It took us 2 ½ years, but we finally landed Fibrowatt
On June 5, 2008, Fibrowatt officials announced that Surry County would be the location for its western North Carolina site. Investment in the poultry litter fueled power plant is anticipated to be $190 million making it the largest investment by a private company in the history of Surry County! The Fibrowatt plant in Surry County is scheduled to open in 2009 and will employ 35-45 at the actual facility and indirect job creation of 50-100 jobs in the trucking industry.
How did this come about?
Fortunately, the lead was generated by our private sector member, Hank Spires of Facilities Corporation of America. SCEDP President Robin Rhyne subsequently contacted company officials to discover project specifications in order to locate an appropriate site. Partners involved in obtaining options on the location site included our Elkin members, Gambill Aldridge of Basin Creek Realty and Johnsie Hudspeth of Century 21 Hudspeth Properties.
The next step involved the partnership of Duke Energy managers, John Geib and Ronnie White, who endorsed the suitability of the site location to the project specifications. Raul Peralta with ECS Carolinas Ltd. prepared the engineering specifications to qualify the site once the location was confirmed. Design/layout of the proposed structure on the site was completed by members Doug Stimmel and Mark Geda of Stimmel Associates, P.A.
Completion of the Request for Information involved gathering data and maps supplied by the following agencies: Bryan Cave, NC Cooperative Extension Service, Will Moore and Una Freeman, Surry County Mapping Department, Mayor Lestine Hutchens and the Elkin Town Board, Elkin Town Manager Lloyd Payne and Assistant Town Manager John Holcomb, Surry County Assistant County Manager Chris Knopf and Water and Sewer Coordinator Jack Gardin.
President Robin Rhyne and member partners worked tirelessly for over two years to bring the project to fruition. Due diligence was completed by extensive research including a visit to Fibrowatt’s existing facilities in Eye and Thetford, England followed by the 2007 grand opening of the first US built plant in Benson, Minnesota attended by Robin Rhyne and Surry County officials.
It is obvious that the success of community projects requires the cooperation and teamwork of all members, allied agencies, and government officials. Surry County has that great team!
