News & Press
- STATESVILLE-MOORESVILLE AGAIN SETS PACE FOR BUSINESS GROWTH IN 2008
- 03/09/2009
Statesville, North Carolina - March 9, 2009 - Statesville-Mooresville, North Carolina, regained its number one micropolitan community ranking in 2008 for new and expanding facilities by Site Selection magazine, the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council. These Iredell County communities have achieved the top ranking four out of the past five years.
Statesville-Mooresville had an excellent year in 2008, with a total of 17 projects and total new capital investment of $ 377 million.
"New capital investment and job creation is critical to the ongoing success of Iredell County," said Godfrey Williams, chairman of the Iredell County Commission. "Our past success is impressive and we can build off of this success to overcome what we are facing today as a result of the weak national economy."
Statesville-Mooresville is a key employment center in the Charlotte Region for industrial, headquarters/back office and motorsports. The area has seen a tremendous population growth over the past several years providing companies with a solid workforce along with unmatched quality of life, outstanding educational system, and excellent highway accessibility and low operating costs.
"We appreciate the recognition," said Bill Thunberg, Town of Mooresville Mayor. "Our area benefits from a strong partnership between the Town, County and the private sector as we seek to create job opportunities and investment. It is a great place to do business."
Although all of the 17 projects are important, the following announcements were especially significant in terms of jobs and investment. In Statesville: Providencia USA, 250,000 sq ft, $133 million invested; and Lowes Planogram training facility, 298,000 sq ft, $10.4 million invested. In Mooresville: motorsports related announcements adding up to 319,000 sq ft, $34.5 million invested; Carolina Beer and Beverage, 300,000 sq ft, $11 million invested; and Lakefield Corporate Center, 250,000 sq ft, $15 million invested.
"While this is a testament to our extraordinary economic development efforts, it says even more about our city's efforts to make Statesville the most appealing place imaginable for all of its citizens, whether in business, industry or as residents," said Costi Kutteh, mayor of Statesville. "We continue to work in partnership with groups that make Statesville more accessible as a place to live, work and play, including our governmental and quasi-governmental partners, educational systems. Our future is even brighter than our present."
The Greater Statesville Development Corporation (GSDC) and the Mooresville South Iredell Economic Development Corporation (MSIEDC) are the economic development organizations working towards attracting new business and assisting existing business in Iredell County. They have held steadfastly to the belief that, while business in Iredell County and the entire country are feeling the effects of the downturn in the economy, the local economy is relatively strong compared to other areas in the region and the country.
"The development and creation of MSIEDC has allowed us to enhance our focus on economic development in Mooresville South Iredell County," said Harry Davis, chairman of MSIEDC. "This achievement could not happen without the strong public and private support our organization receives."
The MSIEDC is a private/public partnership that receives support from the Town of Mooresville and Iredell County. In addition, MSIEDC's Partners in Progress represents a strong private sector involvement, both financially and through its volunteer efforts.
"Considering the 2008 economy, we were very pleased to learn of our selection again as the # 1 micropolitian area in the country," said Bill Leach, chairman of GSDC. "This re-affirms the attractiveness of Statesville-Mooresville for locating and expanding a business."
The GSDC is also a private/public partnership that receives support from the City of Statesville, Town of Troutman and Iredell County. Its private sector support is led through the Greater Statesville Area Committee of 100 which provides private sector financial support as well as volunteer support.
Statesville and Mooresville are combined into a single Micropolitan area for statistical purposes by Site Selection magazine (Micropolitans are cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000). Iredell County is unique in that it has two economic development organizations working to grow private investment and jobs for one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina.
115 East Front Street, Statesville, NC 28677
Phone:704.871.0062 Fax:704.871.0223 Email: info@greaterstatesville.org Site Map