Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/130240
Businessman Sees Growth as Boon for Existing Industry by ERINN CRIDER manufacturing." For more than 30 years, McCune Technologies has provided the Despite the losses that the community has faced in recent years, it has Fayetteville area with quality metal fabrications. By definition, metal also made tremendous progress. Fayetteville is continuously growing and fabrication is "the building of metal structures by cutting, bending developing into a center of arts and commerce, and assembling processes," but McCune and the upcoming changes to the area can only Technologies does so much more. Not only serve to improve the community even more. does the company provide the community "Within North Carolina, Fayetteville is with quality metalworking, it supports the the perfect location. It is close to the beach local people and economy, too. and the mountains, right next to I-95 and For decades North Carolina was known as I-40. There is huge potential for tremendous the manufacturing state. There was a booming growth in Cumberland County. There is a economy for tobacco, cotton, furniture and new transportation facility in downtown, and jeans. David McCune, the owner for McCune downtown itself has improved by leaps and technologies says, "Hope Mills and Massey bounds over the years. We have the largest Hill used to be mill towns. There were 25 community college in the state, and one of the cotton mills in the area. There was all kinds of largest in the nation," said McCune. "Methodist manufacturing here." University is growing, and Fayetteville State is Sadly, like with the rest of the country, the growing, and Ft. Bragg is a great asset to the area's economy has taken a hit in recent years community. The only thing our area is lacking and manufacturing has suffered. is manufacturing." McCune has a unique perspective on With all the positive changes in the the economy of the area. He is the owner McCune Technologies has been in business in Fayetteville for more community, Fayetteville will be open to the of McCune Technologies, a company that than 30 years. growth of new industry and manufacturing. specializes in miscellaneous steel fabrication; McCune expresses this same sentiment. he is on the board of trustees for Fayetteville "With I-95 going around Cumberland County and Fayetteville, this Technical Community College, on the board of directors for CEED and state will have one of the best infrastructures in the United States when a chairperson on the Cumberland County workforce board. When asked it is finished," he said. "We have a population of 300,000 about the local economy he says, "We need more industry. Of course, we and most cities that would have a road like this would be are thankful for the industry that is here, but we need more. There used to be 13,000 or 14,000 manufacturing jobs in the area. Now there are 5,000 or Richmond, Va., or Washington D.C. ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer, This is a tremendously positive 6,000 jobs. This is the harsh reality of the area, but we are very thankful for COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. improvement in development." the manufacturing that is still here. This area has a great demographic for Celebrating 43 Years of Service. Thank You Fayetteville For Your Support 3603 Clinton Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28312 (910) 483-6004 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 15-21, 2013 UCW 13