Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

94 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 a vital player in the region’s efforts to address potential food shortages in the coming years. “It has been identified that over two years it could bring close to 150 jobs, in five years it could be 900 jobs,” the mayor conveys. “We think this is going to be a driver in moving forward. What we’ve seen is that this is going to be crucial in success of Eastern North Carolina.” A Walkable and Connected Community Ayden offers a diverse range of housing options within its residential neighborhoods, catering to various preferences and needs. “The town is in a period of growth,” maintains Mayor Tripp. “We have the Ayden Golf and Country Club, which is a private golf course but very accessible to anyone. We have seen 100 homes built around that, and we have site plan approvals for another 500 homes to be built there.” A significant emphasis is placed on walkability in the town, evident in the recent investment of $1.5 million to add sidewalks and pathways to connect neighborhoods to the downtown area. Tripp details, “I think our citizens love to walk in the neighborhoods, because they are very safe and very attractive. What is so good about that is, you come across friends.