Granville County was represented at the annual “State of the Region” event in Raleigh on May 23. Participating on behalf of Granville County Government were Economic Development Director Harry Mills; Management Analyst Charla Duncan; Tourism Development Director Angela Allen; and Internal Auditor Monique Heggie.
The event, hosted by the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) and held at the Duke Energy Performing Art Center, celebrates statewide accomplishments in economic development over the past year. With a theme of “Grow – Converge – Advance,” the 2019 focus was on the growing Agtech Cluster. According to Adrian Percy, chief technology officer of Finistere Ventures and an independent director for early-stage companies in Ag-Tech, the North Carolina region is poised to become a “true AgTech hub” with its vibrant start-up community, the presence of already-existing agri-business, an excellent talent pool, new infrastructure, elite academic institutions, and other factors.
According to RTRP’s market research, the Triangle’s agribusiness sector is expected to grow 17.2 percent in the next five years. Triangle firms already make up 74 percent of North Carolina’s overall AgTech workforce.
It was also noted that more than 700,000 North Carolinians are currently enrolled in the N.C. Community College System, acquiring skills that will help move our state forward in business, technology and the trades.
More than 1,000 representatives from all over the state attended.
“Our event attendance was record-breaking,” RTRP Director Ryan Combs was reported as saying. “This speaks volumes about our community’s passion and commitment to drive our region forward.”
Pictured below are Granville County representatives Charla Duncan, Harry Mills, Monique Heggie and Angela Allen.
