Catawba County

Economic Development Corporation

(updated 6/27/08) News & Events

Press Releases, News Clippings, Industry Pulse Newsletter

Read the new Industry Pulse Newsletter!

* - denotes articles featuring Committee of 100 members

2008

6/27/08 - How Williams-Sonoma is Carving Niche in Hickory

6/26/08 - County Company to Add 446 Jobs Over Three Years

6/26/08 - New Call Center to Create 446 Jobs in Hickory

6/26/08 - Company picks Hickory for 450-Job Call Center

6/26/08 - 450 Jobs Over 3 Years Expected at New Call Center in Hickory

6/25/08 - Convergys to Create 446 New Jobs in Catawba County

6/24/08 - New Fix for Old Buildings?

6/20/08 - Despite Losses, Jobs to Arrive

6/17/08 - Tax Incentives Depend on Jobs Future Company Will Bring

6/17/08 - County OK's Incentive for Expanding Company

6/11/08 - Expert Optimistic about N.C. Insustry

6/10/08 - Manufacturing Retains a Big Role in N.C.

6/10/08 - Chamber Stresses Manufacturing

6/10/08 - Manufacturing Industry is Essential to States Economy, Report Says

5/28/08 - New Manager for Maiden (Todd Herms)

5/23/08 - Leading Shuford Success: Pope Shuford named business leader of...

5/23/08 - Catawba Valley Medical Center Seeks to Expand

5/14/08 - Taller Spaces...(...Industrial Park...may cut long-term storage costs...)

5/10/08 - Hundreds of New Jobs Expected Soon in the Area

5/01/08 - Furniture Maker to Relocate to Conover (Wentworth Furniture)

4/29/08 - New Company to Hire 30 Locally (Wentworth Furniture)

4/28/08 - Furniture Company to Relocate to Conover, NC (Wentworth Furniture)

4/22/08 - Multi-jurisdictional Park

4/22/08 - Lee Industries Expands Natural...

4/22/08 - Catawba County Going Green with EcoComplex

*4/20/08 - People Matter: Furniture maker says it's still true... (C.R. Laine)

4/18/08 - Furniture Maker Commits to Fully Green Production (Lee Industries)

4/16/08 - Charlotte-Area Companies Honored for Green Practices (Lee Industries)

4/15/08 - 820 Jobs: Williams-Sonoma Picks Hickory for Expansion (Sutter Street)

4/15/08 - 820 Jobs Coming to Catawba County (Sutter Street)

4/15/08 - Hickory attracts 820-Job Factory (Sutter Street)

4/15/08 - Williams-Sonoma to bring 820 Jobs to Hickory (Sutter Street)

4/15/08 - State Courts Upholstery Center for Hickory (Sutter Street)

4/14/08 - Sutter Street Manufacturing to Create New Jobs in Catawba County

4/14/08 - Gov. Easley Announces 820 Jobs In Catawba County

4/10/08 - Hinshaw attends Economic Conference

4/09/08 - Newton Company Gets $109 Million Army Contract (General Dynamics)

4/08/08 - CVCC Partners with Maiden Facility (Ethan Allen)

4/04/08 - Catawba County Can Breathe Easier (Ozone Attainment)

*4/02/08 - C.R. Laine Celebrates Fifty Years

3/27/08 - Simply Brilliant: Company prepares for future... (Stealth Laboratories)

3/27/08 - Blackwell Named Head of WPCOG

3/27/08 - New Leader Will Take Helm at WPCOG on July 1st

*3/23/08 - Name Change for Lenoir-Rhyne: College will become 'University'

3/23/08 - Apprenticeship Puts Career on Fast Track (Poppelmann)

3/20/08 - Furniture Brands Selling HBF for $75 Million

3/17/08 - HNI Agrees to Acquire HBF

3/17/08 - Furniture Brands to Sell Hickory Unit

*3/17/08 - Lenoir-Rhyne College Soon to be University

*3/16/08 - L-R Trustees OK Big Changes

3/05/08 - Town Looks at Annexing Multijurisdictional Park (Maiden)

3/02/08 - Jobs, Investment Growing in Catawba County

3/02/08 - Larger Trucks Allowed on U.S. 321 Without Penalty

3/01/08 - Web Site Effective Tool for Area Industries (EDC HELPWEB)

2/29/08 - Industrial Site Chosen, But Who Services It?: EDC has option on...

