Town of Robbins
Economic need
Robbins is not so fortunate as its home county of Moore. While much of the county prospered as a retirement and golfing center, Robbins relied on industry for its economy, and that industry is vanishing. The town of 1,200 has lost 450 jobs in the last three years and nearly 1,500 since 1990. It had updated its sewer system to serve a poultry plant, which subsequently closed, leaving the town with $1.4 million in debt. It has been forced to increase water and sewer rates more than 150 percent to make up for the lost revenue.
History
Since 2002, the town has been engaged in an ongoing effort to redefine itself. It sees potential in connections to the pottery center that runs from northern Moore through southern Randolph County. And it seeks to hold on to its early heritage. The red brick Elise Railroad Depot is the focus of a current restoration project. (Elise was the town's first name.) Additional effort has been directed at encouraging residents to shop locally and strengthen local businesses.
Vision/Goals/Expectations
Through STEP, the town hopes to further its progress toward a newly defined Robbins. Tourism plays a large role in the early vision. The town expects to build on the pottery tradition in the area with shops and cafes to bring in tourists. With the renovated train depot as a visitors center, it foresees special excursion/dinner trains. It will build on the annual Mid-Atlantic Star Party, which draws hundreds each fall, to promote the clear, dark skies to amateur astronomers, and plans to add canoe access and hiking and riding trails to its recreational opportunities. It may even throw in maps of gold-panning sites and launch a spring music festival.
Balance will be important to the "new" Robbins. For this, it will seek to launch or recruit small businesses offering skill-based jobs. It hopes to convert abandoned mill sites into multiplexes for light manufacturing and small retail outlets, turning a liability into an asset.
Contact
Theron K. Bell, Commissioner
P.O. Box 1059
Robbins, NC 27325
Home phone: 910-948-3448
E-mail: belltk@earthlink.net
