2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT
www.WilkesEDC.com
Why Wilkes?
We Value Our Past and Welcome Our Future.
Letters from our Chairmen Hello to All, This past year Wilkes EDC started out with great plans for our community. We were to develop a pad ready site in West Wilkesboro and other projects that would help local employers find qualified associates and keeping pace with competitive wages. COVID-19 changed our course but not our mission. EDC added a new community focus and began to raise funds to help keep smaller businesses operational during the COVID-19 crisis. EDC successfully raised $216,500.00. This was achieved through a coalition of supportive local governments, businesses, foundations and private citizens collaborating on a local grant program. This grant initiative was set in place to help support and save local community jobs and businesses. I feel grateful to live in this caring community of Wilkes. The EDC has great leadership in President - LeeAnn Nixon, Vice President -Robin Hamby and Caroline Bracey. The Board of Directors has elected Brett Cothren as our Chairman for 2020-2021. Brett is a proven leader, businessman and has a strong commitment to the Wilkes County community. It has been an honor to serve as your EDC Chairman and I will continue to support Wilkes EDC and our community as your Past Chairman. Regards, Terry Bumgarner, Past Chairman Welcome, I am honored to be selected to serve as Wilkes EDC’s Chairman of the Board. Being born and raised here in Wilkes County, graduating from North Wilkes High School and Appalachian State University, I have been very fortunate to reside and work in this Great State of Wilkes! I want to extend appreciation to our outgoing Chairman Terry Bumgarner and his leadership. Terry is a tremendous asset to our county and leaves some large shoes to fill. Moving forward, I challenge each of us to look to the future to plan and use synergies of the municipalities and county collaboratively for the betterment of the lives of our fellow Wilkes County citizens. Our current challenges with COVID-19 are not something any of us have ever experienced before but as with past pandemics, this too shall pass….and we are fortunate to live in an area like Wilkes County. We are blessed to have an engaged board of directors as well as our executive staff that has genuine interest in the future of Wilkes County. I look forward to being a part of this group which will navigate us around the obstacles and future challenges that face our county and allow it to expand the economic activity that is so vital to all of us. We all play a part in marketing Wilkes County as we meet and interact with others in a variety of ways. Our future is in our hands, we can’t expect anything to fall in our laps. It will take work! I believe the best is yet to come. I appreciate your support. Sincerely, Brett D. Cothren, Chairman
Why Wilkes?
We Lead Rural Broadband in NC
Contents
Chairmen Comments
Recovery and Marketing Grants
Social Media Metrics
Business Statistics
Year End Activity Report
2020 Board of Directors
2020 Entrepreneurship Grants
Closing Comments
Area Growth
Sponsored Events
Wilkes EDC's mission is to facilitate the creation of new jobs and capital investment in Wilkes County, through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses.
Social Media Metrics
Why Wilkes?
We Build a Strong Workforce
ACTIVITY REPORT July 2018 - June 2019
ACTIVE PROJECT
Project Activity Stats
Averages
98 Jobs
11
21
51
6 New Businesses
Mainly Manufacturing
5 Existing Businesses
8 projects under 100K sq. ft. 13 projects over 100K+ sq. ft. 25-30+ ft. ceiling heights and mostly from EDPNC
Thousand Square Feet
11 Acres
$18 Million Investment
78
Building & Site Development Activity
Why Wilkes?
Projects Missed
Active Projects
24 Projects Moved to Inactive
=
56 Total Opportunities OPPORTUNITIES BY SOURCE
OPPORTUNITIES BY LOCATION
7
OPPORTUNITIES BY TYPE 3
10 9
11
24
12 39
14
30 14
EDPNC
North Wilkesboro
Manufacturing
Direct
Wilkesboro
Other
Partner
County
Distribution
Broker
Commercial
We Travel With Ease
Availability of Site Ready Land & Buildings
Labor Environment
Availability & Cost of Skilled Labor within Reasonable Driving Distance
Market Insights
Highway Transportation Network Proximity to a Major Airport
Location Decision Factors
Quality of Life & Regional Amenities
Strategic Locations between Major Markets State Taxes & Regulatory Policies State-Level & Local Incentives Availability & Cost of Energy
Costs: Living, Real Estate, Construction & Operation
EXISTING BUSINESS ACTIVITY
40
62
102
Follow Up Visits
Unique Visits
217 Partner Meetings
TOTAL VISITS
192 Solutions Provided
WORKING IN WILKES Educator & Business Expo
12 Industries and Small Businesses Booths and Table Top Displays Presentations: LP, Infusion Points, Samaritan’s Purse, Lowes Keynote: Nicole Greer, Vibrant Coaching Trade Skills Panel Resource Partners Involved
Event Sponsor: Wilkes EDC in Partnership with Wilkes County Schools and Spectrum Hospitality Management
Why Wilkes?
