"Behind the Scenes" is an up-close and personal interview with a local business leader.

The Behind the Scenes spotlight this month is on the Transylvania Partnership, a non-profit organization that actively supports economic growth in the County. Created in 1994, the private/public partnership has 30 members comprised of community leaders representing a variety of local business, industry and professional organizations. The members support the group's operations by paying an initial fee of $200 and annual dues of $100.

The current Chairman of the Board is Bob Bednarek, CEO & President of Transylvania Community Hospital, and the Vice Chairman is Mike Hawkins, President of Pisgah Enterprises. The immediate past Chairman is Billy Higgins, Market Executive for First Citizens Bank.

"The Partnership acts as a facilitator of resources that support economic development,"   according to Bednarek. "As a non-profit organization, we can qualify for grants and accept       private contributions to help fund projects, and we work effectively with both private and public entities to complete those projects."

One of the Partnership's early projects involved the Brevard Commerce Center, an 11-acre         tract located off Railroad Avenue in Brevard that has been designated as a certified industrial site.     After acquiring the property, the group coordinated the installation of roadways and     utilities, working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the City of Brevard,        Duke Energy and PSNC Energy. Currently, construction is underway on four commercial and      light manufacturing buildings.


According to Mark Burrows, Executive Director of the Partnership and the County's Planning        and Economic Development Director, the Partnership is concentrating on looking for new commercial sites focusing on the industrial sectors that have been targeted by the County's economic development strategic plan. These targets are companies engaged in manufacturing nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products, outdoor sports and recreational equipment and medical devices.

"We currently are working with a local property owner who has expressed interest in developing   six or seven parcels that could be used for light manufacturing," Burrows says. "The Partnership also has a strong interest in stimulating the development of affordable workforce housing as     well as sponsoring special events that create awareness of what it takes to make economic development happen."

The Partnership is actively seeking additional members. For more information, contact Mark Burrows (884-3205) or Bob Bednarek (884-5166).