Greenville, NC – April 20, 2016 – On Wednesday, April 20th, business, community and government leaders will gather in Greenville for North Carolina’s East Alliance’s annual meeting. The State of the Region will take place at the Greenville Convention Center (207 Greenville Blvd SW Greenville, NC 27834) with opening remarks beginning at 9:45 a.m. Registration and networking will begin at 9:00 a.m. Guests should RSVP at https://www.nceast.org/press/events.
On Wednesday, April 20th, business, community and government leaders will gather in Greenville for North Carolina’s East Alliance’s annual meeting. The State of the Region will take place at the Greenville Convention Center (207 Greenville Blvd SW Greenville, NC 27834) with opening remarks beginning at 9:45 a.m. Registration and networking will begin at 9:00 a.m. Guests should RSVP at /press/events.
This theme of this year’s State of the Region will focus on the the fusion of logistics and energy and the anticipated impact of both transportation and energy projects planned for Eastern North Carolina.
The keynote address will be given by Carl Warren, Director Industrial Development-East for CSX Transportation. Mr. Warren will discuss the Carolina Connector (CCX) Project and its potential economic development impact on eastern North Carolina. The proposed $272 million terminal would connect eastern North Carolina ports directly to CSX’s extensive rail network and serve as a major transportation hub in the South. The terminal can be a catalyst for economic growth and would provide competitive advantages for North Carolina and the region.
Carl Warren began his transportation career in 1996 with the BNSF Railway with positions in finance, network development and intermodal. Prior to joining CSX he was a senior official at the Port of Portland in Portland, Oregon. At CSX, Carl has held a number of roles utilizing his experience in infrastructure development, strategic planning and intermodal. In his current role he is responsible for infrastructure development with Ports and industrial development in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and the Canadian Province of Quebec
Attendees will also hear from NC Department of Transportation’s Director of Logistics Strategy, Mr. Charles H. W. Edwards and NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Secretary van der Vaart. Mr. Edwards will provide an overview of many of the infrastructure projects planned for Eastern North Carolina that will improve connectivity and provide interstate/intermodal quality transportation lanes throughout Eastern North Carolina. Secretary van der Vaart will present on the regulatory environment in North Carolina.
Additionally, Craig Poff, Director, Business Development for Iberdrola Renewables will present the economic benefits of, and logistical issues associated with, wind energy in Eastern NC. This is a timely presentation given the current wind farm project in Pasquotank and Perquimans Counties. Iberdrola Renewables is the second-largest provider of clean, renewable wind power in the U.S. with more than 6,000 MW of owned and controlled wind and solar power facilities. The company produces an economic windfall for numerous rural communities and farmers while providing clean, affordable power to its customers.
The event will kick off with a State of the Region presentation by President & CEO of North Carolina’s East Alliance, John Chaffee. “I always look forward to our State of the Region meetings; they provide a platform for us to share information on many of the great things taking place in eastern North Carolina; give us an opportunity to thank all our wonderful partners; and allows us to take time to network with people from around the region and the state,” said Chaffee.
The NCEast Alliance is a regional, public/private, not-for-profit, economic development corporation serving over two dozen counties with approximately 1.3 million residents in several small metropolitan and micropolitan areas in eastern North Carolina. The region extends from the fringe of the Research Triangle to the Atlantic Coast and from Jacksonville/Onslow County to the Virginia state line. The Alliance provides community capacity building, marketing/lead generation, and assists companies with site location and expansion evaluations. For more information on the NCEast Alliance, visit us at www.nceast.org or visit one of our workforce development sites (www.ncworkready.org or www.stemeast.org)