“We understand we’ve got to have communication with Virginia,” he told city and county leaders at Roanoke Rapids city hall. “We want to have contact with economic centers of the region just like Rock Hill did with Charlotte.”

The problem, the governor said, is North Carolina’s high gas tax, which has a negative impact on the transportation industry. “Virginia’s gas tax is a big zero. The dilemma is trucks are not going to want to fill up in North Carolina.”

The governor believes the solution is to explore natural gas options and offshore opportunities. “I need your help to keep pushing that.”

McCrory told officials manufacturing needs to come here. The governor’s office is looking at economic regions and understanding corridors are a way to spur growth. “The dilemma is the gas tax. We don’t have an answer for that.”

Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott said the public-private partnership created in the county is important and urged the governor to continue working with rural areas.

Sherry Hux, director of the Main Street program, told the governor, “We’ve lost so many jobs in textiles. Downtowns are important. Quality of life issues are crucial.”

“You’re talking to a former mayor,” McCrory responded. “If you’re living room is in distress people are going to assume your region is in distress.”