2/28/08 - EDC Works for Existing Companies, Too

2/26/08 - Truckers Can Use U.S. 321 Without Penalty

2/26/08 - Growing in the Right Direction: Maiden looks to develop economic...

2/24/08 - Manufacturer Opens Logistics Center in Conover (Woodcraft Industries)

2/22/08 - Those With 'Faith' Help Drive Economy (Chamber Annual Meeting)

2/21/08 - Clark Ready to Switch Gears (Todd Clark, Town of Maiden Manager)

2/21/08 - Woodcraft Industries Opens Logistics Center in Conover

2/16/08 - Wanted: Data Centers

2/16/08 - FedEx Expansion Would Employ 120

2/10/08 - Company to Build Speculative Buildings in Claremont (Niagara)

2/08/08 - Prospective Buildings Waiting for Industry (Niagara, Adevco)

2/08/08 - Niagara Ventures to Construct...Speculative Buildings in Claremont

2/04/08 - Charlotte Company Launches Spec Space in Catawba (Niagara)

2/03/08 - Waste Not, Want Not: County's unique idea means... (Eco-Complex)

2/02/08 - Hickory Speedway Wins Prestigious NCMA Award

2/02/08 - Hot Market: Hickory bucks national housing trend

2/01/08 - Hickory Named 14th Hottest Housing Market in Nation

1/31/08 - MSNBC Names Hickory Named 14th Hottest Housing Market in Nation

1/30/08 - Hospital Recognized for Quality Care (Catawba Valley Medical Center)

1/30/08 - Furniture Company Announces Closing

1/26/08 - These Walls Talk: Old factory reveals history as city looks to future

1/19/08 - Engineering Center Opens

*1/15/08 - Group to Consider Lenoir-Rhyne's Future: 'We are asking if it is time...'

1/15/08 - Chamber, EDC to Publish 2008 Business Magazine in Print and Online

1/15/08 - Right Thing to Do: Area furniture makers...protect environment

1/13/08 - Engineering Center Ready to Launch Class

1/09/08 - Funds Approved for Access Road to Target Distribution Center

1/08/08 - Broyhill Property in Conover Topic of Talk: Accessibility, size...

1/08/08 - Let Broyhill 'Breathe'

1/08/08 - N.C. Center for Engineering Technologies Opens

1/07/08 - 'A Good Fit' - New assistant city manager happy to be in Hickory

1/05/08 - Lowe's Home Improvement Interested in Sherrills Ford Location

1/03/08 - Focused on Recruitment, County Wants Jobs, Training

2007

12/18/07 - EcoComplex Expands, Adds New Businesses, Research Entities

12/13/07 - Mullinax Talks About Newton's Future

12/12/07 - Employment Slowly Decreasing in Area

12/05/07 - 2 Distribution Plants to Bring Jobs, Millions in Investments

12/04/07 - Company Will Receive $170,000 Incentives to Build (ADEVCO)

12/04/07 - New Company in Store for County: ADEVCO could add 600 jobs...

10/31/07 - Poppelmann Holds Open House

10/28/07 - German-based Company Introduces Claremont Facility (Poppelmann)

10/28/07 - Make the Cut: Saw plate manufacturer strive to eliminate... (Grasche)

*10/21/07 - State Recognizes Century's Work-Force Development Efforts

10/21/07 - It's Business as Usual at Hickory's HBF

10/13/07 - Interim Manager in Place in City (Claremont - Patrick Niland)

10/11/07 - New Assistant City Manager Named (Hickory - Andrea Surratt)

10/10/07 - Newton Company Secures $24 million contract (General Dynamics)

*10/10/07 - Council Thanks Flowers, Technibilt for Job Growth

9/30/07 - Company Activates Foreign Trade Zone (Consolidation Services)

9/24/07 - Economic Boons: Target, Google make strides on plant sites

9/23/07 - Hickory Springs Buys Foam Manufacturer

9/21/07 - City's Population Tops 40,000: Hickory officials say growth enhances...

9/21/07 - City Recognizes Retiring Manager for Budget Work (Doris Bumgarner)

9/20/07 - County Server Farm Takes Step Forward (Data Centers)

9/02/07 - Hickory Springs Expands Soy-Based Product Line

9/01/07 - A Big Target to Build (Target Distribution Center)

9/01/07 - Dedicated Employee Retires (Doris Bumgarner, Claremont City Manager)

8/29/07 - Poppelmann Wants to Add 50 Workers: New plant still has space...

8/26/07 - Production begins at Claremont Plant: Initial staff of 36...(Poppelmann)

8/26/07 - New Life for Old Buildings: Once empty some Hickory buildings...

8/24/07 - Catawba County EDC Launches Existing Industry HELPWEB

8/19/07 - Barnes Receives Outstanding Commissioner of the Year Award

*8/01/07 - Distribution Plays Key Role in Region: Some say area could become...

*8/01/07 - Banker: Be innovative and willing...(Charles Snipes, Bank of Granite)

7/31/07 - Upscale Condos and Retail, Office Spaces Planned for Downtown...

7/29/07 - Up and Running: Baker Furniture opens distribution center here

7/28/07 - Production to End at Furniture Plant: Progressive employs 330...

7/27/07 - $40 Million Makeover Proposed for Conover Site (Broyhill Plant)

7/25/07 - Tech Breakthrough Made at Corning

7/25/07 - New Plant Under Operation (von Drehle Corporation)

7/22/07 - Economic Development Board to be Led by Hospital CEO

7/22/07 - Production Under Way at New von Drehle Plant

*7/22/07 - Better Days Ahead?: Positive indicators point to economic recovery...

7/22/07 - Baker Furniture Moving its Mocksville Manufacturing Operations to...

*7/22/07 - Company Plans $2.5 Million Expansion (Cargo Transporters)

7/22/07 - Quaker Furniture now Studio Q

7/19/07 - EDC Lures Construction Company

7/19/07 - Company Could Bring 600 Jobs to Hickory

7/18/07 - Atlanta Firm Plans Hickory Call Center (Adevco)

7/18/07 - Adevco Corp. Considering Speculative Service Center in Hickory

7/18/07 - Pieces of the Economic Puzzle Fitting Together, EDC Officials Say

7/18/07 - EDC Board Elects Officers, Announces New Board Members

7/05/07 - Unique Recycling Project in National Spotlight (EcoComplex)

7/03/07 - NC 16 Bypass Nears End

6/29/07 - Springs has International Standards (Hickory Springs)

*6/28/07 - CommScope to Acquire Andrew for $2.6 Billion

6/26/07 - Company Gets Option to Buy Broyhill Property

6/22/07 - Eco-complex is Eco-friendly

*6/17/07 - 'We've always been nothing but Best Friends' (Mullinax & Williams)

6/14/07 - Town Welcomes New Manager (Maiden)

6/14/07 - Hickory Wins the All-America City Title for the Third Time

6/09/07 - Victory for Hickory: City claims honor for third time

6/03/07 - The Carolinas 100: Manufacturing still matters

5/20/07 - Hickory-based Company Buys Paper Plant (von Drehle Corporation)

5/19/07 - Next: Sewer for N.C. 16/150?

