Roanoke Rapids is so poor that it’s citizens, as well as potential businesses entrepreneurs, can’t afford to make a portion of I-95 a toll road, according to the city’s mayor, Drewery Beale.
But, if you asked Mayor Beale about the future of the area, you’d hear a different story. In the same article, Beale uses the many state-assisted economic development initiatives (Carolina Crossroads Music & Entertainment District, Advanced Vehicle Research Center, et al.) as both evidence for the likelihood of regional growth, and the need for continued state funding.
