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InnovateWilson: Leveraging Gigs and Gigs

StrategicPlanforWilson’sMicropolitanInclusiveInnovationEconomyEXECUTIVESUMMARY

Feburary3,2017

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WilsonStrategicPlanExecutiveSummaryCommunityOverviewWilsonhasatraditionofwritingitsownstory,determiningitsownfuture.Startingwithadreambyinventivecommunityleaderinthe19thcenturytobecomethelargestflue-curedbrightleaftobaccomarketintheworld,Wilsonspentdecadesasahubofagriculturalcommerce,achievingthevisionofthe“world’sgreatesttobaccomarket.”

Intentionaleconomictransitionswereplannedandexecutedmanytimesinthecity’shistory,includingestablishingthelargestmanufacturinghubineasternNorthCarolinatoleadeconomicgrowthinrecenthistory.Infact,Wilsonisaregionalemploymentcenter.Approximately3,000morepeoplecommuteinto,ratherthanoutof,ourcommunityfromRaleigh,Greenvilleandtheregionforemployment.Ourtop25employersincludecommercial,manufacturing,financial,agricultural,andlifescienceelements,suchasBB&T,(thenation’s10thlargestbank),BridgestoneAmericas(theonlywaste-freeregionalmanufacturingfacility),DukeLifePointHealthcare,UTCAerospaceSystems,Merck,Purdue,SandozandBectonDickinsonPharmaceuticals,aswellasTriangleBiofuels.WilsonCountyhasoneofthehighestaverageweeklywageratesinNorthCarolinaandcontinuesasanagriculturalpowerhouse,rankingasthethirdhighestincomeproducingcountyforsweetpotatoes,flue-curedtobacco,andthecombinationofnurseries,greenhouses,floricultureandChristmastrees.1Thecity’sinfrastructurekeptpacewiththeeconomicgrowthasthecitycontinuedtodevelopitselectricsystem,constructeda75-yearwatersupply,andthenbuiltNorthCarolina’sfirstgigabitbroadbandsystem-Greenlight.Today,WilsonisemergingasaleaderinITandinnovationjobs.BecauseofGreenlight,Wilsonisabletoprovidenext-generationtechnologytolargeindustriesandemergingentrepreneursalike.Ourchildrengrowupwithexcellentaccesstothedigitaltoolsneedstosucceedinthe21stcentury.Inaddition,weareredevelopingourdowntownintothevibrantheartofourcommunity,whichwillattracttheinnovativespiritandprovideeconomicopportunitytoall.Wilson’splantodevelopourinclusiveinnovationeconomywillbecarriedoutbybuildingtalent,enablingexistingandemergingenterprises,andcommunicatingourgrowthandvisionbothwithinthecityandtotheworld.Allofoureffortsarerootedinthevalueofleavingnoonebehindasweleadthisnexteconomictransition.

Asset:HighSpeedCommunity-ownedBroadbandAstheglobaleconomyhasevolvedfromanagricultural,toanindustrialtoaknowledgebase,sotooisWilsonevolving.Ourhistoryofself-relianceandingenuityiswhatleadourcommunitytobecomeNorthCarolina’sfirstGigabitCity.Wilsonnotonlyownsitselectric,naturalgasandwatersystems,butinvestedapproximately$35milliontobuildourcommunityownedandoperated,fiber-to-the-home,Gigabitnetwork.Nicknamedbysome,the“Google”ofeasternNC,thisnetworkistheheartbeatofourentrepreneurialeconomyandcompetitivelypositionsWilson’sworkforce,students,andbusinessestoaccessfullglobalknowledgeeconomyopportunities.Greenlightpasseseveryparcelinthecommunity-homeandbusiness-andhasutilizedthesefiberpipelinesforcommunitydigitalequality,providingfree100MbpssymmetricalconnectionstotheWilsonPublicLibrary,toeveryWilsonPublicHousingunit,everycommunitycenter,everyschool,everyafterschoolcenter,andeveryjobtrainingprogram.ThisaccesshasfacilitatedtheacquisitionofGEDdegrees,on-linecollegedegrees,virtualjobinterviews,telemedicine,telecommutingemployment,andeconomicdevelopment.Ourgigabitnetworkhasresultedinearlyeconomicwins,suchasafilmspecialeffectscompanymovingfromLAintoourcommunity,anexistingcomputercompanyexpandingintonextgenerationcloud-basedservices,and

1 304 Farms, $174 Million, by Rochelle Moore, The Wilson Times, December 1, 2015 at http://wilsontimes.com/stories/304-FARMS-174-MILLION,52725?

