

Gusta Family Christmas lightshow shines in Mebane
Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise

The Gusta Family Christmas lightshow, located at 411 Hoover Road, is on display nightly from around 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. until after the holidays. When outside the Gusta residence, tune your radio to 92.9 FM to watch and listen to the show.
This holiday season, Mebane residents will have the chance to watch a free Christmas lightshow while listening to their favorite seasonal jams right here in town. The Gusta Family Christmas Lightshow, located at 411 Hoover Road in Mebane, got underway on Tuesday, December 6 and will begin nightly around 5:00 p.m. – unless it’s raining – until after the holidays. Music that plays in sync with this light display can be heard on 92.9 FM, aptly title The Gus.
Gregg Gusta and his son, Ben, started the show roughly a decade ago, when they lived in Clayton. When they moved to Mebane two years ago, they decided to keep the tradition alive, bringing it back this year. But the original idea was not to create a lightshow. “All I really wanted the lights to do was to shimmer,” Gusta said. “And it just led into this huge rabbit hole of designing a show and picking out elements and music and all of that – and the shimmering, that really ever happened.” But a beautiful, captivating lightshow was born as a result, a show Gusta begins setting up after, but sometimes before, Halloween.
The design, planning and setting up of the show is a long, arduous process, and he and his son never truly know what the show will look like until it’s put together. The lightshow is smaller than it has been in years past, Gusta said, but noted that it will be just as, if not more, glorious as it has been in years past. “The show we have now is smaller, we took out a lot of the small items that were really not consequential to the show,” he said. “So, we just have like the big stuff.”
When the Gustas lived in Clayton, their home was featured multiple times on WRAL’s list of Best Christmas Lights in and around Raleigh. This year’s show is also the Gusta’s first in their Mebane home. The show ends each night at 9:00 p.m.
For more information on the lightshow, visit the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/gustafamilychristmas.
12/15/2021

UPS Distribution Center Progress Timeline – Alamance County, NC
Located between I-85 at Exit 152 (Trollingwood Rd.) and Sen Ralph Scott Pkwy., this site is another in a series of industrial construction projects in the area.
12/13/2021

Aerial View of N.C. 119 South Relocation/Asphalt & Lane Markings Complete – Mebane, NC
Flyover of N.C. 119 relocation construction South of U.S. 70.
12/12/2021

Aerial View of N.C. 119 North Relocation/Asphalt & Lane Markings Complete – Mebane, NC
Flyover of N.C. 119 relocation construction North of U.S. 70.
12/11/2021

Leading the charge: new electric vehicle fast-charging station opens in Mebane
Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise

A ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the opening of Piedmont Electric Cooperative’s new electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging station was held at Garrett Crossing shopping center in Mebane on Wednesday, December 8.
The new charger, located in the Arby’s parking lot off Mebane Oaks Road, is a ChargePoint DC fast-charger, capable of charging an EV battery from 0 percent to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes.
This charger is Piedmont Electric Cooperative’s second DC fast-charging station; their first station opened recently in Carrboro Plaza off Highway 54 in Carrboro.
To use the charger, folks can download the ChargePoint app and register their credit card information to pay for the electricity they’ll use to charge their car. Folks can also reserve the station prior to arrival to ensure it’s available.
Piedmont Electric was able to fund the two new charging stations through a roughly $700,000 grant they were awarded by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The funds were awarded as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) settlement with Volkswagen.
The grant’s purpose is to help the 26 North Carolina electric cooperatives, which largely serve rural areas, install high-speed EV charging stations in both rural and suburban communities across the state.
Mebane Mayor Ed Hooks, North Carolina State Senator Amy Galey, Orange County Planning Director Craig Benedict, Mebane City Manager Chris Rollins and Assistant City Manager Preston Mitchell, along with several Piedmont Electric board members, were in attendance.
“This charging station will help increase local commerce, reduce emissions and bring the benefits of driving electric to our community,” Steve Hamlin, president and general manager of Piedmont Electric, said in a press release. “Our members are increasingly interested in the convenience, cost savings and environmental advantage of electric vehicles, and we are proud to support expansion of this technology by securing funding for this local project.”
Hamlin could not attend the ribbon cutting ceremony, but Piedmont Electric’s Manager of Member Services and Public Relations Brandon Reed gave remarks on the company’s behalf, touching on how the charging station will benefit Mebane, its citizens and those just passing through.
“We feel these stations are good for economic development because you’re not going to just get it and go, you’re going to spend a little bit of time [charging],” Reed said. “We’ve seen over the past couple years that our members are increasingly interested in EVs as more and more are becoming available.”
Reed added that, in choosing locations for the charging stations, Piedmont sought areas where stations were lacking that also had access to major highways – and Mebane fit that criteria.
The two new area charging stations are part of a growing EV charger network Piedmont Electric Cooperative and the 25 other electric cooperatives in North Carolina are partnering to build across the Tar Heel state. Currently, the 26 cooperatives have nearly 70 chargers in the network, with more than 100 charging ports.
“A lot of folks still have that range anxiety, if you’re going to go up to the mountains or down to the beach, you want to make sure that your vehicle is going to be able to get you from point A to point B,” Reed said. “So, the 26 cooperatives across North Carolina are putting in a charging network to enable that – helping travel, helping commerce, helping tourism.”
Mayor Hooks and Senator Galey also delivered remarks during the ceremony, both emphasizing their thankfulness for the City of Mebane’s relationship with Piedmont.
“I just thank y’all so much for putting this here,” Hooks said “It’s the thing of the future and I think there’s going to be a lot of interest – we’re excited.”
Senator Galey, echoing Hooks’ sentiment that EVs are the thing of the future, said as development continues in Mebane and across the state, she hopes some thought and planning are put into where charging stations are placed around new commercial development so “people can enjoy their time while they’re charging and engage with the local economy in a safe manner.”
The charging station is now available for use at the Mebane Arby’s at 1316 Mebane Oaks Road.
12/8/2021

