The VisionAire Vantage - Aerospace Industry beginning a future in Catawba County

James Oscar "Jim" Rice Jr. moved back to Catawba County from St. Louis, Missouri in October of last year. He is the principle founder of VisionAire Jets LLC. The objective of this company is to carry on the program for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of the Vantage business jet originally developed by VisionAire. Below is the summation of what this airpane is all about and I personally think this is an exciting prospect for our county.

The VisionAire Vantage is a single engine business jet. It is a lightweight airplane, because it is built from composite materials. This jet is able to cruise at speeds of 400 miles per hour and above the weather at 40,000 feet. The jet also only needs 2,500 feet of runway to land. The plane has a spacious cabin that has the capacity to carry a pilot and 5 passengers in a club seating arrangement.

Mr. Rice thoroughly researched the needs of business owners. The intent was to fill the niche between piston/turbo prop aircraft and jet aircraft. During the 1980s, Cessna quit developing and selling single and twin engined piston aircraft that they had been selling to medium sized companies for years. Mr. Rice realized that companies with $10 million to $500 million in sales would not have aircraft available to service their needs in the future. The research showed that there was a certain type of aircraft that these companies would like to step up to.

Mr. Rice next put together a team that was not bound by conventional thinking nor bound by conventional methods of marketing and manufacturing. This made the design of the Vantage revolutionary. Burt Ruttan, of X-Prize and Voyager fame, the owner of Scaled Composites in Mojave, California worked with VisionAire to design the Proof of Concept Prototype to prove that the revolutionary concept of the Vantage was viable.

In 1995, a mock-up of the jet's cabin was unveiled at the National Business Aircraft Association Convention in Las Vegas. In the Fall of 1996, the first Vantage was rolled out at the Scaled Composite facility airport in Mojave, California. On November 16th of that year, the jet took flight for the first time.

The intention of this jet was to expand the market and make it feasible for mid-sized companies to have access to a jet that previously they could not afford.

A concept called the Partner's Program was developed which would allow multiple owners of a Vantage to have access to jet transportation, while sharing the costs. This program would be developed into "Pods." Five aircraft would be placed into secondary markets and 25 business owners would own these aircraft. Visionaire would supply the pilots, scheduling, and maintenance of these aircraft and make sure that a plane was always available when the customer needed it. At the time, this was estimated to be a very profitable part of the venture.

David Okenfuss, a manager with VisionAire, next went over whether it makes sense to start a whole new industry here in Catawba County. VisionAire would be pioneering an effort to bring the aerospace industry to Catawba County. Mr. Okenfuss pointed out that Aerospace is en vogue in North Carolina and fits into the State's overall economic plans. North Carolina has been seeking industries that are progressive, high growth, and high tech to offset the traditional textile and furniture industries.

Their are collaborative efforts involving State officials, Aerospace consortiums, Universities, and local colleges working to put together the necessary resources to meet objectives. On May 21st of this year, the North Carolina Department of Commerce hosted its 3rd annual Aerospace Executive Forum in New Bern. The Governor shared her vision and instituted an Aerospace initiative. She instructed Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco to convene three working groups of Aerospace professionals to make sure that the State has the education, workforce development programs, and industry recruitment partnerships in place to help the state succeed.

Governor Perdue encouraged the State to have the spirit of the Wright Brothers. As most everyone knows, aviation began here in North Carolina. She reminded everyone that the Wright brothers were big dreamers who had the guts and tenacity to go after their goal -- to fly. She encouraged everyone to go after this goal and participate in this initiative with that same spirit.

There are several community colleges in the State that have Aerospace programs, but there is no such initiative or program in Catawba County. There are several of these community college programs that are specifically designed for Aerospace companies. Several Consortiums, such as the National Aerospace Development Center, are all working together and feel that Space Flight and Aviation are essential to growth, prosperity, and the security of this country.

North Carolina State University initiated the North Carolina Aerospace initiative based upon the need for research, workforce development, and further growing awareness of Aerospace within the State. The North Carolina Aerospace Alliance does the same, but with more of a military alliance.

North Carolina already has a diverse aerospace industry. It is home to approximately 350 companies and employs 11,000 workers. The size and scope of these companies range from huge conglomerates to small start-ups. Unison in Asheville makes high tolerance precision jet engine components and Safran (54,000 employees and $12 billion in revenue worldwide) has a division in Monroe that makes jet engine components. Honda Aero is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Company and is responsible for Honda Aircraft development. They have a joint partnership with General Electric to develop a turbo fan engine in Greensboro.

Through North Carolina State, a lot of research is being done involving advanced composites. Combined with the labor market, such as in Catawba County, with heavy displacement of industrialized workers, this could be a good fit for such a workforce. Spirit Aerosystems is building the composite fuselage for the Airbus A-350 in Kinston - a 500,000 square foot facility, 304 acres. VX Aerospace in Morganton is taking old corroded and fatigued metal structures and retooling and redesigning them utilizing composites.

Of North Carolina's 23,000 Aerospace workers, 80% work in production and 20% are design/engineering jobs. At this time, the total economic benefit to the State is $11.8 billion. The average worker in the industry makes $70,000 per year compared to the average income of workers in Catawba County of $32,500.

Aircraft have longevity, unlike fashionable industries such as furniture where you have to constantly reinvent yourself. It takes a lot to get an aircraft designed, developed, and certified, but once you do aircrafts can be manufactured under the design for a long time. The Beechcraft Bonanza is the longest running program in American Aviation history. The plane was introduced in 1947 and it is still being produced and it is completely the same.

How would VisionAire benefit Catawba County? Once the program comes online and is ramped up, 400 jobs after 4 years are projected with wages ranging from $15 to $35 per hour. That adds up to $16 million in wages annually. This would be derived from $500 million in sales and economic activity annually.

