Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) recently released their Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023.

“Our new fiscal year certainly started with a flurry of activity,” said Natalie Hawkins, president of MCEDP, in a press release. “In just the first three months of fiscal year 2024, we responded to 45 business leads, which is already more than half of the total leads we responded to during all of fiscal year 2023. If we continue at this rate for the rest of the year, we will easily surpass the 100 mark for total leads received.”

“Of the 45 leads received from businesses potentially interested in locating in Moore County, MCEDP submitted a property for 20 of them. Collectively these projects represent the potential for more than 1,350 new jobs and over $480 million in capital investment in Moore County,” Hawkins added in a press release.

In addition to efforts to attract and recruit new businesses to Moore County, MCEDP also provides support and resources to local existing businesses to help them thrive and grow. 

“Through our Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program, we welcome any opportunity to engage with Moore County businesses and assist them with any needs they may have,” said Darryn Burich, MCEDP’s Business Development Director, in a press release.

This quarter, MCEDP’s BRE efforts included visiting eight Moore County businesses, connecting an Aberdeen manufacturer to several workforce development partners to help the company launch an apprenticeship program and meeting with two expanding companies that are each looking for sites of 10 acres or more for expansions.

This quarter, MCEDP took several steps toward development of the 73-acre Iron Horse Industrial Park in Aberdeen. MCEDP executed a new Offer to Purchase contract and facilitated the execution of an agreement to obtain the right-of-way needed to construct an industrial road to access the Park. Steps still to be completed before closing can occur later this year include obtaining permits required for the access road to cross a gas line and railroad tracks.

Notable initiatives and activities in the areas of Workforce & Community Development and Other Activities this quarter included:

• The North Carolina state budget recently passed by the General Assembly included $25 million to establish an “Early College” high school on the campus of Sandhills Community College. 
• MCEDP participated in the Rural Community Capacity (RC2) Resource Team’s visit to the Town of Vass in September. During their visit, the Resource Team spoke with town staff, elected officials, state officials and local businesses to identify Vass’ key community needs.

The full Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023 can be viewed on the Moore County EDP 

website.