Toyota Selects North Carolina Greensboro-Randolph Site for New U.S. Automotive Battery Plant
Plant is first to produce automotive batteries for Toyota in North America, enough battery packs for 1.2 million electrified vehicles per year
LIBERTY, N.C. (Dec. 6, 2021) – Today, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Mayor Filmore York of Liberty, North Carolina, joined Toyota Motor North America’s leaders to announce Greensboro-Randolph Megasite has been chosen as the location for Toyota’s new $1.29 billion automotive battery manufacturing plant, to be named, Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC).
When it comes online in 2025, TBMNC will have four production lines, each capable of delivering enough lithium-ion batteries for 200,000 vehicles—with the intention to expand to at least six production lines for a combined total of up to 1.2 million vehicles per year.
The $1.29 billion investment made by Toyota and Toyota Tsusho is partially funded from a total investment of approximately $3.4 billion previously announced on October 18, and is expected to create 1,750 new American jobs.
“The future of mobility is electrification and the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite is the ideal location to make that future a reality,” said Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “North Carolina offers the right conditions for this investment, including the infrastructure, high-quality education system, access to a diverse and skilled workforce, and a welcoming environment for doing business. Today marks the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership with the Tar Heel state as we embark on our journey to achieve carbon neutrality and provide mobility for all.”
“I’m glad that Toyota Battery Manufacturing has chosen to call North Carolina home,” said Governor Cooper. “This investment in our state is a testament to our world class workforce and growing economy. North Carolina is working hard every day toward a clean energy future and projects like this will help us get there.”
In determining the location for the new plant, Toyota was interested in renewable energy availability as well as support from local stakeholders, including governments, utilities, partners, and others. Candidates for the site were narrowed down based on these requirements and Greensboro-Randolph Megasite met and exceeded these needs with:
- An extensive and well-maintained highway system for overland logistics
- Four international airports and two seaports
- Onsite rail
- An outstanding, diverse workforce
- Renewable energy availability
- World-renowned education system
- Strong government partnership at both the state and local levels
In addition, as the company continues its efforts to reach carbon neutrality for its vehicles and operations by 2050, Toyota is committed to using 100% renewable energy at this new facility to produce the batteries.
New Company Overview
For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
12/6/2021



WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced it will build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mebane, N.C. The site is part of a recently announced co-investment with the U.S. government – a $192.5 million contract in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure domestic supply of critically needed laboratory pipette tips.
“The new manufacturing facility will help the U.S. meet future demand surges for vital laboratory products while bringing more high-quality jobs to North Carolina,” said Mark Stevenson, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “With its strategic geographic location and proximity to a diverse talent base, Mebane is an ideal location for this new facility.”
Thermo Fisher currently employs approximately 4,000 colleagues across seven sites in N.C., including a center of excellence for laboratory equipment in Asheville, three life sciences and chemical manufacturing sites in Durham, pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in Greenville and High Point, and a Raleigh distribution center. The Mebane site is expected to create 150-200 new jobs in manufacturing, engineering and business operations jobs.
“Thermo Fisher continues to expand its footprint in North Carolina, reinforcing our state’s global reputation as a prime location for life sciences companies,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “This new investment in Mebane and Orange County proves once again that North Carolina’s biotechnology sector is thriving in every corner of our state.”
“North Carolina offers companies like Thermo Fisher a diverse life science workforce and world-class universities and community colleges that keep building that workforce day after day,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “In North Carolina, we understand that to attract and help companies compete in today’s global economy, our state must be first in talent, and we’re strongly committed to meeting that goal.”
“This is a tremendous announcement, and we welcome this expansion into our city and North Carolina,” said Mebane Mayor Ed Hooks. “The presence of a company of this magnitude is greatly appreciated and adds another world-class organization to a significant industrial lineup in our area. The investment in our economy and the job opportunities for highly skilled employees will undoubtedly have a major impact and provide great opportunities for our citizens. We welcome Thermo Fisher Scientific to the City of Mebane.”
“Orange County strives to encourage and support economic development in our county, and we particularly welcome businesses that offer 21st-century jobs with good salaries and career opportunities for our residents,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “We are pleased to welcome Thermo Fisher Scientific to the community and look forward to seeing their project come to fruition.”
Thermo Fisher’s investment in Mebane is part of a larger strategy to build flexible and redundant production capacity in the U.S. and across key regions globally. Increased output from recent site expansions is helping meet ongoing demand for COVID-19-related consumables, including plastics used to collect samples and transport them to labs, as well as for vital equipment, such as single-use technologies (SUT), used to accelerate production and allow flexibility for both COVID and non-COVID vaccines and therapies.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $35 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 90,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.
Media Contact Information:
Ron O’Brien
Phone: 781-622-1242
E-mail: ron.obrien@thermofisher.com
SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific
Related Links
11/12/2021

Mebane, from above: hot air balloon company soars into town
-
- Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise 11/3/2021