This would be a worldwide operation and would develop other industries related to the Aerospace offerings of VisionAire. Many of the people associated with such ventures can also lift the culture of our area, because there will be demand for the finer things in life. This can reinvigorate the retail and hospitality industries in this area. People from Asia and Europe do not care for the fare offered at the local corporate cookie cutter restaurants and all you can eat buffets. They want wholesome foods served in clean, warm, attractive, and hospitable environments and they want the creature comforts associated with the finer things in life. The Dynamism in the economy means most everyone's income levels will rise along with extra amenities that increase our local quality of life.

One of the key components that VisionAire wants the area's inhabitants to understand is that the company can take any displaced furniture or textile worker and easily train and adapt them to the manufacturing skills needed to assemble this aircraft. An example is that the same skills and processes used in upholstering are utilized to create composite materials.

VisionAire also wants to possibly utilize some of the manufacturing warehouses that are currently vacant. Their manufacturing process does not have to be located on an airport. Only the wing attachment facility will have to be located at a local airport. The company is looking to offer job specific training for its future employees in cooperation with the local community colleges.

Mr. Rice reviewed some issues involving the aircraft. Although this airplane was designed 15 years ago, there is still no airplane that serves this niche in the market. There is nothing else out there that has been designed to do what this aircraft does. He stated that this is bad in one sense, but it is good for VisionAire and those involved in this process going forward. The objective is to be a profit leader in the business jet aviation market by producing a safe, reliable, low cost, high performance business jet aircraft. This is where the focus is.

Mr. Rice learned about airplanes as the Director of Marketing and Services for Superior Continental Corporation (acquired by Siecor in 1980). These jets are business tools utilized to move people around the country.

Mr. Rice went on to talk about the dynamic and growing market involving this category of aircraft and some of the technological innovations that they are looking to incorporate into the Vantage, that have come about over the past 10 years of downtime the aircraft's development has faced. There will be a different engine installed into the aircraft. It is more advanced, lighter weight, has fewer moving parts, and is as reliable as the previous engine. The evolution of GPS will allow more modern avionics to be incorporated into the design. This advancement will enhance safety through radar and controls to allow the jet to know when other aircraft are in the vicinity. There have also been further advances in the lightweight composite materials that are FAA certified. The VisionAire Vantage is the pioneering aircraft that led to these evolutions in development.

The Vantage was ahead of its time. There are other jets that are similar, but they have positioned themselves as personal jets in the marketplace. The Vantage allows you to step into it, not crawl into the seats. The interior is the largest cabin in its class. The aircraft is the only one in the lightweight class with a lavatory. This airplane also allows single pilot operation. A light jet adds affordability and allows access to smaller airports.

The airplane's payload allows a 1,000 mile range. The typical business trip is 600 to 700 miles, which makes the distance capacity ideal. The plane has a 15 to 1 glide ratio, which allows you to cut the engine at 30,000 feet and glide for 77 miles (37 minutes). Most anywhere in the country you can put it down on a runway. The cost of the Vantage is $2.5 million or less. In comparison a Gulfstream Jet costs between $25 million and $50 million.

The Vantage is a great combination of speed, range, comfort, and affordability. It isn't the fastest, the most comfortable, the cheapest, and it doesn't have the longest range; but the mixture of the four makes it the best package.

As far as the technology, the company does not have to invent one thing in order to build the aircraft. Everything is already available. they only have to integrate existing parts into the aircraft system.

Utilizing numbers from Honeywell and Rolls Royce, the company envisions selling 11,000 aircraft (annually 2010-2020 period) worth revenues of over $200 Billion. They envision selling most of the aircraft in America (over 50%), with some in Europe, and a growing market in Asia (China). Over time, Mr. Rice feels that companies will purchase this plane for mid-level management.

The aircraft is flexible with the ability to fit a stretcher inside utilizing its oval door. The airplane would also be perfect for Military, Coast Guard, and Drug Interdiction management, because the airplane has the ability to loiter at low speeds and also fly at high speeds. there are a lot of uses besides business uses.

Company Engineers will not have to be located in this area. They can be located anywhere. The development work on the plane has been completed. Everyone involved in the original project has agreed to come back on board. This looks to be a three year project. The technology is there. $130 million has already been spent on the project. And it is going to take capital to move the process along. There is a high barrier to entry, but this is achievable. This is a risky proposition, but it is doable.

The Hounds Note: This is the airplane that I was talking about. Mr. Rice is truly a gentleman and Steve Fennell has been a friend of mine since I was 13 years old. Mr. Okenfuss was also a pleasant person to meet and he thoroughly gave some important specifics relating to this jet and the Economic Impact this would have on our area. I think that we should do everything that we can to make this happen. How can you read this and not get excited about the prospects.

Contact Information for Mr. Rice at VisionAire Jets:
jim.rice@visionairejets.com
(877) 334-8504
(704) 325-3286
(704) 325-3945 Fax

Jim Rice - A Man ahead of Time - He wanted to diversify Catawba County Industry in 1977

James Oscar "Jim" Rice Jr. recently moved back to Catawba County from St. Louis, Missouri. He is the principle founder of VisionAire Jets LLC. The objective of this company is to carry on the program for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of theVantage business jet originally developed by VisionAire. I will be writing a subsequent article dealing with the prospects and possibilities of this jet being assembled here in Catawba County.

Below is an article that was published in February of 1977 detailing the need to diversify Industry in this area. Mr. Rice played a vital role as part of a Task Force created by the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce that created what we know today as the Economic Development Corporation. Read below and see that if our area had taken action sooner involving the suggestions therein, then maybe we could have alleviated many of the economic pains that we have gone through over the last decade.

