Out of the past.

• Author: Cummings, Greg
• Position: ReadersWrite - Letter to the editor

If selling risk-averse business investors on the advantages of bringing their companies to Robeson County is a challenge in the 21st century, it certainly hasn't become any easier in the wake of Edward Martin's condescending article (cover story, September). I was excited when I learned we'd be given an opportunity to highlight the progress taking place here: organizations working together to address educational quality, crime, poverty and chronic unemployment; state-of-the-art transportation, telecommunications and utility infrastructure that sets us apart among rural counties; research, curricular and business-partnership programs underway at UNC Pembroke and Robeson Community College; advanced consumer-foods manufacturers like Campbell Soup, Trinity Foods and Stephen Roberts Original Desserts growing jobs and capital investment; economic and community-development initiatives with neighboring counties; and the business-recruitment and -expansion projects that have drawn Gov. Pat McCrory, Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker and other state leaders here several times over the last 18 months. Sadly, Mr. Martin's rambling assessment of our county's fortunes included few of these things. Those that did receive mention appeared more as an afterthought or an aberration. There is...