How a North Carolina county's textile decline opened the door for $5B data center hub
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.
Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc. both have massive data center campuses there. Prysmian North America and Corning, which manufacture critical data center components, continue to expand their operations in the county.
Those companies alone have invested or plan to invest more than $5 billion since Apple’s arrival in 2009. The county and its economic development agency’s effort to attract these industries dates back to 2006.
Scott Millar, president of the Catawba Economic Development Corp., discussed the strategy that led to digital infrastructure becoming a pillar of the county’s economy in an interview with CBJ. Following are edited excerpts.