Sam Kennington For County Commis

JOBS

Increase through vigorous
economic development and workforce training

As your county commissioner, I will create an environment for prosperity through economic development and achieving growth for businesses. Economic development is about improving the standard of living of Person County workers and enhancing the quality of life of its people. By developing our economy, we will gain prosperity!

Person County can no longer have:

8.6% unemployment. Person County citizens deserve better!
10,000 or more workers leaving the county everyday to find good paying jobs. Look what they have to pay in gas costs today, time they must drive and time they miss from their families.

These two statistics are totally unacceptable to me!

Through leadership, commitment and guidance from an actively involved County Commissioner board, Person County can begin the long process of working to eliminate the two major problems facing Person County residents mentioned above. We cannot accomplish this goal by throwing money at prospective business and industry and begging them to locate in Person County. We must make Person County so attractive that they want to locate here.

They need to see:

a strong educational system from pre-K to Piedmont Community College

a well educated and trained workforce
low property tax and a strong, responsible local government that controls spending
a lively, attractive Historic Uptown Business/ Government District

a clean and environmentally friendly county
a safe and crime free environment

all county boards working together to solve problems
that Person County has a vigorous Strategic Plan that guides our county priorities and one that our citizens have input
that we support our local business and industry already operating in our county

I will work to put our money and our priorities on the above issues. I will work to help the small business person already located in Person County. I will help them grow their business through expansion and through future development. These local business persons will remain in Person County and not leave for another worksite or even possibly a foreign county.

While helping our local business persons, we need also to make potential business and industry leaders aware of Person County advantages. We must have a strong and unified presence in Raleigh and even in Washington, DC.

The Business Development Subcommittee reported several years ago that “there is no economic development vision, no economic development strategic program and no effective economic development leadership in Person County.” We need strong leadership that will look after the economic future of this county and that will constantly work for the people by attracting new businesses and industries. We must ALL get actively involved in creating jobs in Person County.

This county has numerous strengths that should attract economic attention from businesses. Our location is within an hour’s drive of Research Triangle Park, Greensboro and Winston-Salem, which are three of the largest areas of economic activity in North Carolina. Person County has five primary highways along with a freight rail service. We have a municipal airport and are just 45 minutes away from RDU International Airport. The county also has an abundant source of energy and telecommunication resources. There is no legitimate reason that Person County should not be flourishing with economic activity.

As your County Commissioner, I will give the county’s economic development the full attention that it so desperately needs. I will work hard to attract new businesses and industries because I realize that Person County’s future depends on its economic growth. President Ronald Reagan said it best, “While I take inspiration from the past, like most Americans, I live for the future.”

If this is your Vision also, LET'S GET IT DONE!

On November 4^th, I need your vote to be your next County Commissioner.