The document summarizes the benefits of a proposed CSX intermodal rail terminal in Rocky Mount, North Carolina called the Carolina Connector. It would create 250-300 construction jobs and over 300 permanent jobs paying an average of $60,000 annually. It would attract warehouses, distribution centers, and other industrial businesses, significantly growing the local economy. The terminal could transform Rocky Mount's economic landscape into one of the most important transportation and logistics hubs in North Carolina and the Southeast. It would improve infrastructure and business opportunities throughout the region.

1. Rocky Mount rides the rails to prosperity
Suggested outlet:Rocky MountTelegram
By Jim Gardner
CSX recently announcedplanstobuildanintermodal rail terminal inRockyMount,N.C.,bringingan
incredibleopportunityforgrowthtoour community. Fromjobcreationtoeconomicinvestmentto
infrastructure development,the CarolinaConnectorwillputRockyMount,easternNorthCarolina –
eventhe state as a whole – ontrack to prosperity.
As formerlieutenantgovernorandU.S.congressman,Ihave spentdecadeslookingoutforNorth
Carolina’sbestinterests,andIhave alwaysworkedtoimprove myhometownof RockyMount.Ourcity
nowfacesa transformative opportunitytocreate jobs,boostoureconomy,investin critical
infrastructure and demonstrate ourleadershiponthe state level throughthe CarolinaConnector.
Many of us inRockyMount are all too familiarwithourstrugglingeconomy,andthe lackof good,
sustainable jobsthatpaya livingwage.The unemploymentrate inRockyMount is 50 percenthigher
than the statewide average, andthe highestamongall majormetropolitanareas inNorthCarolina.A
significantportionof ourresidentscurrentlylive below the povertyline.Butwe have achance to turn
thingsaroundby workingwithrailroads,muchlike ourforefatherswhoputRockyMounton the map in
the nineteenthcentury.
Whenthe firsttrainscame throughRocky Mount in1840, theyloadeduponNash County’s“OldNash”
apple brandy,a beverage thatbecame the drinkof choice acrossthe regionforspecial occasions.Asthe
line runningthroughRockyMountmergedwithotherlocal routes,the AtlanticCoastLine Railroad was
formedand hireda robustworkforce,spurringdevelopmentof new businessesandshops.
The CarolinaConnector(CCX) will create 250-300 constructionjobs toRockyMount, and more than 300
permanentjobs –from truck driverstomanagementtoequipmentoperators. Theseare the type of jobs
we want too:annual CSX terminal salarieswillaverage $60,000. CCX will alsoattractwarehousesand
distributionandindustrial businessestothe areassurroundingthe terminal,resultinginincreased
economicoutputandjobs.
Thisterminal hasthe potential totransformRockyMount’seconomiclandscape intoone of the most
importanttransportation andlogisticshubsinNorthCarolina andthe entire Southeast.

2. The CCX terminal will significantlyimprove transportationinfrastructure andenhance distribution
opportunitiesforsmall andlarge businessesacross RockyMountand the state.The development will
improve accessto national andglobal marketsandlowershippingcosts, introducinganew competitive
advantage forexistingbusinesses inRockyMountandacross the TwinCounties.Asa result,the region
will continue togrowandattract additional businesses.The prospectsforeconomicexpansionasan
outputof CCXare unlike anythingRockyMounthas seenina longtime.
Furthermore,aprojectwithsucha tremendouseconomicimpactcomeswith noteworthy
environmental benefits.CSXisknownforitseffortsinenvironmentalresponsibility;the terminal willuse
near-silentcranesanddirectional lightingonsite, anditwill actuallysignificantlyreduce highway
congestionandemissions.Wheneconomicgainsalignwithenvironmental benefits,projectslike CCX
shouldbe a no-brainer.
As a residentof RockyMount,the wellbeingof ourcommunityisalsoimportanttome.CSXhas a proven
track record of investingandpartneringwiththe communitiesinwhichitoperatesthroughlocal
partnerships,sponsorships,organizedservice daysandmore.Forexample, CSX employeesata similar
intermodal terminal in NorthwestOhiojoinedHabitatforHumanityinanew buildproject.The company
alsoprovidedalocal highschool witha new computerlaband equipment,and continuestosupport
communityeventsandlocal organizations.
The CarolinaConnectorwill positionRockyMount as a logistical powerhouseinthe region,and Iaskmy
friendsandneighborstojoinme in celebratingthe arrival of sucha transformational opportunityand
welcome CSXtoexpandinourcommunity.
Jim Gardner,a Republican fromRocky Mount,served aslieutenantgovernorof North Carolina from1989
to 1993 and co-founderof Hardee’sFood Systems,Inc.