The City of Hickory attracts $920M investment, 1,615 jobs and designated a new innovation district for future growth

By City of Hickory

In today’s competitive economic landscape, location is more than geography—it’s strategy. The City of Hickory, North Carolina, is executing a bold, data-driven vision to position itself as a premier destination for business and industry. Through targeted investments in infrastructure, placemaking, and industrial readiness, Hickory is creating the conditions for sustainable growth, innovation, and long-term value creation.

High-quality infrastructure lays the foundation for economic expansion, attracting businesses and fostering efficient movement of goods and people. Amenities like parks, cultural centers, and recreational facilities not only enhance the quality of life but also stimulate local commerce by drawing in visitors and potential residents. These enhancements create a vibrant, attractive community that encourages social interaction, fosters creativity, and provides a fertile environment for start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Since the passing of a $40 million bond referendum in 2014, the City of Hickory has embarked on a journey of transformation. In recent years, the bond money has been leveraged to gain an additional $75 million in grants for complementary projects, amplifying its impact to over $115 million in transformative projects. These initiatives are not just beautification efforts, they are strategic economic drivers designed to attract talent, stimulate private investment, and support the needs of modern industry.

The result of the City’s investment will be an 11-mile multimodal urban trail system connecting destinations across the city with additional connections planned for the future, placemaking through streetscapes and gateways, and a 378-acre Class A advanced business park to lure industry and create jobs.

HICKORY TRAIL AND TRIVIUM CORPORATE CENTER

At the heart of Hickory’s revitalization is the Hickory Trail, an over 11-mile multimodal urban trail system that connects key destinations across the city. This isn’t just a recreational amenity, it’s a strategic asset that enhances mobility, supports workforce attraction, and increases the value of adjacent real estate.

The trail links Hickory’s downtown, lakefront, educational institutions, cultural venues, and airport, creating a seamless experience for residents, visitors, and businesses alike. With four of its five segments already open, City Walk, Riverwalk, Aviation Walk, and Historic Ridgeview Walk. The final piece, the OLLE Art Walk, is under construction. This 2.4-mile corridor will revitalize the Old Lenoir Road area, now home to a growing arts and retail district, and is expected to spark significant private investment through placemaking, public art, and cultural activation.

This new section of trail is named after the OLLE Arts District, which derives its name from the first two letters of "Old" and "Lenoir" in the road name, Old Lenoir Road.

An interactive map and additional information about the Hickory Trail are available online at www.hkytrail.com.

While the Hickory Trail enhances livability and talent attraction, Trivium Corporate Center delivers on industrial readiness and global competitiveness. Developed in partnership with Catawba County, Trivium is a 378-acre Class A business park with five international tenants, manufacturing products for global distribution and additional opportunities for businesses looking to locate and/or expand in Hickory. Named for the Latin word meaning “the place where three roads meet,” Trivium Corporate Center is ideally positioned in Hickory at the intersection of I-40, U.S. 70, and U.S. 321, less than an hour from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Conveniently set less than one mile from shopping, hotels, and restaurants in the Hickory MSA's commercial center, the business park is also ideal for corporate headquarters and is less than one mile from Catawba Valley Community College.

Since breaking ground in 2018, Trivium has attracted five international manufacturers, including two new Corning facilities, cable manufacturing operations for its Optical Communications business segment; Cataler North America Corporation, developing and suppling automotive catalysts and activated carbon products to customers around the world based on new environmental technologies that purify air and water; Gusmer Enterprises, Inc., manufacturing and selling a wide range of products geared towards the winemaking, brewing, edible oil, and pharmaceutical markets; and American Fuji Seal, a global pioneer in the manufacturing of shrink sleeve labels, self-adhesive labels (pressure sensitive labels), spouted pouches, and packaging machinery.

These companies were drawn by Hickory’s skilled workforce, robust infrastructure, and proximity to major logistics corridors. The park’s success led to a 108-acre expansion in 2021, known as Trivium East, creating even more opportunities for industrial growth.

