Catawba County Economic Development Corp.

🎉 We’re thrilled to share the results of the 2024 Wages and Benefits Survey are now available to this year's participants! Over 75 companies participated, representing more than 23,000 full and part-time positions. That’s nearly 15,000 different data points crunched since Memorial Day! 🚀 Here are just a few insightful takeaways: Enhanced Benefits: Catawba County companies are stepping up their game with increased offerings in key areas related to #DEI and physical and mental health programming. Probably the most notable jumps came from retirement-related benefits (e.g., payroll deduction IRA, long term care insurance, financial planning, etc.) as more and more from the #babyboomer move closer to retirement. Training Trends - Comparing 2023 to 2024 and looking ahead: Leadership and Soft Skills consistently top the list, with increased focus on communication and teamwork. Technical skills and training are projected to grow in areas like automation and data analysis over the next 5 years. Optimistic Hiring Outlook - Companies are gearing up for growth: 75% of local companies expect to expand their workforce over the next 12 months, driven by business growth and the need to fill roles left by retirees. This nearly real-time scan continues to stand out as unique in the landscape, offering participants a leg-up when looking at how to best stay competitive in retaining or recruiting talent. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this survey a success and please make us aware (nhuret@catawbacountync.gov) if you did not receive the report in your inbox this week! #WorkforceDevelopment #EmployeeBenefits #HiringTrends #TrainingAndDevelopment #FutureOfWork #CatawbaCountyEDC

After a long time in the making, we are excited to announce that our EDC staff will be returning to our newly-renovated offices at the Hickory Metro Convention Center early next week! After a couple of days of furniture reassembly, unboxing chaos, and battling with technology, we should be up and running by July 24th 🤞. Thank you for your patience over these past several months as we worked to create an updated space to put our best face forward for Catawba County.

Did you catch the July issue of Business North Carolina? It features an exciting spotlight on the growth and activity happening across Catawba County! Don’t miss out on the insights and updates - check it out! Catawba County Government | Catawba Valley Health System | Catawba Valley Community College | Manufacturing Solutions Center | Testing | Prototyping | Furniture Structural | Shurtape Technologies, LLC | The Chamber of Catawba County | Lenoir-Rhyne University | Appalachian State University | Hickory Metro Convention Center | City of Newton | City of Hickory

🚧 Construction is well underway and going vertical at the Hickory Aviation Museum and Catawba Valley Community College's new Workforce Innovation Center at the City of Hickory Regional Airport! This new building will house both vintage military aircraft, preserve aviation history, and provide STEM education and workforce development opportunities for the entire Catawba Valley region. 🛠️✈️ #AviationHistory #STEM #WorkforceDevelopment #CatawbaValley #HickoryAviationMuseum

We are excited to announce that the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), along with lead consultants Site Selection Group, LLC and civil engineering firm Thomas & Hutton, selected the Claremont International Rail Park from more than 60 submissions as one of the inaugural 15 sites for the Selectsite Readiness Program! The North Carolina Selectsite Readiness Program highlights North Carolina's efforts to identify medium-to-large sites (<1,000 acres) best positioned to serve major advanced manufacturing projects. The Claremont International Rail Park stands out with its unique qualities 🚂 and strategic location 🎯, making it an ideal choice for #advancedmanufacturing. 📖 Read the full Selectsite Readiness Report here: https://lnkd.in/ei2tmQkr #EconomicDevelopment #AdvancedManufacturing #SelectsiteReadiness #ClaremontRailPark Catawba County Government | City of Claremont, NC | North Carolina Railroad Company | Norfolk Southern | Mary Lesa Pegg

🇺🇸 We consider ourselves fortunate to work in the community we do, with the freedoms of the nation that we do. As we celebrate Independence Day, let's remember the words of John F. Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." Our offices will be closed in observance of this most American of holidays. Enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July! 🎆 #IndependenceDay #FourthOfJuly #Freedom #Community

🚨 UPDATE (7/3): Due to an unforeseen issue, this event has been postponed to a later date. The CLT Alliance Manufacturing Council is dedicated to supporting and advancing the manufacturing community in the Charlotte Region. Join other manufacturers and distributors from the region for the rollout of the 2024 Manufacturing Labor Report and see how your organization compares to others in the area. Discover how your organization stacks up against others in the region and get insights on wages, turnover, benefits, bonuses, and more. Agenda for the July 31st event at Daimler Truck in Cleveland 8:30 - 9:00 | Networking & Registration 9:00 - 9:15 | Key Takeaways from the 2024 Manufacturing Labor Report 9:15 - 10:00 | Panel Discussion with Industry Experts 10:00 - 11:30 | Tour of the Cleveland Truck Plant (0% waste facility, assembling 78 trucks/day) - Must attend the program to join the tour. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow manufacturers, share best practices, and learn from the best in the industry. Questions? Email Laura Foor at lfoor@charlotteregion.com. #Manufacturing #CLTAlliance #Networking #Innovation #Sustainability #BestPractices #CLTManufacturingCouncil Charlotte Regional Business Alliance

Last week, Scott Millar and Kimberly Propst, MPA had the opportunity to reconnect with peers from across North Carolina's economic development landscape during the North Carolina Economic Development Association Annual Conference. They delved into crucial topics, including the growing role of technology in #siteselection, generational challenges in the workplace, and ongoing energy discussions. These gatherings are invaluable for sharing #bestpractices, fostering relationships, and gaining insights in a relaxed and collaborative setting. #NCEDA #EconomicDevelopment #tomorrowstartstoday #WilmingtonNC

We are thrilled to announce the completion of the Fairgrove Industrial Spec Building in the City of Hickory, NC. This 40,000 square-foot facility, expandable to 80,000 square feet, offers customizable features ideal for light manufacturing. With 28' ceilings, pre-cast concrete walls, and expandable dock options, it's strategically located just miles from key educational hubs, Interstate 40, and within an hour’s drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The building is already getting lots of looks, so hurry to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gYiR8Gzy #industrialrealestate #specbuilding #economicdevelopment #northcarolina #manufacturing Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) | Charlotte Regional Business Alliance | Charlotte Region Commercial Board of REALTORS® |

🚀 Exciting News! Pleneri Opening Innovation Center at the Manufacturing Solutions Center | Testing | Prototyping | Furniture Structural🚀 Catawba County Economic Development Corp. is thrilled to announce the opening of Pleneri's Innovation Center at the Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC) in the City of Conover. Leveraging advanced technology and #sustainability, Pleneri supports designers of all sizes with tools previously only available to large companies. Their platform allows for smaller order quantities and faster time to market, #reshoring textile manufacturing back to the US. This move places Pleneri at the heart of a unique ecosystem of textile innovation. 📲 Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gNZfK3Sb #TextileInnovation #SustainableManufacturing #Reshoring #AdvancedTextiles #Pleneri #MSC #CatawbaCountyEDC