An air of mystery surrounds a “special announcement” to be made Friday by the Surry County Economic Development Partnership Inc. apparently involving some type of industrial project and new jobs.

Todd Tucker, the president of the primary industrial-recruitment organization in the county, would say only that Friday’s event will be “good news” for the community.

The announcement will be made at 10 a.m. at Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park; however, its exact location also is being kept secret.

Those who have received invitations to the gathering have been told to come to the entrance of the industrial park located off U.S. 601, where they will be directed to the event.

Tucker would not say Tuesday if the disclosure will occur at a site where a company might be building a plant or an existing facility in Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park looking to expand. The economic official explained that he wanted to avoid any kind of premature disclosure that could jeopardize the project in some way.

“We’ll just talk about it on Friday,” he said.

The location of the announcement, Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park, has fueled speculation that it could involve a bakery manufacturer there which has been eyeing an expansion based on information from sources.

That would match the profile of Harvest Time Bread Co. located on Mountain View Lane in the city’s newest industrial park, where a handful of companies are located.

In December, both city and county officials approved economic-incentives packages totaling more than $500,000 for an existing company known officially by the code name “Project Dough.”

It was reported at the time that “Project Dough” was looking to create the equivalent of 38 full-time jobs by December 2015, while retaining 86 existing positions, as opposed to expanding to a location outside Surry County,

However, the bakery manufacturer’s possible ties to Friday’s event could not be confirmed. “Things are moving along well with that,” is all Tucker would say regarding “Project Dough.”

Reports also have surfaced recently that a vodka company is interesting in opening a manufacturing plant here. “I’ve heard that same rumor,” the economic-development official said.

Tucker told the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners during an update Thursday night that local recruitment activity has been brisk of late. “We’ve had a couple of good companies looking recently in Mount Airy and Surry County,” he said.

The city’s batting average in landing prospects was boosted late last year by announcements from Central States Manufacturing, Catalina Tempering and Granite Tactical Vehicles Inc. regarding the launching of operations in Mount Airy.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.