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Warren County EDC votes to reject NC Main Street plan, directs $35,000 FY27 budget request for strategic planning
Summary
After debate at its Jan. 20, 2026 meeting, the Warren County Economic Development Commission voted 4-1 to reject a strategic plan offered by NC Main Street and Rural Planning and directed Economic Development Director McKinley Perkinson to request $35,000 in the FY27 county budget for a strategic planning effort; one board member argued other providers should be given the opportunity to present.
At its Jan. 20, 2026 meeting in Warrenton, the Warren County Economic Development Commission voted 4-1 to reject the strategic plan offered by NC Main Street and Rural Planning and directed Economic Development Director McKinley Perkinson to request $35,000 in the FY27 county budget to pursue a strategic planning process.
The discussion opened with Chair Claude O'Hagan suggesting that income from the Triangle North Franklin industrial park could fund a more expensive planning process. Commissioner Jim Whitley moved that Perkinson request $35,000 in the FY27 budget. James C. Arrington III argued that, if the board intended to engage a different strategic plan provider, the board should hear another presentation to be fair. Arrington later moved to accept the NC Main Street plan but the motion received no second and stalled. Whitley then amended his motion to reject the NC Main Street and Rural Planning proposal and instruct Perkinson to request $35,000; John Earl Alston seconded the amended motion and it passed 4-1.
The minutes do not record which board member cast the lone dissenting vote. Arrington reiterated his view that members should fully understand what they are voting upon. Perkinson also reported that the FY27 budget presentation to the county commissioners was scheduled for the next day, and she reviewed other director's report items including upcoming work on Hwy 1.
The board recorded no further formal actions on the strategic plan at this meeting; next steps would be determined through the budget process and any future presentations to the board.
