The event will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the site of the new center, which is located next to the Lowe's Distribution Center in Garysburg.

“We invite the community to join us in launching a project which we believe is truly one which will be transforming for the Northeast region and the state of North Carolina,” Northampton County Economic Development Director and member of the AVRC advisory board Gary Brown said today.

“When completed the AVRC will be the only independent proving ground and research center of its kind on the East Coast,” states a release announcing the formal groundbreaking. “With strong support from the state of North Carolina, it will offer new opportunities for automotive companies in the region.”

The Center, which is being constructed in cooperation with Lotus Engineering Inc., and North Carolina State University, will provide automotive testing tracks as well as capabilities for the research of hydrogen and other alternative fuels.

In addition to $7.5 million in funding from the state of North Carolina, and a land-agreement with Northampton County, the AVRC has received financial awards from the Golden Leaf Foundation as well as the $3 million in engineering services from Lotus.

“A key element of our model is the partnership between private and public organizations,:” AVRC Executive Director Dick Dell said in the announcement. “We have developed the AVRC to offer a truly independent research and development proving ground that serves the community and advances auto research.”

The first phase of the center is schedule to open in the fourth quarter of this year. Brown has predicted the facility could bring in about 2,000 new jobs to the area.