TLC Initiative to encourage spending in Lenoir County

The Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce is looking to improve the community for current residents while creating a welcoming environment for new ones.

The Think Lenoir County (TLC) initiative — originated in 2009 — encourages people to invest in the community by purchasing goods and services as well as live in the area.

The initiative is a two-part plan and is represented by green and red logos, which are displayed on or close to many businesses in the area.

The Green plan focuses on getting residents to spend money in Lenoir County. A portion of county sales taxes go to essential needs for the community such as teachers, policemen, firefighters and maintenance for roads and buildings.

Dan Sale — chairman of the Chamber’s Business and Tourism Committee and owner of Sale Auto Mall — expressed the importance of keeping money in the county, going with the motto of the Green initiative: the buck stays here.

“If you can buy a product in Lenoir County, do it,” Sale said. “If you buy outside of the county, the sales taxes will go to building up another area’s community.”

Sale feels as though TLC can educate the residents who may not be informed about the importance of spending in Lenoir County.

“This is not common knowledge for a majority of the population,” Sale said. “This is why we have this initiative, so we can convince people to use the goods and services in the community to make it stronger.” 

Scott Crocker, vice president of the Young Professionals of Lenoir County and a Chamber member, has voiced the unanimous support of TLC by the committee.

“Getting people to spend money in Lenoir County as much as possible stays at the top of everyone’s minds,” Crocker said. “We feel as though if you’re loyal to the small businesses, it snowballs. Our tax dollars stay here and helps small business grow.”

As a partner in W.A. Moore Insurance, Crocker can also attest to the advantages the program has in strengthening local companies.

“It’s a wonderful program,” Crocker said. “I’m a small business owner myself and I would rather have someone go to a local insurance company than go online for it. We have a lot of goods here in the county.”

The TLC Red plan shows off Lenoir County to potential newcomers as a great place to live. A group called the Red Carpet Committee does its part in the program by matching interested newcomers with those who enjoy the same hobbies and events to create a common bond.

The Red Carpet Committee will show new residents around the area and stay in contact with them throughout several months in an effort to have them feel welcome in Lenoir County.

“We have 20 different families in the Red Carpet Committee,” Sale said. “This way, new residents can have people with similar interests while feeling more comfortable about the community.”

With these initiatives in the works, Sale believes TLC will be very helpful for Lenoir County.

“I truly believe in TLC,” Sales said. “We have a great program in action and it’s on the move.”

Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and at Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.