(Chamber Views article, February 1977) - Editors Note: The following is an Interview with James O. Rice Jr. regarding plans to establish an Economic Development Commission for Catawba County. Mr. Rice served as Vice-President of Economic Development for the Chamber in 1976 and currently serves as Chairman of the Chamber's task force to establish the commission. He is President of The Resource Group Ltd., a management consulting firm with offices In Conover.

1. Why do you feel there is a need for additional Industry In Catawba County?
Chamber members will remember that in 1975 the Chamber set up a task force to evaluate the commercial and industrial mix in Catawba County. The study by the task force showed that there is a need for a diversification of industry in Catawba County. It was pointed out in the study that of 439 industrial firms in the county. the strongest concentration is in furniture with 36 percent; textile, 9 percent and hosiery, 26 percent. Over 70 percent of our industry concentration is in three industrial fields. This means that if unhealthiness develops in anyone of these particular industries it has a tremendous negative effect on Catawba County. Another matter that came up during the study was that Catawba County loses a lot of good talent each year when our college and high school graduates seek jobs in other types of industry that are not represented here. Also, it was noted that we could use many more white collar jobs and still not affect the labor base negatively in the county. Looking at it from a county-wide standpoint and at the financing of future services which come from the tax base, it is very evident that if Catawba County is able to attract industries that require a lot of capital, then the tax base will be improved which will mean that citizens will continue to get the additional services needed and the cost will be spread among additional entities.

2. What is the Chamber's policy regarding the recruitment of new Industry?
The Chamber has developed a policy to establish an economic development commission in Catawba County which would seek new business and industry on a selective basis in accordance with their impact relative to (1) labor requirements, (2) energy and natural resource demands, (3) environmental considerations, (4) manufacturing facilities requirements, (5) zoning requirements, and (6) housing requirements. This policy also states that the Chamber will continue to support and develop manpower programs consistent with local business and industry needs. The type of industry to be sought will be capital intensive, meaning that they will have a large investment in plant facilities and equipment and will use a limited number of employees in producing the product. The result will be very little noticeable effect on the present industry since the new industry will help to keep many Catawba County citizens from leaving to find the type of employment that they now seek elsewhere. Also, the new industry will probably attract additional people to the County to work that live in surrounding counties.

3. What type of new industry would be recruited?
The specifics have not been pinned down on the exact type of industry, whether it be chemical, electronic, materials handling, etc., however, it is expected that the economic development commission will diligently seek diversification from furniture, textile and hosiery.

4. What effect will this new Industry have on existing Industry?
We learned on a factfinding trip to Wilson and Fayetteville last year that many of the obvious type fears that present industry might have concerning additional new industry coming in are unfounded. A businessman in Wilson who is president of a firm that has been in existence for over 100 years stated that at first he was opposed to new industry coming into the Wilson area. He pointed out, however, that after a decade of seeing what new industry has done for the area his fears were unfounded. He lost almost none of his labor force and found that the positive effects of managers of other industries coming into the area strengthened his industry's management and personnel, as well as the community at large. Certainly the new industry will attract a few of the workers from present industry. No one could deny that; however, with the diversification of industry that will be attracted, it is not expected that any local plant will have a wholesale run on its labor force. In fact, because Catawba County is geared toward progress, it could mean that each industry here now will have an even better selection in the labor market as additional people move to Catawba County.

5. What plans are being made to establish an Industry recruitment program for Catawba County? When will It be established?
Fortunately, members of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners and other leaders of cities and towns in the area also see a need to increase the tax base and diversify industrial jobs available. Because of this interest, the Chamber is joining with the county and municipalities to form a joint task force to develop plans for establishing an Economic Development Commission. It is expected that this work will be done in time for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners and municipalities to make a decision on budgeting money for the program. It is expected that an industrial development commission and office could well be set up by mid-summer and no later than January, 1, 1978.

6. Will this program require a full time professional?
In order to assure the success ot an Economic Development Commission which will be composed of a cross-section of Catawba county citizens, including business, professional, governmental leaders, it will definitely take a full time professional staff person to implement the plans outlined by the commission. This professional must have such a background that he will be able to deal with local industrialists and commercial people as well as presidents and top officers of companies, which we wish to attract here. We would hope that we can acquire someone who already has experience in attracting industry.

7. What type of funding will be required to establish this program?
Though no specifics have been determined concerning a budget for an Economic De- velopment Commission and office to support it, it is expected that an annual budget would run in the $40,000 to $60,000 range.

8. How long after the program Is established should we expect new industry to io- cate?
After looking at other programs started in other areas. We would be very fortunate if we could attract a significant industry to Catawba County within a two-year period. Certainly we would want to set a goal to attract one much earlier than that; however, to do a proper job of getting this program established to operate for many years in the future, the commission will be meeting with officials of companies that are making long-range plans and the results would not be seen for some of these companies for at least three to five years.

The Hounds Notes: The Economic Development Commission detailed above was formed into a commission called the "Catawba County Industrial Development Commission." In 1993, this commission was merged with the Hickory Office of Business Development and renamed the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation. This is the organization that Scott Millar presides over today.

At the time, in 1977, as you can read in the article, many Furniture and Textile business owners balked over the idea of bringing other forms of industry into the area. The main reason was because they were worried about Labor Competition and a resulting escalation of wages. Labor is the number one cost of most businesses in the United States.

In the late 1970s, even though the national economy was stagnant due to inflation, Catawba County was experiencing full employment. Mr. Rice was an Employment Recruitment Specialist and his firm (The Resource Group) was having to aggressively recruit people to the area to fill the jobs in our local manufacturing industries. I know this very well, because my mother worked for Mr. Rice for a time in the late 1970s. I know how dynamic the Job Recruitment industry was at that time.

