Business Images Cabarrus Region, NC 2010

In the Fast LaneDiverse industry mix puts economy in high gear

Lab Partner Massive research campus creates life sciences hub

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BUSINESS®

CABARRUS REGION, NORTH CAROLINA

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WorkstyleLab Partner 14A massive research campus creates a life sciences hub in Cabarrus County.

The Power of Horsepower 18A legacy in racing revs up the region’s motorsports industry.

Made Here, Sold Everywhere 20Cabarrus County crafts a solid manufacturing sector.

InsightOverview 6

Business Almanac 7

Business Climate: In the Fast Lane 10

Energy/Technology 26

Transportation 34

Economic Profile 37

LivabilityArt of the Matter 22

Education 29

Health 32

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ON THE COVER Hendrick Motorsports is one of the many motorsports enterprises that are a staple of the Cabarrus Region economy. PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

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In the Fast LaneDiverse industry mix puts economy in high gear

Lab Partner Massive research campus creates life sciences hub

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6 C A B A R R U S R E G I O N

Overview

Welcome to Cabarrus County, the Right Place To Be for BusinessLOW COSTS, LOW TAXES AND DIVERSE ECONOMY PROVIDE IDEAL CONDITIONS TO LIVE AND WORK

Pronounced că-BEAR-ŭs, Cabarrus County was founded in 1792 and was known as a place for tobacco and textile manufacturing.

Today, the community has moved to a more diverse business culture that is based on technology and tourism and attracting a range of enterprise with its low cost of living and lower taxes.

The population continues to grow by at least 20 percent annually and it is home to a diversified and highly skilled workforce.

Cabarrus County has cultivated businesses that span technology and tourism, communications and education, manufacturing and distribution.

Both motorsports and life sciences industries have formed vibrant clusters in Cabarrus County that continue to grow and thrive.

The region is home to some 200 motorsports-related enterprises employing 20,000 people, and a centerpiece of bioscience development is the North Carolina Research Campus, a 1 million-square-foot public-private venture created by visionary David H. Murdock to foster collaboration and further knowledge in biotechnology, nutrition, agriculture, and health.

Cabarrus County’s central location, transportation infrastructure, skilled workforce, hospitality options, retail and service industries offer

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businesses the resources, people and competitive advantages crucial to success.

The Cabarrus Region offers diverse cultural experiences, through its rich history, performing arts, festivals and events going on throughout the year.

Cabarrus County is a community that understands having diverse cultural offerings is key to providing a rich, stimulating

and enlightening quality of life. The region’s four distinct seasons

include mild winters and beautiful springs and autumns. Top-level health care, exceptional schools, access to outstanding higher education opportunities, and major entertainment and retail offerings, such as the 200-store Concord Mills, make the Cabarrus Region not only a great place to work, but a great place to live.

A GRAND SLAMThe summer game has a home in Kannapolis. The Kannapolis Intimidators, the Single A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, play in the South Atlantic League. The team plays its home games at 4,700-seat Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium, which features six luxury suites with an elevated view of the field. Go to kannapolis.intimidators.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t487 for more on the team.

Almanac

BRUSH WITH GREATNESSSam Bass is a name as famous in NASCAR circles as any driver’s. However, Bass’ reputation is not behind the wheel, but behind the canvas. Bass is a renowned artist whose motorsports-themed works are known the world over. A gallery in Concord showcases more than 300 pieces of art, including originals, limited-edition prints and fine art posters. Go to www.sambass.com for more.


A NUGGET OF INFORMATIONReed Gold Mine is the site of the first documented gold find in the United States, a discovery made by 12-year-old Conrad Reed in 1799.

The 17-pound nugget was used as a doorstop for three years before Conrad’s father sold it for $3.50. Today, visitors can tour the National Historic Landmark’s restored underground tunnels and reconstructed stamp mill, hike and explore the Talking Rocks Trail, view gold mining exhibits and even try their luck panning for gold during the panning season from May to October. Go to www.reedmine.com for more.

kannapolis.intimidators.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t487

TRUE GRISTBuilt in the early 1800s, the Bost Grist Mill in Concord was the source of flour and cornmeal for southern Cabarrus County residents.

The restored mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes numerous exhibits with original milling equipment, artifacts and period antiques.

Visitors can watch corn being ground into cornmeal and grits, and sample what life was like in the mid-1800s. Go to g_bost.tripod.com/index.html for more.


SOAKING UP THE FUNThe water is always 84 degrees at Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor water park and resort in Concord.

The resort offers a number of entertainment options for kids and adults, in the water and out, including Fort Mackenzie, a 12-level, four-story interactive treehouse water fort.

