We're finally ready for an automobile plant

Published November 23, 2017

Editorial by Greensboro News-Record, November 19, 2017.

Toyota and Mazda, we’re ready.

Credible reports say North Carolina is a finalist for a $1.6 billion auto factory that could employ 4,000 workers. It would be a joint venture by the Japanese manufacturers. The most likely North Carolina location is the Greensboro-Randolph megasite.

The other finalist may be Alabama, where Toyota has an engine plant. But North Carolina seems to be in a strong position.

The site, in the northeast corner of Randolph County, has been carefully assembled over many years. It’s the product of vision, meticulous planning and execution, regional cooperation and solid support from the state, the North Carolina Railroad and other entities. The Greensboro-Randolph Megasite Foundation is the primary organizer. Randolph County commissioners and the Greensboro City Council have invested money and political capital.

At nearly 1,900 acres, the site is big enough to accommodate a large auto manufacturer and more development.

The location, just off U.S. 421, isn’t far from Interstate 40/85 and Interstate 73. It will have a rail line, providing excellent ground transportation. Piedmont Triad International Airport, with its FedEx hub, isn’t far.

North Carolina offers many assets, including a manufacturing heritage. There are outstanding engineering programs at N.C. A&T, Duke, N.C. State and UNC Charlotte. Quality of life is excellent. A thriving Japanese company, Honda Aircraft, is a fixture at PTIA. Union membership is low and labor costs are reasonable. The state’s tax and regulatory climate is easy on large corporations.

The reputation North Carolina once enjoyed as a moderate, welcoming state suffered a setback because of House Bill 2, but that was substantially repealed earlier this year. Compared to Alabama, North Carolina is almost progressive. Toyota-Mazda executives certainly could find inviting places to live within many of our diverse communities.

One challenge will be meeting demands for incentives, which could require a package worth more than $1 billion. In 1993, Alabama agreed to $250 million in incentives to land a Mercedes plant that North Carolina officials hoped they could lure to Alamance County. Other Southern states have always outbid North Carolina for auto factories. If the Toyota-Mazda project hinges on the best financial offer, with no other considerations, North Carolina could fall short again. On the other hand, if North Carolina is at least close, it should win on other strengths — including land, location, universities, quality of life and community college training programs.

Pulling this off will require close cooperation between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and the Republican legislature, who rarely have worked well together so far. As governor, Cooper takes the lead role in negotiations, but he must keep legislative leaders at the table. The governor doesn’t have enough resources at his disposal to make such a big deal; the legislature must kick in. Many Republicans, and some Democrats, have philosophical problems with “corporate welfare,” but that’s the game they must play if they want to win these competitions and all the jobs at stake. And the final number would be much more than 4,000 because of all the expected related development.

Greensboro, running water and sewer lines to the site, could expect to see residential and business growth take off all along the way. Randolph County would see immense growth in its future property tax base.

A decision is expected early next year. There are no guarantees. But several states already have been eliminated. North Carolina is in the hunt, and it has everything in place.

Now it’s up to Toyota-Mazda to make the right decision.

http://www.greensboro.com/opinion/n_and_r_editorials/our-opinion-we-re-finally-ready-for-automobile-plant/article_6df08d25-954b-52d7-bb7e-4bf5dde213cf.html

November 24, 2017 at 9:58 am
Norm Kelly says:

Republicans only sorta kinda like playing God with other peoples money. They know they are stealing money from some to buy off some others. But they also know they have to play the game to win any new large business. Republicans tend to see the new business just like any existing business: tax income, jobs, development that impacts positively on the surrounding community(ies).

'Pulling this off will require close cooperation between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and the Republican legislature, who rarely have worked well together so far.' Rarely!? What a major understatement. First because Roy ran his ENTIRE campaign on repealing HB2 while claiming this was an election about more than 1 issue. When he got into office on a lie, he made a deal with the legislature regarding his SOLE issue: HB2. Roy promised certain things in this deal. But, again, he lied. Roy broke the deal he made with the legislature. So, can Roy be trusted now to deal on the up-and-up with the legislature? Based on what exactly would the legislature believe Roy is being honest? Republicans in the legislature are smart enough to know that trust is earned not given. When everything about Roy starts with a LIE, what about him is worthy of trust? He is a die-hard alt-left zealot. He MUST maintain his alt-left position on everything, fight against the legislature on everything, in order to continue to hold his demoncrat party membership card. He CAN NOT be trusted. He can't do this deal on his own, but he will work with legislative groups only as a last resort. Roy will do as much bargaining behind closed doors, with only demon party members present, for as long as possible. Then, regardless of how much it costs the state and local community, Roy will claim victory. And demonize the legislature for dragging it's feet, being obstructionists, or the party of 'no' for as long as he can get away with it. And his allies in the alt-left media, including N&O and WRAL, will carry his water for him.

Roy can NOT be trusted. Any one who trusts a liar is a fool. I pray the legislature knows not to trust Roy. (well, my 'pray' comment ought to send libs into fits. good for them. why does it bother atheists so much that i believe in God? if it's a figment, why do you let figments bother you so much? other than libs can't stand that i believe in something other than gov't, that is.)