A Piedmont Hot Airline balloon floats above Lake Michael on a steamy summer morning. (Courtesy Photo)
If you live in or around Mebane, chances are that, recently, you have looked up to see a hot air balloon floating high in the sky. And, chances are, that was a Piedmont Hot Airline balloon.
Ian Leonard, owner and operator of Piedmont Hot Airline, has been ballooning for nearly his entire life, but just this year he started sharing his hobby with the community at large when he transitioned from ballooning recreationally to opening a business offering rides to the public.
Leonard is a 21-year Air Force veteran who, primarily, flew C130s, which are four-engine military transport planes. But his experience ballooning outdates his plane flying experience.
“I got my first ride in a balloon in Albuquerque when I was four and that kind of got me hooked on it,” Leonard said. “That was at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and that was the fourth year of the event – we were born in the same year.”
The plan was to start providing local hot air balloon rides last summer, but the pandemic pushed those plans off. Piedmont Hot Airline was able to start offering rides to the public this year and, so far, things are going well.
“Ballooning is one of those things, the more the balloon is seen, the more people are thinking about it,” Leonard said. “As I get up in the air more, and people see it more, I’m getting more and more calls.”
Leonard noted that his availability for November is already rapidly filling up, and added that folks come from all over the state for a chance to take a ride, but a lot of his clientele are local folks.
“For a lot of people, it’s a bucket list experience for them and when they find out that it is available locally here in Mebane, they’re just thrilled to death and happy that they’re able to do this without having to travel – otherwise they wouldn’t have gone out and sought it,” he said.
Other folks have other reasons for wanting to take a hot air balloon ride. Leonard said many people take a ride to mark a special occasion, and Piedmont Hot Airline is happy to make it happen.
“For some people, it’s a birthday or anniversary,” he said. “I just had a call today, a lady is wanting to fly in November to commemorate the death of her husband, on the day of his passing. People’s motivations for flying are all over the place.”
But while folks have many reasons for wanting to ride a hot air balloon, they have just as many reasons to not actually do it.
Lonard understands this as he himself is scared of heights. But he noted that balloon rides don’t bring out that fear and that balloon rides are normally not what folks expect them to be – in a good way.
“A lot of people are hesitant, they’ve got a fear of heights or a fear that it’s going to be a thrill ride,” he said. “The way I describe a balloon ride, it’s a slow-motion adrenaline rush. One of the things is, you don’t have a feeling of motion when you take off, you’re standing there and the ground goes away from you.”
That being the case, Leonard encourages the hesitant to come out and give it a try, calling the whole experience a “very relaxing, very peaceful” one.
Of course, a big part of what makes the Piedmont Hot Airline ride experience relaxing and peaceful is the fact that safety is paramount. The company takes many measures to ensure safety for all involved.
“A couple days off from the flight, we start looking at the weather, we are very weather dependent,” Leonard said. We’re looking for, basically, winds eight miles an hour or less on the surface and then less than 20 [miles per hour] within 3000 feet of our heads. We can’t have thunderstorms or rain in the area…it’s fairly common for us to cancel the day before the flight based on the forecast weather, so we apologize and reschedule and look at another day.”
Piedmont Hot Airline takes safety so seriously because they want the ride to be an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life, and not because the weather made you feel unsafe, Leonard said.
For those interested in signing up for a ride or to learn more, checkout the Piedmont Hot Airline website (https://piedmonthotair.com/) and look for them at the Tar Heel Balloon Festival at The Barn at Lloyd’s Dairy (226 N Lloyd’s Road) in Efland on November 5 through November 7.
11/3/2021

Crafted: The Art of the Taco to open in Mebane
Dale Edwards/Mebane Enterprise / October 11, 2021

Dale Edwards/Mebane Enterprise
Mebane will soon get a taste of one of Greensboro’s most popular restaurants. Crafted: The Art of the Taco will open on Clay Street in the former home of The Mebane Downtown Table, which closed for good during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Roby Family Restaurants closed the deal on the building and the restaurant. Terms of the sale were not available.
The building’s new owner, Pat and Tate Roby, are veterans of the restaurant industry, although this will be the first establishment they will start and own. The Robys currently live in Haw River and have two young children.
Renovations have begun on the building and the Robys have said they’re planning for an early 2022 opening.
“We are so excited to join the Mebane community,” said Tate Roby. “We love everything about the downtown area. Everyone knows each other and you can feel the support from all around. We can’t wait to raise our family here and be a part of the growth that is happening in Mebane.”
Crafted burst onto Greensboro’s downtown dining scene in 2012, opening in a small space on Elm Street. Owner/chef Kris Fuller’s bold and unique style flipped tacos on their head. The place stayed packed for lunch and dinners. The owner renovated and moved the restaurant into a larger space across the street.
The Mebane location, which will offer the same menu and popular recipes as the Greensboro restaurant, will be owned and operated by the Robys and overseen by Fuller.
“We are incredibly excited to be a part of the Mebane and surrounding communities. We are thrilled to be expanding our brand and to have owner/operators Pat and Tate leading the way in opening this location. We find that Mebane is a beautiful and unique community and look forward to adding our touch to that.”
For information about location and hiring, Crafted’s operators can be contacted at robypatrick@gmail.com.
Disclosure: Dale Edwards is related to members of the Roby Family.
10/11/2021


10/6/2021

Swedish company opens headquarters in Mebane
Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise / Sep 29, 2021