Our area was growing, but we had a problem, because we weren't able to move forward with the modernization of our industry into new sectors, such as high-tech electronics and energy related fields. Cable was still a small sector of our industrial make-up in 1977, but it was on the way towards blossoming in the early 1980s, with the deregulation of the telephone industry and the advent and subsequent growth of the cable television industry. There was a smooth transition to the Telecommunications - Cable - Fiber Optic Industry in the 1980s and 1990s as the Textile/Hosiery workforce began to be off shored. And no one minded, because the Cable Industry jobs paid more.

Once again what we saw was the lack of diversification that Mr. Rice describes in the article above. Except for short periods of time in the early 1980s and again in the early 1990s, we experienced very low unemployment from the mid 1970s until the year 2000, especially in comparison to the rest of the nation. Since 2000, those tables have turned dramatically. I have shown the numbers in several articles on this site. Not one month since the year 2001 have we been better than the national average when it comes to unemployment.

My next article is going to be about the new opportunity that Mr. Rice is bringing to our doorstep. I am excited about the prospects of assembling Jets in our area. That is the culture that we need to establish in this community and it is long overdue. A mindset towards excellence and 21st century technology along with a Can-Do spirit. Now that formula can take you places.

Contact Information for Mr. Rice at VisionAire Jets:
jim.rice@visionairejets.com
(877) 334-8504
(704) 325-3286
(704) 325-3945 Fax

"Smart Start" putting Private Childcare out of Business?

In the mid 1990s former Governor Jim Hunt came up with the "Smart Start" program for child care. This program was designed to ensure higher quality care by assisting all child care facilities (private, corporate, for profit, or non profit) to ensure that all children in the state were exposed to higher standards of childcare. Some of the following indicators of quality were identified: pre-kindergarten (pre-K) teacher education, nurture and child/teacher ratio's, age appropriate environments, and nutrition.

Before this program was begun, the North Carolina Division of Child Development would issue an annual license to a facility in compliance with their book of State rules and regulations. North Carolina’s Childcare Regulatory book is the second most voluminous such document, only ranking behind California. This book of regulations includes codes involving fire, sanitation, and building safety for the respective counties in the State.

In 1995, Catawba County launched Smart Start and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. At that time most child care facilities in this county were operated by private business owners. Keep in mind that pre-K teachers, support staff, and the facility had to meet the regulated standards set forth by the North Carolina Division of Child Development.

At that time the local Smart Start organization distributed "grants" to the local childcare facilities so that the Smart Start organization might assist with education, environments, books, supplies, safe equipment, etc., to help meet some of the newly defined criteria that were believed to be minimally acceptable quality standards. These grants were not initiated because business owners solicited the government for grants, but because these childcare facilities provided the places where children actually spent most of their days. Parents needed help with the prohibitive costs of childcare.

This initiative enabled many parents to work or go back to school. It was looked at as an opportunity for the children of families that fell into the lower end of the socioeconomic strata to be enrolled in a licensed center that used the funds to raise the bar on quality. At the time, these facilities agreed that this was a worthy endeavor. Research has shown that if children can't be with their own parents, then they still need a safe, nurturing environment in order to progress successfully through these early years.

As time went has gone on, the Division of Child Development has revised rules, added rules, dropped rules, and eventually came up with a 3 component licensing system that has since been modified into a 2 component “Star” rating system. The Stars that facilities now receive are based upon earning points within this two component system. Thus a childcare center is rated and licensed as a one to five star facility based upon this point system. A One Star rated center means that the facility has met minimum state regulations... Two Stars, higher standards… Three Stars even higher voluntary standards were met… All the way up to the highest, a Five Star facility. This is similar to Hotels or Restaurants that are critiqued by AAA, Mobil, or Michelin.

As research continues on the human brain and child development, studies have shown that the first five years of life are the foundational years and therefore the young child's experiences can affect everything for the rest of their lives. The child’s experiences at this age indicate future success and thus well being. It is imperative that they get a good foundational start to their lives.

The lady that shared this information, I am divulging, operates a highly rated childcare facility here in Catawba County. All facility Star ratings are for a 3 year period, after which a subsequent rating inspection must be conducted again. Facilities must apply and undergo an observation by inspectors who come to the center and observe the different age groups. Afterwards, these inspectors chart measurements based upon what they saw and the questions they asked staff.

What this lady is seeing with her current periodic inspection is that there are major additional requirements and measurements that her facility (and other facilities) must undergo to obtain their standard rating. It also bothers her that there are exceptions made for public schools and some churches.

The rating scale is not necessarily required for private "mom and pop" owned child care businesses, but it is a requirement of all state licensed centers; except for the public school "More at Four" programs, which consist of "At Risk" children who are recruited into their programs. This lady has lost enrolled children from her facility to the public school’s “More at Four” program. A percentage of North Carolina lottery funds are channeled into the “More at Four” programs. The "More at Four" program is part of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This program was initiated and coined by our last Governor, Mike Easley.

High star ratings seem to be synonymous with programs that have high funding (in other words a lot of Money). The “More at Four” program isn't required to undergo a rating scale, but will do so because they have the funds at their disposal to afford the $200,000 playgrounds that appear to "raise the bar on quality."

You can visit the North Carolina Division of Child Development Website and see that they promote ONLY Government programs and other funded programs, which have been awarded Federal funds. They make it appear as though they are centered around "CHILDREN,” but they are really centered on the Almighty $$$!

