News from Business Wire

Dole Foods Owner David Murdock, State and University Leaders to Announce Details for North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis at 10 A.M. on September 12

Friday, September 09, 2005

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Business Wire) -- Joined by regional, state, and University officials, Dole Food Company and Castle & Cooke, Inc. owner David H. Murdock will announce comprehensive plans for the economic revitalization of the Kannapolis region of North Carolina on Monday, September 12, during a 10 a.m. press conference and community celebration at One Lake Circle Drive in Kannapolis, the site of the former Pillowtex textile plant. Murdock and University of North Carolina President Molly Corbett Broad will outline plans for the development in Kannapolis of the North Carolina Research Campus, a cluster of world-class research centers focused on health and nutrition, as well as related initiatives to foster economic growth and transformation in the state.

With the closure of Pillowtex in July 2003, Kannapolis bore the brunt of the largest mass employment lay-off in North Carolina history. Murdock, who owned Kannapolis-based Cannon Mills before selling the company to Fieldcrest, which later merged with Pillowtex, repurchased the vacant facility and surrounding property last year. The 5.8-million-square-foot complex is now being demolished to make way for the development of the NC Research Campus.

One-on-one interviews with Murdock and other speakers will be available immediately following the press conference in a designated tent adjacent to the stage area. Advance interviews will not be possible.

Directions and Media Parking: From I-85, exit 60 North to Kannapolis on Dale Earnhardt Blvd. Drive 3.2 miles. Turn right at South Main Street. Drive 0.7 miles. A traffic attendant will be on site to direct you to reserved media parking and the media credentialing tent.

Broadcast and sound: UNC-TV will provide a mult box for media outlets attending. For technical questions prior to the event, contact Dick May at (919) 549-7245. UNC-TV also is providing a satellite feed. Satellite uplink information is as follows:

SBS 6
KU transponder 17.
74 degrees West
Downlink: 12117 Horizontal.
Full transponder
L audio 6.2 Mhz
R audio 6.8 Mhz

A test window will appear at 9:30 a.m. on September 12. Event coverage begins at 10 a.m. Direct questions concerning the satellite uplink to Greg Grissom at (919) 549-7249 or (919) 485-3346.

Photography and visuals: A raised platform will be provided for broadcast and still photographers with space available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Filing from Kannapolis: Press packets, architectural renderings, and other assistance will be available in the media tent. For media wishing to file electronically from Kannapolis, computer access and technical assistance will be available after the press conference at the Kannapolis Visitor's Center, located nearby at 200 West Ave.

Alternate rain site: In case of inclement weather, the press conference will be moved indoors to the Gem Theatre, located at 111 W. First Street.

For City of Kannapolis:
University of North Carolina
Joni Worthington, 919-962-4629
worthj@northcarolina.edu
or
Castle & Cooke, Inc.
Lynne Scott Safrit 704-938-5400
lsafrit@castlecooke.com