The lodge also offers a number of other amenities, including restaurants, an arcade, a full-service spa and the gr8_space Tech Center, which features computers with teen-conscious Internet access, docking stations for mp3 players, and multiple gaming stations. Go to www.greatwolf.com/concord/waterpark for more.

A MUSCADINE LOVER’S DREAMRocky River Vineyards in Midland planted its first muscadine grape vine in 2003, producing the grape that is indigenous to North Carolina and yields a sweet table wine.

Today, the vineyard offers a variety of sweet muscadine, chardonnay, merlot blend, white zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon wines.

The vineyard, with Big Meadow Creek flowing through the property into the Rocky River, is a popular spot for weddings and events, and it features wine tastings and a gift shop that sells crafts by local artisans. Go to www.rockyrivervineyards.com for more.

g_bost.tripod.com/index.html

ON THE TRAIL OF THE INTIMIDATORDale Earnhardt was one of NASCAR’s all-time winners, most-fearsome racers and one of Cabarrus County’s most famous native sons.

The Dale Trail in Kannapolis, the Intimidator’s hometown, includes stops and landmarks that relate to the life and career of Earnhardt, who died at the Daytona 500 in 2001.

The trail is billed as the first heritage trail in motorsports history. A signature stop on the trail is Dale Earnhardt Plaza in downtown Kannapolis, where a 9-foot bronze statue of the racing legend stands. Go to www.visitcabarrus.com for more.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE! LIVE THEATER IS IN SESSIONThe Old Courthouse Theatre in Concord is an award-winning community theater group whose performances are staged in a restored church built in the 1920s.

The theater is staffed and run by volunteers and supported through ticket sales, private donations, sponsors and a grant through the Cabarrus Arts Council. The theater stages several performances throughout the year. Go to www.oldcourthousetheatre.org for more.


CENTER OF ATTENTIONThe Cabarrus Arena & Events Center knows how to put on a show.

The Concord facility features a 5,000-seat arena and 150,000 square feet of exhibit, meeting and event space. With its flexible floor plan and ample ceiling heights, the center is ideally suited for events ranging from concerts to circuses to trade shows to sporting events to full-scale banquets.

The center is just minutes from the 200-store Concord Mills retail center, numerous hotels and Charlotte Motor Speedway. For more, go to www.cabarrusarena.com.


In the Fast LaneDiverse industry mix accelerates Cabarrus economy

Business Climate


Story by Joe Morris • Photography by Todd Bennett

Cabarrus County is home to a diverse and sophisticated economy that ranges from

advanced manufacturing and distribution to life sciences and high-performance motorsports racing.

The community’s advantages in cost, taxes, proximity to major markets and quality of life form a potent combination for new business investment and expansion in the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant economic regions.

“We are bringing motorsports businesses here because almost all of the top NASCAR teams are based in Cabarrus County,” says John Cox, president and chief executive officer of the Cabarrus Economic Development Corp. “We have the infrastructure and venues in place for them. We are also growing our life sciences cluster with the opening of the North Carolina Research Campus, plus we continue to have tourism as a growing and significant part of our economy.”

The county, part of the Charlotte metropolitan region, works to keep its manufacturing sector thriving as well, helping new and existing companies retool their processes to be greener and more energy efficient. Those factors, coupled with a strong service sector, form a solid backbone for growth now and in the future.

In January 2010, for example, Charlotte-based Celgard announced a $90 million expansion project for Concord in Cabarrus County, an investment that will create 300 jobs. Celgard develops and produces battery separators used in lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from laptop computers and mobile telephones to digital cameras and tools.

S&D Coffee Inc. has been a fixture in Cabarrus County since its founding

in the 1920s. The Concord-based provider of an expanding line of coffee and coffee-related drinks and products is always seeking new opportunities, with hopes of expanding operations in the county, says Ron Hinson, president and CEO.

“In the next few years, we’ll be looking at putting a larger facility here,” Hinson says. “We want to stay here; it would be just as easy for us to build a multipurpose facility anywhere else, but this is our home.”

Global telecommunications company ACN has also developed some deep roots in the region since establishing its world headquarters in Concord a few years ago, says Greg Provenzano, president and co-founder.

ACN employs close to 500 people in Concord, with more than 340 of those

jobs being created since May 2008. “The great things we already have

here help us to constantly attract other new companies,” Cox says. Major initiatives include replacing a 2.5 million-square-foot Philip Morris facility with new industries and enterprises.

“We have companies that want to stay here, and to locate here, not just for quality of life but because they can be near major research centers,” Cox says.

The region also is home base for Southgate Masonry and Lumber.

