Sure, Holly Springs has its issues. No town in the county is impervious to the effects of the economy, and traffic and school crowding were highlighted in the recent municipal elections. Still, numerous reasons residents can be thankful can be found in Holly Springs. From safety to the openings of a major pharmaceutical plant and new shopping centers, Mayor Dick Sears shared what he believes residents can be thankful for in Holly Springs this holiday season.

“I think the thing we have to be very thankful for in Holly Springs is simply we’re one of the safest towns to live in in North Carolina for our size,” Sears said.

He said that the data on Holly Springs safety was based on State Bureau of Investigation and Shelby News reports, and he said he is awaiting the 2009 data.

Sears also said that the town’s increase in tax revenues this year – at 10.1 percent – was the most of any town in the county by far.

“We are in the best financial state of any town in Wake County,” he said. “A lot of towns in the county are really struggling with the economy.”

Sears said much of the tax revenue increase in Holly Springs was because of Novartis, a pharmaceutical company that last month officially opened a flu vaccine manufacturing plant in the business park. The plant will employ approximately 350 people and is projected to generate more than $150 million annually for the Holly Springs economy.

Sears said that, even with the incentives the town provided to entice Novartis to Holly Springs, the company’s tax bill has more than covered the town’s debt for incentives this year.

“We’re already ahead of the game,” he said.

Novartis wasn’t the only new business to open in the town recently, either, Sears noted. With shopping centers, banks and other businesses opening, Sears said he is looking forward to construction beginning on New Hill Place, which is to include a Target, bowling alley, movie theater “and all the other stores and restaurants” that go along with it. He said, as far as he knows, construction is to begin in early 2010, though the timing is subject to a variety of conditions. Sears also said he was looking forward to the opening of the town’s first upscale Italian restaurant in Southpark Village at the intersection of the G.B. Alford Hwy. and Avent Ferry Rd. early in the new year.

Sears also highlighted the town project to enhance Main St. near Town Hall. The project is to make downtown Holly Springs more pedestrian friendly with wider sidewalks, additional crosswalks and more. The town is working with the state to reduce speed on the thoroughfare from 35 to 25 mph. Sears said he was thankful for a good turnout for the recent election. Sears was reelected during the election. Voter turnout was about twice that of the previous town council election, Sears said, “which shows people are interested in municipal government.

“As a town I think we should be proud of our town staff, our town board and our citizens who are proactive,” he said.