Sandvik Coromant, the Swedish tool manufacturing and innovation company, held a virtual grand opening ceremony for their new Sandvik Coromant Center in Mebane on Tuesday, September 2021.
The company has been operating in Mebane since the 1980s, breaking ground on a production unit in the city in 1979 and opening that unit a year later. The Mebane production unit, which specializes in indexable tools, is one of five in the United States.
Sandvik Coromant is considered the leading supplier of cutting tools and most of its expertise focuses on machining operations, turning, milling and drilling. However, Blomqvist said, the company is expanding into the digital manufacturing arena, as well.
Over the past four decades, Sandvik has grown and innovated in Mebane and worldwide, leading to two facility expansions in the city in 2001 and 2008.
These expansions allowed the Mebane production unit to better support the demand for what Sandvik calls made-to-order tools.
Now, the facility at 1483 Dogwood Way in Mebane will be home to a manufacturing area, a Sandvik Coromant Center and headquarters of the Americas. The facility, totaling 167,000 square feet, will employ 170 workers, with 56 new corporate employees to be added. It is unclear when those positions will be added and if they’ll be open for the public to apply for.
The grand opening ceremony was held virtually due to Covid-19 concerns, with company President Helen Blomqvist present, virtually, along with President of the Americas, Sean Holt.
Holt was present at the Mebane facility on the day of the grand opening, as an intimate company ceremony was held in-person there.
In 2020, the company made the decision to open a center in Mebane. It was also decided the headquarters for Sandvik’s Americas market, which is its largest and one of its most crucial, will be housed in Mebane, too.
Holt explained why the company chose to relocate its headquarters to Mebane, and build a new center here as well, explaining the production unit already there played a role in the decision.
“It’s a great kind of collaboration between the production unit and all our corporate head office,” Holt said. “We are a manufacturing company, our customers are manufacturers, so it’s great for them to come and see not only marketing, finance, customer service, but also to build go to the production unit. I think one of the other key reasons is that Mebane is quickly attracting big manufacturing companies.”
Holt noted Sandvik’s aerospace accounts in Mebane and automotive accounts across North Carolina, the proximity to Research Triangle Park and to the numerous area universities were all factored into the company’s decision, as the presence of center in Mebane allows customers.
The collaborations the company has established with the Mebane community were important to Holt and Sandvik, as well.
“It’s an area where we already have great collaborations with the local community, we already have great collaborations with great technical schools,” Holt said. “But, then, we also want to attract new talent into engineering, and get away from the old perception that engineering is some dirty workshop somewhere – because it’s not, it’s a true digital space today.”
Holt added that the company’s presence in the United States will open up new opportunities, as well.
“There are many industries in the US and we have a great network and are able to support everything from aerospace, automotive general engineering, oil and gas,” he said.
There are 17 Sandvik Coromant Centers worldwide, with Mebane’s being the newest. These centers offer more than 1,000 trainings, demos and application development and host events and customer projects yearly.
The Mebane center features, among many other things: state-of-the-art metal-cutting machines and software; machines fitted with cameras and digital live machining (DLM) for livestreaming with customers or students while working on machining projects; testing and training with the same machines customers have in their own facilities; broadcast training and machining demonstrations for global collaboration in real time; in-person and online training for a wide array of tools, applications and methods; and a large auditorium and integrated showroom.
One of Sandvik Coromant’s main objectives as a company is to cause zero harm to people, focusing heavily on sustainability, which Blomqvist called “the core of [Sandvik’s] strategy.”
Through the company’s “Make the Shift” initiative, Sandvik is committing to sustainability by promising to recycle 90 percent of all materials, and reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
Holt called the Mebane facility a “shining star” of sustainability, noting the company is always trying to be sustainable.
“We are constantly looking into it,” he said. “We have, actually, a team of people looking at sustainability, we’re talking solar panels on the roof, things like that.”
The Mebane Sandvik Coromant Center and headquarters are open for business, with Covid-19 screenings required prior to entry, as Holt encourage potential customers to come check out the state-of-the-art facilities.
9/29/2021

Destination Downtown’s Autumn Fest returns next weekend
- Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise / Sep 23, 2021
The always popular annual Mebane Autumn Fest will return to the streets of downtown on Saturday October 2 beginning at 10:00 a.m. after the 2020 festival was called off due to the pandemic.
Offering attractions like food trucks, local vendors, Mebane’s only outdoor beer garden, live music and a kid’s zone and, this year, a car show, the Autumn Fest is sure to be a hit once again this year.
The festival is put on each year by Destination Downtown Mebane, founded in 2001 with a goal to “enhance, develop, revitalize and preserve the historic downtown district.” The annual Autumn Fest is one way the organization does this.
Begun 14 years ago as an intimate, small festival in downtown, over the years, Autumn Fest has transformed into a local vendor fair.
In 2019, the last Autumn Fest, organizers fully focused the festival around being a place where local, artisan crafters showcase and sold their works. This new focus was a huge hit, Destination Downtown Mebane President Sugaree Thornton said.
“For me, the first time doing a festival like that, I was leery as to whether or not Mebane had the want and the need to be able to handle something like that, and it was just amazing how many vendors from all over the area we got,” Thornton said.
Thornton said last Autumn Fest featured between 60 and 65 vendors. Currently, between 55 and 60 vendors are signed up to be there next Saturday.
All vendors at the festival will be selling only handmade items. Also, like in 2019, there will be a contest for vendors offering prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd best in show.
Thornton emphasized that, with so much happening as part of the festival, there’s something for everyone, of all ages, to do.
“Whether you’re a foodie with the food trucks or you just want to drink a beer and listen to some live music and check out the vendors, and at the same time you can bring your kids and they can do some activities,” she said.
The focuses of Autumn Fest are to increase exposure to Downtown Mebane and support local businesses – the vendors and downtown stores alike. Vendors tables are to be set up in the middle of the street where storefronts will be visible.
“There are so many newcomers to Mebane, even in the past year, that might not even know downtown exists or, maybe, they see it and think it’s just Center Street,” Thornton said. “It’s not, there’s Clay Street the block over, so it’s really about just getting people downtown to check out the stores.”
Last year, the decision to cancel the festival was a “no-brainer,” Thornton said. Deciding what to do this year was extremely difficult, though.
“In 2021, it has been ups and downs as to whether or not it’s the right decision to make,” she said. “So far, we’re sticking with it, with the fact that it is an outdoor event and vaccines are available.”
She added some folks are probably itching to get out and attend an event like this, while others might not be ready to attend an event such as this just yet. That being the case, estimating turnout is near impossible.
Masking will be encouraged, though, and Thornton has been in constant communication with the Alamance County Health Department.
“I’ve contacted them to see if we needed to take any extra health precautions as far as if we have so many people downtown, how many sanitizing stations we offer?” she said. “Should we try to space out vendor booths even more? Should we not do certain activities? Apparently, we’re hitting all the points.”
Thornton is working to have the Alamance County Health Department at the festival to offer Covid-19 information and, hopefully, vaccines – this, however, has not yet been confirmed.
For more information on the Autumn Fest or how to sign up to be a vendor, contact Destination Downtown Mebane at destinationdowntownmebaneinc@gmail.com.
9/23/2021

