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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tara Martin, Marketing Manager Rockingham County Economic Development, Small Business & Tourism 336.342.8363 tmartin@co.rockingham.nc.us Belgium-Based Hygiene Company Selects Rockingham County for First U.S. Baby Care Manufacturing Site Drylock Technologies to add 113 Jobs and more than $26.9 Million in Investment Rockingham County, NC (February 28, 2024) – Earlier today, Governor Roy Cooper announced Rockingham County’s newest industrial partner, Drylock Technologies. This announcement brings with it 113 new jobs and more than $26.9 million in investment over 3 years and more than $30 million and 150 jobs in 5 years. "The City of Reidsville is honored that Drylock Technologies has chosen to repurpose a building in our City for its newest state-of-the-art manufacturing facility," said Reidsville Mayor, Donald Gorham. "The new jobs and investment Drylock Technologies will bring with them are critical to Reidsville's continued growth." Drylock Technologies, a leading manufacturer of hygiene production, is a Belgium-based global brand. They have produced private-label absorbent baby, feminine, and adult care hygiene products for more than a decade with nine plants and 3,750 employees globally. The family-owned company develops innovative hygiene products with a focus on sustainability from operating on renewable energy to making the first compostable diaper in the world. The new facility will move U.S. baby care production from Europe to a state-of-the-art 450,000-square-foot manufacturing operation that will support faster product development for Drylock’s clients in the United States. "Recruiting new industry to Rockingham County that offers our residents jobs at above average wages is a top priority to the Rockingham County Commissioners," said Rockingham County Chairman Charlie Hall. "We are thankful to Drylock Technologies for choosing us to be its partner as it expands in the United States." “The Drylock team has been wonderful to work with and we know they will be great corporate partners for years to come,” remarked Leigh Cockram, Director of Economic Development for Rockingham County. “We are grateful for the leadership from the County Commissioners and partnerships with the Department of Commerce, North Carolina Economic Development Partnership and Mary Lesa Pegg, the City of Reidsville, and the building owner, 287 Partnership, for bringing this project to fruition as it truly takes a team to have these types of great announcements.” ###

City Marketing Director and Penn House Manager Judy Yarbrough passed away unexpectedly Monday morning, December 4, 2023. Yarbrough was first hired by the City of Reidsville in April of 1999 to take over management of the City-owned Penn House, which had been closed since November of the previous year. The Greensboro native, who had extensive experience in sales and marketing, turned the Penn House into a popular wedding venue and business meeting location. In later years, Yarbrough’s background in promotion led to the expansion of her City duties. At the time of her death, she was Director of Marketing for the City of Reidsville. “We all knew if you wanted something done, ask Judy,” said Mayor Donald Gorham. “She took on many challenging projects for the City and made them happen. She loved this City and her co-workers and wanted only what was best for Reidsville and its residents.” City Manager Summer Woodard agreed. “I loved Judy’s no-nonsense style and tell-it-like-it-is attitude,” said City Manager Summer Woodard. “She was passionate about the City and her dedication and love for Reidsville was only second to her love for her family. Judy was a true cheerleader and advocate for the City.” Yarbrough’s influence and dedication to the City and its residents can be found in the many projects she has been a part of over the years. She was part of the City and Chamber delegation that went to Tampa, Florida in 2008, securing Reidsville its All-America City designation. That same year Market Square was built in downtown Reidsville and opened the following year. Yarbrough oversaw the opening celebration for the new outdoor park and performance venue as well as managing the Downtown Farmers Market, which was housed in the facility. When City leaders wanted to appeal to active retirees, Yarbrough spearheaded the City’s successful attempt to become the first municipality in North Carolina to receive the coveted American Association of Retirement Communities’ “Seal of Approval” in 2017. She traveled with State leaders not only in North Carolina but elsewhere to promote the State with Visit NC officials. Yarbrough worked behind the scenes to help bring the Reidsville Showcase to downtown Reidsville and to expand housing opportunities in the City. She coordinated a variety of social events for the City and worked with an area marketing team to launch the riseupreidsville.com and rockitinreidsville.com websites for the City as well as daily updating the City’s social media sites. More recently Yarbrough played an integral role in the Sky’s the Limit All-Inclusive Park, the nearly completed new venue at the Penn House and the Splashpad that will open in 2024. She also had been working on securing grant funding for one of the cornerstone projects of the City’s planned Depot District, the rehabilitation of the former Lawsonville Avenue Elementary School into a makerspace and community kitchen facility. She also served on the City’s Sesquicentennial Committee and was the City of Reidsville’s “Employee of the Year” for 2021. The City has placed black bows in Yarbrough’s memory at City Hall and at the Penn House. A private memorial service will be held at the Penn House at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023. Among the survivors are Judy’s husband, Harvey, and daughter, Carly.

In an effort to continue to maintain and improve water quality, the City of Reidsville’s Public Works Department will be temporarily switching the City of Reidsville drinking water from chloramines, which is the City’s standard disinfectant in drinking water, to free chlorination on Saturday, December 2, 2023. This water quality preventative maintenance activity is the same process that has been completed in years past and is endorsed and supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This switch will be in effect until early to mid-May of 2024. The City of Reidsville will be conducting this preventative maintenance measure along with the following water utilities: Archdale, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Randleman, and the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority. During this time, some users may notice temporary taste or odor differences. This is a normal part of the transition, which does not adversely impact the water quality. Both chlorinated and chloraminated water are safe for drinking, cooking, and other general uses. Specialized industries such as medical facilities offering kidney dialysis, fish tank and pond owners, and some businesses that use water in their production process should take precautions that may require filtration and treatment system adjustments. These customers will be contacted directly. As a part of this process, during the week of December 4-8, 2023, the water distribution system will be flushed. Residents may notice discolored water and reduced water pressure during this time. If you experience discolored water, please allow the cold water tap to run for 5-10 minutes until the water clears. Residents are cautioned to check for discoloration particularly prior to using their washing machines. If you see continued discoloration of water please call 336-349-1070. After 3:30 p.m., please call 336-634-3300.

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The City of Reidsville is undertaking preparation of a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), a regulatory document that integrates the City’s zoning, subdivision and flood damage prevention regulations into a single volume. This tool is the City’s primary way of guiding land use and development activities that will help in a variety of ways, from improving our citizens’ quality of life to helping the City achieve its future development goals. Learn more about “Reboot Reidsville” and the City’s UDO process here. .

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Reidsville will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 6:00 PM in City Hall, 230 W Morehead St, Reidsville, NC 27320. Please visit the City’s website for more info atwww.reidsvillenc.gov. The purpose of the public hearing is to update the project area for the CDBG-I Sewer Rehabilitation Project, propose a budget revision, and allow residents an opportunity to express their views. The total project budget remains unchanged at $1,999,298 in CDBG-I funds (100% of total project costs) from NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Division of Water Infrastructure (DWI). The initial project included CCTV investigation and subsequent rehab/replacement of approximately 7,800 LF of aged/deteriorated gravity sewer line with associated manholes, point repairs, service reconnections, and appurtenances along portions of Hart Street, Washington Avenue, Circle Drive, Terry, and Wray Streets as well as the Reidsville Intermediate School Outfall Line and Western Connector. Due to favorable construction bid prices received, it is proposed to conduct additional CCTV and subsequent rehab of up to approx. 2,400 LF of collector/outfall gravity sewer line. Segments include portions of Davis at the intersection with Washington in a westward direction towards the Western Connector and outfall, in the cross-country easements off Terry Street crossing Franklin Street, and additional portions of the Reidsville Intermediate School Outfall Line southward towards Fulton Street as well as northwestward crossing Freeway Drive. These areas were surveyed as part of the original grant application, engineering report, and environmental review. The project will continue to benefit at least 51% low-moderate income households, and therefore, 100% of the CDBG funds will be used to benefit LMI persons. Persons having any questions concerning the CDBG-I Program are urged to attend the public hearing, make their views known, and submit comments. The project amendment package will be submitted to DWI within approx. two weeks after all required CDBG forms are executed. A public information file exists at City Hall and may be viewed upon request. For additional information or to submit written comments, please contact: Angela Stadler, City Clerk, at 230 W Morehead St, Reidsville, NC 27320; PH: 336-349-1040; astadler@ci.reidsville.nc.us. Comments should be postmarked no later than August 11, 2023, and a written response will be made within 10 business days. The City does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, age, familial status, in the admission, access to, treatment or employment in the CDBG program and activities. Efforts will be made to minimize displacement during project implementation and applicable utility easements, and displacement assistance as necessary will be available. Persons with disabilities, limited English proficiency, or who otherwise require special accommodations should contact the City at 336-349-1040, TDD: 800-735-2962 (Relay Service at 711), at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Angela Stadler, City Clerk, at 336-349-1040 or 230 W Morehead St, Reidsville, NC 27320 for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Angela Stadler, City Clerk, al 336-349-1040 o en 230 W Morehead St, Reidsville, NC 27320, de alojamiento para esta comunicado. Summer Woodard, City Manager

Since the Reidsville Senior Center/RCARE last received the coveted “Center of Excellence” certification from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, a lot has changed. Due to the pandemic, senior centers were also required to provide virtual programs to the community to assist the senior community in surviving the COVID-19 epidemic. Although closed to the public for approximately one year, RCARE through its staff still made attempts to keep the seniors informed and active through social media ventures and other virtual opportunities. Enrollment has increased from approximately 350 active seniors to a membership of over 2,600. Yet one thing remains the same – RCARE still provides a high level of services for its clientele, which come from across Rockingham County. RCARE has again earned the top honor as a “Center for Excellence” from NCDHH’s Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) after a rigorous application process that concluded with a site visit on June 20, 2023. RCARE Coordinator Cindy Baynes was told on that date that the facility had passed the certification, but a letter would be sent to make the announcement official. That letter arrived on July 8. The certification will be valid for five years. The Reidsville Senior Center received its first “Center of Excellence” designation in 2005. Centers can apply to be either a Center of Merit, meaning they meet the requirements of the Home and Community Care Block Grant and provide high quality services, or the top honor, a Center of Excellence. Being a Center of Excellence means the facility offers exemplary services and opportunities for their communities and serve as mentors and models to developing centers. Certification is especially important because it allows RCARE to become eligible for additional grant funding, which is based on certification level. “This is definitely a team effort and without every staff member doing their part, the puzzle just does not come together,” RCARE Coordinator Baynes said. “Every time we get re-certified, it seems the requirements are a little more difficult, and the expectations are higher. The certification team always makes recommendations they would like to see on the next visit and as soon as we obtain the certification for this timespan, our staff has to start working on the recommendations to prepare for the next certification visit five years down the road.” North Carolina has approximately 171 Senior Centers, some of which are in the developing stages, and only 138 are full-time centers. RCARE is one of 80 across the State to achieve the distinction and the only one in Rockingham County to obtain the “Center of Excellence” certification.

A retirement reception for Reidsville Fire Chief David Bracken will be held from 4-7 p.m. at RCARE, 102 North Washington Avenue, Reidsville, on Friday, June 30, 2023. The program will start at 6 p.m. The public is invited to stop by and wish Chief Bracken well. Fire Chief David Bracken retires effective July 1, 2023 after 35 years with the Reidsville Fire Department. First hired as a firefighter on January 13, 1988, Bracken quickly advanced in the Fire Department, becoming a Fire Lieutenant three years later and eventually a Fire Captain. In November of 1997, he was promoted to Fire Chief, serving in that role for the past 25 years. From January 2000 to December 2001, Bracken also served as President of the Piedmont District of the North Carolina State Fireman’s Association. The Fire Chief has shared that he believes among his greatest accomplishments were the building and staffing of the City’s two newest fire stations on Barnes Street and Reid School Road as well as improving the fire rating for the City during his career. While the Reidsville City Council was searching for a new City Manager in 2015 after then-Manager Michael Pearce announced his retirement, Bracken stepped in as Interim City Manager to ensure that City operations continued to run smoothly. He has also assisted the City as Interim Public Works Director. “Whenever Chief Bracken has been called upon to help the City of Reidsville and its residents, he has stepped up to the plate,” said Reidsville Mayor Donald L. Gorham. “He is known for his diligence and unwavering sense of fair play, honesty and compassion in his dealings with both his firefighters and the citizens of our fair City. His leadership will be missed.” City Manager Summer Woodard agrees. “While I have only been Reidsville City Manager for the past two years, even in that short amount of time, I have learned firsthand that David is the epitome of what a member of ‘Team Reidsville’ should be,” Woodard said. “He is the type of person who, when faced with obstacles, finds solutions and those solutions reflect his unfailing character and integrity. I am glad to have been able to call him a friend.” The son of Gladys Bracken and the late James Bracken, he is a Reidsville native, living here most of his life except for about eight years spent in Ohio. Bracken went to high school in Youngstown, Ohio, and then attended the University of Akron, where he received a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree. In addition to his job with the City, he is pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church in Spencer, North Carolina, where he recently celebrated his 22nd pastoral anniversary. In 2012, Bracken earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Married to wife Jacqueline B. Bracken, he has two children, Paul and Charryse, and one grandson, Titus. It was announced last month that current Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Joshua Farmer will be Reidsville’s new Fire Chief upon Bracken’s retirement.

The City of Reidsville is seeking contractors and subcontractors to submit qualifications to bid on housing rehabilitation projects for its state and federally funded housing rehabilitation programs. Work needed includes, but is not limited to air sealing, insulation, vapor barriers, ducts, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lead/asbestos/radon abatement, roofing, siding, painting, kitchen and bath repair, appliance installation, and carpentry. These programs provide funds to assist low-income homeowners in addressing sub-standard housing conditions, health/safety hazards, accessibility modifications, and prevent displacement of residents. Contractors and subcontractors are required to have recent work inspected, submit their references, RRP certifications, trade certification and training, certificate of insurance, proof of General Liability, Worker’s Compensation Insurance, and licenses to work in the state of North Carolina, and prequalify through the Piedmont Triad Regional Council vetting process. Registered contractors will be invited to pre-bid and bidding of homes by PTRC via the Neighborly Portal. Interested contractors are invited to submit qualifications by June 30, 2023 to PTRC. Registration forms are online at www.ptrc.org/services/community-development/contractors, or available for pickup at PTRC Main Office, 1398 Carrollton Crossing Drive, Kernersville, NC 27284, between 9am-4pm. Direct questions to Nikia Beal (nbeal@ptrc.org) or Drew Corbett (dcorbett@ptrc.org) with the PTRC Community Development Dept; 336-901-0300 (TDD Relay 711). The City of Reidsville is an equal opportunity employer and encourages submittals from MWBE/DBE/HUB firms and businesses that offer training and employment opportunities to local low-income persons and businesses. This information is available in Spanish and any other language upon request. Please contact City Clerk Angela Stadler at 336-349-1030 or at 230 W. Morehead Street, Reidsville, NC 27320 for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con City Clerk Angela Stadler al 336-349-1030 o en 230 W. Morehead Street, Reidsville, NC 27320, para obtener de las adaptaciones para esta solicitud. Summer Woodard, City Manager

The City of Reidsville is soliciting Statements of Qualification (SOQ) from qualified consultants to provide services associated with the planning and consulting for a long-range Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The goal of this CIP is to ensure the longevity and reliability of the City’s water, sewer, and street infrastructure by evaluating the current systems, prioritizing the most critical needs, and assisting with the financial planning to cover the associated construction cost. Firms and individuals interested in providing these services should submit a qualifications package to the City no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023. A complete Request for Qualifications is available at Public Works, 1100 Vance Street, Reidsville, North Carolina 27320 or by calling Public Works at 336-349-1070. The RFQ can also be found online in the Document Center of the City website, reidsvillenc.gov under RFPs/RFQs. Complete SOQ packages should be submitted to Joshua Beck, Public Works Director, by email to jbeck@reidsvillenc.gov or three (3) hard copies delivered to the same address. The RFQ can be found in the Document Center on this website or can be accessed here.

Longtime Reidsville Fire Chief David Bracken has announced his retirement effective July 1, 2023. The City had to look no further than the Reidsville Fire Department to find its new Fire Chief. Joshua Farmer, the City’s current Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal, will assume his new duties on July 1. Farmer was selected after a competitive process in which 21 applications were received by the City. Following a review period in which applications were reviewed and ranked, the field was narrowed down to the two most qualified finalists. The finalists were brought onsite for an intensive interview process with members of the Management Team, including both formal and informal interactions. City Manager Summer Woodard then selected Farmer after careful consideration. “It is very impressive what future Chief Farmer has been able to accomplish at this point in his career,” City Manager Woodard said. “His drive to succeed and his personable nature gave me, and our Management Team, great confidence in his ability to move into the top role at the Fire Department. He has earned this opportunity.” A native of Reidsville, Farmer has been a full-time member of the Reidsville Fire Department since 2014. The Reidsville High School graduate played football and baseball for the Rams and was a member of many clubs and organizations at the school. During his senior year, he decided to join the Fire Department’s Explorer Post to gain some volunteer hours for his college resume. However, he found a passion for helping others and a career that allowed him to give back to the community that had given so much to him. In June, 2017, Farmer was promoted to Administrative Fire Captain for the City of Reidsville. Three years later, in December of 2020, he was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief/ Fire Marshal. Among his current duties, he assists in planning, directing and reviewing the activities and operations of the Fire Department, maintains the department’s budget, serves as Public Information Officer and investigates fires, conducts fire inspections and instructs public fire education classes. Farmer has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Guilford Technical Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from East Carolina University and will earn a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the fall of this year. He is also a graduate of the Chief Officer Executive Development Program. Since 2013, Farmer has acquired 17 State certifications pertaining to fire, police, and emergency medical services. For the past five years, Farmer has also been a part-time Police Officer with the Reidsville Police Department. He and his wife, Eboni, live in Reidsville. He continues to be a big supporter of the Reidsville Rams in his off time.