[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6630233,"mediaKeyId","2696883-81ab2e0aa6fb0f50838e00d08eac0266","parentId",2696883,"title","Rocky Mount Event Center reports rising tournaments, catering and concession revenues; managers seek to capture more visitor spending","audioSeconds",1348,"startMs",6834000,"endMs",8182000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696883-81ab2e0aa6fb0f50838e00d08eac0266&start=6834&end=8182","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696883-81ab2e0aa6fb0f50838e00d08eac0266/thumbnail_6834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630233/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Rocky-Mount-Event-Center-reports-rising-tournaments-catering-and-concession-revenues-managers-seek-to-capture-more-visitor-spending","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630233-1e0605fbf6811893ca3113071d75cdf5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195782&Signature=dQ6~axpSny652bhP~EJihG9uw2mfhMX-rjwgNOX18mgWRBmiyc5mTPvOse26CBGE81QOmmFJIltEG5H5L-dG62o~dpHeyRHqu31DI95fuK7trv3RTiWq4t5dWHicVCrlZHIItDCa7o~v-wAZETr4wz6s8JsBJ9qwjrLF~M0oM~~k9YGw5ufg~KSmsDcXHFfV6SPfTyjsCchZqLEuw2zPJ6iAvBJ8w8TjStvU7NStkOVSi5WHw~iwRop67chHg8kLFTgqYoYDBByZI8XJYo-nGUiScxQMeNJyziIlzPsWF~aAQdRAOHSilJ4DVB8B7Sy-~T0hMsInjSBvbLJu~XN9Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rocky Mount","date","2025-03-19T20:07:36.03Z","article","David (Event Center general manager) and staff presented a review of the Rocky Mount Event Center’s calendar, occupancy and economic impacts, saying sports tournaments provide a steady weekend core and that catering and concessions are growing revenue lines.

Managers said 2022 and 2023 together showed strong traffic: 2022 had 19 tournaments and 222 catering events, with an estimated economic impact of roughly $12 million; 2023, the first full calendar after COVID restrictions eased, recorded about 24 tournaments and 226 catering events. The presenters described their attendance accounting as ticket‑based (the facility tracks paid admissions through its ticketing system) and said their minimum confirmed attendance figure for one year was 78,026 paid admissions.

Staff emphasized concessions performance as an indicator of captured visitor spending: recent back‑to‑back weekend totals included roughly $40,000 and $47,000 in concessions sales. In December the center ran 16 events that together generated about $80,000 in catering revenue, the manager said; the center also received direct catering requests from outside firms following that performance.

Presenters described diversification beyond youth sports — including conferences, graduations, community entertainment nights and adaptive sports events (a wheelchair‑basketball tournament for veterans) — and said the facility’s location near I‑95 and proximity to hotels helps tournament organizers and families travel in and stay overnight. They said most tournaments pay rent and that the center had not relied on bid subsidies to attract events.

Event staff also described operational constraints: a small core staff who rotate between sales, event execution and weekend operations; parking and traffic control for simultaneous events; and the need to improve the local visitor experience to keep dollars in Rocky Mount rather than outside restaurants or retailers. Managers said they will continue to refine concessions, add programming and coordinate with parks and recreation and local hotels to increase local economic capture.

