Residents and leaders in Aurora are looking for options in bringing a grocery store back to its residents.

According to Aurora Town Commissioner W.C. Boyd Jr., he, along with several commissioners and community leaders, are trying to find viable options to provide grocery shopping in the town. The Piggly Wiggly in Aurora, the town’s sole source of groceries, closed in April 2015, according to Boyd.

Boyd said that ever since the store closed, residents in town and from the surrounding area have had a hard time getting access to food and other items, whether through having to travel long distances or not having transportation. The nearest grocery store is in Chocowinity or in neighboring Pamlico County.

So far, Boyd has sparked interest for the issue among local residents and those at the county level who want to help such as Martyn Johnson, Beaufort County Economic Development director, retired educator Barbara Jones and others, Boyd said.

According to Boyd, Jones has reached out to Dollar General, a company that already has a presence in the town, to expand its products to offering meat and produce. Those examining the issue have also looked into the possibility of attracting other chain grocery stores to the area, Boyd said.

Boyd said he and others have done some research about the small Walmart in Oriental, a town in neighboring Pamlico County, which has a somewhat similar population. In 2013, the Town of Aurora had 518 residents, a small number to attract potential grocery store chains. However, if one were to take into consideration the residents of Richlands Township, the area surrounding Aurora, the residents of those in outlying, neighboring areas of Pamlico County and the extensive traffic generated by employees of Potash Corp-Aurora, any grocery store in the town would see sufficient business, Boyd said.

“With that said, it’s a good possibility,” Boyd said. “But we will not give up until we do everything in our power to bring a grocery store back to the town. That’s what I’m pushing for, and I will bring it up at every meeting we have. We’re doing some work right now to hopefully start a petition (to get a grocery store back in Aurora). Aurora has been declining for years now. The reality is what it is, although some people don’t want to admit it. With no grocery store, who wants to move to Aurora?”

Boyd said that attendance at the town board meetings has been high and residents are actively interested in making the town the best it can be.

“People are concerned about growth,” Boyd said. “I think the people will continue to come to meetings just to support another grocery store.”