Roanoke Rapids Opportunity Zone INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS

Roanoke Rapids Opportunity Zone INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS

TAX INCENTIVES FOR INVESTMENTS IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES Investors defer paying tax on capital gains (9 years) if those gains are invested in Qualified Opportunity Funds that invest in Certified Opportunity Zones The gain must be invested in the Qualified Opportunity Fund during a 180-day period that begins on the date of the sale or exchange that generated the gain Deferral is temporary, the gain must be recognized on the earlier of Dec. 31, 2026, or the date the investment in the Opportunity Fund is sold or exchanged The amount of includable gain is the lesser of the gain originally deferred or the excess of the fair market value of the investment over the taxpayer s basis in the investment Long-term investment is incentivized by allowing a modest step-up in basis for investments that are held beyond 5 and 7 years. For investment held at least five years, the taxpayer s basis is increased by 10 percent of the original gain. For investments held for at least seven years, the taxpayer s basis is increased by 5 percent of the original gain. As an additional incentive to make long-term, patient capital investments, taxpayers holding Opportunity Fund investments for at least 10 years are exempt from any additional gains beyond what was previously deferred 2

WHY INVEST IN ROANOKE RAPIDS? $75 million in private, public and other investments over the next three years Water, sewer, natural gas, capacities to serve business needs 500 acres and over 30,000 square feet prime for development* Multiple high speed fiber networks Interstate 95 offers business visibility and mobility Roanoke Rapids is the regional economic hub for Northeast North Carolina *Properties within Roanoke Rapids Opportunity Zone 3

ROANOKE RAPIDS NORTH CAROLINA Investment in roads, infrastructure, and businesses and are leveraging new investment opportunities in Roanoke Rapids 4

Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Roanoke Rapids offers a diverse economy with competitive strengths in education, health care, commercial, retail, and tourism development. Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Area Center of trade and commerce for Halifax & Northampton Counties Top 100 Micropolitan Area (#18) by Site Selection Magazine Interstate 95 Exit 173 gateway to Opportunity Zone 47,000 cars a day North/South Established visitor destination Established commercial development area Nationally Accredited North Carolina Mainstreet City Main Street Roanoke Rapids Halifax Regional Medical Center Large Water & Sewer Capacities High Speed Internet Infrastructure CSX Class A Rail Line Available commercial, industrial and warehousing/distribution sites New Market Tax Credits Community Development Entity in place to support community and economic development investments 5

POPULATION TRENDS 2010 Population 2018 Population % Change Square Miles Halifax County 54,692 52,587 3.8% 731 City of Roanoke Rapids Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Area Opportunity Zone 15,939 15,442 3.1% 10.0 76,791 72,971 4.9% 1,282 3,629 3,469 4.4% 2.02 6

Market Proximity, Transportation & Infrastructure Equidistant between New York and Florida on Interstate 95, Roanoke Rapids offers unlimited transportation opportunities via Interstate highway, rail, and air as well as access to major ports in North Carolina and Virginia Close proximity to Raleigh/Durham, Richmond and Norfolk ensures access to world markets Major highway improvements are underway including the multi-laning of NC Highway 125 from Old Farm Road to Interstate 95; Extension of Premier Boulevard to NC Highway 125; Julian Allsbrook Highway improvements and many more Abundant water, sewer and natural gas capacities Readily accessible fiber infrastructure provides redundancy and diversity 7

Civic & Public Leadership Broad participation by residents in government and public life strengthens local governance and voices, resulting in an informed and inclusive community. 8

Local & Regional Education Pipeline Remaining competitive in the global economy requires a pipeline of educational institutions and organizations that create and nurture talent. Roanoke Rapids Graded School District serves the majority of Roanoke Rapids residents for K-12 education Early College Programs offer the opportunity to graduate High School with an Associate Degree Charter and private schools add to our broad education options Halifax Community College offers customized workforce training, technical and vocational education, associate degrees and college transfer programs, as well dual enrollment options with East Carolina University Additional higher education options included Wesleyan College, Chowan University, Duke University, East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina, and NC State University 9

Housing & Neighborhood Development City leaders believe that advancing housing and community development is the stimulus to create and maintain vibrant and sustainable communities where everyone can reach their full potential. Single Family Housing Multi-Family Housing Unique, livable neighborhoods are the norm throughout Roanoke Rapids. Affordable housing, designed to fit the City s character, are scattered throughout Roanoke Rapids 10

Significant Capital Investments in the Roanoke Rapids Area Public and private investments are being made to support future growth and development opportunities in the Roanoke Rapids area Carolina Chips Halifax Regional Medical Center Carolina Chips invested $48 million in a new chip mill to serve WestRock Paper & Packaging Halifax Regional Medical Center is a 204 bed hospital with over 750 employees and 60 physicians serving a four-county area 11

