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Triple Waves pitches 50–70 local jobs as Washington County moves to transfer Commerce Center
Summary
At a June 6 meeting the Board of Commissioners heard a public hearing from Triple Waves, Inc., which outlined plans to invest in the Commerce Center and hire 50–70 local employees; the Board directed staff to return a resolution for transfer to the high bidder.
Triple Waves, Inc. representatives told the Washington County Board of Commissioners on June 6 that the company plans to invest in and operate the Commerce Center building, creating what they estimated would be 50 to 70 local jobs.
At a public hearing, Sam Styons, a consultant for Triple Waves, said the company and affiliated businesses such as OBX Cleaning have been operating for about 20 years and currently employ about 40 people. Ervin Shperdheja, president of Triple Waves, said finishing the Commerce Center would cost about $350,000 and the firm intends to install $500,000 to $1,000,000 in equipment at the site. "We plan to hire 50–70 employees (hopefully local people)," Shperdheja said.
Shperdheja told the board the new location would use county water and that the company expects most positions to pay about $12–$15 per hour, with technical roles paying roughly $18–$20 per hour. The presenters told commissioners they favored the Commerce Center site because of access to county sewer and water and anticipated running a gas line to the property.
County staff recommended bringing a resolution back to the Board at the July meeting to transfer the Commerce Center to the high bidder. Commissioner William R. "Bill" Sexton Jr. moved to close the public hearing and then moved to direct staff to prepare a resolution approving the transfer to the final high bidder, subject to terms discussed with the county attorney; Commissioner Carol V. Phelps seconded. The motions carried unanimously.
The presentation included a timeline: company representatives said improvements would begin in the fall of 2022 with an opening in spring 2023, and that the company would rely on county utilities. The Board did not vote to transfer the property at the June meeting; instead it instructed staff to prepare formal transfer paperwork for consideration in July.
The Board also reviewed a separate resolution (Resolution 2022-021) approving the sale of a foreclosed property on Weston Road; that resolution passed unanimously after staff confirmed the foreclosing party, Zacchaeus, remained current on payments.