City of Mebane introduces digital billboard campaign
- Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise / Sep 22, 2021
Beginning Monday, September 20, the City of Mebane will begin advertising its downtown and its upcoming events on the digital billboard at Exit 157 (the Buckhorn Road exit) going eastbound on I-85/40.
The billboard campaign will run through December 21 and will showcase all that Downtown Mebane has to offer during the holiday season – advertising events like Autumn Fest and the Christmas parade, for example – to increase awareness of the city’s downtown area.
Last year, as part of the Main Street Program, the city ran a similar promotion on the same digital billboard, only for a shorter span of time and, largely, to draw attention to the Let It Snow attraction in downtown.
Mebane Development Director Cy Stober explained the city’s decision to extend the length of the campaign this year.
“We thought that was a successful first step into interstate advertisement and bringing visitors to our historic downtown, and we’re interested in building upon that,” he said.
The billboard campaign will run longer this year mainly because Mebane was able to secure a $6,000 grant from the Alamance County Visitors Bureau to do so. The city is matching 50 percent of the grant, or $3,000, to fund the remaining cost of the venture.
“We were fortunate in that we got pretty quick notification that the funds had been awarded prior to going into the final budget session,” Stober said. “We worked with the city manager’s office and communicated with the council on presenting this. I think there’s a lot of support to promote downtown using billboards, particularly the digital billboards that allow us a lot of flexibility in changing designs and promoting different events.”
Often, Downtown Mebane is looked over by folks passing through Mebane on the interstate and, historically, a main reason for this is, largely, due to its distance from the interstate. The city is hoping the billboard campaign will increase downtown awareness and visibility.
“It’s wonderful that you don’t hear the traffic from the interstate and all that when you’re downtown, but you have to know to go there, which is a challenge for downtown,” Stober said. “So, we want to make sure that folks know to go there, and we feel the billboard is at least one piece of the puzzle.”
The billboard, being digital, can rotate three designs during the three-month campaign, and the city plans to switch these out as events and holidays come and go.
“We were able to be specific in our promotions – right now, what you’ll see up there are four promotions that are focusing on some key events that are coming up here in October,” Stober said. “When we get into November, we’ll be promoting Small Business Saturday and the holidays. We’re able to change the designs with a lot of flexibility and responsiveness, which is really appealing.”
Stober added that the rotation of advertisements will, hopefully, grab folks’ attention each time a new promotion is rolled out.
“We’re hoping that with the new designs, you’ll consistently see the Mebane name, but it’ll be a new design for those commuters and folks traveling on the weekends, and that’ll keep their attention and offer a variety and pique their interest and bring them downtown,” he said.
During the campaign, the city will attempt to track how many visitors the billboards draw to downtown through the Main Street Program.
Stober thanked City Planner Audrey Vogel for the hard work she put into the project. He also thanked the Mebane City Council and city staff for their support of the project.
9/22/2021

