Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) recently released their Quarterly Progress Report highlighting their activities and initiatives for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

“I’m excited to share that MCEDP finished fiscal year (FY) 2025 celebrating another project win and setting another record for the number of business leads received,” said Natalie Hawkins, MCEDP president, in a press release. “FY 2025 was a productive year as we continued to advance several economic, community and workforce development initiatives in support of our mission to create economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for Moore County’s citizens.” 

Highlighted activities and successes this fourth quarter of the MCEDP fiscal year included:

• In May, handgun manufacturer OA Defense announced their plans to relocate their headquarters and manufacturing operations from Nevada to an existing facility in Robbins and hire 25 employees.
• MCEDP received a record 147 business leads in FY 2025, a 19.5% increase in leads over last fiscal year’s record of 123. 
• MCEDP conducted 30 industry visits to Moore County manufacturing companies and other businesses in FY 2025. These visits enabled MCEDP to support local businesses in a variety of ways including helping three manufacturers secure five engineering interns this quarter through NC State University’s (NCSU) Rural Works! Internship Program. This summer, Carolina Crate & Pallet in Vass and Hamilton Beach Brands in Southern Pines each employed one intern, and Reliance Packaging in Aberdeen employed three interns.
• This quarter, MCEDP received a revised cost estimate from the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) that indicated the cost of constructing the access road to the Iron Horse Industrial Park in Aberdeen has more than tripled. As a result, MCEDP is evaluating options to determine the most practical and cost-effective way to move forward with Iron Horse’s development, including a potential option to relocate the road to more favorable terrain with less wetlands impacts in an effort to reduce construction costs.
• Using grant funding obtained from NC’s Southeast, MCEDP completed two additional due diligence analyses this quarter on a 42-acre site in Robbins that MCEDP has under an option to purchase agreement. The geotechnical study and the water & sewer capacity study, in addition to the studies previously completed, all indicate the site is viable for future development as a business park site.
• Recognizing the urgent need for attainable workforce housing in Moore County as identified in the Moore County Housing Needs Assessment report presented last March, MCEDP has partnered with the Moore County Chamber of Commerce and the Mid Carolina Regional Association of Realtors to investigate establishing a Moore County Housing Coalition. Now in the formative stage, the Coalition could help bring together business leaders, property owners, developers, real estate professionals, and housing advocates to accelerate the development of workforce housing in Moore County that supports the needs of essential workers.
• MCEDP helped coordinate a meeting in June hosted by Senator Tom McInnis and Representative Neal Jackson to update local business leaders on the latest efforts to reestablish commercial air service at Moore County Airport. More than 30 attendees heard Managing Partner of Volaire Aviation Consulting Jack Penning speak about an offer from a regional carrier to provide daily service to and from Washington Dulles International Airport and the need for community support to fund a minimum revenue guarantee required by the carrier to help offset the risks associated with establishing the new service.
• This quarter, MCEDP hosted its 13th annual Progress Cup golf tournament on May 28 at Mid Pines Golf Club, and a Moore 100 Members Meeting on June 16 where members and guests heard an update from NCDOT about transportation improvement projects planned and underway in Moore County.

The full Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 can be viewed on the MCEDP website at www.moorecountyedp.org.