Common Sense shows that the reason that any center wants a higher star rating is to appear as though they are a better facility, but we all know that this can truly be deceptive. More Stars does not necessarily equate to a better quality of childcare. The highest quality of child care centers around the integrity of the individuals caring for the child. Why would a parent choose a caregiver with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education, but no experience or nurturing ability? A system that looks at these sorts of quantitative measures looks at a child like they are a project; instead of an individual human being who needs nurturing, love, and good chemistry with the caregiver. The public school system fosters a structure and mindset that the child gets who they get (as a caregiver/instructor) and that’s the end of it.

Here we will explain why having more Stars on your wall, as a private childcare facility, is critical to the survival of a one’s business. The more stars that a facility manages to get, the more of a monthly bonus per child the facility is awarded from the Department of Social Services (DSS) subsidy program. DSS receives funding from the Division of Child Development. That may sound like a great way to entice childcare providers to lift their standards of care, but it goes back to showing that this isn’t about the children, it’s about money.

Since the monthly bonus money goes to the big facilities who get the funding to put the shiny new buildings in place and the educated teachers that get a "package" that the “mom and pops” can't afford, they exploit the so called "At Risk" children to promote the bureaucracy’s agendas.

It has been pointed out to me that the local Catawba County Smart Start Program is housed in a new building at the old Sweetwater Elementary school. They have also opened up two “More at Four” classes and a Head Start program, which is an overlapping of services and double expenditure of our tax dollars. They are trying to fill these programs by recruiting from the private facilities. The lady who brought all of this to my attention stated that these Public Entities are recruiting children out of her private program, into their program, because they received funding to open these new classrooms and the end result is that her facility is looking more and more like a ghost town.

These local public childcare programs have recruited anywhere from 2 to 5 children from this lady’s childcare facility annually over the last few years. They are making the “At Risk” children’s parents believe that they don't have a choice, if they want to attend a program for free, then they have to enroll at their facilities, She stated that that this isn’t true. Doing the math: one "At Risk" child's annual tuition at her childcare center is $5,460. (subsidy pays it with a small parent fee, but the parents of so called "At Risk" children are the biggest contributors to their own child's "At Risk" status, parents SHOULD be held a tiny fraction responsible). $5,460 X 5 = $27,300.00. That's how much revenue the government is taking out of her facility, on average, annually. How many other facilities are facing similar circumstances?

This lady believes that the growth of the educational bureaucracy in Catawba County is growing more and more out of control and they are using young children to promote a lie. She believes that the administrators of these programs are blowing our tax dollars on luncheons, comfortable furnishings, and ego. She states, “They have taken federal funds and continue to create bogus job titles for themselves so that they can keep channeling money into their pockets and out of the child care facilities that have given the real blood, sweat, and tears.”

The Children's Resource Center has stated that they opened another "More at Four” classroom at Sweetwater this year, because they moved it from the Balls Creek area, because that area didn’t need it. Looking at the demographics, that makes sense. The Hickory area has many more Hispanics and any child that speaks Spanish as a first language, in their home, receives a spot in the “More at Four” program. And the "At Risk" criteria are advertised as being centered on children who are not already in high quality programs, such as the one this lady owns. The Public Educational Bureaucratic programs are basically all over the Department of Social Services day care unit in recruiting “At Risk” children into their public facilities, for their programs. They do this, because these children are considered "At Risk" and thus they qualify for subsidy payments.

All of these bureaucratic agencies know that they are taking children from the private facilities, because DSS keeps documents and records that show where these children have attended pre-K. The government is terminating subsidy vouchers about two weeks before the school year starts, so that they can say that the children aren't being served. What used to go into the already existing high quality centers in our area is slowly, but surely, being taken from the private facilities; except for the subsidy bonuses based on Star ratings and a few (regulated and required) workshops for teachers from centers such as the YMCA's, CVCC lab pre-school, or favored centers such as the United Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs, who also get big funding opportunities, yet need to meet the basic requirements and ongoing education requirements to stay licensed.

DSS is paying market rates for each child they have recruited into these public programs. This means that the children that are aggressively being recruited away from private childcare centers, that have earned higher stars, are driving the cost of child care over the top for the lower middle class working families in our county. Most young people starting families don't usually start off with six digit incomes in Catawba County. Market rates go across the board and vary from county to county. Working class families who deserve quality care can't afford to pay the going market rates, but childcare centers will be in breach of contract with DSS, if they offer a discount. Centers are not allowed to give breaks to working families who don't qualify for subsidies and can get into trouble with DSS, which has the wherewithal to start an investigation. The DSS has the capability of putting a childcare facility out of business.

The Children's Resource Center (Smart Start) is funding projects such as the Parenting Network (where parents are forced to attend meetings held by various systems), The Early Childhood Support Team, Health Nurses, Behavior Specialists, Infant/Toddler Specialists, Early Start Specialists, Dental Screenings and so on!

The health department already HAS health nurses for those who can’t afford them. The Smart Start Team health nurse drops off information that she has probably copied off of the internet (most daycares have internet or access to it), The “Behavior Specialist” does nothing but visit centers. The “Infant/Toddler Specialist” (this lady has never seen her). Many times the dental screeners offer condescending comments to the poor teachers who spends 40 hrs a week with (some) children that need their home life to change. They give out cheap tooth brushes, Made in China, and send a letter to the parents telling them that they need to go to a dentist, but only for the children that have Medicaid.

The lady who provided this information to me in confidence stated that this information could result in the death of her business, if her name got out. I truly appreciate this information. It is eye opening to see what a local childcare provider is having to deal with, just to stay in business. Why are we allowing the government to do this to a small business person who obviously cares about the children whose life she touches? Is this type of control and manipulation of parents and children a good idea? Is it a good idea to allow the government to monopolize childcare? Is that not the direction we are headed towards? Are you comfortable with this?