Significant Capital Investments Interstate 95 is the main Interstate highway serving the U.S. East Coast and the major artery for tourists and freight. I-95 also functions as a major connection to other interstate and primary highways in the area such as Interstate 64 and Interstate 85. Exits 173 and 171 in Roanoke Rapids offer tremendous development potential for hotels, retail, entertainment, and other business sectors. Premier Landing Premier Station Premier Landing is a community shopping center adjacent to I-95 with over 126,000 square feet of retail space Premier Station is an emerging commercial center anchored by Dunham s Sports 12

Significant Capital Investments Public and investments are being made to support the growth and development of the City s historic properties as well as renewable energy development Main Street Roanoke Rapids Center for Energy Education (C4EE) Roanoke Avenue and the surrounding historic district are designated as a Nationally Accredited NC Main Street community with buildings prime for adaptive reuse C4EE is a hub for renewable energy education, research and community participation 13

Significant Capital Investments Throughout Roanoke Rapids, public and private investments have been made in infrastructure to stimulate growth and economic opportunities in Roanoke Rapids and the surrounding area. Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport Roanoke Rapids Lake Roanoke Rapids is a major partner in this modern general aviation airport which serves corporate and general aviation travel in the Roanoke Valley Adjacent to Roanoke Rapids, this 4,600 acre lake with over 50 miles of shoreline offers unique waterfront living options and unlimited recreational opportunities 14

Significant Capital Investments A pro-business climate and unique natural resources are the stimulus for commercial and other business opportunities. WestRock Paper & Packaging Roanoke Rapids Theater WestRock s Roanoke Rapids mill produces Kraft paper and is a major economic engine for the area This 1,500 seat live performance theater is the entertainment anchor at I-95 Exit 171 15

ROANOKE RAPIDS OPPORTUNITY ZONE Investment in roads and other infrastructure are fostering new business investments 16

Roanoke Rapids OZ Focus 3,469 Opportunity Zone Population Roanoke Rapids Population 22% of City s population in Zone 1,385 Total Households 6,179 Daytime Population $33,792 Median Household Income 1,560 Housing Units 46.4% Owner Occupied 53.6% Renter Occupied 11.2% Vacant 36.3% Minority Population 27.39% of the Zone s population live in poverty 17

Roanoke Rapids Opportunity Zone Assets The Rapids Opportunity Zone offers sound investment potential for residential, commercial, institutional, and entertainment/destination development. Interstate 95 Exit 173 gateway to Opportunity Zone 40,000 cars a day North/South Established visitor destination Established commercial development area Nationally Accredited North Carolina Mainstreet City Main Street Roanoke Rapids Halifax Regional Medical Center Large Water & Sewer Capacities High Speed Internet Fiber CSX Class A Rail Line Available commercial, industrial and warehousing/distribution sites Diverse neighborhoods and housing development options 18

OZ Investment Strategy A combination of neighborhood redevelopment, new affordable housing options, and business development strategies Preserving and building affordable housing is a major investment opportunity in Roanoke Rapids Commercial business development utilizing existing buildings and vacant properties Adaptive Reuse of vacant properties in the Main Street Business District Capitalizing on Opportunity Zone assets near the Interstate 95 corridor Leveraging existing programs such as New Market Tax Credits (NMTC), Historic Properties Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, NC Building Reuse Grants, Community Development Block Grants, and other funding streams Existing CDE is a vehicle to NMTC Halifax County Community Development Alliance, Inc. april@treyresearch.com 19

Roanoke Rapids OZ Investment Opportunities The Roanoke Rapids Opportunity Zone s assets consist of Interstate visible commercial sites, existing buildings ready for reuse, unique Main Street buildings, and housing development opportunities. Six Mile Sites Rite Aid Building Existing sites near I-95 at Exit 173 offer outstanding potential for commercial business development State funding is available to renovate and repurpose vacant buildings 20

Roanoke Rapids OZ Investment Opportunities Exit 173 is considered as the halfway stop between New York and Florida for travelers on Interstate 95. These travelers spend $97 million annually in local hotels, restaurants and other businesses in the Roanoke Rapids Area. Lone Star Building Main Street Roanoke Rapids Existing properties near Interstate 95 are prime location options and offer high visibility The Main Street Roanoke Rapids District s historic assets are ideal for adaptive reuse for housing, retail and commercial 21

CONTACTS For more information regarding investment opportunities in the Roanoke Rapids Opportunity Zone, please contact: Cathy A. Scott, Executive Director Halifax County Economic Development Commission Phone: 252-519-2630 Email: cathyscott@halifaxdevelopment.com Website: www.halifaxdevelopment.com 22