Politics

Whitmire optimistic about 'donut hole' development

By Bill Moss, Published: June 2, 2016

State Rep. Chris Whitmire sees development of the DuPont State Forest "donut hole" as a potential job producer and catalyst for economic activity.

In his weekly newsletter and in an interview on Thursday, Whitmire added more details about what kind of development state and National Guard officials are looking at for the 400-acre site still owned by the DuPont Corp.

The Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina National Guard are making plans for a first responder training facility at the site of the old plant. "Focus areas would include emergency response needs common to North Carolina such as mountain and swift water rescue, forest fire containment, severe winter storm and tornado recovery, and flooding and hurricane response among other mission sets," Whitmire said.

In addition, the development would also include recreation the general public, military families, veterans, and wounded warriors; and an educational academy for at-risk youth.

Noting that no decisions had been made, Whitmire said he would like to see the N.C. National Guard create a Challenge Academy, similar to facilties it operates in Salemburg and New London for at-risk youth 16 and 17 years old. "The master plan calls for three" in North Carolina, he said. "Once they're built, 90 percent of the funding comes from the National Guard. It's like, I don't want to say a mini-service academy, but it is a miitary type setting."

Whitmire, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, points out that 53.5 percent of Transylvania County land is federal or state owned — with an additional 8,420 acres transitioning from private to state ownership. That poses "an additional challenge to the local economies with less and less ability to generate jobs in the private sector and (to raise) tax revenue for local education and public safety essential services.

"To mitigate this situation," he said, "the land mass known as the Headwaters Tract and the nearby DuPont 'Donut Hole' offer a unique opportunity to generate jobs, enhance public safety, and open certain natural attractions for public enjoyment."

Whitmire said residents should be confident that the military would be a "responsible user and responsible neighbor" for the surrounding forest. The partnership should add jobs, act as an economic catalyst and improve the safety of outdoor enthusiasts, he added.