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radiologistshappilyworkingfromhome.Wilson’scouragetobea“first-adopter”hasnowcreatedthisGigasthecrownjewelofour21stcenturyinfrastructure.Asset:VollisSimpsonWhirligigParkWiththeaimofretainingandattractingthecreativeclass,craftingacommunitygatheringspaceandactivitycenter,anddrivingeconomicdevelopmentthroughtourismandcenter-cityredevelopment,Wilsonisanchoringitsdowntownrevitalizationinitsdeepartheritage.MovingfromgigabitstoGigsthatwhirl,“creativeplacemaking”hasbecomeoureconomicdevelopmenttool.Wearenowdeepintotherevealofan$8million,world-classurbanparkintheheartofourdowntownfeaturingthelarge-scale,kineticWhirligigsculpturescreatedbythelocalandinternationallyrenownedartist,thelateVollisSimpson.2Theseinteractive,colorfulwind-millartsculptures,whichembodyart,science,technologyandingenuity,witheachturninthewindsymbolicallyvalidatetheSTEAMelementsonwhichwearedrivingournewinnovationeconomy.NowtheofficialfolkartofthestateofNorthCarolina,theauthenticitythatWhirligigsbringhavebecomeacallingcard,astheseVollisSimpsonsculpturesaresouniquetoourcommunity.Ourformulaisworking.TheNotorietyoftheWhirligigParkprojecthasattractedinvestorsandrealestatedeveloperswhoarerenovatinghistoricbuildingssurroundingthePark,withmixed-useprojects,restaurants,retail,brewery,andbottleshops.MajorcompletedprojectsincludetheNashStreetLoftsandWilsonFurnitureCompanyLofts,whicharefullyleased,market-rate,live-work,multi-storybuildings;301Nash,whichisamidcenturybuildingconvertedtomodernofficespace;and217BrewWorks,anewmicrobrewerydrawinginthecrowds.Majorprojectscurrentlyunderconstructionarethe85,000squarefootHi-DollarTobaccoWarehouserenovation,calledWhirligigStation,promising90loftapartments,tworestaurants,offices,andtheWelcomeCenterfortheWhirligigPark;therenovationofanoldPigglyWigglygrocerystorebuildingintoamodernfamilyownedpharmacy,ThomasDrug;andtherenovationofamidcenturybuildingintotheheadquartersofourlocalnewspaper.ThenextlargeprojectweplantotackleistherenovationofthehistoricCherryHotel,2blocksfromtheparkintheheartofourdowntown.Inaddition,theWhirligigParkisWilsonCounty'sbiggesttouristattractionandcurrentlydrawsupto100,000visitorsayearwiththeparkinconstructionstage.Oncecompleted,marketing,andprogrammed,itwilldrawevenmore.OurPlanSummaryWithInnovateWilson:LeveragingGigsandGigs,ourplanistobuildonourcommunity’shistoricalstrengths,uniqueassets,andSTEAM-basedeconomicdevelopmentapproach,bysparkingtheecosystemthatattracts,connects,andservesinnovatorsinthefutureentrepreneurialeconomy.Withanemphasisininclusiveinnovation,wewillcatalyzeentrepreneursintheareasoftechnologyandartswhowillco-createastrongfutureforWilson.OurintentionistoutilizethecrownjewelsofourGigabitnetwork,ourWhirligigPark,andourleadershiprolesacrossallsectorsoftheeconomytospark21stcenturyinnovativeentrepreneursintheheartofourdowntownandpulsingoutintotheentirecommunity.Wewillcreatethemagneticenvironment,qualityofplaceandqualityoflifethatisauthentictoWilsonanddrivesthenextwaveofeconomicinventionforourcommunity.OurVisionOurvisionisthatWilsonwillbethegreatestmicropolitaninnovationeconomyinthecountry:

• CenteredinDowntown• HingedonGreenlight/Technology• AnchoredinWhirligigs/Art

OurMissionOurmissionistocreateanewinnovationbusinessclusterinourcommunity,hingedontechnologyandanchoredinarts,thenucleusofwhichwouldbecenteredinHistoricDowntownWilson,inordertoattract,accelerate,supportandgrowentrepreneurialventureswhichareinclusivetoallanddiversifyoureconomicdevelopmentefforts.Weenvisionanewinclusiveandinnovativeentrepreneurialecosystem,theheartofwhichwouldbelocatedinan“InnovationZone”inthecoredowntownareaandwouldexpandoutintotheentirecommunity.Weenvisiondiverse

2 Thisprojecthasreceivednationalandinternationalattentionandhasreceivedfundingfromsomeofthetopfoundationsinthecountry,includingtheArtPlace,KresgeFoundation,andNationalEndowmentfortheArts.Inaddition,nationalexpertshavelenttheirexpertisefromtheNationalParkService,SmithsonianInstitute,DuPont,PhiladelphiaMuseumofArtandtheLosAngelesCountyMuseumofArt.VollisSimpsonpassedawayin2015.

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businessandsocialentrepreneurslaunchingcreativeventuresattheconvergenceoftechnologyandart,whocreatejobsandhelpbuildsustainablecommunityprosperityforall.TargetOutcomesACreativeCulture:AVibrantPlace,BuildingConnections,andShowcasingPossibilitiesAVibrantPlaceInordertoaccomplishaCreativeCultureandbethe‘posterchild’forcreativeplacemaking,allelementsofavibrantplacemustbepresent.ForWilson,thisincludesaninclusiveinnovativeculturethatis:

1. CenteredinDowntown,2. HingedonGreenlight,and3. AnchoredinWhirligigs

Innovatorsaredrawntovitalcentercities.OurvibrantdowntowncorewillbeanchoredbyourInnovationZonewiththeworld'slargestcollectionofwhirligigsresidingwithintheWhirligigParkandservicedbyourequitablecommunityGigabitnetworkandfreeWIFI.Fromthiswillspringhigh-techcompanies,distinctiveartistsandartisans,agriculturaltechnologybusinesses,lifescienceindustries,micro-manufacturers,financiers,andtrainingmagnetsthatsupporttheseendeavors.BuildingConnectionsAconcertedeffortwillbeputintoimprovingpublicandprivateinfrastructureintheInnovationZone,includingcreatingspacesforinnovatorsbuildsynergy.However,constructingthephysicalinfrastructureandimprovingthephysicalelementsofthecommunityarenotenoughtocreateavibrantandsuccessfulinclusiveinnovationecosystem.TherelationshipswithinourowncommunityareascriticalasthosereachingtheResearchTriangleRegionandbeyond.WeareawareoftheinnovationassetsintheTrianglearoundtechnologyandtheartsandourfavorableproximitytotheTriangle.Wewillbuildandstrengthenbothlocalandregionalrelationships,partnershipandsupportforour"hubandspoke"approach.Conveningssimilartoourrecentsuccessful"GigEast"event,wherelocal,regional,andnationalexpertsconvergetoexchangeideas,willcontinueandgrow.ShowcasingPossibilitiesPersistentandsequentialactionsbuildmomentum.ThisiscriticallyimportantinmicropolitancitieslikeWilson.WithanestablishedandforwardthinkingvanguardentitylikeGreenlightcommunitybroadbandcoupledwiththeVollisSimpsonWhirligigParkcompletionin2017,thetimingforshowcasingrecentsuccessesisuponus.AVirtual‘FrontDoor’willbethecornerstoneforneartermamplifiedcommunication.DisplayingthedepthandbreadthofsuccesseswillignitetheinterestinWilson’spossibilities.Localandregionalattractionsandprogramssimilartotherecentlytheconducted“InspirationStation”whereinteractiveexhibitsattheannualWhirligigFestivalhavebeenpopularwiththeirvirtualrealitydemonstrations,roboticwhirligigsandLegoBrickScholarswillcontinueandexpand.SupplementingtheseactivitieswillbeHack-a-thons;PitchandReversePitcheventsandkineticandroboticcompetitions.AnInnovativePlace:InnovationZoneforTechnologyandArts,CreativeSpaces,andAmerica’sLaboratoryforSmartCitiesTechnologyInnovationZoneforTechnologyandArtsJewelsliketheWhirligigParkandlightningfastcommunitybroadbandarebestappreciatedwhendisplayedandwovenintoadelightfulsetting.WiththePark’ssubstantialinvestment,itsinfluenceneedstoexpandfarbeyonditsboundaries–physically,sociallyandeconomically.TheParkitself,coupledwiththeWIFIavailabilitythroughouttheDowntown,willserveasananchor‘tenant’totheotherattractionsandinfilldevelopmentsinHistoricDowntownWilson.AsWilson’splansunfold,thecommunitywillexpeditethecreationofan“InnovationZone”identifyingthiscoredowntownasaheartbeatofcreativity.TheZonewillbethedefinedhubforallthingscreativeandinnovativeinourcommunity,bothtechnologicaladvancesandartisticendeavors.OurInnovationZonewillencourage“collisionopportunities”by

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establishingnetworking,programmingandincentivesforinnovators,artisans,technologists,visionariesandothersinthecreativeclass.Wewillencouragetheseinnovatorsandtheentirecommunitytolive,workandplayinthesehappeningdowntownbuildingsandspaces.

Substantialpublicinfrastructureinvestmentisalreadyunderway–bothabovegroundandunderground.WilsonwillshortlyrebrandGoldsboroastheAvenueoftheArtswhichisbookendedbythe$12millionmixeduseprivatedevelopmentknownasWhirligigStationandWhirligigParkand,attheotherend,theWilsonArtsCouncil.Oneblocktotheeast,DouglasStreetwillbecometheAvenueoftheSciencesbookendedbyourImaginationStationScienceandHistoryMuseumononeendandbytheWhirligigParkandnewbreweryontheother.AlltheseattractionsarehousedinsignificantBeauxArtsbuildingsfromtheturnofthecenturyandarewithina5minutewalkofeachother.

CreativeSpacesPlace-Makingisthenewurbandevelopmenttool.TheJune2016issueofSmartGrowthAmericadetailsthenewurbaneconomicdevelopmentrecipeforattractingtoptalentcalled“placemaking,”wherecommunitiescreatethequalityoflifeandqualityofplacethatthecreativeclassseek,suchasparks,walkablecommunities,andaggregatedwork,live,playspaces,withlonglastingpublicvaluethatistimelessandoutlivesthecomingsandgoingsofbusinesses.

Wilson’sdowntowncorehasalargespreadoutgeographicalarea.Tocreatethevibrancythatcomeswithacriticalmassofbusinessesleveragingeachother,theZoneneedstorecruitandcurateCreativeSpacesintheprivateandpublicrealms.ThesecanincludetheWhirligigPark,Co-workingSpaces,Makers’Spaces,ArtistCooperativeplacesallcoupledwithinspirationalsmalltolargepublicspacesthatareactivated.Theseallleverageeachother,ensuringsuccess.

America’sLaboratoryforSmartCitiesTechnologyTheCitydecidedtoforgeaheadonitsownandbuildanadvancedallfibernetwork,calledGreenlight,toserveeverypropertyinthecitybecomingNorthCarolina’sfirstgigabitcityin2008.Afteraninitialinvestmentofseveralmilliondollars,Greenlighthasmaintainedandexpandeditsbroadbandcapabilitiesandisamatureandseasonedsystemwithforwardthinkingleaders.

Thisultra-highspeedfiberopticnetworkaccommodatesconnectionsofuptoaGigabitpersecond--about100timesfasterthantheaveragehigh-speedInternetlink.Thefirst-of-its-kindsysteminNorthCarolina,availabletoallcityresidents,businessesandnonprofits,superchargesinformationaccesstoandfromlocalbusinesses,industry,governmentunits,libraries,publichousing,schoolsandbeyond.TheinitiativegivesWilsonproudclaimtothetitle“GigabitCity.”However,buildinganetworkisn’tenoughtoattractneweconomybusinessesandworkers.Wilson’schallengeisleveragingtheinvestmentinGreenlight.Buildinguponacommunityorientedinfrastructuresystemcontrolledbyandownedbythecommunity,itnotonlyhasthecapabilitybutalsohaswithinitsDNAanopenlabenvironment.Ourintentionistoturnourcommunityintoatestlabforthe"InternetofThings".CompaniescreatingemergingSmartCitytechnologiescancometoWilsontodotheirvendortrialinareassuchasVirtualReality,SmartMetering,DriverlessAutomobiles,anduntoldnumerousotherembryonicinnovationsincludedthespectrumofthe“InternetofThings".OurStrategiesBuildTalent