I hope that you appreciate this person’s point of view and that you realize and understand the raw power and undue influence a government can have when it sets its mind to exercising control over something. And this control is over the Progeny of America and our future.

I am here for you! - Please look out for each other

Unemployment report portrays stagnant job market - Los Angeles Times - Don Lee - 8/8/2010

High unemployment rate could perpetuate vicious cycle - New Haven Register - 8/8/2010

Allegretto warns of economic catastrophe without massive public works program - UC Berkeley News - 8/6/2010 - The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will be late 2015 before the United States creates enough jobs to recoup those lost and to provide needed growth, but the Center for Economic and Policy Research says such a recovery could take until 2021.

6 Charts That Suggest The Unemployment Crisis Is WORSE Than It Looks - Huffington Post - 8/6/2010

Percentage of Job Losses in Post-War Recessions

A letter from Congressman Bob "Hooer You?" Etheridge from North Carolina's 2nd district

August 4, 2010

Dear Mr. Hound:

I am writing to you today to update you on my work to help folks in North Carolina meet our challenges and make the most of our opportunities.

My top priorities in the U.S. House of Representatives have been jobs, jobs, and jobs. Specifically, I support common sense policies that will create an economy that works for the middle class so every North Carolinian who is willing to work hard has the opportunity to make the most of his or her God-given abilities.

We need to rebuild America and restore the American Dream. Economic recovery in our country will be powered by small businesses. I have been working to enact eight separate tax cuts for small businesses to jumpstart hiring and boost the economy. A tax credit that I proposed was made law and is already being used to support new jobs, like the new textile jobs at Parkdale Mills in Sanford. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, it is supporting 4.5 million new workers across the country. These are people who would otherwise be on the unemployment rolls, so this is good for our economy, for workers and for taxpayers.

The recent recession cost us 8 million American jobs—and years of policies that favored the special interests cost us 4.6 million American manufacturing jobs. Although too many people are out of work and family budgets are getting squeezed, bold action to correct the failed policies of the past has started to turn our economy around. Recently, the Triangle Business Journal reported that the Recovery Act supported 90,000 North Carolina jobs and more than 3 million jobs across the country. We have added more than a hundred thousand new U.S. manufacturing jobs in the last six months. That's good news, but it's not enough. This summer, I am working with House leadership to promote an American Manufacturing Jobs agenda that will close loopholes that help companies move jobs overseas, support American jobs at home, and enable U.S. companies to bring back the label "Made in the U.S.A."

I am proud of my work to protect consumers and to keep corporate special interests from preying on working families. I helped pass a Wall Street reform bill that will rein in the worst practices of the big bankers on Wall Street and end the "too big to fail" policy and taxpayer-funded bailouts. It builds on the work already done to reform credit card company practices, end abuses of credit card holders, and empower individuals to make informed choices for their financial future. These new laws will put the focus on Main Street and middle class families.

Long term, we need budget discipline and smart investments like Pell Grants and higher education assistance and school construction. I've worked since my first term in office – and back to my days as a county commissioner, a state legislator and as state schools superintendent – to build schools, create jobs and invest in our communities.

You can be sure that I will continue to promote these priorities and represent your interests. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas and concerns. Working together, using North Carolina values and old fashioned common sense, we will build a brighter future.

Sincerely,
Bob Etheridge
Member of Congress

The Hound already knows that this man just doesn't get it. He is a typical eastern North Carolina Good Ole Boy Network ramrod politician. Just look at his record and where he has been on the issues throughout his career. He is yesterday's news and this mindset is not going to solve tomorrow's problems.

His top priority is jobs. How's that working out? The things that this Congress has done have destroyed the ability to create jobs. The stimulus money did little to create jobs and in fact it has placed a burden that is weighing down the economy and this yokel also supported the TARP bailout. I know this is a computer generated answer, but someone set the parameters and it shows the lack of respect for the intelligence he (or his staff) has for his constituents.

What has he done to help the middle class people in North Carolina? The Stimulus paid off cronies and TARP bailed out the very Fat Cats that he rails against in this letter. And once again I reiterate that this Man supported both of these bills. This does not support his contention that he is representing the working class here in North Carolina. This man also supports Cap and Trade, which will double your energy costs. Can you afford that? This wreckless spending and taxation is a burden to the average families and individuals and in the end it will mean a higher tax burden upon everyone, including the small business growth needed to restart the job creation engine.

Read the talking Points about supporting the Made in the USA label and his voluntary submission that he supported the so-called Financial Reform Boondoggle that empowers the Federal Reserve. Ask this man what he has tangibly done to reform the unfair foreign trade system. Cap and Trade isn't going to bring manufacturing jobs back. I will assure you of that. What has he done to reign in the illegal immigration that is suppressing the wages of the working class people here in North Carolina? Ask him why he supports a finance bill that gives even more power to the very bankers he rails against? Ask him if he supports auditing the privately owned Federal Reserve? Ask him how making Security and Exchange Commission Investigation Information private, and under the wings of the Federal Reserve, benefits the public?

This man thinks his constituents and the people of North carolina are stupid. He talks about Common Sense and has displayed authoritarian arrogance time and time again. He would best serve this state if he would step aside and let someone who truly cares and wants to fix his area, this State, and this Country come into office and move past the partisanship, cronyism, corruption, and stagnation that his era has represented.

People of the Lillington area. Remember what this man has done this November and think about whether he truly has represented your interests in Washington:

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of August 3, 2010

This newsletter is about the Hickory City Council meeting that I attended this past week. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At the bottom right of this page under main information links is a Hickory's Local Government link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the bottom of the page you will see the future dates for meetings scheduled for this year.

