September 2021 Activity Report

September Activity Report 2021 Program Focus Areas Existing Business Activity ̴ Business Recruitment ̴ Real Estate Development Project

Averages Project Averages Active and Missed

Project Activity Stats Active Projects

Projects Added

39 Missed Projects Over Last 12 Months

67 JOBS

1

25

JOBS 217

51

SQUARE FEET

Site Visits

0

1 Project Added 3 Missed Opportunities due to lack of: Available Buildings, Large Site

New

Missed Project Opportunities 12 Month Project Type and Main Reason for Missing

THOUSAND SQUARE FEET 173K

16.5 ACRES

ACRES 45.5

$3.7

Projects by Location

INVESTMENT

MILLION INVESTMENT $91M

Projects by Source

Projects by Type

Retention & Expansion

September 2021

Existing Business Current and YTD Total

7

Activity Since July 1, 2021

UNIQUE VISITS

29

4

FOLLOW UP VISITS

8 Total Visits YTD: 37

Program Stats

14

PARTNER MEETINGS

29

6

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

New Online E-Newsletter Announced Each month we provide an online version of the EDC’s Monthly Activity Report in an e-newsletter. As we continue to utilize our HubSpot Marketing Software, we have been working to create content that is more engaging for our readers. Starting this October 2021, we will provide a paper copy of the Activity Report for those who attend our Board Meetings and a condensed version of the newsletter sent out by email.

We've revamped our Monthly Activity Report E-Newsletter to make it easier to locate important content. We will link interesting online articles, highlight local small businesses, provide new and current project information, share new announcements from within our office as well as any relevant community announcements. You control what you read by clicking the content you want to learn more about!

As activity within the EDC increases, we have discovered that many community members and partners use our information to track changes or discover economic activity within Wilkes County. We encourage you to share these stats by sharing our website www.WilkesEDC.com with anyone who could benefit from our reports.

August Unemployment Rate

4.3%

Down from 4.5% in July

Regional Aug. Rate is 3.9%. State Aug. Rate is 4.3%.

16

15

SOLUTIONS PROVIDED

65

July Unemployment Rate

Retention

September 2021

& Expansion

New Feature Section: “WilCo Shops Local” Each month we will share a small business or industry in our area. They will answer a few questions and give insight into their work or products.

There are so many talented entrepreneurs and driven business owners in our county!

This month we is of Seth Cohn, owner of Dooley's, and TwoBoros Brewery in Wilkesboro. On this month’s e-newsletter, we will share a video interview with Cohn. This was shot as part of the Startup NWNCWilkes County Next Generation Entrepreneurs program. We encourage you to learn more and get involved with this group by visiting their Facebook page. WilCoNGE meets the last Wednesday of each month at the TwoBoros Brewery in Wilkesboro from 5-7pm.

LEAPForward Program Update As part of the LEAP Forward initiative, we will develop the Wilkes Commercial Business Center, a 31,200 square foot flex multi-tenant building for commercial or light industrial use on a 4.8-acre site. The building will be leased at a discount rate to new or existing businesses for three years before advancing to market rate. Occupants can remain or grow into a larger location within Wilkes upon availability.

We are currently in the bid process with several General Contractors.

Each month we will provide an update to our Board Members and in the e-newsletter. If you have any questions about the process or want to get involved, contact us today.

Fall 2021 Entrepreneurial Grant Program Opens Our goal has been to hold the Entrepreneurial Grant Program twice a year in the Spring and Fall. Thanks to several funding sources, we are excited to announce that the Fall 2021 Grant is now open and accepting applications! Like in the Spring program, applicants are asked to provide a Business Plan and 3-5 minute Video Pitch to inform the judges’ panel of their plan to use funds if chosen for the grant. Applications will remain open until November 1st, followed by a meeting of judges to determine finalists. The chosen finalists will present to EDC staff and panel in-person with winners being announced in the December 2021 Board Meeting. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Fall Sponsors; without them this would not be possible. If you are interested in sponsoring this program, please contact us.

July Unemployment Rate Ju