Mac Williams, Chamber President
April/May 2019
Recently, I drove out to see a potential industrial property in the western side of the county. This was followed by going to a meeting on the eastern side of the county. On my drive across the county (and allowing for a wandering path) I noticed:
New waterline infrastructure going up NC Hwy 87; New Elon Elementary School; New Schar Center, new hotel, and new residential buildings at Elon University; New offices at LabCorp York Road campus; New offices at Glen Raven campus; Burlington arboretum under construction; New brewpub, expansion of Paramount Theatre, and renovation of May Hoisery building in downtown Burlington; Steve’s Smokehouse in Graham; Renovation of Cone Mills plant in Haw River; Watercourse apartment complex in Graham; Alamance Community College campus knowing what is coming due to passage of bonds;
NC Commerce Park where: a graded pad is in place for a 300,000 sqft spec building, Chandler Concrete is prepping a site for a new plant, and a new 135,000 sqft spec building is nearing completion; The new interstate interchange at NC 119 and all the related road construction; NCIC business park where: Badcock Furniture has recently completed a 300,000 sqft addition and new facilities are under construction for Lotus Bakeries and Airgas; US 70 and new road construction related to aforementioned 119 Bypass is crossing over; City of Mebane’s new Community Park; Into a busy downtown Mebane.
There are, of course, many other examples of positive developments I drove by but, for lack of space, have not mentioned here. I also understand there are places I did and did not drive by that are in dire need of some positive developments. Growing and changing a place takes time, has its ups and downs, and presents a constant stream of both challenges and opportunities. I get all that.
However, on this particular day, just driving by all these places, I thought, as I channeled my inner Mebane Mayor Glendale Stephenson, “It was a good day to be in Alamance County”.
Mac Williams
Chamber President