INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
Golden Leaf Grants Fund Industrial Site Readiness
In 2021 and 2022, Economic Development was awarded two Golden Leaf SITE grants to assist in preparing two sites (Reidsville Industrial Park and Eden/Rockingham New Street site) to be cleared and graded for 15 acre pad ready sites. Reidsville Industrial Park was completed this past year and Eden/Rockingham New Street will be completed Fall 2024 These publicly owned sites allow Rockingham County to now offer several shovel-ready site options for industrial companies looking to locate here
Drylock Technologies Announces $26.9M Investment
Drylock Technologies, a Belgium-based, hygiene company, announced February 28, 2024 they have selected Rockingham County as their first U S Baby Care Manufacturing Site This announcement brings with it 113 new jobs and more than $26 9M in investment over 3 years and more then $30M and 150 jobs in 5 years
Nestle Purina Celebrates Grand Opening
Nestle Purina celebrated the official grand opening of its Eden location on March 26, 2024 The new Purina factory in Eden has already created more than 350 new positions and is also generating significant commercial tax revenue for the City of Eden and Rockingham County
Makes Great Strides in Construction of its Facility
Farmina Pet Foods announced December 8, 2020 its plans to open their first U S facility in Reidsville The Italian pet food company officially broke ground in ember 2022 and has been working tirelessly to build state-of-the-art facility from the ground up Today, he 150,000 square foot facility stands prominently in Reidsville Industrial Park, with the majority of its exterior construction complete
Envision Youth Career Expo
Economic Development, in collaboration with Rockingham Community College and Rockingham County Schools, hosted the first annual Envision Youth Career Expo in October 2023 There were more than 60 business participants showcasing Rockingham County career opportunities through hands-on activities Approximately 1,500 Rockingham County (public, private, and homeschool) 7th and 10th grade students visited the Expo
LevelUp Rockingham Created for Workforce Development
Economic Development staff worked with a national marketing firm, Honestly , to create LevelUp Rockingham County LevelUp Rockingham County aims to bring more awareness to the career pathways and workforce resources available to teenagers and young adults in Rockingham County. This initiative brings an informative website and marketing materials to be used by the Workforce Development Manager to be hired in FY 2024-25
Paxton Patterson Labs Implemented in RCS
Paxton Patterson Labs provide students with hands-on, collaborative experiences in career exploration Initially piloted at Reidsville and Holmes Middle Schools, this innovative program has now expanded, thanks to funding from the ETWI Grant, Economic Development manages Rockingham County Schools has been able to extend the program to Western Rockingham and Rockingham Middle Schools while also adding two new modules to the labs at Reidsville and Holmes Middle Schools
Golden Leaf Funds Awarded for Workforce Development
In February 2024, Rockingham Community College received $800,000 in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation for a collaborative workforce development project with Rockingham County Economic Development & Rockingham CountySchools.ThisprojectwillhelpRockinghamCountyStudentsexplore careersatayoungageandclearlydefinepathwaystothreehigh-demandcareer fieldsincludingadvancemanufacturing,constructiontrades,&healthcareThese fundswillcoverfacultypositionsforRCC’sWelding&ConstructionTrades programaswellastheCounty’sWorkforceDevelopmentManagerposition
SMALL BUSINESS
Farmina
$93.86
total in total visitor spending 2022-2023
Tourism Unveils Visit RoCo Branding
In December 2022, Rockingham County Tourism Development Authority unveiled their new brand, Visit RoCo. The new brand was put in place to give Rockingham County Tourism its own, distinguished identity Since the launch, Visit RoCo staff have worked diligently to promote the Visit RoCo brand through various media outlets including print, radio, and television, as well as through highly sought after RoCo swag
New RoCo Quilt Trail Guide
Visit RoCo announced the release of the completely revamped RoCo Quilt Trail Guide The RoCo Quilt Trail Guide replaces the previous Rockingham County Quilt Trail Road Trip guide with a fresh new look, layout, and suggestions for must-visit locations along the way. The new guide is designed to allow followers to experience more of Rockingham County, including places to eat, sip, shop, and play, while exploring the Quilt Trail
Visit RoCo Celebrates Year of the Trail
