By Bobby Tingle

The Orange Leader

HEB Grocery Company, LP will be expanding their footprint in Orange County. HEB will begin development of a new grocery store located at 2600 McArthur Drive in Pinehurst.

“We appreciate the work Robbie Hood and Harry Vine have done to make this opportunity possible,” John Rose said. “We are looking forward to being a part of the community.”

Rose, a representative of HEB Grocery Company, LP, addressed the city of Pinehurst City Council at their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night. Council negotiated and approved passage of a tax incentive agreement paving the way for the development.

“We are grateful HEB is willing to expand their presence,” Dan Mohon said acknowledging Rose’s comments.

The new HEB store will be located in the area of the old Sears store on McArthur Drive. When completed it is expected HEB will employ 250-300 employees at the new location. Typically a project of this nature will take two to three years to complete.

Council passed an amendment Tuesday night authorizing a Reinvestment Zone within the City of Pinehurst. The area designated stretches along McArthur Drive beginning at 28^th street to Adams Bayou. The boundary continues along the bayou north then curving west until it reaches back to a point north of the end of 28^th street. The zone boundary extends south at that point back to McArthur along 28^th street.

“That whole area will be available to offer property tax incentives,” Harry Vine, code enforcement officer said, “If we want to bring economic development this will be the most appropriate way to do so.”
Vine took time to recognize a group of volunteers attending the city council meeting. First Baptist Church Orange took a Sunday off from normal services to volunteer their help with area municipalities.

“A little more than three hundred volunteered,” James Wright, First Baptist Church Orange member said. “We did work in all three cities; Pinehurst, Orange and West Orange.”

Volunteers helped area residents with items such as yard work and minor repairs.

Jessica Hill, Executive Director, Orange County Economic Development Corporation, addressed the council regarding appointment of members to their Board of Directors. Per capita members are now allowed to appoint a second member to the board. The city of Pinehurst is a per capita member and council elected to appoint Dan Mohon as their second appointee. Mohon will join Robbie Hood, City Administrator, on the EDC Board.

“It was an honor to serve,” Hood said after Mohon publicly thanked veterans for their service. Hood is a veteran of the Unites States military.

The council passed out American flags to all guests attending the meeting. Hood also noted the green lights on the exterior of the council building. Exterior lights were converted to green to publicly acknowledge veterans for their service.