Rocky Mount Town Council plans purchase of 64 acres for future economic development plans
The Town Council voted on Tuesday night to work with the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to buy 64 acres of land at the intersection of Highway 220 and Highway 40. They said the property is one of the largest undeveloped tracts of land in Rocky Mount. (Credit: Rocky Mount, VA Website)
ROCKY MOUNT, Va. (WSET) — The Town of Rocky Mount plans to purchase new land to support growth in the area.
The Town Council voted on Tuesday night to work with the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to buy 64 acres of land at the intersection of Highway 220 and Highway 40.
They said the property is one of the largest undeveloped tracts of land in Rocky Mount. A housing study conducted by Franklin County in 2021 identified this property as one of the top three priority sites in the County for future housing.
SEE ALSO: 'Bittersweet': Virginia Senator Steve Newman announces his retirement
The site is also adjacent to the main retail area in Rocky Mount which includes Walmart, Lowes, Kroger, Starbucks, CVS, and many other businesses. Council said the purchase of the property includes the relocation of the existing ready-mix plant to the Franklin County-Rocky Mount Industrial Park.
The Town said it will work with development experts to determine the uses for the property that will provide the most benefit for the community. They said this will likely be a mixture of residential and commercial uses.
"The property’s size and location with frontage on two highways, ready access to all utilities (water, wastewater, electricity, etc.), and proximity to the Town’s retail center make the property a one-of-a-kind opportunity for economic development," the Town shared.
SEE ALSO: 80 jobs coming to Danville as electronics manufacturer expands in Virginia
Mayor Holland Perdue said, “A number of people including Town Manager Robert Wood, Town Attorney John Boitnott, Assistant Town Manager Mark Moore, and Cultural and Economic Development Director Daniel Pinard have done a lot of work to make this happen. The Town Council and I are excited about the acquisition of this property. The purchase is an investment in the Town’s future that will be a turning point. Development of the property will not happen quickly. We are going to look at various opportunities for the property with experts and decide how to proceed in order to best position Rocky Mount for the future. It is a long-term project that will benefit the Town for years to come.”
“The EDA Board is proud to partner with the Town Council to take this important step to guide the future development of Rocky Mount. There is so much opportunity with this property. I see big things happening in the future for Rocky Mount.” Originally established in 2012 by the Town, the Rocky Mount EDA is a seven-member board appointed by Town Council. The EDA serves as an advisory board to the Town to perpetuate economic development in Rocky Mount," EDA Board Chair Adam Lynch said.