“From a business standpoint, we have diversity, a wide variety of businesses and industries that we’ve been able to grow,” says co-owner Dakeita Vanderburg-Johnson, “but it’s also a great place to live in terms of quality of life.”


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From its earliest days in downtown Concord, S&D Coffee Inc. has been an innovator. The company sells its coffee, tea, specialty drinks and beverage products to more than 70,000 customers, including hotels, restaurant chains, colleges and universities, large institutional users, vending suppliers and offices, throughout the United States. McDonald’s USA named S&D its 2007 Supplier of the Year. With four facilities in Cabarrus County handling everything from product development to production and distribution, President and CEO Ron Hinson says S&D is looking to grow its market share while also expanding its local footprint.

What’s next for S&D here in Concord?

We are about to need a larger, multipurpose facility, and most likely it will be here. Our local officials work with us well and want to keep us here, so we’re not looking to move away. We have been able to grow very successfully from here, and believe we can continue to do so.

What goes on at S&D’s existing facilities, and how are they expanding their operations?

We manufacture coffee in one facility, and it takes care of our business across the United States because of the way we’ve upfitted it. We also have our tea facility here, and that’s now our fastest-growing segment. That’s why soon we’ll need a facility for coffee and tea to handle the growth.

Success One Cup at a TimeS&D COFFEE PERCOLATES GROWTH IN CABARRUS WHILE BREWING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

We also have a new, 20,000-square-foot extract facility to make our iced coffee and cappuccino ingredients, and are working with people like Coca-Cola in that part of our business. That involves some

secrecy, so we put it on the backside of our annex building and gave those labs their own separate entrance. It’s a very exciting thing for us to be getting into in terms of what it can do for our future. – Joe Morris

Ron Hinson, CEO of S&D Coffee: “We’ve been able to grow successfully here.”


Lab PartnerMassive research campus creates life sciences hub


Turning a shuttered textile plant into a thriving research and development center was a tall

order, but the North Carolina Research Campus shows what a little initiative and a lot of cooperation can do.

The campus, a public-private venture, is home to multiple collaborative efforts in the fields of biotechnology, nutrition and health. It has more than 1 million square feet of lab and office space, including the 311,000-square-foot David H. Murdock Core Laboratory, named for the visionary businessman who bought the property and invested $1.5 billion into renovating it.

It’s already home to facilities for Duke University along with a presence from the UNC system campuses of Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Charlotte, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina A&T State University and Appalachian State University. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and a growing corps of private companies will be in residence soon.

The Murdock Core Laboratory is a $100 million state-of-the-art facility that brings equipment needed for a

variety of disciplines such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, clinical discovery, histochemistry, cell culture and transgenics under one roof. It includes 80,000 square feet dedicated to specialized labs that house the most sophisticated scientific equipment available.

For Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the research campus is a place to offer workforce development and skills training for today’s jobs and those that don’t even exist yet, says Dr. Carol Spalding, president.

“We have literally changed from textiles to technology here in the last five years,” Spalding says. “Our building is a biotechnology lab building, where people can study for an associate’s degree in biotechnology science and do other coursework, but it also provides continuing education for people who want to get into this field.”

By offering that entree, the college can further its mission of providing the labor pool with skilled employees in addition to offering remedial education for existing workers.

“We can expand the skills of people who are already here and help recruit

The North Carolina Research Campus provides an abundance of lab and office space.



Mihai George works at the DHMRI Light Microscopy Core Facility at the North Carolina Research Campus.

aspirations so that they can see themselves in these jobs. It’s futuristic, but it’s happening now – and it’s happening here.”

The campus is attracting enterprises in a range of pioneering fields, such as Anatomics, a medical device firm that produces custom-made implants and surgical biomodels for surgeons and hospitals.

And that’s exactly what Murdock had in mind when he began envisioning the property as a way for a decimated textile workforce to reinvent itself, says Lynne Scott Safrit, president of Castle & Cooke NC, LLC, the developer of the campus.

“When he bought this piece of property, it was because he has a great love for the people who worked in the mill and had a desire to put people back to work,” Safrit says.

“He knew the textile jobs were not coming back, and that other jobs were leaving, so he wanted to reeducate the workforce to get them ready for 21st century jobs,” Safrint says.

“The goal was to create a campus that focused on life sciences, one that would give people a chance to get the education and training for jobs that would not go away, and that would mean a better life for themselves and their families.”

Cabarrus RegionaKannapolis

new business by talking to them about their training needs,” she says. “That’s something this college does very well, and is something very complementary to the research campus mission. We want to raise our population’s


Lots of SmartsUNIQUE EQUIPMENT, RESEARCH KNOW-HOW FUEL WORK AT INSTITUTE

When he purchased a defunct textile mill and began the work of repurposing the property into what is now the North Carolina Research Campus, developer David Murdock also wanted to build a world-class scientific hub that would operate alongside and often in tandem with the campus’ other facilities.

