State doles out millions for Rockingham’s proposed horse park

By Heather Smith

Published: July 14, 2008

The General Assembly has finalized the state’s 2008-09 budget, and it includes something special for Rockingham County.

County Manager Tom Robinson said the state plans to give $2.4 million toward funding the Horse Park of the South. The appropriation is part of the state’s capital building fund, meaning it will not need to be paid back to Raleigh.

Robinson said the appropriation brings total funds to $5.9 million, more than halfway to the project goal of $10 million.

Though an impressive amount, Robinson said he and the advisory committee think it prudent to have a little more in the bank before breaking earth.

“I’d like to have about $10 million available to make sure we’re where we need to be,” Robinson said. “But I think $5.9 million is enough to show people that we’re moving forward.”

Rep. Nelson Cole, who said he believed the equestrian center could urge on economic change in Rockingham County, brought the appropriation before the General Assembly.

“This is going to get the project on go and as we start developing plans, I anticipate we’ll begin to see interest from a tremendous number of entrepreneurs who want to contribute,” Cole said.

Construction of the equestrian center not only means specialized businesses catering to horse owners will open, but it may boost income to hay farmers, florists, innkeepers, mom-and-pop restaurants and an unpredictable assortment of people.

“We really needed something to get business going in Rockingham County, and I think the horse park is something that would benefit everybody,” Cole said. “When you talk about owning and working with horses, it entails people from all walks of life.”

Robinson hopes a horse park can do for Rockingham County what it did for Starkville, Miss. Ten years ago, Arma Salazar, vice president of tourism for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, said the Mississippi Horse Park opened just outside of town. Starkville was slow to bloom, even though it is home to Mississippi State University. Salazar said it was 1999 before a restaurant ventured down Main Street and opened its doors. Now, the university and the equestrian events keep the town busy.

“It went from this little dot on the map to now we’re actually known for the events that happen here,” Salazar said.

Though it was not an overnight success, Salazar said as word spread about events held at the park and Starkville’s hometown charm, the local economy grew. As it strengthened, the park grew along with it.

“It is very professional and they’ve had to expand twice in the last ten years since it opened,” Salazar said. An additional barn, 150 new RV parking spots and a halter track were added during two waves of park expansion.

“Well, typically a horse park or an agri-center doesn’t make much money on its own,” she said. “But the marketing director has done a really good job of promoting the park.”

Shrewd business leaders at the park schedule events to last several days so attendees spend more money on hotel rooms, meals and entertainment in downtown Starkville. Money spent by event attendees help merchants through income and the town through collected sales tax.

“It’s given more business to places that don’t have anything to do with horses, like gas stations, dry cleaners, gift stores and bunches of others,” Salazar said.

Robinson told the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners about Cole’s proposition to the General Assembly during the board’s May 19 meeting. Then, Robinson hoped that appropriation would total $5 million. Though the amount approved was less than half that, Robinson is not complaining.

“That was our goal initially, but it was a more realistic opportunity to secure $2.4 million, and we’re very thankful for it,” Robinson said.

Rather than see the reduced appropriation as a loss to the county, he sees any appropriation as Raleigh’s belief in the equestrian center to spur economic development. Its reinforcement will not go unnoticed by others, Robinson said.

Already, Rockingham County has forged partnerships with other organizations to enrich the horse park’s purpose.

“As we were looking for additional funding for the project, we found that A&T was pursuing a parallel path,” he said. “As we began discussing plans, we were amazed how the projects fit together.”

That partnership, Robinson said, will bring more funding opportunities as the county and the university develop educational programs and business potential.

“I think it opens doors for public as well as private funds,” Robinson said. “We really can only benefit from this partnership. It’s a win-win situation.”

The success does not come without a sacrifice. During the May meeting, Robinson mentioned to commissioners the possibility of hiring a lobbyist to strengthen the county’s chances of getting state assistance. Commissioners unanimously agreed to allow Robinson to spend up to $30,000 on lobbyist services, though he commented that it may be less.

“As I told the commissioners when we were discussing this, it’s kind of like being in the red zone during a football game. You don’t know if you’re going to score, but you hate to not try,” Robinson said.

The county engaged the services of former Sen. Sandy Sands, whom Robinson said was paid $20,000 in an advance from the county.

“Senator Sands was extremely effective in showing senators and representatives why this is such an integral project for Rockingham County,” Robinson said.

As the economy slows and unemployment rates rise, many county and city governments have upped taxes and laid off employees to balance budgets. Rockingham County’s 2008-09 budget cut 12 positions and commissioners agreed that next year’s budget should be leaner. When voting, board chair Bert Jones said commissioners understood the bind they were in when they voted to pay for a lobbyist.

“If Rockingham County gets an equestrian center, it will bring tens of millions of dollars to the local economy,” Jones wrote. “Yes, $20,000 is a lot of money, but it is a small drop in the bucket compared to the potential return. The manager felt that it was important that our county show such a level of commitment to the project.”

Though he personally opposes paid lobbyists, Jones said he understood the importance of unified support of the equestrian center.

“In addition to the money in the budget, another key element to success is whether the equestrian center project will receive the funds from the state’s sale of Chinqua-Penn,” Jones wrote. “Many of these same legislators … might be influential factors as university President (Erskine) Bowles and the UNC Board of Governors determine the fate of the Chinqua-Penn funds. ”

When the plantation was sold for $4.1 million to private owners in summer 2006, proceeds went to Chinqua Penn’s deed-holder, N.C. State University. Rockingham County asked that a portion of the $4.1 million be given to the equestrian center fund, but it was instead given back to county residents in a different form.

Rob Nelson, vice president of finance for the UNC system, said $3.86 million of the sale amount was invested in an endowment account. The annual interest is given to Rockingham County students entering state universities in the form of the Penn Family Scholarship.

Nelson said the Board of Governors was aware of Rockingham County’s desire to complete the horse park.

“There has been some discussion with some of the board members to revisit their June 2006 decision, but there has been no action to do so,” Nelson said.

Staff writer Heather J. Smith can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 16.