Rocky Mount, Virginia (March 14, 2023) – The Rocky Mount Town Council voted Tuesday evening to work with its Economic Development Authority (EDA) to purchase a sixty-four acre tract of land located at the intersection of Highway 220 and Highway 40. 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. The site is also adjacent to the main retail area in Rocky Mount which includes Walmart, Lowes, Kroger, Starbucks, CVS, and many other businesses. Purchase of the property includes the relocation of the existing ready-mix plant to the Franklin County-Rocky Mount Industrial Park.
The Town plans to work with development experts to determine the uses for the property that will provide the most benefit for the community. That 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.
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.”
EDA Board Chair Adam Lynch stated, “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.