Bladen County, North Carolina

27 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 family-owned winery called Lu Mill Vineyard close to Elizabethtown, which has done a lot to help the agricultural industry in this County. They host a few events out there that draw a lot of people. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what they’re doing in Bladenboro, to make sure that town has the renaissance it deserves.” The Bladen County EDC is currently working with Elizabethtown to develop a 32-acre Live- Work-Play in the middle of the industrial park. “It’s a light industrial park,” Heustess explains. “People love the winery, and we already have commitments from a new distillery, a boutique inn, and a daycare. Cape Fear Valley Health Systems has also agreed to put in a modern primary care, urgent care, and medical specialist facility, so it just hits all the buttons: industry, tourism, and healthcare.” Heustess admits he’s learned a lot through the process of building Bladen’s Strategic Plan, and he’s excited to carry it out and make more improvements for the County. “We knew a lot of these things going into it, but the Strategic Plan crystallized our vision,” he says. “So, we’re going to take on infrastructure, education, and promotion, and create a lot more local success stories.” PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n First Source Staffing, LLC (910) 862-7064 Serving the Carolinas and beyond, First Source Staffing Services LLC provides temporary to permanent employment and recruitment for occupations from warehouse to administrative, and more. n Rondaveu Pizzeria (910) 862-2499 Rondaveu Pizzeria offers Pizza, Wings, Subs, Salads, and Appetizers. Home of the Southern Pie! Eat • Drink • Celebrate Ski Burger offers breakfast and lunch, serving the Famous “Be Back Burger”- so good you’ll be back. n Chemours www.chemours.com n Cromartie Enterprise www.cromartiehomesale.com n Duke Energy www.duke-energy.com n Star Communications www.starcom.net