*5/19/07 - Furniture Stands on Four Legs (Century Furn., Lexington Home Brands)

5/18/07 - New Plant for Paper Company (von Drehle Corporation)

5/15/07 - Beaman Serves on Board (Joe Beaman, EDC Board of Directors)

5/05/07 - New Center Will Provide Technological Training

4/20/07 - Sherrills Ford Project to Total 1,950 Homes

4/20/07 - Benefits of Regional Partnerships Highlighted

4/15/07 - EDC Staff Member Receives Scholarship (Nathan Huret)

4/05/07 - Target: On Track

4/03/07 - Rock-Tenn Earns Plant of the Year

3/31/07 - Building Fresh Walls: Maiden awakens to downtown development...

3/31/07 - Choices for Downtown: Conover debates Broyhill property...

3/31/07 - N.C. 16, Thornburg Drive Close to Finishing

3/31/07 - Poppelmann's Promise: Claremont International Business Park gets...

3/31/07 - Packing for the Food Business (Rock-Tenn)

3/31/07 - Growing with(in) Limits: River Oaks makes plans with Catawba...

3/31/07 - On the Move: County development takes...(SE Area/Town of Catawba)

3/31/07 - Food Industry Feeds Newton (Flowers Baking Co.)

*3/31/07 - ZF Lemforder Sparks New Jobs

3/31/07 - Fueling the Future: Catawba County seat chairs (City of Newton)...

3/11/07 - Go For Green: Company expands into biodiesel industry (BioTech)

3/09/07 - Abernethy Expands

3/08/07 - Economic Developer Graduates (Julie Pruett - EDI)

*3/01/07 - Lemforder Gets Grant

*2/25/07 - Future Bright?: Panelist optimistic about NC Furn...(Century, Vanguard)

*2/24/07 - Future of Furniture (Century, Vanguard)

2/20/07 - Hickory Yarn Manufacturer Plans Expansion (Fiberline)

*2/16/07 - Pushing Cart Knowledge (Technibilt)

*2/08/07 - CommScope Takes Chamber's Top Award (also Bank of Granite and

Catawba Valley Medical Center)

2/07/07 - Catawba County EDC Hires New Existing Industry Coordinator

2/07/07 - Developers Express Interest in Former Broyhill Site

2/04/07 - By Bread Alone: Bakery adds jobs, diversity... (Flowers Bakery)

2/01/07 - Life Can Get Tough, But 'Never, Ever Give Up' (Delphi Development)

2/01/07 - New Tools for Business: Greater Hickory Metro companies get help...

*2/01/07 - Vision for Viewmont Continues to Take Shape: Mixed-use...

1/31/07 - Maiden Leader to Take Job in Newton

1/30/07 - Newton Hires Manager

1/28/07 - Hiring to Begin at Plant: Process starts with job fair... (Poppelmann)

1/28/07 - Road to Growth: Medical practices kick off McDonald Parkway...

1/21/07 - Old Mill, New Use: Former hosiery plant to become retail and office...

Archived Announcements, Press Releases, and News Clippings - 2003-2006

Upcoming Meetings & Events

April 16, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

April 17, 2008

NC Biotech Center Board Meeting

April 20-26, 2008

CRP European Mission - General

May 14, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

June 1-4, 2008

7x24 Exchange Spring 2008 Conference - Boca Raton

June 5, 2008

11:30 am - Charlotte Regional Partnership Annual Awards Luncheon

June 11, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

June 11-13, 2008

NCEDA 2008 Annual Conference - Atlantic Beach

June 15-19, 2008

Expansion Management Consultant Roundtable

July 16, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Annual Meeting

August 13, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

September 17, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

October 5-8, 2008

AFCOM Data Center World Fall 2008 - Orlando

October 8, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

November 12, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

December 10, 2008

12:00 noon - EDC Board Meeting

Other

2008 Plan of Work Brochure (140 KB)

2007 Plan of Work Brochure (274 KB)

2006 Selected Catawba County Economic Highlights (37 KB)

2006 Plan of Work Brochure (175 KB)

2005 Plan of Work (330 KB)

2003-2004 Annual Review (305 KB)

Catawba County EDC

PO Box 3388

Hickory, NC 28603

Phone: 828-267-1564

Fax: 828-267-1884

edc@catawbacountync.gov