In 1995, a group of progressive-minded residents, led by Leon Martin, formed the Bladen County Committee of 100, Inc. to help enhance the county’s economic development program. This county-wide, non-profit development corporation is devoted to helping ensure that sustained economic growth occurs within the county. It is funded by its members, who are citizens and others interested in the economic well-being of this area.

The organization is administered by a 12-member Board of Directors under the current leadership of Chairman Hayes Petteway.

Some of the major accomplishments of the organization are listed below:

— Expanded a speculative building in the Bladenboro Industrial Park in 2009, the facility now occupied by MHM Marine, a manufacturer of sports fishing boats.

— Built a second shell building in the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park, which is now home to Sioux Bee Honey, which imports and blends honey for commercial use.

— Helped finance 11,000 sf. incubator building in the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park, now home to Aramark Uniform Services, Ind. and Westwood Robotic Technologies.

— Helped fund the transition of the NCDMV Call Center to the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park, creating 147 new jobs in Bladen County.

— Helped finance 20,000 sf. industrial speculative building in the Bladenboro Industrial Park in 2005, which was expanded to 49,200 sf. in 2014 and is now home to Carrol Poultry, which should employ 50 people when fully staffed.

— Contributed to the construction of the Industrial Incubator building at the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park, now home to the EDC offices and Alerttile, manufacturer of detectable warning products.

— Contributed to the construction of the 10,800-square-foot Industrial Incubator III building at the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park in January 2009, now home to Del-Ton, Inc.

— Contributed $10,000 to help provide incentives to bring the Carolina Retread/Black’s Tire facility to Clarkton.

— Participated in 2012 to be one of the sponsors of the 17,610-square-foot Industrial Incubator IV in the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park, now home to Del-Ton’s machining expansion.

— Contributed $5,000 to Bladen Community College to help fund their new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) facility. The facility will be key to BCC’s endeavor to train our workforce for the science and technology jobs of today and tomorrow.

— Helped fund the effort to Master Plan the Elizabethtown Airport Industrial Park to make the park more marketable and quicker to develop in order to meet the demand of today’s economic development clients.

The 2016-17 membership drive is now underway. Annual dues are $100 for an individual and $200 for a business. If you would like to become a member, call 645-2292 for more information or to request a membership application. The annual meeting, which is open to all members and their guests, will be held on Wednesday, June 8, at the new Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery.