|
Historically, the County's economy was primarily dependent on the textile industry, but the
<br />County's proximity to Charlotte and access to major interstate highways have helped diversify the
<br />County's economy through investments in manufacturing, retail, warehousing and distribution, research
<br />and entertainment. These investments have helped to offset the downturns in the textile industry.
<br />A summary of significant recent developments in these industries follows.
<br />Manufacturing. The principal products manufactured in the County now include optical fiber,
<br />textiles, food, concrete products, lumber and wood, specialized coloring, fabricated metal and machinery
<br />products, custom trailers and corrugated packaging.
<br />Other manufacturing facilities produce a wide variety of goods for national and international
<br />distribution. The following are just a few examples of these industries. Corning, Inc.'s fiber optics facility
<br />in southeastern Cabarrus County has recently expanded and officials expect continued growth as the
<br />fiber optic market improves globally. S &D Coffee and Tea, headquartered in Concord, is the nation's
<br />largest custom coffee roaster and the largest blender of iced tea for the food services industry in the
<br />United States. Celgard is an international developer of lithium battery separators. Locally, the company
<br />produces lithium -ion batteries for electric drive vehicles.
<br />Philip Morris USA, which was the largest manufacturer in the County, closed its Concord facility
<br />at the end of July 2009. The facility encompasses over 2,100 acres and 1.2 million square feet. Philip
<br />Morris has hired Jones Lang LaSalle to market the property. The County, the City of Concord and the
<br />Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation are partnering with Philip Morris USA and Jones Lang
<br />LaSalle to promote the site as a job creation center.
<br />Warehousing and Distribution. The distribution, warehousing, and shipping industry is another
<br />growing sector of the County's economy, as the County continues to be a cost - effective alternative for
<br />Charlotte area distributors. This industry benefits from the County's proximity to the City of Charlotte (a
<br />regional trucking and manufacturing center with a major commercial international airport) and from access
<br />to Interstate 85, which has seven existing interchanges in the County. Examples of companies building
<br />or expanding distribution centers in the County include: SP Richards, a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co. is
<br />a leading distributor of office supplies and business products, opened a new 200,000 square -foot
<br />distribution center off Glen Afton Boulevard in Kannapolis. Bonded Logistics Inc, a third -party distribution
<br />center, opened a 127,000 square -foot facility in Concord. Distribution Technologies opened a facility
<br />dedicated to Wal -Mart Stores Inc. and invested $1.7 million into renovating and rehabilitating the outdated
<br />property. Other large distribution centers include The StanleyWorks, Sysco, SaddleCreek Corp. and
<br />Novant Health.
<br />Research. The North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC), located in the City of Kannapolis,
<br />focuses on the advancement of nutrition, agriculture and human health. Scientists from universities,
<br />industry, government and non - profit organizations are discovering ways to promote healthy lifestyles and
<br />to prevent, treat and cure diseases.
<br />To facilitate the development and finance needed public improvements, the City of Kannapolis
<br />has created the North Carolina Research Campus Financing District (Development District), pursuant to
<br />the State's project development financing act. This district is comprised of approximately 863 acres within
<br />the County and Rowan County. The Development District was created to finance infrastructure within
<br />and around the Development District to support NCRC. The boundaries of the Development District were
<br />created to capture the area in which such infrastructure is needed. NCRC is approximately 240 acres
<br />within the Development District. The development plan for the Development District contemplates that,
<br />when completed, NCRC will include more than 2 million square feet of office and laboratory space,
<br />600,000 square feet of new retail and commercial space, 400,000 square feet of academic and civic
<br />space and approximately 1,100 new residential units.
<br />The City of Kannapolis issued $35 million in limited obligation bonds (Kannapolis Bonds) to
<br />finance public infrastructure in the Development District. Pursuant to an Interlocal Agreement between
<br />the County and the City of Kannapolis executed in connection with the issuance of the Kannapolis Bonds,
<br />the County has agreed to pay a portion of its incremental ad valorem tax revenues actually collected in
<br />the Development District to the City to be used for the payment of not more than half of the annual
<br />Attachment number 1
<br />1 -3 Page 255
<br />
|