On October 15, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Hickory, Catawba County, and the Trivium Board of Directors announced two new major investments in the business park, Corning and American Fuji Seal.

Corning plans to expand operations in Trivium and will add 132 jobs at an average salary to exceed $65,000 per year and invest between $170 million and $267.9 million. American Fuji Seal is purchasing a second lot in Trivium and plans to invest between $10 million and $35 million, committing to create at least 20 jobs. They will make investments in their existing facility in Trivium over the next three years.

For more information about available parcels in Trivium Corporate Center, visit www.hickorync.gov/trivium-corporate-center.

The Hickory Trail and Trivium Corporate Center have created a return on investment, measurable impact, momentum for the future. The results speak for themselves. Since the launch of Hickory’s revitalization strategy $902 million in private investment has been catalyzed, 1,615 new jobs have been created, with an additional 6,920 construction-related jobs, and 1,396 new housing units have been developed within a half mile of the Hickory Trail and Trivium Corporate Center.

This is not just growth, it’s strategic transformation. Hickory is proving that with the right vision, infrastructure, and partnerships, mid-sized cities can compete—and win—in the global economy.

HICKORY INNOVATION DISTRICT

In the northwest corner of Hickory, along the high-visibility U.S. 321 corridor, a new chapter in economic development is unfolding. The Hickory Innovation District, spanning over 2,000 acres and three-square miles, is emerging as a regional epicenter for education, innovation, and recreation. With more than seven miles of the Hickory Trail System running through it, this district is designed to be a magnet for talent, investment, and next-generation industry.

The district is uniquely positioned to support workforce, anchored by regional assets, including Appalachian State University’s Hickory Campus, the Hickory Regional Airport, Catawba Valley Community College’s (CVCC’s) The Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex, and the Hickory Regional Water Treatment Facility. The area also includes regional recreation amenities including mountain bike trails, the region’s minor league baseball stadium, and access to beautiful Lake Hickory.

Area leaders are joining forces to leverage this strategic location as a place for education, innovation, and recreation that will achieve Hickory’s vision for economic development by increasing access to education and workforce training, enhancing the quality of life through improved access to recreation and outdoor amenities, and stimulating new mixed-use development

Two cornerstone projects are already redefining the district’s potential include Catawba Valley Community College’s The Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex and The Hickory Aviation Museum.

The Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex, a new workforce training center at the Hickory Regional Airport, is backed by state funding and will feature high-tech labs, virtual simulators, and flexible learning spaces. It builds on the success of CVCC’s Workforce Solutions Complex and will serve as a regional hub for upskilling and reskilling the labor force.

Built on the success of its existing Workforce Solutions Complex, resulting in a regional education campus with flexible space that includes high-tech equipment, classrooms, and virtual simulators for training the next generation of the region’s workforce.

The Hickory Aviation Museum has been located at the Hickory Regional Airport since 2007. In 2026, it will expand its footprint by moving into a state-of-the-art facility adjacent to Catawba Valley Community College’s The Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex. This joint-use space will house the museum's extensive collection of vintage military aircraft, preserve aviation history, and provide STEM education, and support workforce development opportunities. The museum and educational center are located at the end of the runway at Hickory Regional Airport. Located at the highest elevation in Hickory, the site offers panoramic views of the Catawba Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains, making it a destination for both learning and leisure.

The Hickory Innovation District is not a standalone initiative—it’s a collaborative ecosystem. City and county governments, higher education institutions, private businesses, and community stakeholders are working together to shape a district that blends placemaking with purpose.

Future development will emphasize mixed-use spaces that integrate employment, retail, and residential uses, cross-sector programming that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, and outdoor and recreational amenities that enhance quality of life and talent retention.

This is more than a development zone; it’s a strategic platform for regional competitiveness.

