Holly Springs ISSUE 3 SUMMER 2011 AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW

Holly Springs Economic Development Department www.hollyspringsnc.org 919.557.3923

Solar farm powers OFM TOWN PROJECTS MAIN STREET EXTENSION: A new connector street is in the design phase and will extend to Piney Grove-Wilbon Road from G.B. Alford Highway along Ralph Stephens Loop Road between Wal-Mart and Hampton Inn. This should relieve congestion on Avent Ferry Road. Construction is expected to begin in 2013.

LINKSLAND SIGNAL: NCDOT has approved the Town’s re-quest to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Linksland Drive and Holly Springs Road. The Town will fund the project. Design is underway by NCDOT, with installation esti-mated to be this fall.

SIDEWALK: The Town secured three sidewalk grants from NCDOT. The Main Street sidewalk tying downtown to Main Street Square with a five-foot concrete sidewalk will be completed by this fall. The Grigsby Avenue side-walk connecting downtown to Womble Park and the Hunt Cen-ter is anticipated to begin this fall. The Bass Lake Road side-walk connecting Earp Street at Holly Springs Crossings to Bass Lake Park should be completed by Spring 2012.

A midsize solar farm sits atop the roof of OFM in the Holly Springs Business Park, soaking up the sun and silently generat-ing more electricity than the fam-ily-owned company needs to run the building that houses its office furniture import business. The solar panels also serve as a profit center for the com-pany as OFM sells its surplus power to Progress Energy. Instead of paying an electric bill, OFM receives about $60,000 a year from the power company, and this amount is multiplied by a 20-year contract. Additionally, the company enjoys annual tax benefits provided for renewable energy projects, and the $1.4 million construction cost was off-set by more than half by federal

and state incentives for green pro-jects. With a successful business supported by green energy that more than pays for itself, OFM chief executive Abel Zalcberg shows remarkable business acu-men. At ceremonies marking the completion of panel construction, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton said, “Not only did Abel get on the renewable energy bus… he’s driving it.” "We produce more energy than we use," said Zalcberg said. "It's just a beautiful thing. Besides what it does for the environment, it's a great business opportunity." OFM began generating solar power in August 2010, and Zalcberg expects that his solar panels will begin turning a profit in a few years, generating more than $1 million for his company over two decades. Located on Tradition Trail in the business park, OFM imports office furniture and resells it to wholesal-ers, retailers and online vendors.

Rooftop panels provide profit, too

SOAKING UP THE SUN — One-fourth of the OFM rooftop is covered with solar panels.

POWER OF THE SUN — The sun glints on the surface of one of the panels of the OFM rooftop solar farm.

Holly Springs Economic Development Department www.hollyspringsnc.org 919.557.3923

ISSUE 3 SUMMER 2011 PAGE 2

Hampton Inn & Suites welcomes guests As town, business and LBA Hospitality officials snipped a ceremo-nial ribbon in January, the doors of Hampton Inn and Suites and its 124 rooms of comfort and relaxation opened as the first-ever hotel in Holly Springs and one of the newer additions to the Hilton family of brands. “We are excited to be here in the Holly Springs area, and we look forward to being an active member of the Holly Springs and surround-ing communities,” said Tammi Hastings, general manager. Providing a recent tour of the impressive property, Hastings noted that the Hampton Inn and Suites, nestled on a relaxed setting at 1516 Ralph Stephens Road, is the ideal location for both business travelers and leisure guests alike. The hotel is conveniently located to area companies including those in the Holly Springs Business Park, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, the state capital, Raleigh-Durham International Airport and within walking distance of shopping and dining.

Start the Day Out Right Guests can start their morning with Hampton’s free On The House hot breakfast before heading out for the day. Menu items rotate and include such offerings as sausage patties, eggs and French toast. For those pressed for time, the hotel offers an On the Run Breakfast Bag, available Monday through Friday, that hotel guests can grab at the front desk on their way out the door. It includes fruit, a muffin, a cereal bar and bottled water. Free coffee and tea are available in the lobby 24 hours a day. Hampton Inn and Suites is the nation’s leading chain of quality, value-priced hotels, and the Hampton Inn and Suites Holly Springs is no exception. Here, travelers will find clean, fresh comfortable rooms that meet their needs. For those needing additional space and amenities, the hotel also has king and queen studio suite accommodations. These studio suites include a sleeper sofa, bar sink, under-the-counter refrigerator, microwave oven and a more spacious work area. Guests also enjoy an on-site convenience store, business center, guest laundry and free self-parking. “Your company’s business travelers or your friends and family no longer have to travel 10 or more miles away for deluxe accommoda-tions at a state-of-the-art facility. We are right here in the middle of this exciting and new area of Holly Springs, able to accommodate guests from all areas on and near Hwy. 55,” said Chantal Stanyer, di-rector of sales. For meeting and function needs, the property has a 625 square-foot room that can accommodate up to 40 people. Being on the road doesn’t mean leaving one’s workout regimen at home. The Hampton Inn and Suites Holly Springs offers its guests an on-site fitness facility and outdoor swimming pool. For additional information or to make reservations, call the Hamp-ton Inn and Suites Holly Springs directly at 919-552-7610, Hampton’s toll-free number at 1-800-HAMPTON, your travel agent or visit Hamp-ton’s web site at www.hampton.com.

BEAUTIFUL ROOMS — Richly-appointed rooms and suites make stays luxuriously comfy-cozy.