• Establisharobustlocaltalentpipelinetofeedlocaleconomicgrowth• ExpandourregionalconnectionsforWilsonareastudentstoconnectwithbusiness,industryanduniversitiesin

theTrianglearea• ProvideanetworkofsupporttobuddingentrepreneurstolaunchventuresorcareersinWilson

EnableExistingandEmergingEnterprises• DevelopaninclusivephysicalspaceswithinthedowntownasahubforWilson’sTechnologyandArtscluster• Becomearecognized“testbed”forinnovativetechnologies,supportedbytheGreenlightnetwork’sspeed• Providerobustfinancialopportunitiesforcapitalandoperatinginvestments

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• Assistlocalandregionalmid-careerandolderprofessionalsbecomeentrepreneursConnectandCelebrateOurInnovationSectorCommunity

• Providemeaningful,engagingprogrammingintheInnovationZonetonurturetheemergingecosystem• Connectwithothersimilarventuresinlargerareas• SharethestoriesofWilson-basedinnovationentrepreneurswiththebroaderinnovationcommunity

OurActions:YearOne

1. FormalizegovernancestructureforInnovateWilsona. ModelOrganizations

i. Decidewheretohouseoperations:CityofWilson,BartonCollege,Wilson20/20b. CreateBoardandCommittees

i. Oneseateachfromfundingpartnersandothersii. CreateACommitteeStructure

1. FundingandGrants2. PipelineDevelopment3. Co-WorkingSpaceDevelopment4. TalentRecruitmentandMarketing5. ProgrammingandEvents

2. HireDirector/Staff3. InnovationandEntrepreneurEventSeries

a. 12-18Events/SeminarsinYearOneb. SponsorshipDevelopmentc. PotentialFranchiseModelforEventsd. PotentialCodingClasses/Organizationse. BuildOutInclusiveInnovationPartners

4. BeginDevelopmentofVirtualFrontDoor5. PossibleYearOneFundingSources

a. LocalContributionsi. City,County,LocalCorporateSponsorship

b. FoundationSupporti. KauffmanFoundation,GoldenLeaf,NCIDEA,Z.SmithReynolds,PNCBankFoundation,JohnM.

BelkEndowmentc. Government

i. EconomicDevelopmentAdministrationInnovationStrategiesProgram1. NCCommerceDepartment:ProposedCommunityInnovationFund,NCWorks,

MaximizeCarolinaProgramActions:YearTwo

1. InnovationandEntrepreneurEventSeriesa. Continueeventserieswithgoalof20–24eventsb. Continuetoattractseriessponsors

2. Begindevelopmentofacodingcertificateprogramwithaneducationalpartneri. PossibleFoundationFundingSources:JohnM.BelkEndowment,NCWorks,GoldenLeaf

3. CompleteVirtualFrontDoor4. Co-WorkingandMakersSpaceFeasibilityStudy

a. EDAGrantProgramtoprovidetechnicalassistancei. PotentialAnchorTenants:Barton,Greenlight,BB&T

b. ModelsforConsideration5. BegindevelopmentofInvestorsNetwork

a. SeekassistancefromSBTDCtodevelopInceptionMicroAngelFund

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PartnersresponsibleforimplementingtheseeffortsCityWilson20/20BartonCollegeWilsonDowntownDevelopmentCorporation(WDDC)WilsonDowntownProperties(WDP)VollisSimpsonWhirligigPark&Museum(VSWP&M)St.JohnCDCEntrepreneurs,CorporateorRetiredExecutivesCountyRequiredinvestmentnecessarytoimplementeffortsovernext12-18months

OperationsBudgetHireDirector/Staff $85,000-$100,000 Interns/FellowshiporPTAssistant $25,000-$30,000 Boardandcommitteemeetings $3,000 Technology $3,000 Events/TrainingSeminars $12,000=$600/event@20events Marketing $5,000 Supplies $4,000 Travelandtraining $5,000 Start-upAssistanceFund ???? $30,000–40,000 TOTALannualest.@$140,000-$170,000

Immediatenextsteps

1. ObtainFunding2. GainPartnerLongTermCommitments

ContactinformationCityofWilsonGrantGoings:CityManagerRodgerLentz:ChiefofPlanningandDevelopmentServicesKimberlyVanDyk:DirectorofPlanning&CommunityRevitalizationandManagerofDowntownDevelopment(WDDC&WDP)BartonCollege:Dr.GaryDaynes:ProvostVision20/20:PaulaBenson:ExecutiveDirector

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