Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) has released their Quarterly Progress Report highlighting their activities and initiatives in the areas of economic development, community development, and workforce development for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

MCEDP recently unveiled their new business name, logo, and website as part of a focused rebranding initiative to strengthen their business identity and create a sophisticated and cohesive brand for the organization.

“We are very proud of our new brand and feel it will help us put our best foot forward as the economic development agency for Moore County,” said President of MCEDP Natalie Hawkins in a press release. “We hope when people visit our website (www.moorecountyedp.org) to view the Quarterly Report, they will take some time to look around the new site.”

Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion 

This quarter, MCEDP engaged in the following significant initiatives and activities in the area of Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion (BRE):

• MCEDP’s BRE team visited three local businesses this quarter. “These visits often also include representatives from several partnering agencies and focus on learning the business’ needs and concerns that we and our partners may be able to assist with,” said Darryn Burich, MCEDP’s Business Development Director, in a press release. MCEDP is assisting one company with applying for a Building Reuse Grant to facilitate an expansion. 
• MCEDP announced a recruitment win in February: Bulldog Pipe’s project in Aberdeen representing $6.8 million in investment and 55 new jobs over 5 years. MCEDP was instrumental in helping the company obtain over $400,000 in state incentives including a $125,000 Building Reuse Grant awarded to the Town of Aberdeen.
• Client interest in Moore County continues to be at historically high levels with MCEDP receiving 25 business leads this quarter. Active projects this quarter collectively represent over 170 jobs, more than 188,000 square feet of business space, and over $14 million in investment.
• MCEDP was successful in securing a $200,000 loan from Moore County and the Town of Aberdeen each for the purchase of the 73-acre parcel in the Iron Horse Industrial Park in Aberdeen. 
• The Duke Energy Foundation awarded MCEDP a $100,000 grant to support small businesses in Moore County. MCEDP passed the funds to the Moore County Chamber of Commerce who will administer the grant program. Small businesses with less than 100 employees and that have a storefront in Moore County will be eligible to apply. 
• MCEDP’s Entrepreneurship Task Force is organizing an Entrepreneurship Summit to be held on Nov. 14 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst. The Summit will be co-sponsored by MCEDP, Moore County Chamber of Commerce, and Sandhills Community College's Small Business Center. 

Workforce & Community Development / Other Activities

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

• MCEDP continues to work collaboratively in planning and scheduling meetings for local employers, community leaders, and workforce development partners. On Oct. 6, MCEDP and other partners will co-host Moore County’s 2nd annual National Manufacturing Day celebration which will include a breakfast and informational meeting for local manufacturers, and tours of local manufacturing businesses for Moore County Schools students.
• FirstHealth of the Carolinas hosted MCEDP’s Moore 100 group at their new Cancer Center on March 1. Moore 100 members and guests got a private tour of the state-of-the-art comprehensive Cancer Center before it officially opened for its first patients in late March. The next Moore 100 Members Meeting will be on June 21.

The full Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 can be viewed on the Moore County EDP website.