Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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That’s if the city council passes an Urban Progress Zone designation for the three areas at next Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting. The purpose of the Urban Progress Zone is to provide economic incentives to stimulate new investment and job creation in economically distressed urban areas.
Three areas within the Thomasville city limits meet the criteria for this designation. Those areas were required for 20 percent of the population to be below the poverty level, according to the most recent federal census.
City Manager Kelly Craver said at the city council’s briefing Monday that development in the Urban Progress Zone could apply for state and federal assistance.
“We are not aware of any downside with [these designations],” Craver told the council. “This is a new designation name, but we have had development districts before.”
The city manager said in the past, the development districts didn’t generate any additional interest in economic development.
Approximately 2.25 square miles, which has a population of 1,301 residents, fall into the more than 20 percent poverty category needed for the Urban Progress Zone.
In other business:
• Council will have consideration of a water and sewer rate study update. In 2006 Utility Advisors’ Network Inc. provided a financial consulting services to the City of Thomasville. The firm performed a comprehensive water and wastewater rate study, which was completed in May 2006.
• A proclamation will be made for January to be declared “Mentoring Month” to encourage more people to volunteer as mentors. The proclamation says that 500,000 children in North Carolina and 15 million children in the United States are seeking a mentor.
• Craver informed the council at the briefing that Lake Thom-A-Lex is one and a half inches above full pond.
• Council will finalize the appointment of Carol Brooks to the Historic Preservation Commission. She will replace current Councilman David Yemm. Her expiration date will be March 1, 2010.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.