Endorsements
Dr. Rose Johnson, President, Haywood Community College:
"The Economic Development Commission (EDC) puts education at the heart of economic development. Working hand-in-hand, the EDC and the College foster entrepreneurship, meet the education and training needs of prospective, incumbent, and dislocated workers, and recruit and retain employers. "
Dr. Bardo (Chancellor, Western Carolina University):
“ We’re highly involved in professional education and in developing the kind of quality of life that we believe can hold business in the region and track business and cause this area to be a really good location for people who are seeking good employees, good support from higher education and an excellent quality of life.”
“ We really know that Western North Carolina, Haywood County in particular, has a long history in manufacturing and there is what, as an old sociologist, I would call a manufacturing culture in this region. So we see that part of our role as a university is to try to help that population transit from traditional manufacturing jobs to very high tech manufacturing jobs. Currently we have operating a wide array of CNC-based machines: everything from laser milling machines to multi-axis traditional milling and full robot-based manufacturing capacities. In addition, our rapid prototyping center offers the capacity to do both touch and non-touch prototyping, reverse engineering. We can prototype using a whole array of deposition modeling capacities and polymers. And if, in fact, a company needs assistance in prototyping their original part, we can prototype all the way from nylon through steel and, in fact, have a foundry for parts of moderate size. We can actually cast the part and mill it to the accuracy of about 10/1000 of an inch. We’ve been able to bring some products back from overseas that are now being produced in this region because of the capacity of our engineers to help the businesses create a low cost, high volume production.”
David Rice (CEO, Haywood Regional Medical Center):
Fitness Center
“ One of the issues that industry is addressing, throughout the country, and industry locally here, are the health needs and the health conditions of their employees. And that creates a major expense for them, not only in time lost at work, but also in health insurance. When you have an unhealthy workforce, then you do have a real risk of increased health care costs for the industry.” We encourage membership here; we will even encourage discounted memberships with industries to be able to address those health needs and get their costs down.”
Rich Lozyniak (Blue Ridge Paper Products):
“ Besides the fact that this is one of the most beautiful parts of the country, (it’s a wonderful environment to live in) we’ve got the greatest people. I think the people are the greatest resource for our company. They are very well trained, they have a fantastic work ethic and they are very loyal; and that’s why we’ve had three and four generations working here at the mill. That ability is what drives our company’s success.
Buffy Phillips Messer, Executive Director, Downtown Waynesville Association:
“ The Main Street Program is based on a long-term, comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization based on the principle of self-help with assistance provided by the NC State Main Street office therefore creating and reinforcing an organization of quality promotions and marketing, visual image and a careful analysis of economic mix. The Downtown Waynesville Association is celebrating 22 prosperous years due to the continued support of the property owners, Town of Waynesville, merchants and the supportive community.”
Larry Ammons, Chairman, Haywood County Board of Commissioners:
"Employment opportunity for our citizens--now and in the future--is vital to the well-being of the people of Haywood County. Our County Commissioners have repeatedly allocated resources to economic development to grow and expand these opportunities. The Commissioners will continue this tradition of support to build a strong economy in Haywood County through growth of jobs for our citizens."