CAFR 2017

In 2017, the Construction Professionals Network of North Carolina announced Union Square Campus as the winner of the annual Star Award, given for an outstanding construction project between $10 million and $25 million. Phase I of the downtown university campus project was completed in August, 2016 with the opening of an 85,000 square foot building to house the Bachelor and Doctor of Nursing programs and a simulated surgical lab. The $37 million healthcare-related project was jointly planned by NC A&T State University, University of North Carolina - Greensboro, Guilford Technical Community College and Cone Health. A 7.5 acre site was selected in Greensboro’s South Elm

Redevelopment area, of which 2 acres was donated by the City for this first phase of the project. City leaders also authorized funding up to $500,000 in other infrastructure improvements as well as building parking spaces associated with the building. Phase II of the project will focus on global business among other areas of economic development interest, including an adjoining office and retail space, a conference hotel and nearby apartments. As envisioned, the fully developed project would involve seven educational institutions in Greensboro and would be funded with public, private and state and federal grant contributions. The estimated long-term economic impact of this project is more than $500 million, according to a recent economic analysis study. Since September 2014, NC A&T has ranked number one as the largest historically black college and university in the country, up from the number two spot in 2013. Fall 2017 enrollment numbers place NC A&T at 11,877 students, an increase of 1,300 students in the past five years. Much of the increase in enrollment numbers can be attributed to the institution’s strategic plan, A&T Preeminence 2020, which began in 2011 and sets an enrollment goal of 13,500 students by 2020. In keeping with Council’s strategic focus on spurring economic improvement, the City solicited proposals to develop strategies for economic development in Greensboro that will result in new jobs, investment and business opportunities. This challenge is part of the $1 million grant received by the City from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Economic Development Administration’s Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) program . Greensboro was one of three cities nationwide to receive the grant. The transformative economic development plans for Greensboro were received and checks awarded to six recipients in September 2015. The first place award of $500,000 was presented to a local team of educators and business professionals for proposing the Global Opportunities Center in Greensboro that would connect and educate students and businesses in innovative ways to create global business and career opportunities. With the support of SC2 grant funds, the Global Opportunities Center opened its office in Downtown Greensboro in 2016. Greensboro and North Carolina in general are transforming from the traditional manufacturing base noted in the late 80’s and early 90’s to a strong service sector and high-tech presence with significant business diversification in recent years. The Greensboro-High Point metropolitan area ranked in the top ten once again in 2016 for regions of its size by Site Selection magazine for metro areas enriched by facility project investment from corporations. The ranking is based on the number of projects with capital investments of at least $1 million, and the number of new jobs created or floor-space expansion. Specifically cited by the magazine is the area’s robust workforce that was a factor leading to corporate expansion in the area. In 2016, Kay Chemical, a division of Ecolab , completed construction of a new 37,000 square-foot office building and existing building renovations in Greensboro. The $11 million investment allowed the company to retain 225 administrative positions at risk of being moved to corporate headquarters in St. Paul, MN. Additionally , 45 new administrative jobs are being added over three years through 2018, paying an average of $48,000. Ecolab received incentive support from the City of Greensboro and State of NC to expand. Kay Chemical specializes in customized programs to meet the unique

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