Alamance County Public Libraries goes mobile
Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise Sep 1, 2021
Alamance County Public Libraries (ACPL) could be coming to you very soon, as the ACPL prepares to re-launch their Mobile Library this fall.
From the 1940s to the 1980s, ACPL ran a mobile library which went around Alamance County bringing the library to families, instead of having families come to the library. Now, 40 years later, they’re doing it again.
The library began the process of bringing the Mobile Library back roughly four years ago, and it was scheduled to return last summer before the pandemic prevented that from happening.
ACPL Director Susana Goldman said the idea for the return of the Mobile Library came from looking at trends and listening to the community’s wishes.
“We started to notice that more and more often our community is interested in opportunities where we can go to them, instead of them always having to come to the library to get the resources,” Goldman said. “Some of that is from technology advancements and ease of access for technology; some of that is just for convenience’s sake, they prefer to not have to go as far to get what they’re looking for. So, those conversations came up, over and over and over again, for us and so we started exploring.”
In the four years since they hatched the idea, ACPL has been working out the details for the mobile library to ensure they can make it happen. This October, the ACPL Mobile Library will roll out into the community; currently, the plan is to run the Mobile Library for an entire day each month.
For some, the library is too out of the way; for others, getting transportation to the library is impossible. Goldman said whatever the reason, the ACPL Mobile Library will be there to serve whoever needs it.
“We make no assumptions of why they would prefer us to come to them instead of them coming to us – just because its ease, because it’s convenient, because that’s the only opportunity they have,” Goldman said. “Getting out there being visible is super important for the library, but then to be able to connect people with the resources or the technology, in some small ways as well.”
There are a variety of ways the Mobile Library will positively impact Alamance County. One way is to help bridge the digital divide by providing internet access for those who may not have it.
“The bookmobile is a way for us to be able to get into the community, provide internet for people who need it, possibly provide technology for people to use temporarily while we’re there,” she said.
Aside from the Mobile Library providing internet access when it comes around, mobile hotspots will also be available to rent from the bookmobile for up to a month. Goldman said this helps to provide those lacking internet access with a longer-term solution.
She added that she wished ACPL could’ve gotten the Mobile Library in service last year, at the height of the pandemic. However, with the Delta variant on the rise, now is a perfect time to start it up, as well.
Individuals, neighborhoods and organizations can apply to have the Mobile Library come to a requested location, and it will come if it is feasible, and time allows. Those interested in having the Mobile Library come to them can fill out an application on the ACPL website or pick one up from a library.
“For us to at least harbor the idea of it, there are some criteria to meet because it is a large vehicle, we have to be able to get in and out of spaces with convenience and the roads have to be proper,” Goldman said. “But we are open to any type of entity that is willing to partner with us, to have us come out there [to them].”
So far, the interest in the Mobile Library is through the roof, as ACPL has received numerous applications and requests from area charter schools, after school programs and various parks and community centers to name a few.
“We hope to be all over the community – rural, urban, wherever we need to be,” Goldman said.
The library is planning a soft opening for the Mobile Library in September. In October, there will be a formal kickoff event and the Mobile Library’s schedule will be released.
9/1/2021

Mebane’s Downtown ‘parklet’ set to open September 4
Staff Reports Aug 27, 2021
The City of Mebane’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) will officially open the new downtown, temporary ‘parklet’ on Saturday, September 4th at 10 AM. The event will take place in conjunction with the Authentically Alamance Farmers Market and the Mebane Makers Market.
Designed to encourage more walking, biking, and dining downtown, the parklet was approved by the City Council in July and is on the corner of Fourth Street and Clay Street. The temporary parklet will be in place for approximately three months and is part of the Better Block initiative aimed at “test driving” pedestrian and bicycling improvements within the City of Mebane to gather community feedback before pursuing more permanent projects.
The parklet will be fashioned with a QR Code that will link directly to a survey to gauge interest and gather feedback on the parklet installation. If community feedback for the parklet is positive, the City may consider similar and/or more permanent options in the future.
Contact the City’s Planning Department with questions by calling 919-563-9990 or emailing planning@cityofmebane.com.
8/24/2021

Bright Penny Brewing Outpost Now Open at Tanger Outlets Mebane
Staff Reports / Aug 17, 2021

Tanger Outlets Mebane management is proud to announce that Bright Penny Brewing Outpost is officially open for shoppers to enjoy local craft brews. The taproom features Bright Penny Brewing Co. flagship beers year-round, in addition to seasonal offerings, hard ciders and a full wine selection. The outpost joins a mix of shopper-favorite national brands at Tanger Outlets Mebane, including Tommy Hilfiger, Columbia, vineyard vines and Vera Bradley.
“Our goal is to create a sense of community and give our shoppers a memorable experience each time they visit the center,” said Tanger Outlets Marketing Director Jeffrey Johnson. “Bright Penny Brewing Outpost is a perfect addition, and we’re already seeing shoppers come together, support this local business and enjoy each other’s company.”
Located next to Old Navy in Suite 140, the 2,079 square-foot outpost showcases what makes Bright Penny a hometown favorite. Both Bright Penny Brewing Co. and Tanger Outlets are committed to creating community with a personalized approach, and guests are now able to enjoy their favorite brews and bites at the outlet shopping destination following a long day of shopping.
8/17/2021

Aerial View of N.C. 119 North Relocation/Asphalt Laying Complete – Mebane, NC
Aerial View of N.C. 119 South Relocation/Asphalt Laying Complete – Mebane, NC
8/14/2021

City of Mebane launches new, user-friendly website
Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise
Aug 4, 2021

In early August, the City of Mebane will transition from their old website to a new, improved and more user-friendly website. The old website URL (cityofmebane.com) will automatically redirect to the new website URL (cityofmebanenc.gov). If you have something bookmarked on the old site, that bookmark will still work, it will simply redirect you to that information on the new site instead.
Last year, the city began having major issues with their website hosting company, which culminated in the city’s website being offline for, roughly, seven days. The old website also had issues with content management and usability. So, the city began looking for a new hosting company, Mebane IT Director Kirk Montgomery said, with the goal of the new site being more user-friendly for all who use it, city staff and residents alike.
“It’s very easy to use, very straightforward and it’s easy for us to manage,” Montgomery said. “When we started this project, I got someone from every department within the city so they can manage their own content. It allows us to also do online payments more reliably, as well as manage content easily.” The website will also allow the city to livestream video, such as city council meetings, directly onto the site, a new feature for the city. Things like online application and payment processes have also been simplified for users. Essentially, the new website will be a central location holding everything that the city has to offer and that staff and residents will need.
“We tried to centralize items, instead of having multiple locations for the same information, we tried to centralize it to one location that it’s more pertinent to so people will always go to that location,” Montgomery said. Unlike on the city’s old website, the search function searches for information within the site (not the whole internet, like the old site) and will auto-populate a list of what you’re searching for within the site, allowing users to easily and quickly find exactly what they’re searching for. “If people want to go to look at city permits and so forth, they type in ‘permits,’ and it gives you a list of permits they can look for on the website,” Montgomery said.
Now that the new website is live, the city will be requesting feedback from users, to find out what they can do to make the site even more user-friendly.
8/4/2021

