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Albemarle Director of Planning and Development Services Kevin Robinson presented the quarterly report on new and existing businesses in the city at Monday’s meeting of Albemarle City Council.

The report, which covers the period from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019, includes two business
relocations, three changes in ownership and seven new businesses, accounting for a total of 41 new jobs implemented during the three-month period.

Robinson noted that new ownership of Harmanco’s has resulted in eight new jobs.

“They have expanded some of their services at the restaurant,” he said.

Expansion at Lawncare Mechanical, at 1117 Efird St., created four new positions as well, according
to Robinson.

“We have a slightly smaller number of new businesses for this quarter,” said Robinson, noting that he has been unable to obtain employment numbers from one of the new firms (Roll and Bowl, on the N.C. 24-27 bypass).

“We have tried and tried to no avail, but we will get the information and include it in any updates we do,” he said.

Even without a response from Roll and Bowl, the seven remaining new businesses have accounted for 29 new jobs within the city, he said.

“We have three new auto and RV dealerships (Albemarle Truck and Auto, Kevin’s Auto and West Family RV) that have been added,” he said, “as well as Pelican’s Snowballs, which will be located in the former ‘Salsa Mama D’s’ (Good-O/Putt-O) facility.”

“The Save the Children Head Start, which is replacing another former day care at 405 Davis St., and The Reserve Apartments (located on Woodhaven Drive) are bringing some new full time positions as well,” Robinson said.

Statistics provided by Robinson indicate that for the entire 2019 calendar year, 261 new jobs have been created in Albemarle. This is slightly down from the 325 created during 2018, and nearly equal to the 268 generated in 2017.

The calendar years of 2017, 2018 and 2019 all have shown an increase of more than 300 percent over that of 2016, when only 78 new positions were generated.