We Celebrate Major Employers and Entrepreneurs
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
2020 GRANT WINNERS COOK’S OUTFITTERS
Cook’s Outfitters is a new business owned by Mark Cook. He plans to use the grant funding of $2,000 to open a rental facility at 100 West Main Street in downtown Wilkesboro. This business will rent and repair bicycles, have a small retail space, and soon facilitate kayaking trips on rivers and the lake. Cook’s Outfitters plans to be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting in July with the plans to add days in the near future. For more information, contact Mark Cook at mark@cookssports.com.
STARDUST CELLARS
Located at 4780 Statesville Rd, North Wilkesboro, received $2,500 for bottles and labels for a new line of mead production. Owners Kaitie and Nicolas von Cosmos opened Stardust Cellars in 2018 and specialize in naturally and sustainably produced wines and meads using local ingredients. Their mead is made by fermenting raw local honey in water then allowing it to age. Visit https://stardust-cellars.business.site/ to learn more. The von Cosmos also operate a taproom located at 1202 Curtis Bridge Road in Wilkesboro.
BRUSHY MOUNTAIN GRANOLA
Located in Wilkes, its mission is as simple as its ingredients: “create great tasting snacks that allow us to connect with, energize, and support our fellow life adventurers.” Owner Angela Reynolds, with her family, launched Brushy Mountain Granola Company in March 2020 and plans to use her $2,000 grant award for branded offerings, events, and marketing. Brushy Mountain Granola Company offers nine varieties made with fresh, local ingredients. To learn more or to shop, visit https://www.brushymountaingranola.com/.
Why Wilkes?
We Explore Our Vast Outdoor Beauty
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
2020 GRANT WINNERS THE VINTAGE WORK SHOPPE
The Wilkes EDC awarded The Vintage Work Shoppe $1,000 to purchase equipment to help with social media marketing. Hope Jordan opened the Vintage Work Shoppe in 2016 and specializes in re-purposing furniture with Shabby Chic design elements. Owner/Interior Decorator/Painter, Hope Jordan, specializes in hand painted furniture using mineral and milk paints. The Vintage Work Shoppe is located inside of Key City Antiques in North Wilkesboro. Learn more at http://www.hopejordanatthevintageworkshoppe.com/
HANNA VISTA FARMS
Hanna Vista Farms, which started in 2006 and is owned by Jane Leichter, received $4,000 to purchase a freeze dryer to use in preserving its crop of hops. Hanna Vista Farms in Wilkes has cashmere goats and a llama, which provide fibers for weaving, a hops yard, which will offer its first crop of wet hops later this year, and organically grown strawberries, heirloom tomatoes and a special variety of blackberries. For more information, email jleichter4@gmail.com.
NORTHWEST NC BATTING FACILITY
Brandon York and his wife Jennifer own Northwest N.C. Batting Facility located at 503 C St, North Wilkesboro. The facility, which opened in March 2020, is a self-service indoor batting and pitching facility for baseball and softball players of all ages. It can be used for private lessons and parties. York plans to utilize the $2,000 grant funding to install cooling units and other equipment. To learn more about Northwest N.C. Batting Facility, visit https://www.nwncbattingfacility.com/.
Why Wilkes?
We Enjoy Our Cultural Opportunities
AREA GROWTH Green Mountain Outdoors
Greene Mountain Outdoors and its subsidiary Greene Mountain Powersports is a manufacturer and master distributor for ATV, Can Am, Gator, Kubota, Mule, Prowler, Ranger, RZR and Rhino accessories to the retail public as well as supporting a nationwide dealer network. OEM, military, and law enforcement design are among their specialties. GMO invested in a new manufacturing building, added equipment, performed upfits and added jobs to increase their production. Wilkes EDC assisted in their growth by awarding them $2,500 towards workforce development and building upfits.
