Bladen County, North Carolina

25 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 “We have a great community college— Bladen Community College—where I’m the Customized Training Director,” Peterson remarks. “It’s a state-wide program that every community college has, and there’s a pot of money there that we can use to provide any type of training. So, we utilize the community college and we utilize the Lumber River Council of Governments for our industry needs in Bladen County.” “When you’re doing economic development, especially in a rural area, it takes a team,” adds Heustess. “There’s zero doubt about it.” At the center of this undertaking are the County, Economic Development Commission, and Chamber of Commerce, who work together to create positive things for Bladen County community members. “Relationships with our towns are critical,” Heustess says. “They have a lot of the infrastructure—the water, the sewer, the roads, the industrial parks—that you need to bring these success stories to fruition. And then the granting agencies—