Rockingham County was excited to participate in the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in North Carolina history The Board of Commissioners signed a proclamation during the Dec 5th, 2022 commissioners meeting. RoCo partnered with municipalities, local organizations, and trail champions to host events and programs that highlighted our local trails and outdoor spaces Rockingham County hosted over 40 events out on the trails, and was 1 of 20 counties to hit that milestone
Blueway Signs Mark RoCo Blueway Access Points
Blueway signage was placed this year, under the existing brown, NCDOT water access recreation signs within Rockingham County Placement of the Blueway Signs is an integral port of phase II of the Blueway Branding initiative, which is centered on strengthening brand awareness and most importantly, ensuring blueway goers can easily identify when they are utilizing a RoCo Blueway river or lake access point
$373,210.18
FY23-24wasapivotalyearforouroffice,asweremained committedtodiversifyingRockinghamCounty’seconomy throughtargetedeffortsinindustrialrecruitment,smallbusiness support,andtourismpromotion.Keyinitiativesincluded infrastructureandsiteenhancements,activerecruitmentofnew industries,andfosteringstrategicpublic-privatepartnershipsto drivebusinessgrowthandbolsterworkforcedevelopment
Oursuccessisreflectedintheexpansionofnewresidential developmentsandastrengthenedindustrialbase,bothofwhich havecontributedtopopulationgrowthandanexpandedtax base Beyondrecruitment,wecontinuetocollaboratewith existingindustries,ensuringtheyhaveaccesstoaskilledworkforce Byworkingcloselywith RockinghamCommunityCollegeandRockinghamCountySchools,wearealigningcareer pathwayswithindustryneedstomeetfutureworkforcedemands
Tourismremainsacornerstoneofoureconomicstrategy LeveragingRockingham's outdoorrecreationalassetsandnaturalattractionshasresultedinrecordoccupancytax revenueandgeneratedover$3millioninlocalsalestaxrevenue,underscoringthe economicvalueoftheseefforts
Thesecollectiveachievementsdemonstraterobusteconomicgrowthandlaythe foundationforcontinuedsuccessintheyearsahead
Top Industrial Employers
Unifi,Inc
GildanActivewearEden,Inc
Sturm,Ruger&Co Inc
DoradaFoodsFormallyKeystoneFoods
NestlePurina
GildanYarns(2locations)FormallyFrontier
HennigesAutomotive
MabeTrucking
SouthernFinishing
McMichaelMills
Ontex
PineHallBrickCo Inc
PressGlass-GlassDynamics
WeilMcLain
AmcorTobaccoPackaging
Milliken(FormerFrontier)
ArmorExpress
BridgestoneAircraftTire(USA),Inc
Guy&O’Neill
PellaCorporation
SansTechnicalFibers,LLC
GlobalTextileAlliance
BetaFuelingSystems
REGIONAL RECOGNITIONS
CongratulationstoourDirector,LeighCockram,forbeing namedoneoftheTriadBusinessJournal'sPowerPlayersin NovemberandOutstandingWomeninBusinessinFebruary.
PowerPlayer:Leighwasoneof80leadersacrosstheregion toberecognizedforbeingthemostinfluentialindividuals responsibleformovingtheTriad’seconomyforward.
OutstandingWomeninBusiness:Thishonorrecognizes25talentedTriad leadersineducation,healthcarenonprofits,banking,andprofessionalservices CongratulationsLeigh!Wearesoveryproudofyou!
Congratulations to The Rockingham County Tourism Development Authority on being presented the Dan River Basin Partnership Award The Partnership Award is presented to an organization, municipality, or state organization that has shown dedication to DRBA’s mission through collaboration, participation, and collective action TDA has been a long-time partner of DRBA and provided significant resources, including funding, to help promote recreation in Rockingham County Congratulations Rockingham County TDA
Unemployment Rate Has Decreased from 4.2% in 2022 in 2024
3.5%
Annual Average Wage has Increased
$38,563 in 2022 to
$43,892 in 2024
Nylon&CoveredYarns
WarehouseDistributionKnitwear
GunManufacturer
ProcessedChicken
PetFood
Yarnforknitting&weavingtrades
AutomotiveSeals
Trucking-MotorFreightServices
CustomMoldedBedRails
CoveredYarn
MfgDiapers
ClayBrickPaversBrick
FabricatedFlatGlass
Industrial&CommercialBoilers
PrintingofTobaccoPackaging
Yarnforknitting&weavingtrades
BulletProofBodyArmor
AircraftTires
WetWipes
WindowandDoorManufacturer
IndustrialNylon6-6Fibers
Textiles
AircraftGrndSupportEquipment
CITIZENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Board of Directors
BillLester,Chairman
LKCEngineering,PLLC
DonPowell,1stVceChar PowelandAssociates
AmyBrown,2ndViceChair FirstNationalBank
PamCundiff
Secretary/Treasurer TraveConsutants
Dr.MarkKinlaw,Executve BoardRepresentatve RockinghamCommunity ColegePresdent
LeighCockram,Executive BoardRepresentatve CenterforEconomc DeveopmentSmalBusness &ToursmDirector
EdenArea KellyStultz CityofEden
JonathanJobe HomeTrustBank
ReidsvilleArea
JohnMorrison
NewAtlantc MacWilliams RedsvleInterimDrector ofEconomicDeveopment
WesternRockingham
MickySilvers Retred
AmyRoberts MadisonTownManager
RoCo at a Glance