Mebane City Council approves Recreation and Parks request to apply for trail grant
Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise
July 23, 2021
The Mebane City Council approved Mebane Recreation and Parks’ request to apply for a grant that will provide funding to allow the department to extend the trails at Lake Michael.
In June, Mebane Recreation and Parks held a virtual public input meeting and an in-person meeting to explain plans for extension of the trails at Lake Michael Park, as well as draw feedback from residents on the project.
The department felt a public input meeting was necessary prior to applying for the grant that will fund the project, called the Recreation Trails Program Grant. And, for the most part, the response from the park’s neighbors, and the public at-large, was positive and favorable of the project.
The extensions have been a part of the Lake Michael Mast Plan since 2006, and call for the trails to be extended all around the lake. Currently, the trail is back-and-forth, and is roughly 1.2 miles. If the extensions are added, the trails will total roughly 3.1 miles.
The trail would be turned into a loop all around the lake, which is something Davis said most bikers, hikers, walkers and runners prefer over a back-and-forth trail.
There is already a project in the works, approved in this year’s budget, cutting a trail that will connect The Retreat with the entryway to the park. With the addition of the proposed trail, the loop would be complete. The plan calls for the repair of sections of the existing trails, as well.
Davis said the project will improve the city’s ability to host events and activities, along with improving user experience.
“From a programming and user experience, it would be so much better for the users of Lake Michael and give an easy way to access the lake and the amenities at the lake, whether it be boating, fishing, running, hiking, jogging, playing at the playground, using a shelter,” Davis said “This gives the City a little bit more programming opportunities with possible 5ks and 10ks, triathlons, [for example].”
Johnson said the entirety of the proposed extensions are on city property, however there are areas in which the trails will be very close to residential properties.
“The entire trail is on the city property, even the areas where it looks like we get a little close, either to water or to residences or other properties, it’s all on city property,” he said.
Davis added public input, and approval, of the extensions is an extremely high priority in the plans for the trails.
The department mailed letters to all those residences in close proximity to the lake ahead of the Thursday evening meeting, and Davis said, if the grant and project are approved, they will be working closely with those who live near the proposed trails.
“As we as we look at this project, we’re striving for a happy and healthy community,” he said.
“We want to build these trails with our neighbors and for our neighbors and strive to be harmonious and be partners with this project.”
The grant for the project would be for $100,000, which, Davis said, is essentially half of its total cost. If the Mebane receives the grant, the timeline for the project’s completion would depend on if the funds are disbursed all at once or incrementally. The department hopes the project can be completed in two to four years.
Now that the department has the city’s permission to apply for the grant, they must wait for a response on whether the application has been approved. If it is approved, the trails will be extended in the coming years.
Davis made it clear that the city council’s decision on Monday has no bearing on if the project will happen or not. This situation will be updated as more is learned.
7/23/2021

Home Suite Home: Mebane could get new extended-stay hotel
Dylan Phillips/Mebane Enterprise
July 14, 2021
A new Mebane hotel, planned for the intersection of Deerfield Trace and Spring Forest Drive near the Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites, is in the works.
Griffin Stafford Hospitality, a business development service based in Charlotte, which operates the Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites in Mebane, is set to open a Home2 Suites by Hilton near its two other hotels.
Home2 Suites is an all-suite extended-stay hotel, although it can be rented for nightly stays, as well. This hotel will be the second extended-stay hotel in Mebane, and the first, and only, on that side of town.
Doug Stafford, principal at Griffin Stafford Hospitality, explained his company’s role in the hotels in Mebane, as well as what prompted them to build another hotel close to the others.
“Typically, the brands that we tend to develop or acquire are in the Marriott or the Hilton family,” Stafford said. “What we focus on are the upper-midscale hotels, which are at the level of Hampton Inns or Fairfield Inn and Suites; we also operate upscale hotels like Hilton Garden Inns and Courtyard Marriots, so that’s our primary focus.”
Griffin Stafford Hospitality purchased the Hampton Inn from Parks Hospitality – the company that developed the hotel – in 2016. After the purchase, it spent $2 million on renovating the hotel. The company opened the Fairfield Inn & Suites in October 2018.
Each hotel has been extremely successful, which is, largely, what prompted Griffin Stafford Hospitality to want to build its third hotel in Mebane. Stafford said plans for the Home2 Suites have been in the works for a couple of years now, as the “growth in Mebane justifies it.”
“Mebane is a vibrant market and the location is pretty exceptional – it’s located right there on Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 and it’s not often that a community has two interstates right there in its front yard,” he said. “[There is] an excellent industrial base… Mebane has been blessed with significant growth in distribution centers, manufacturing and, in some cases, headquarters, so we saw all that. The quality of life there is exceptional as well, it’s hard to beat living and working in Mebane.”
The location was chosen, for one, because there was good land available there for it and, two, like their other hotels, it will sit on what is known as a “commercial demand generator” for hotel room nights, Stafford said. The businesses, plants, restaurants and services nearby are why the hotel is considered to be within a “commercial demand generator.”
Construction is tentatively planned to commence within 18 months from now, but it could begin sooner depending on how the pandemic recovery goes.
“Most of the recovery that we’re experiencing right now is because people are traveling for leisure purposes, having been locked up for a year or so, people are anxious to travel,” Stafford said. “But we’re also going to see some business travel return, as well. We think, as we get into the latter portion of 2021 and early portion of 2022, we’ll see a pretty robust increase in business travel.”
As of right now, the plans haven’t been approved by the City of Mebane, however, Stafford said the land is already zoned for a hotel space.
The company has also reached out to Mayor Ed Hooks and City Manager Chris Rollins to inform them of their plans, and have plans to be in contact with Planning Director Cy Stober very soon.
“At some point here in the near future, we’ll be going before the elected officials and the planning board to seek any approvals that we need for the hotel,” he said. “I’m hoping that we’ll get the approval that we need, just simply because it’s in line with the zoning.
7/14/2021