The presentation credited a longtime sports‑facility company partner (Todd, senior vice president) and named on‑site staff: Hallie Green (catering and sales conventions manager) and Keora Taylor (event sales manager), who support tournaments, catering operations and conventions sales.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Retreat, March 19","oneSentenceSummary","Event Center managers told the meeting the facility’s sports tournaments and catering events brought consistent weekend traffic, recorded larger concession and catering receipts in late 2024, and are pursuing ways to increase local visitor spending and year‑round use.","taxTitle","Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina","taxId",5685,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6630239,"Economic leaders update: Natron inducement delay, DOE loan remains in process; officials urge regional power planning",1267,4777000,6044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696883-81ab2e0aa6fb0f50838e00d08eac0266&start=4777&end=6044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696883-81ab2e0aa6fb0f50838e00d08eac0266/thumbnail_4777000.jpg","/articles/6630239/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Economic-leaders-update-Natron-inducement-delay-DOE-loan-remains-in-process-officials-urge-regional-power-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630239-461c7224b34dfdd3e51e276b7408be73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195782&Signature=mAJQr99wdxYlrio4GbGv7yawsNP~S7S2g6p5sEG8U8uX14JugKBvANFYkxvlHFJVCNOFsYjDNlrhT4xnyWpagN-2wspT4GOQo31vvSDrXevGXK2YrSId5sGGHf46S-uuIn77fTzqpk-7eCgCiDMIHf8Edm~EAtUIvQFN-FGAZAoYoenNSYlmCDTl2aVPULHBjARKKJn1ZQirf9IaVBiL1f-RjewKxhhq~loPq-aUA68kn0zE70bAD05XYQeu1thqMS3bPJqghnDYAflH~HSoFJ9DUFC0SEvDOB8UlAkgQs1fLvBVI6~99xCVlKyC-U461fDrSytcA8RbiS~e3k1Xng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative of the regional economic development partnership briefed the meeting on several major site and project updates, including the Natron battery manufacturing prospect, intermodal/warehousing plans and power planning needs.

On the battery project, the speaker said the company’s expected Department of Energy (DOE) loan is a loan rather than a grant and was described in the presentation as carrying an interest rate \"roughly 6%.\" The representative said the county and the company have an exclusivity arrangement that the county extended rather than signing an inducement agreement; signing the inducement, the presenter said, would have required the county to forfeit escrow funds (the presenter stated an escrow forfeiture figure during the discussion). The partnership representative described the company as a strong corporate partner continuing due diligence and seeking federal loan support.

The presentation also highlighted several site developments: North Carolina Railroad’s purchase of about 43 acres adjacent to the intermodal facility (described as the Carolina Connector area) with initial warehousing plans of about 1,500,000 square feet and potential expansion up to 6,000,000 square feet over 3–5 years; residential development interest in Kingsborough; and other site options east of Rocky Mount that the partnership is evaluating.

Speakers repeatedly flagged regional power capacity as a key constraint. The representative said Natron’s projected demand could be about 64 megawatts and observed that the entire county’s current usage is on the order of 80 megawatts; other large prospects cited consumption estimates in the 40–80 megawatt range for expansion scenarios. \"Who has power has projects,\" the presenter said, arguing that the region should prepare a 10‑year power availability plan that considers Duke Energy, Dominion and local solar generation, reuse water availability, fiber and transmission assets.

Panelists and council members asked whether the city and region are planning cost‑of‑service and rate studies and whether residential rates could be managed as industrial load grows. City staff said a cost‑of‑service study and rate‑structure work were underway and would be discussed at upcoming budget talks.

The partnership representative said the Natron project estimate had increased since announcement — from an early figure of about $1.4 billion to about $1.8 billion — and reiterated that alternative financing sources exist should DOE support not materialize.

