenoir Memorial Foundation was established to provide a way for people to contribute special gifts in honor or memory of friends and loved ones. The Lenoir Memorial Sleep Center features a four-bed lab that offers an assortment of tests for sleep disorders. The Lenoir Memorial Cancer Center provides radiation treatment and support services, and its cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to last an average of 36 sessions, with patients meeting every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

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K inston - L enoir County

Affordable Care

KINSTON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

The center on North Queen Street was established in 1995 to provide services in pediatrics and teen health, womens health, family medicine, dental, and behavioral health for Lenoir Countys underserved populations. Services at Kinston Community Health Center also include transportation to and from appointments, at-home health assessments, health education classes and on-site translators. The centers dental clinic serves kids and adults at affordable rates. Discover more about health care in KinstonLenoir County at livability. com/kinston/nc/health. Kinston Community Health Center offers services on a sliding-fee scale and accepts most insurance plans.

Family Dentistry
Comprehensive Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
New Patients Welcomed

MITCHELL

VISIT OUR ADVERTISERS

3HC Home Health and Hospice Care Inc. www.3hc.org CIC Insurance www.cicfinancial.com Community Council for the Arts www.kinstonca.com ERA Humphrey Realty Group www.erahumphrey.com Holiday Inn Express www.hiexpress.com/kinstonnc Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority www.visitkinston.com Lenoir Community College www.lenoircc.edu Lenoir County Public Schools www.lenoir.k12.nc.us Lenoir Memorial Hospital www.lenoirmemorial.org

Root Canal Therapy Sedation Dentistry Childrens Dentistry Including Orthodontics Oral Surgery Including Implants and Restorative Most Insurance Accepted

LIB Graphic Solutions www.lionsindustries.org Mills International Inc. www.millsinternationalinc.com Mitchell Family Dentistry www.mitchelldentalpractice.com NES Rentals www.nesrentals.com Perry Management www.perrysinc.com Pride of Kinston www.downtownkinston.com Spring Arbor of Kinston www.springarborliving.com

(252) 522-4313
www.mitchelldentalpractice.com
2500 N. Herritage St. Kinston (Professional Center)

livability. com / kinston

15

BUSINESS: OVERVIEW

Aiming High

LENOIR COUNTY HAS GOOD BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE The local economy is growing, thanks to a mix of manufacturers and a strong foundation of small businesses, tourism and agriculture, as well as a good transportation system.

Take Flight to Major Markets

Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville is the closest commercial airport, with service to more than 45 domestic and international destinations. For air freight and private planes, the region is served by Kinston Regional Jetport, whose single runway is one of the longest in the southeastern U.S. at 11,500 feet. Kinston Regional also houses Foreign Trade Zone No. 214. Industrial Park

Agriculture

GROWING THE LOCAL ECONOMY

Lenoir County ranks ninth in the state in tobacco and cotton production, and is among the top 20 counties for corn, soybeans and wheat production. Successful local farms include Harvey Gin & Cotton Co., Sycamore Farms and Tull Hill Farms, which grows tobacco, cotton, soybeans, lettuce, cabbage and yams. Transportation

TOP SPOT FOR TOP COMPANIES

North Carolina Global TransPark is a 2,500-acre industrial park located on the grounds of Kinston Regional Jetport, and current tenants include Crate Tech, DB Schenker, Henley Aviation, Lenoir Community College, Longistics, MJE Telestructure, Mountain Air Cargo, N.C. Emergency Management, N.C. Forest Service, North Carolinas Eastern Region and Spirit AeroSystems. The parks goal is to bring even more high-tech industry and economic development to eastern North Carolina. Workforce Training

STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE STUDENTS PREPARE TO GO TO WORK

Lenoir Community College has a Workforce Training Center that provides free customized training programs to companies that create 12 or more jobs in a year, and participating employers may be reimbursed up to 50 percent of an individual employees starting wage rate during the training period. LCC can also perform skills assessments of job candidates prior to their hiring through aptitude testing at the colleges JobLink Career Centers at various locations throughout the region.

The main highway in Kinston is U.S. 70, while other highways serving the area include U.S. 258, NC 11 , NC 58 and NC 55. A fourdirectional network of rail lines is operated by Norfolk Southern and CSX , and Lenoir County is close to ports in Wilmington and Morehead for distribution and warehousing companies.

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K inston - L enoir County

Business Spotlight
PIGGLY WIGGLY
A total of five Piggly Wiggly supermarkets thrive in Kinston, with all of them independently owned and operated. The stores sell everything from meat and poultry to organic produce. www.pigglywiggly.com

DESIGNS BY SHELIA
Custom handcrafted jewelry, accessories and clothing by Foxcroft, Elliott Lauren, Luii, Mycra Pac and Ming Wang are available to shoppers at Designs By Shelia in downtown Kinston. (252) 520-7867

MALONE REALTY
For 25 years, the staff at Malone Realty has helped customers with the purchases and sales of single-family homes, condominiums, townhouses, land and commercial real estate. www.malonerealtors.com

CHEF & THE FARMER

Chef Vivian Howard and her husband, Benjamin Knight, opened their Chef & the Farmer restaurant in 2006 and serve seasonal, delicious food that is mostly produced by local farmers. www.chefandthefarmer.com

LIONS INDUSTRY FOR THE BLIND

Providing basic, viable manufacturing jobs to blind and visually impaired citizens is the mission of Lions Industry for the Blind, which also offers employment opportunities to people with other disabilities. www.lionsindustries.org Stay plugged into the local business community at livability. com/kinston/nc/ business .

