Catawba County, North Carolina offers international companies a highly competitive cost structure that supports profitable U.S. operations. Businesses benefit from low tax rates, including the lowest county property tax rate in the Charlotte region and the 8th lowest in North Carolina, along with the state’s 2.25% corporate income tax rate—scheduled to drop to 0% by 2030—and a flat 3.99% individual income tax, helping reduce both operating and workforce costs. Utility costs are also significantly lower than the U.S. average, with industrial electricity averaging 7.72¢ per kWh (14.8% below the national average), water rates ranked the #3 lowest in the United States, and 0% sales tax on electricity and other utilities used in manufacturing. Companies also benefit from competitive labor costs, with wages for manufacturing engineers, technicians, and production workers all below the U.S. national average, and a business environment with minimal unionization. Combined with a cost-of-living index of 86.9—well below the U.S. average of 100 and significantly lower than Charlotte (98.9), Raleigh (102.3), and Atlanta (107.5), Catawba County allows companies to control operating expenses while attracting and retaining skilled talent in a high-quality, affordable community.