The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-04-01
|cOUNTY DEvELO PMENT
DISTRICT IDEA WORTHY
OF ALL EXPLORATION
(Goldsboro News-Argus)

come up with an idea that deserves
close study among and by all who
are concerned with the plight of
small rural counties. Implementa-
ton of the idea into law would
give the poor little rural counties
a machine by which they could
hope to lift their, people to high
er level of employment and in
come.
The plan: authorize the creation
of multi-county development dis
tricts. This would require passage
of enabling legislation. Five, ten,
a dozen or even more of the poor
est counties would be authorized
to form development districts. The
district would levy a small ad
valorem tax, say or 3 cents per
$500 property valuation for hiring
an industrial engineer and for
operation of a program of indus
trial development.
Counties in the sound and sea
regions of North Carolina and in
the lonely coves of the West do
not have sufficient population or
resources on their own to finance
an industrial development depart
ment.
Holley Mack Bell in his discus
sion of this problem some weeks
ago made frequent emphasis of this
one ONT. He insisted that an aid
plan must be developed. McCon-
nells idea seems headed in the
right direction.
The multi-county development
district would give the smaller
counties, and we have number
whose population ranges from 5000
to 5000 system proved workable
by counties large and rich enough
to support it.
It might be called the Union
County plan. Union was the first
county in North Carolina to put
it into effect. After an enabling
act in the Assembly, citizens of
Union voted the creation of an in
dustrial development commission
and the levying of a. tax to support
it. Already the plan has brought
a number of large, varied and we'll
paying industries into the county.
Pitt County people a number of
months ago approved the plan at
the polls. An experienced industrial
engineer, L. P. Watson not long
ago began his work as manager for
the industrial commission in Pitt.
Other counties are moving to make
departments of government charg-
ed with industrial development.
McConnell's adaptation of the
idea for smaller counties should be
pushed forward vigorously to the
end that action might come at the
next Legislature. We hope that the
other candidates for lieutenant
governor, and that the candidates
for governor, give their endorse
ment and enthusiastic support to
the idea.
The 35-county Eastern North
Carolina industry forum in Colds
boro on March 81 will afford a
good opportunity for going into
the idea thoroughly. Of necessity
it will have to be presented there
apart from any political aspirations
or considerations. But that meet
ing should bring together at one
time a larger representation from
the smaller counties than is likely
to be had without some special
meeting. 1t also will bring men
from the richer and more populous
counties who have had observation
and experience in industry develop
ment. These would be in position
to report to the folks from the
small counties what they might ex-
pect.
The delegations from the small
err counties at the Goldsboro meet
ing may wish to adopt formal reso-
ultion supporting the multi-county
development idea. We believe close
study will show it no mere pipe
draan1