BUSINESS
Electrolux Home Products is Lenoir Countys largest manufacturing employer.

Moving
Direction
by JOHN MCBRYDE

MANUFACTURING MAKES A COMEBACK IN LENOIR COUNTY

in the

Right

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K inston - L enoir County

hrough a diversity of industries and a strong workforce, manufacturing in Lenoir County has experienced tremendous growth in recent years.

Weve had good fortune over the last seven or eight years, says Mark Pope, executive director of the Lenoir Economic Development Department. Weve had about 29 new or expanded industries announced, totaled more than 4,100 jobs, and had more than a billion dollars in capital investments. Weve turned a corner and been very blessed by the good Lord, and were moving in the right direction. Historically a region for agriculture and textiles, Lenoir County has seen a variety of new companies moving here and existing ones expanding. The area now has around 5,300 employees in the manufacturing sector, Pope says, after having lost some 8,000 jobs in the late 1980s and early 90s. We learned a lot from that, he says. Now, instead of just being agriculture and textiles, weve got several different industries. What we did learn was to become more diversified. One of the countys strengths is its education system. The 2+2 Engineering program at Lenoir Community College is an example. It is a partnership between the school and state-supported universities such as North Carolina State and East Carolina. Following completion at LCC, students may apply for admission as juniors in engineering at one of the participating universities. HERE ARE SOME OF LENOIR COUNTYS MANUFACTURING SUCCESS STORIES: Electrolux Home Products With nearly 800 employees, Electrolux is the largest manufacturing employer in Lenoir County. The plant came to Kinston in 1989 and produces a variety of kitchen appliances. Associated Materials As it experiences an expansion that will create 252 new jobs and investment of more than $5 million over the next five years, Associated Materials is even more pronounced as a major manufacturer in Lenoir County. The parent of several North American manufacturing and distribution operations, AM serves both the remodeling and new constructions market in the U.S. and Canada. West Pharmaceutical Services The Pennsylvania company is commemorating 40 years in Kinston in 1914. The facility, located on 24 acres of land with more than 181,000 square feet, is currently in the process of a $29 million expansion that will bring in additional jobs. The Kinston site produces high-volume devices and pharmaceutical components. MasterBrand Cabinets This company is perhaps best known for the line of Martha Stewart Living

Kinstons Electrolux Home Products facility creates kitchen appliances.

cabinets it is producing. Founded in 1999, the addition of the premium cabinets to its production added around 350 employees. It now has 475 workers. Spirit AeroSystems The regions highly skilled workforce was part of what led Spirit AeroSystems to locate at the North Carolina Global TransPark near Kinston in 2010. The company, the worlds largest independent supplier of commercial airplane assemblies and components, continues to expand and plans to hire another 800 employees within the coming years. DuPont This company may not have the impact it did when it first came to Kinston in the early 1950s and had as many as 3,600 employees, but it maintains a strong presence here. The Kinston plant produces Sorona polymer, which is used in carpet, clothing and other products.
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Ad Index
C3 3HC HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE CARE INC. C3 CIC INSURANCE C3 COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS 11 ERA HUMPHREY REALTY GROUP C2 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 20 KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 17 LENOIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE 13 LENOIR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS C4 LENOIR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 20 LIB GRAPHIC SOLUTIONS C3 MILLS INTERNATIONAL INC. 15 MITCHELL FAMILY DENTISTRY C3 NES RENTALS C3 PERRY MANAGEMENT C3 PRIDE OF KINSTON C3 SPRING ARBOR OF KINSTON

BUSINESS: CHAMBER REPORT

Look Alive

CHAMBER ENCOURAGED BY BUSINESS REVITALIZATION EFFORTS

Laura Lee Sylvester, president of the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce, says the region is being revitalized with expansions at existing companies, and there has been an influx of new business openings since 2013. Smithfield Foods expanded its manufacturing operation, while Mother Earth Brewing has increased the amount of product it brews and is adding to its distribution area, Sylvester says. Another expansion success story occurred at Chef & the Farmer, a restaurant that opened in 2006 to serve fresh, seasonal food mostly grown by local farmers. Chef Vivian Howard now also produces a cooking TV show entitled A Chefs Life that appears throughout North Carolina on PBS, and there is talk that PBS will add the show to its nationwide lineup. Chef Vivian and her husband, Ben Knight, have also opened a gourmet burger and oyster bar restaurant called Boiler Room that is bringing even more diners to downtown Kinston, Sylvester says. MORE HOUSING The chamber staff works closely with developers who are building attractive, new housing opportunities in and around Kinston. As a result, new apartment complexes are being constructed as well as executive townhouses, Sylvester says. There is also a new bed-and-breakfast called Herritage Elite Estate, and a new hotel is being planned in Kinston by the Marriott chain. The entire business community is gaining momentum, and I see Kinston-Lenoir County continuing to be in a sweet spot for growth during all of 2014. by Kevin Litwin

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K inston - L enoir County

Mills International Inc.

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