Lotus Bakeries investing in NC facility expansion

07.05.2021
MEBANE, NC. — Lotus Bakeries has announced plans to invest approximately $62 million to expand its production facility in Mebane by adding 111,000 square feet to the 225,000-square-foot facility. As part of the expansion, Lotus will add three new production lines and create up to 90 new jobs, the company said.
“We’ve done the research, and after considering the alternatives, we’re thrilled to expand our operations in North Carolina,” said Michelle Singer, general manager of Lotus Bakeries US. “Mebane provides our company a great location to manufacture our products while offering our skilled employees a rewarding and nice place to live.”
Lotus established the Mebane facility — it’s first in the United States — in 2017.
Founded in Lembeke, Belgium in 1932, Lotus Bakeries has expanded its operations worldwide and now has production facilities in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Sweden and the United States, and 21 sales organizations in Europe, America and Asia. The company’s products include cookies, cookie butter, ice cream and other snacks sold under the Lotus, Lotus Biscoff, Annas, Nākd and BEAR brands.
Lotus said it has been awarded a performance-based grant of $180,000 from the One North Carolina Fund (OneNC) to facilitate the expansion. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
7/5/2021

June 2021 Aerial View – NC 119 North Relocation Project-Mebane, NC
June 2021 Aerial View of N.C. 119 South Relocation Project – Mebane, NC
6/15/2021

A spark has caught, and the Carolina Core is on the cusp of something great.
“The Carolina Core is North Carolina’s next economic engine,” says Stan Kelly, President and CEO of Piedmont Triad Partnership.

Purpose and Vision at the Core. Public and private leadership in the Carolina Core is highly engaged and aligned on a vision for the future. The very formation of the Carolina Core is a result of regional partners coalescing around the area’s competitive assets to tell a collective story. Today, leaders in the Carolina Core come together to advance large development efforts that attract and retain the best talent and attract new companies that build out industry clusters. From Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter, one of the nation’s foremost urban research parks, to Greensboro’s Tanger Center for Performing Arts and High Point’s downtown Catalyst Project, to the PTI Aerospace Center and Whitaker Park developments, community leaders have rallied around transformational projects for the good of the entire region and its future,” states NCCarolinaCore.com.
To learn more, visit NCCarolinaCore.com.
6/9/2021


6/2/2021

Latest Aerial View of N.C. 119 North Relocation Project – Mebane, NC
Latest Aerial View of N.C. 119 South Relocation Project – Mebane, NC
5/15/2021

MEBANE, N.C. — Mebane City Council has approved economic incentives for Lotus Bakeries.
City leaders approved $600,000 in cash grants plus, a max waiver of building permit and inspection fees worth $100,000. Leaders approved the incentives Monday night during their meeting.
Lotus Bakeries will invest $60 million and plans to create 86 new jobs at its current facility. The company makes little Lotus Biscoff cookies that airplanes give to passengers or you can buy them at the grocery store. They also make a variety of other products.
Author: Carrie Hodgin (WFMY News 2 Digital)
5/4/2021

4/28/2021

2/18/2021


CATES FARM COMMUNITY PARK OPENS NEAR MILL CREEK
Nestled just 100 yards from the Mill Creek community, Cates Farm Community Park is just a few miles from downtown Mebane off Hwy 119. The newly opened park sits on part of what was formerly the Swathmoor-Cates Family pickle farm.
Mebane acquired the 54-acre portion of the property from Unique Places LLC of Durham. Unique Places LLC agreed to sell the property to the city for less than market value, and work with the city to develop a “city within a park” destination that will benefit residents and visitors alike.
Unique Places says “with conservation easements in place to protect Mill Creek and other creeks that border the property, and the vision for conservation in place, this property holds tremendous potential as a natural, sustainable, open space area for the city and surrounding communities to enjoy for generations to come.”
The plans include wildflower fields, a full-sized disc golf course (the only one of its kind in the area) and more, in addition to the beautiful scenic walking trails currently open to the public. The Wildflower Loop is a half-mile winding trail, and the Forest Loop is a 1.25 mile hike into the woods, with markers every quarter mile along the walking path.
Questions about Cates Farm Park should be referred to the Mebane Recreation and Parks Department at (919) 563-3629.




2/15/2021


December 1, 2020


October 5, 2020

October 2, 2020

Updated Aerial View of N.C. 119 South Relocation Project #3 – Mebane, NC
Updated Aerial View of N.C. 119 North Relocation Project #3 – Mebane, NC
June 8, 2020

November 14, 2018