TransPark region switches identities.

• Author: Martin, Edward
• Position: Kinston's public-private economic-development - Brief Article

Critics have called Kinston's airport/industrial park Global Trailer Park and Global TransPork. But the jokes are over for the public-private economic-development partnership that includes the project. North Carolina Global TransPark Region -- 13 counties around Kinston -- is changing its name to North Carolina's Eastern Region.

The new name "geographically highlights where we are," says David Barker, chairman of the partnership. "Global TransPark doesn't mean a thing to a lot of people."

"You can't shake the negative image by changing the name," says Howard Lee, co-chairman of the state Senate Appropriations Committee. The Chapel Hill Democrat says the project hasn't lived up to its promises. His committee is studying shutting it down.

The TransPark was created in 1990, but has generated only a few hundred jobs, despite $78 million in government support. High hopes for the TransPark...