At the top of the page, if you click on the “Documents” link, you will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the 6/15/2010 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below

Invocation by Chaplain Robert Ford of Glenn R. Frye Memorial Hospital


Consent Agenda

A. Proclamation Declaring the Week of August 1 - 7, 2010 as “International Clown Week” in the City of Hickory

B. Proclamation Declaring August 8, 2010 as “Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church Day” in the City of Hickory

C. Proclamation Proclaiming August 12, 2010 as “Viewmont Surgery Center Day” in Recognition as an Ambulatory Surgery Center in the City of Hickory

D. Request From Hickory Fire Department for Use of Union Square to Celebrate Patriot’s Day on Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

E. Request Hickory Police Department to Award Badge and Service Weapon to Retired Master Police Officer Casey J. McClelland - Under authority granted by the NC General Statues, City Council is requested to award the police badge and service weapon to Master Police Officer Casey J. McClelland who retired on August 1, 2010 from the Hickory Police Department. Upon approval, the badge and service weapon will be removed from the City’s fixed asset inventory.

F. Approve Vacant Building Revitalization Grant “Operation No Vacancy” to Grace Point Holdings, LLC for Property Located at 2905 N Center Street in the Amount of $25,000 - The Vacant Building Revitalization Grant Program was established by City Council in September, 2008 whereby the program provides matching funds up to $25,000 for projects seeking to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings and the demolition of substandard buildings. Grace Point Holdings, LLC has applied for such a grant in the amount of $25,000 to assist in the renovation of the building by replacing the roof,
installing a new parapet wall, replacing existing glass and installation of stucco on the exterior. The applicant’s total investment is estimated to be $151,220 to include an interior up-fit. This facility is being renovated for use by a Verizon Wireless Retail Store. The Redevelopment Committee reviewed the application and voted to recommend approval of $25,000.

G. Approve Vacant Building Revitalization Grant “Operation No Vacancy” to ADEMNC, LLC for Property Located at 509 11th Street, NW in the Amount of $25,000 - The Vacant Building Revitalization Grant Program was established by City Council in September, 2008 whereby the program provides matching funds up to $25,000 for projects seeking to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings and the demolition of substandard buildings. ADEMNC, LLC has applied for such a grant in the amount of $25,000 to assist in the renovation of the building by replacing the roof, façade improvements that include installation of additional windows, repairs to loading docks and sprinkler system upgrade. The applicant’s total investment is estimated to be $400,000 to include an office up-fit. This facility is being renovated for use by Hickory Mechanical, Inc. and other tenants. The Redevelopment Committee reviewed the application and voted to recommend approval of $25,000. Due to the severely damaged roof, staff requests two (2) reading be held on August 3, 2010.

H. Approval to Purchase Real Property Located Adjacent to the City’s Public Services Complex on 9th Avenue, NE in the Amount of $93,000 - The Mauser Family, owners of 3.2 acres of vacant property located adjacent to the City’s Public Services Complex has agreed to sell this property to the City in the amount of $93,000. The current Public Services Complex property was partially purchased from the Mauser Family in the 1980’s. The purchase of this vacant property would be a good investment for future expansion of this facility, which will be needed in the future to continue to serve our citizens. Miller and Associates performed an appraisal of the property dated April 27, 2010 for $93,000. The land value is approximately $162,525 with an approximate tax value of $50,789 per acre. The expense of this property would be shared equally by both the general and public utilities fund. Staff recommends approval to purchase said property.

I. Approve Application and Resolution to Receive Grant Funds From NC Construction Grants and Loans for Subdivision Sanitary Sewer Lines - City staff desires to file an application for funds with NC Construction Grants and Loans for sanitary sewer lines in the Random Woods, Sherwood Forest and East Woods subdivisions. These three (3) areas were identified in 1998 as future service areas for the City of Hickory sanitary sewer system. The City originally applied in 1999 and was asked to resubmit an updated Preliminary Engineers Report in 2009 and the City received final approval on May 10, 2010. This project will have a potential to serve approximately 226 homes and eliminate the potential public health hazard of septic system failures impacting surface waters. These areas are in the City’s ETJ and the City
does have existing sanitary sewer lines available for connection. We would be requesting $2,946,042.99 representing the entire anticipated construction cost with a maximum award available of $3 million. The NC Construction Grants and Loans staff has requested an updated application for funding while giving the City preliminary approval of the grant funds subject to availability. No match is required. Staff
recommends approval of both the application and resolution.

J. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 2 - 1. To budget a $1,797 insurance claim check from Nationwide Insurance Company in the Water and Sewer Pipes, Hydrants and Meters line item. This payment is for damage sustained to a fire hydrant on 05-19-10.

2. To appropriate $46,900 of Water and Sewer Fund Proceeds from Financing and $46,900 of appropriated General Fund Balance and transfer to the Public Services land code. This transfer is to pay for the purchase of 3.2 acres of vacant property adjacent to and between the Public Services complex and 9th Ave. NE. The purchase of this property would provide for future expansion of the Public
Services Complex. This property is two 1.6 acre tracts and is appraised for a total of $93,000. An additional $800 is budgeted for associated property title and closing costs.

K. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment No. 1 - 1. To appropriate $57,562 of Federal Miscellaneous revenue and budget in the Recovery JAG projects Specialized Equipment line item. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Hickory Police Department entered into a memorandum of agreement to allow access and use of the Firearms Range for FBI training. $57,562 represents the FBI contribution for the target system and chain link fence.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Second Reading - Approve Vacant Building Revitalization Grant “Operation No Vacancy” to ADEMNC, LLC for Property Located at 509 11th Street, NW in the Amount of $25,000 - The second reading was held to expedite the process of this renovation. The mayor stated that this would be a great improvement and what the purpose of Operation No vacancy was intended t5o be.

