This isn't that place.

• Author: Harris, Ricky
• Position: ReadersWrite - Letter to the editor

On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and citizens of Robeson County, I am writing to express our extreme disappointment in the depiction of our county. Not only does this article create a false reality but fails to capture the economic advances our county has made. Companies such as Cape Fear Arsenal, Dunkin' Donuts, Firehouse Subs, SpringHill Suites, Chick-fil-A, Trinity Foods, Johnson Brothers Utility & Paving and Steven Roberts bakery have created more than 1,000 jobs in the last two years. You could highlight the additions to Campbell Soup and Mountaire Farms. What you fail to realize is that when negative images of towns like ours--those trying to overcome obstacles of outsourcing and the effects of an economic downturn that continues to hurt our people--are put on display, it does nothing to drive our economic growth. Rather, it can work to prevent industries and businesses from wanting to relocate to our communities, which prevents us from ever moving forward. As a journalist, you have the power to boost morale and shape others' opinions of our great county.

Ricky Harris

county manager, Robeson County, Lumberton

Please help me, an avid reader of Business NC, understand your feature story on Robeson County. Your magazine takes pride in "producing quality, in-depth journalism ... that is always fair, accurate and thorough," but not a single businessperson was quoted. Why does a Fortune 500 company such as Campbell Soup continue to invest millions in their facilities here? What's the strategic thinking behind the new Dominion Resources pipeline or recent additions of Trinity Foods, Steven Roberts Original Desserts and others? Maybe it's because Robeson County is one of the best places in America for agribusiness and distribution. There's no denying that data on poverty, but when a large portion of managers and professors make the half-hour commute from a Southern Pines country club, statistics skew the story. Your socioeconomic history was well done, especially regarding the Lumbees, who, in spite of not having full federal recognition and the associated benefits, are arguably one of the most successful, enterprising tribes in the country. Beyond the lone paragraph of positive progress, you paint an entirely dire picture of dirt roads and decayed factories. We certainly have more than our fair share, but please try to diversify your perspective and narrative next time you visit--for the sake of Robeson County, this magazine's...