ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Economic Development Corp. last week unveiled its recently completed study aimed at identifying the county’s competitive position and targeting industries during its 25th annual meeting.

“We certainly are not content to stand on the 25 years of progress that have brought us this far,” EDC President Bonnie Renfro told a group of business leaders and local government officials Thursday at the AVS Banquet Centre in Asheboro. “We have a new target industry study that’s based on our competitive advantages.”

Greer, S.C.-based InSite Consulting LLC assisted the EDC with the five-year strategic plan that involved more than 155 stakeholders from across the county and region. The study, which was conducted as a result of the EDC’s 2008 strategic planning retreat, was based on projected industrial and manufacturing growth in the United States.

The study identified primary and secondary target sectors. Primary sector targets were medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, food manufacturing and businesses dealing with distribution and logistics. Secondary sector targets were pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, waste management and remediation services, waste management services and professional, scientific and technical services.

“We need to take all this information and take all of the work that has been done in the last 25 years and tell the story of Randolph County and what we have to bring,” said Laura Wilson, EDC chairwoman.

With suitable buildings hard to find for prospective businesses in the county, the study recommended a new industrial park in the Interstate 85 area near Archdale and Trinity. EDC officials said the existing industrial parks in Randolph County have brought 3,300 jobs.

“We need to look along I-85 to develop a new industrial park in Randolph County,” Wilson said. “We’ve got access to water. We need to take and develop a step-by-step marketing plan.”

According to the study, the county needs to better market the N.C. Zoo. “We are going to leverage the zoo. We have a great asset in this community in the zoo, and we need to use it,” Wilson said.

The study recommended several task forces be set up to carry out the suggestions of InSite Consulting.

“It’s time to roll up our sleeves and make this county even better than it is today,” Wilson said. “We need to bring good jobs, development and tax dollars.”

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