In a surprise move Industrial Development Authority (IDA) chairman
Larry L. McPeters announced on Friday that he will step down as
chairman and member of the Countyís IDA on June 15, 2007. In a two page
letter to members of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors McPeters
noted that he and his wife, Brenda, have delayed their personal plans
for travel for the past several years in order for him to be present
for meetings of the IDA.
The chairman pointed to IDA by-laws which include a provision saying
that if a director is absent from three regularly scheduled IDA
meetings in a calendar year, he/she is considered to have resigned from
the Board. McPeters noted that while he would be eligible for
re-appointment to the Authority Board, he wants to take advantage of
several ìunique opportunitiesî that are available to him and Brenda in
the near future.
In the interim period beginning with the June 21 meeting, Vice Chair
Garland Ricketts will be the presiding officer. New officers will be
elected at that meeting for the coming year and in the meantime County
Supervisors will need to appoint someone to replace McPeters.
McPeters was first appointed to the IDA board in 2003 to fill an
unexpired term and then he was reappointed to a full four year term in
January of 2004. During the past three years he said the IDA has worked
to recruit seven new business enterprises to the county and has
assisted three existing firms with major expansions, all of which will
ultimately result in the creation of 400 new jobs and the preservation
of some 400 existing jobs.
Notable among these projects were the expansions of J.M. Huber, Gloster
Furniture and ABB, Inc. and the development of new facilities by
Lindstrand USA, Pacific Headwear, the Woodcraft Company, Sun Container,
the VIPER and JOUSTER projects at VIR, and most recently, Founders
College, Inc.
Halifax County, he says, is currently on the short list with two firms
who are interested in the Motorplex property, two firms who are
considering the former Flex Tec Manufacturing facility that was
recently purchased and renovated by the IDA and several firms who have
looked at space in the Riverstone Technology Building. Also the IDA is
poised to begin demolition of the former Georgia Pacific facility this
summer, which will pave the way for some very exciting activity on that
site in conjunction with the Barnes-Fairgrounds--Wilkins tracts that
Halifax County plans to buy in the very near future.
Concluding his resignation announcement to County Supervisors, 
McPeters said, ìI leave with a recognized professional economic
development office, Executive Director and staff along with an IDA
Board that is highly capable of piloting the economic development ship
on a steady and successful course. I have enjoyed the opportunities,
challenges and accomplishments while serving as a member and Chair of
the IDA Board and sincerely appreciate the opportunity you afforded me
to serve the Halifax County community in this capacity.î