Real Estate Development
The Wilkes EDC’s Real Estate Development Committee and Staff completed an environmental scan of potential properties for industrial growth. This led to securing an Option to Purchase with LEAP funds on the best location for further investigation. Next engineering, environmental, and grading studies were performed to evaluate the costs of preparing sites to be ready for industrial development. The site could accommodate both, a 170,000 square feet and 50,000 square feet buildings. Our analysis revealed that the costs to develop the sites due to topo challenges would require local government’s assistance to arrive at an acceptable market value. Additionally, state grants would need to be secured to assist with infrastructure improvements. All findings were presented to local government with potential return on investment and economic impact analysis for their consideration. In the meantime, we continue to market the sites to local and new businesses as a location that could be developed for expansion.
Housing Study
The Wilkes EDC partnered with the Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors (WSRAR) to retain Bowen National Research. The EDC contributed $9,500 along with $5,000 from the WSRAR, and $3,500 from the NC Homeowners Alliance to prepare a Housing Needs Assessment of the county. Statistics and demographic data, along with a list of available properties that could be utilized for housing development, will be a helpful tool to encourage development. The study should be available late August 2020 and guide our path of growth into the new year.
Why Wilkes?
We Enjoy Our Cultural Opportunities
AREA GROWTH North Wilkesboro Water Tank Funding Secured
While JELD-WEN continued to grow its fiberglass door division in North Wilkesboro, the EDC and Town of North Wilkesboro worked together to finalize plans and meet secure grant funding requirements. JELD-WEN’s investment of $8M in equipment and upgrades, along with adding 29+ jobs, aided in securing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $580,000. Additionally, $200,000 was secured from Golden LEAF Foundation to support area growth. The grant funds, in partnership with the Town of North Wilkesboro’s commitment to invest in a water tank, will help bring additional water supply and pressure to JELD-WEN’s facility, as well as many neighboring businesses and residents in the Highway 268 East corridor.
Wilkes County Airport
Wilkes County was awarded a $1,500,000 Economic Development Grant from the NC Division of Aviation for the construction of a new taxiway. This will allow access to a fourth Samaritan’s Purse Hanger that will be built, adding 22,000 square feet under roof while also providing access to future T-Hangars. Additionally, the 2020-2029 NC STIP program has committed funding for a runway extension that will expand the current 6,200 feet to 7,000 feet to allow for larger aircraft. Right-of-Way acquisitions for the expansion will begin in 2022 and construction will follow in 2024.
Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse continues to grow in Wilkes County. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 17th for an additional 3-story 47,000 square foot office building to be constructed near their current 202,000 square-foot warehouse and office complex. The new facility will house 160 employees, including eventually approximately 75 new hires. This will add to their existing team of more than 200 staff members on N.C. 268 East in North Wilkesboro. The new building is scheduled to be completed and occupied by late September 2020.
Notable Projects
Joined by the rivers with a strong sense of community, leadership and opportunity… . we welcome others to call Wilkes
home
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BUSINESS STATISTICS North Carolina
Wilkes County
Cost of Living
213 Ninth Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 336-838-1501 LeeAnn Nixon - President Robin Hamby - Vice President
WEDC FY 2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brett Cothren (Chairman) MECI & Associates, Inc
Gary Daemer (Vice Chairman) Infusion Points, LLC
Terry Bumgarner (Past Chair) Bumgarner Services
Keith Elmore Wilkes County Representative
Russ Ferree
Closing Statement from Our President COVID-19 tends to overshadow this past year’s accomplishments but let’s not miss the opportunity to look back and realize that there is growth and momentum that we can celebrate. I am grateful that we have embraced the changes by jointly adapting to remote technology and our ability to provide support to all size businesses as a community. Moving forward, I challenge us all to continue to work together to help our businesses remain strong by offering our assistance and shopping local for services and products. As we focus on the future, we anticipate our housing study, marketing efforts and continued commitment to develop real estate to spurr economic growth. Together, I am certain that we can overcome obstacles and continue to make Wilkes County a great place to work, live and enjoy its beauty. LeeAnn Nixon President
Wilkesboro Representative
Debbie Ferguson North Wilkesboro Representative
Victor Varela
EDC Sponsored Events 2019-2020
Ronda Representative
Amanda Perry Wilkes Communications/River Street
Dale Isom Spectrum Hospitality Management
George Smith Copper Barrel DIstillery
John Cothren NC Cooperative Extension
Matthew Daye Surrey Bank
Ron Wilcox Samaritan's Purse
213 Ninth Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 336-838-1501 LeeAnn Nixon - President Robin Hamby - Vice President