MEETING SPACE — There’s nothing common about Hampton meeting and breakfast spaces.

NO EXCUSES! — The fitness center has everything you need to keep in shape while away from home.

SLEEP TIGHT — Exquisite, inviting and clean comfort.

Holly Springs Economic Development Department www.hollyspringsnc.org 919.557.3923

ISSUE 3 SUMMER 2011 PAGE 3

Hours have been extended. The entire $6.6 million Hunt

Little Hen fine dining restaurant Shoppes at WoodCreek Imagine That Learning Center half-day preschool Shoppes at WoodCreek Trinity Life Care Center Dr. Jason Day, chiropractor Shoppes at WoodCreek

Goodwill Community Foundation - two locations 1st location - Sunset Lake Commons 2nd location - Avent Ferry Road Sherwin Williams paint store South Park Village Little Pros Academy day care center W. Holly Springs Road

Coming Soon

Fitness Center Hours Monday through Friday - 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturdays - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays - 1 to 6 p.m. (Nov. - Feb.)

Program and Class Registration Desk Hours Monday through Friday - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturdays - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays - 1 to 6 p.m. (Nov. - Feb.)

301 Stinson Ave. 557-9600

If you haven’t visited the new W.E. Hunt Recreation Center yet, you’re in for a treat. “It’s been a long time since August 2009 when this project began,” said Len Bradley, Parks and Recreation director. “The Town appreciates your patience during the construction, and we hope that you find it was well worth your wait.” The W.E. Hunt Recreation Center is directly behind the old Hunt Center building on Stinson Avenue. The old building will be demolished this month to make room for a 100-space parking lot for added safety and conven-ience. The new center includes a much larger fitness center that is stocked with a variety of new workout machines. The building features an ele-vated walking and jogging track that is 1/12 of a mile long, plus new classrooms, a game room and spaces for aerobics. Fitness center memberships were extended by the number of days the center was closed dur-ing the move to the new building.

Recreation Center project is ex-pected to be complete this fall.

W.E. Hunt Recreation Center Hours

STATE OF THE ART FITNESS - Folks get their exercise with the best in physical fitness equipment at the new W.E. Hunt Recreation Center. Residents can join now for $25 per month or $198 per year. Non-residents pay slightly higher rates. Use of the elevated walking / jogging track is free for everyone! Call 557-9600 for more information.

Hunt Center ready to ‘Pump... You up’

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South Park Village

Holly Springs Crossings

Shoppes at Holly Springs (Wal-Mart)

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Shoppes at

Woodcreek

Oak Hall Shopping

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Hungry? In Holly Springs, there are 40 places to feed your appetite… and you don’t need a passport to ex-perience the exotic flavors of Thai-land, Japan, China, Italy and Mex-ico. It’s all right here. Try a restaurant you’ve never tried before. We did. We loved it. You can experience a satisfy-ing dining experience in Holly Springs. If it’s pizza you “need-sa,” you will have no trouble find-ing it. You can find fast food here in a hurry. There are sit-down restaurants and taverns that offer full menus, and there are kiosks and small specialty shops that will provide the ice cream, yogurt, muffins and coffee that you crave for a snack. There are 40 eateries serving Holly Springs today and more soon to come. Just remember before you grow impatient for new places to eat, we’ve come a long way since there was only one place in town to grab lunch — Bud’s, a bait shop-store-grill on Main Street where a sign outside read, Burgers / Hot Dogs / Live Crickets.” We never tried the crickets, but you couldn’t beat the hot dog lunch special.

Parks bond question goes to ballot Nov. 8 Voters will have the chance to vote yes or no to the Town’s selling $20 million in bonds for parks and recreation projects. The question will appear on the Nov. 8 municipal election ballot. If voters say yes, the Town would sell bonds in phases over time. Funds would be used to com-plete existing parks, to buy land for new ones and to develop the town’s greenway system. Go to www.hsparksbond.info.

Holly Springs Economic Development Department www.hollyspringsnc.org 919.557.3923

PAGE 4 ISSUE 3 SUMMER 2011

PICK A SPOT — Each dot on the map represents at least one Holly Springs eating establishment. Get a

snack, a coffee or a meal at any one of these and support your local res-taurants and keep them serving.

Restaurant Map Legend

A = South Park Village — All Aboard Pizza and Ice Cream; China Uno; Edible Arrangements; and Fiesta Mexicana = Shoppes at Holly Springs (Wal-Mart) — Subway inside Wal-Mart; Michaelangelo’s Pizza; Fat Philly’s; World Super Buffet; and Andy’s = Oak Hall Shopping Center — Papa’s Pizza and Subs; Kobe Hibachi & Sushi; Happy Holly’s; and Chens Garden = Holly Springs Crossings — Bass Lake Draft House; La Rancherita; China Best; NY Pizza; Quiznos; and Yogurt Fusion = Shoppes at Woodcreek — Archibald’s Tavern; and Little Hen

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1. Burger King 2. Chick-fil-A 3. Dominoes 4. Homegrown Pizza

# 5. Kentucky Fried Chicken 6. Little Caesars 7. McDonald’s 8. My Way Tavern 9. Panda Garden 10. Pizza Hut Wing Street 11. Rudinos Pizza 12. Sonic 13. Southern Roast Coffee Co. 14. Starbuck’s (in Harris Teeter) 15. Subway (in BP Store) 16. Subway (in Circle B at Oak Hall Drive) 17. Taco Bell 18. Thai Thai Cuisine 19. Wendy’s

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