A COMMUNITY READY FOR GROWTH

Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) is a general aviation airport that has seen significant increases in private aviation activity over the past several years. The North Carolina of Aviation’s 2025 State of Aviation Report highlights data showing Hickory Regional Airport’s significant annual economic impact. According to report, HKY supports 335 jobs, generates $26.6 million in personal income, and generates $66.1 million in economic output. The airport sees over 41,000 operations annually and is home to nearly 100 based aircraft. Planned runway expansions and continued hangar development aim to increase traffic at the airport in the coming years.

The City of Hickory’s Water Treatment Facility is a regional water supply facility, providing potable drinking water to three counties and managing three purchased water systems extending from northern Alexander County to the Town of Catawba and Sherrills Ford. The facility also supplies water to the municipalities of Brookford, Catawba, Claremont, Conover, Icard, Long View, Maiden, and Taylorsville. Additionally, Hickory’s water system has interconnections with Newton and Mooresville.

Drawing water from the Catawba River, the facility is a conventional surface water treatment facility with a rated capacity of 32 million gallons of water per day. The Catawba River Basin originates from springs in the tallest mountains of the Appalachian Mountain chain and flows east past Hickory. This provides the City of Hickory with a quality water source, relatively free from contamination. Duke Energy operates two hydroelectric dams, Rhodhiss upstream and Oxford downstream from the plant. Hickory’s treatment facility operates well under capacity, which offers significant opportunities for growth.

Hickory has a skilled workforce and is supported by several educational institutions, including Hickory City Schools (K–12), Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC), Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Appalachian State University, which recently opened a campus in Hickory.

Hickory is also home to two major hospitals: Frye Regional Medical Center and Catawba Valley Health System, each hosting state of the art medical facilities, as well as providing cancer, heart, and stroke care, as well as maternity care for the region.

TOURISM AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE

People travel to Hickory for many reasons, from business to sports to leisure travel and more. In 2023 alone, visitors to Catawba County spent over $348 million, underscoring the growing economic impact of tourism. From furniture shopping and culinary experiences to outdoor adventures and cultural attractions, Hickory offers a diverse portfolio of experiences that support both the visitor economy and local quality of life.

Hickory has made strategic investments in sports infrastructure to attract regional and national tournaments. The City’s Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Department, in partnership with the Hickory Metro Convention Center & Visitors Bureau, has positioned the city as a hub for events in soccer, basketball, tennis, softball, fishing, gymnastics, and more.

The City of Hickory has installed three artificial turf fields at Henry Fork River Park, reducing maintenance costs and increasing year-round usability. Additionally, Hickory has provided greater local programming. To date, Hickory has hosted a wide range of events, from lacrosse and flag football to ultimate frisbee and semi-professional soccer.

In 2024, Hickory completed an $18 million expansion of the Hickory Metro Convention Center, increasing its footprint to 165,600 square feet, all on one level. With 132,000 square feet of usable event space, the facility is now even more competitive for large conferences, trade shows, and sporting events.

To support this growth, two new hotels, adding approximately 200 rooms, are under construction and expected to open by the end of 2025. Hickory currently offers over 1,500 hotel rooms, plus a growing inventory of short-term rentals.

These efforts complement Hickory’s existing assets, including professional baseball, Hickory Motor Speedway, and a growing network of trails and greenways.

The tourism and hospitality industry continues to grow in Hickory and Catawba County and it’s due to collectively working together for the greater good of the Hickory community. It’s all about partnership in the Hickory Metro.

TRANSFORMATION IS NOT ACCIDENTAL

Hickory’s transformation is not accidental; it’s the result of intentional investment, strategic partnerships, and a clear vision for the future. From the Innovation District to Trivium Corporate Center, from the Hickory Trail to the Convention Center, the city is building a resilient, diversified economy that supports business, talent, and quality of life.

With a strong foundation of infrastructure, a skilled and dedicated workforce, exceptional livability, and long-term value for businesses, Hickory offers more than just a place to grow—it’s a community driven by innovation and vision. Hickory is crafting a trailblazing path forward.

For more information and regional look at Hickory, visit www.MyHKY.com.