2. Adopt Ordinance Declaring Property Unfit for Human Occupation and Authorization to Remove or Demolish Structure Located at 244 8th Avenue Drive, SE, Hickory, PIN # 3702-11-76-2663 - The structure located at 244 8th Avenue Drive, SE, Hickory, was inspected by Code Enforcement Officer Kent Sigmon and determined the structure to be dilapidated; exceeding 50% of the tax value to repair, and also poses an imminent threat to health and human safety. This case opened on January 20, 2010 and the Order to Abate was issued on February 10, 2010. During the February 10, 2010 hearing, property owners, Eloise Wilfong Izard and Thomas Allred indicated financially they could not repair or board up the structure and preferred the City to demolish the structure. Officer Sigmon drafted a letter stating their position and had all parties sign including Thomas Izard, who is incarcerated. The structure has continued to deteriorate and vandalism has become more prevalent. City Staff Attorney has reviewed the case and concurs that proper procedures have been met. C & S Cable is under contract to perform City demolitions and estimates the demolition of this property to be in the amount of $3,483, which in turn will become a lien against the property. Funds are budgeted for FY 2010-11. - Bobby Baker provided the report and information as stated above along with a Power Point presentation. A title search indicated that their were 4 property owners attached to the property (heirs). Two showed up for the hearing. Those owners indicated that they could not afford to bring the house up to coded and they understand the violations. their has been continual vagrancy and continued dilapidation, which is affecting neighborhood housing values. Floors are falling in, windows are broken, the roof is deteriorated. There are many indications of vagrancy including bottles, clothing, windows and doors open. It is a very hazardous situation. The City Staff Attorney has concurred that proper procedures have been followed. City Council unanimously approved this petition.

Alderman Guess, Alder Patton, Mayor Wright, and Alder Fox all had positive comments directed towards Code enforcement entailing the work that they do. Alder Fox stated that it is really important that they stay on top of these things with the economy the way it is. It is hard for people to maintain, but it is important, especially in borderline neighborhoods. Mayor Wright stated that these are tough times for everybody and if we aren't careful, we can get way behind the so called curve on this and the spotlight is not good for neighbors.

The Hound completely understands why this property needs to be torn down and this same type of situation has been brought to Council several times over the past two years. And it will continue to happen while the equilibrium of supply and demand related to home values remain out of whack.

I would just like to understand why it is so easy to tear down a house such as this and the same type of emphasis is not placed on many of the dilapidated warehouses in this area that are in just as bad of shape. These warehouses have just as much of a negative effect on the real estate that surrounds them. Mayor Wright mentioned that if we aren't careful that we could get way behind the curve on this issue (I believe he is referring to property maintenance) and I couldn't agree more. Take for example the two city pools that have been shut down. I believe that if they had been properly maintained, then they would not have ended up in a state of disrepair that has rendered them inoperable.

General Comments
Alder Guess asked where staff was on the Landlord-Tenant issue (he brought up at the last meeting). Attorney Crone and Attorney Dula stated that they have met and a presentation will be made at a workshop and options will be given. Alderman Guess also spoke highly and is encouraged about the first meeting of the Mountain View neighborhood association, which he stated was highly attended by city officials and members of the Mountain view community. Alder Fox commended David Moore for his vision on Old Lenoir road and she hopes that it will be a ripple effect and encourage others to do the same.

The Hounds Report - This was one of those typical meetings that are held during the dog days of summer. No presentations were made and the new business was cut and dry. As we move closer to the fall there will be many more issues that come to the fore of our community.

The Future Economy Council Facebook Page

Please drop by and check out our Future Economy Council of Catawba County Facebook page. I created this last night as a resource to communicate not only with Future Economy Council Associates, but also with others who are attracted to the issues that are important to our area.

The Future Economy Council was created last year by Danny Hearn, who is the President of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce. Danny has been very proactive in trying to kickstart the local economy through a series of Outside of the Box ideas and processes. We will discuss these contributions on this Facebook page.

We have knowledgeable leadership including Mr. Rick Smyre, who is the head of an organization called "Communities of the Future." We will discuss Rick's ideas and follow pertinent links to the relevant materials that the FEC discusses, which are associated with Rick's knowledge base, on this Facebook page.

The Chairman of the Future Economy Council is Terry Bledsoe. He is also the Communications and Technology Director in Catawba County. Terry has made many excellent presentations involving the works and thought processes of the FEC over the last year and a half. His power point presentation and other contributions will be made available through this Facebook page. Terry's CIO website is available at a link on the right hand side of this page.

I also have a website Project 3P which is associated with the happenings of the Future Economy Council. Although politics and critical processes of governance play a role in all facets of our lives, I try to present the information on Project 3P in a non-partisan and factual manner. I have been busy with many projects and have not updated thnat website lately, but I will be doing so over the next week. I hope that you will look to that site as a resource of information to see the underlying foundation workings that are taking place involving building a positive economic future in this area.

There are things taking place in Catawba County to turn our economy around. It is not going to happen with the snap of a finger. We are having to transform the economic structure of our county and it is like moving a boulder. One person is not going to be able to do this alone, but standing around and waiting for someone else to do it will not put you on the path to moving that boulder.

We, the people who associate with the FEC, decided long ago that the boulder must move. Last year, Danny Hearn gave us the motivation to join forces to move the boulder. For too long in this area, people would not join forces because of what seems to be reasons of pride and ego. The members of the FEC have been working hard to mend and alter mindsets to get people to change their attitudes and understand that in the end we all want most of the same things. We want a healthy community where we all can learn, live, work, and play in cultural and economic harmony.

Together, we can move that boulder!