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Economic Development Attract investment based on Harrisburg's position in the market and future potential. ➢ Employment growth potential is strongest(and most compatible)with land availability proximate to US-29, which offers superior regional access and a potential Charlotte Motor Speedway relationship. • Examine existing infrastructure in the northern portions of the study area and identify where gaps exist in infrastructure,including utilities,ingress&egress quality,amenities,and other factors important for new industrial,flex/service space,and potential auto-related industries. • Identify key properties targeted for industrial or other employment development and identify policies needed to protect these properties from development as land uses that do not particularly forward the Town's economic development efforts and balance housing and employment in the area. • Investigate opportunities to focus industrial/research efforts on the automotive and motorsports industry, fueled by the town's location adjacent to the CMS.This could include initiating research relationships with UNC-Charlotte via the Motorsports Engineering program(at the NC Motorsports and Automotive Research Center on campus),which promotes itself as"the first stop for employers hiring interns and entry level engineers." Also consider initiating relationships with NASCAR Tech in Mooresville,Clemson University's ICAR campus in Greenville, and NCSU's engineering programs in Raleigh. ➢ Further industrial efforts with better use of an industrial land supply inventory website that brokers and others can utilize to understand properties along and close to US-29 and those located along the rail line to the south of NC-49. Information should include entitlement status,parcel sizes,utilities available,useable acreage,access quality and route info,etc. ➢ Focus office recruiting and development efforts on smaller,local-serving office users,such as realtors,insurance agents,attorneys,accountants,dentists and other medical-related uses. Create focal point locations in the town that provide a quality lifestyle for these office users,including as part of mixed-use projects with retail uses,on small parks,etc. ➢ Understand retail needs and opportunities in the town,including the square feet of retail Harrisburg can support,the key locations where retail is suitable,and the means by which retail environments can be amenitized and/or themed(e.g.children's retail,farm or nature-based/oriented retail,dining core,etc.). • National averages provide for around 23 to 25 square feet of retail per capita,translating into total needs for around 340,000 SF of retail supportable by town residents alone(based on 2014 populations). (Refer to Appendix C: Retail Demand Analysis.) Some benchmark numbers to consider for new retail development: • A new 45,000 SF grocery store(full-size)requires around 3,600 households or 10,800 people(using Harrisburg's 3.13 people/household)to perform at national averages; • A full-size drug store would require around 4,400 people or 1,460 households;and The Path Forward 143 Attachment number 1 \n G-2 Page 185