No formal agreements were reported as executed at the meeting; presenters said many items remain in due diligence or require county/city action before inducements, infrastructure upgrades or construction proceed.","Economic development leaders said the Natron battery manufacturing project remains under exclusivity and the county retained escrow instead of signing an inducement agreement. Presenters urged a 10‑year regional power strategy as large projects — including Natron and data centers — will require substantial electrical capacity.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6630243,"Consultant: Rocky Mount's lower labor-force participation driven by demographics and industrial mix, not lower participation within age groups",1929,1568000,3497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696883-81ab2e0aa6fb0f50838e00d08eac0266&start=1568&end=3497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696883-81ab2e0aa6fb0f50838e00d08eac0266/thumbnail_1568000.jpg","/articles/6630243/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Consultant-Rocky-Mounts-lower-labor-force-participation-driven-by-demographics-and-industrial-mix-not-lower-participation-within-age-groups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630243-57f36ed636011e67eceebc0181f046b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195782&Signature=ELSPrWPS~AvJ~KEX-IFt~BJOfwU9RHl0a2wt623mkmRg33QtD50waAueBHgvUXagi2z5U3LTS7wLOFmFFrK6pnQWGAprdyIBEwiYw1lvmQW5z2~MKI918I5At0WlV0xtskhOzCNzI6dIy95NWTAXyBejgf0E2F4lfzQCQzd02HrvOuddo7sfbTpFF8rDQBzDy642USg2Sos0SOcMn05D3~NohJiLVOA7o7coJdse2FP-pGHFyiLLJtQ6REjeCYaCdpgoGR0chqI8jvE5r0hQuKqT3EJ7REmRhBeHvRgXQZSJFfT54dYEoM5nERxAmJOQVHPMgHcfdolJwLicwyhpcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Flor Mutavi, an economist presenting to Rocky Mount leaders at the briefing, said the city’s lower overall labor‑force participation stems mainly from who lives there and the area’s industry mix, not from a general unwillingness to work.

Mutavi said the metropolitan area’s share of residents aged 25–44 — often called \"prime‑age\" workers — is about 23% versus roughly 26% for North Carolina. He said Rocky Mount’s overall labor‑force participation rate is about 59.5% compared with about 63% statewide. \"It's not because individuals in those age bands actually participate more or less. It's driven by the demographics, by education attainment,\" Mutavi said.

Why this matters: prime‑age residents and educational attainment strongly affect how many people are available to fill jobs, Mutavi said. He showed labor‑force participation by educational level — roughly a 10‑point gap between people with a college degree and those with only a high‑school diploma — and noted that Rocky Mount has a smaller share of residents with college degrees than the state average.

Mutavi also discussed industrial composition. Rocky Mount has a higher concentration of manufacturing jobs and a substantially smaller share of professional and business services and information‑sector jobs than the statewide economy. Those faster‑growing sectors have driven much of North Carolina’s employment growth in the past decade; their relative absence in Rocky Mount helps explain slower job growth in the metro.

The presentation included a shift‑share decomposition that separates: (1) how much area growth tracks statewide trends, (2) how much is driven by sector performance, and (3) the regional share unique to the area. On worker origins, Mutavi said employer‑employee match data through mid‑2023 show only about 22% of newly filled positions in the metro were filled by workers previously employed inside the Rocky Mount metro; roughly 75–80% came from elsewhere in North Carolina or beyond.

Mutavi flagged a persistent GDP gap: real GDP for Nash and Edgecombe counties dropped in earlier years and had not returned to prior levels by the most recent data in his slide set. He also showed a gender decomposition indicating that much of the net decline in local employment over the last 15 years has been driven by fewer women employed in the metro, an observation he said warrants further study.

In the following Q&A, leaders asked about wages, remote work, childcare availability, and whether the region lacks job openings or the local workforce to fill them. Mutavi said wage data and occupation‑level analysis would be included in the fuller report and that credentialing requirements — for example, strict degree requirements for occupations that could be filled by trained candidates — may be part of the mismatch between available workers and posted jobs. He said some job growth appears to be met by \"importing\" workers from outside the metro.

Looking ahead, Mutavi said local strategy should combine understanding demographics, raising educational attainment/skill levels, and considering occupational pathways (not only industry categories) when designing workforce and attraction strategies.","An economist told city and partnership leaders that Rocky Mount’s below‑state labor‑force participation is largely explained by a smaller share of prime‑age residents and lower educational attainment, and by an industrial mix concentrated in manufacturing rather than fast‑growing professional and information sectors.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rocky Mount Event Center reports rising tournaments, catering and concession revenues; managers seek to capture more visitor spending

Economic leaders update: Natron inducement delay, DOE loan remains in process; officials urge regional power planning

Consultant: Rocky Mount's lower labor-force participation driven by demographics and industrial mix, not lower participation within age groups