MCEDP

Moore County Partners in Progress (PIP) recently released their Quarterly Progress Report highlighting their activities and initiatives in the areas of economic development, community development, and workforce development for the quarter ending June 30, 2022.

Partners in Progress saw a 54% increase over last fiscal year in the number of companies potentially considering a location in Moore County, and almost 25% of those project leads were businesses in the electric vehicle (EV) and battery industry.

“Moore County is seeing this increase directly because of the Toyota Battery Manufacturing and VinFast announcements at two mega sites just north of Moore County,” said Natalie Hawkins, Executive Director of Partners in Progress. “One of the primary initiatives we are intently focused on is the critical need to identify and prepare viable sites for industrial development. What we consistently experience is a lack of buildings and sites to accommodate the businesses who want to move here.”

“Having readily-available sites will position Moore County to not only attract some of these EV suppliers but also other manufacturers that will bring new jobs and capital investment to our community,” Hawkins added.

Between April and July, Partners in Progress secured three (3) grants totaling $277,000 for industrial site development. A Golden LEAF Foundation SITE Program grant, valued at $15,000, will be used to identify industrial sites and development strategies in and around the Town of Robbins. Two (2) grants totaling $262,000 from NC’s Southeast Partnership’s Product Development Fund will support pre-development work in the Iron Horse Industrial Park in Aberdeen and in the Southern Pines Corporate Park.

Last month, Partners in Progress was allocated $1.2 million from the NC General Assembly to assist our site development efforts. “We worked closely with Senator Tom McInnis and Representative Jamie Boles to secure this much needed funding for industrial product development in Moore County,” said Hawkins. “We are extremely grateful to Senator McInnis and Representative Boles for their continued support of economic development in Moore County. They understand our need for industrial product, and they were instrumental in obtaining this much needed funding,” Hawkins added.

Other significant activities highlighted in the Partners in Progress Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 include:

• PIP co-sponsored the inaugural FirstHealth Innovation Summit on May 18 with over 75 attendees including business leaders, elected officials, and representatives from eight (8) biotech/life sciences companies in the Triangle area.
• PIP initiated plans to organize and host an inaugural golf industry summit tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2023 to showcase Moore County as a prime business location as part of our initiative to expand Moore County’s golf industry cluster.
• PIP co-hosted the second Workforce Development Roundtable meeting with the Moore County Chamber of Commerce on May 25. The roundtable was attended by more than 50 local employers and workforce development partners who learned about the workforce development programs provided by Moore County Schools’ Career & Technical Education (CTE) Program.
• PIP conducted the 2022 Moore County Employer Survey in collaboration with the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, Moore County Schools, and Sandhills Community College. The survey gathered feedback from local employers about their workforce needs, business outlook, and overall satisfaction with Moore County’s business environment. The results will be presented later this Fall.
• PIP hosted Mike Whan, CEO of the United States Golf Association (USGA), on June 2 to speak to PIP’s Moore 100 group about the USGA’s plans for Golf House Pinehurst and some of their other initiatives. PIP staff also participated in the USGA’s Golf House Pinehurst groundbreaking ceremony on June 6.
• PIP started preparations to celebrate National Manufacturing Day on October 7 and launch the “Made in Moore” campaign in October. In collaboration with the Moore County Chamber of Commerce and Sandhills Community College, PIP will help recognize the innovative products produced by our local manufacturing industry.

The full Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 can be accessed on the Partners in Progress website.

“We appreciate our continued collaboration with our government, business, and community partners to advance economic development initiatives that will create quality jobs, generate capital investment, and increase the tax base in our communities,” Hawkins said.

Moore 100 is a group of individuals and businesses who want to be more informed about topics of community importance, be more engaged in economic & community development, want to build local relationships, and have dialogue with business & community leaders. Moore County business leaders who want to learn more about Moore 100 are encouraged to contact PIP staff for more information at 910.246.0311 or econdev@moorebusiness.org.

Moore County Partners in Progress is a 501c(3) not-for-profit economic development organization and public-private partnership serving all of Moore County, NC. Partners in Progress’ mission is to “increase economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for Moore County’s citizens through the creation of quality jobs and capital investment in our communities.”

For more information about Moore County Partners in Progress, please visit moorecountyedp.org.

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