You've probably driven past it: a cleared lot off one of our highways, a construction fence with a rendering zip-tied to it, maybe just a small sign that reads “Coming Soon.” Ever wonder how that company ended up choosing this particular patch of Catawba County dirt, out of every county in the country that would have loved to land them?

Prysmian celebrates the groundbreaking ceremony for a more than $1B expansion project in Claremont. The investment is expected to create 385 new local jobs and expand domestic fiber and optical cable manufacturing capacity.

The backbone of the Catawba County economy is largely comprised of businesses that operate data centers or supply key components to the industry. That’s a result of decades of economic development strategy and positioning.

Prysmian, an electrical wire and fiber optic cable manufacturer, plans to invest $1 billion and expand an existing facility by 900,000 square feet in Catawba County. In exchange for the new $1 billion investment and jobs, the company could receive a return of more than $50 million after paying property taxes to the county and city over 10 years.

The confidentiality that can feel frustrating from the outside is actually what keeps opportunities coming to Catawba County in the first place. Companies need real assurance that sensitive information will stay protected before they'll even consider bringing an opportunity here, and that trust is part of what keeps us in consideration against other communities. At the same time, that confidentiality never extends to the vote itself.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Region is well-positioned to compete for targeted life sciences investment. A new study commissioned by the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and conducted by Deloitte charts a path to get there, translating the region's existing life sciences momentum into an evidence-based strategy for focused, long-term growth.