That vision has become the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory, which has already drawn scientists and health-care researchers from around the globe.

“The lab is there to support the universities in their work, but (Murdock) has put together a combination of equipment unlike anywhere else in the world,” says Lynne Scott Safrit, president of Castle & Cooke NC, LLC, the developers of the campus, which has some 1 million square feet of office and lab space. “We have had Harvard University people here using the equipment and scientists from other countries. The institute has already been shown as a good opportunity for the best minds in the world to solve the problems in their science

and to be a clearinghouse that serves both our universities here on the campus and those in other places.”

The 311,000-square-foot facility’s many instruments include the Bruker 950-megahertz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, the world’s most powerful superconducting magnet, and many other instruments that will draw in

private-sector researchers as well.“The goal is for private industry

to locate here because they want to utilize the equipment and the minds that they can’t get anywhere else,” Safrit says. “It’s not just about the machines, but also about having all the people here who know the right questions to ask, and know how to get the right answers.”

– Joe Morris

David H. Murdock Core Laboratory

www.EmbassySuitesConcord.com


The Power of HorsepowerMotorsports industry revs up the Cabarrus economy

Story by Kevin Litwin • Photography by Todd Bennett

Cabarrus County’s motorsports legacy is almost as old as the combustion engine.

It is, after all, birthplace of one of racing’s most fearsome competitors, Dale Earnhardt. It is also home to one of NASCAR’s most renowned tracks, the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile high-speed oval in Concord, where drivers top out at speeds better than 200 mph. Nicknamed “The Beast of the Southeast,” the speedway is considered home base for NASCAR, with 90 percent of NASCAR teams having racing shops within 50 miles.

In addition to the speedway, Cabarrus County hosts a major drag-racing complex, a rolling-road wind tunnel that aids motorsports research, the MRN Radio network and some 200 businesses that support motorsports enterprise and employ approximately 20,000 people.

Household names in NASCAR, such as Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Stewart-Hass Racing and Roush Fenway Racing, are based in Cabarrus County, as is Hendrick Motorsports, which houses the racing teams of four of the top drivers in NASCAR.

Those drivers are Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, the current four-time defending champion of the sport.

“We have a total of 500 employees who work for the four race teams, and probably 450 of them live in Cabarrus County,” says Scott Lampe, vice president and chief financial officer at Hendrick Motorsports. “Just at Hendrick Motorsports alone, we have a $40 million annual payroll. So you can just

imagine how much money NASCAR generates overall in Cabarrus County.”

That impact is felt at places such as Concord Regional Airport, which is used by so many race teams that it has garnered the unofficial nickname “Home of the NASCAR Air Force.”

“Hendrick Motorsports has a total of five corporate jets and a helicopter based at Concord Regional, and we buy more gasoline from the airport than any of their other customers,” Lampe says.

And the county has become a draw for motorsports investment outside NASCAR. Windshear Inc. is a 180-mph rolling-road wind tunnel that opened in September 2008 adjacent to Concord Regional Airport, to provide testing services for race teams, including those in the Formula One and IndyCar circuits.

A staff of 12 operates the facility 10 hours a day, five days a week, and is available for hire to all motorsports teams and auto manufacturers. The enclosed wind tunnel provides constant airspeeds up to 180 mph, at any temperature that a client wishes, in a highly secure and private working environment.

Windshear has tested a number of cars affiliated with NASCAR, Formula One and two auto manufacturers.

One auto manufacturer that has already seen positive results from a visit to Windshear is General Motors, which booked the facility in 2009 to test its new GT2 Corvette race car. Three weeks later, the Corvette won the Grand Prix of Mosport race in Canada.

On the Fast Track

90Percentage of NASCAR teams within 50 mile-radius of Cabarrus County

200Businesses in Cabarrus County that support the motorsports industry

20,000Employment in the region’s motorsports-related enterprises

60Percentage growth in motorsports employment in the region since 2000



Made Here, Sold EverywhereCabarrus County crafts a solid manufacturing sector



Even as it ramps up a technology and bioscience sector that’s expanding in every direction,

Cabarrus County is working to ensure that its manufacturing base stays healthy and growing.

A low cost of doing business, well-trained workforce and menu of incentives have brought and grown manufacturers of everything from food to fiber optics. Companies from around the country and world call Cabarrus County home, and with each new or expanded business often comes other related manufacturers as well.

At PreGel America, the ingredients for specialty desserts are on the menu. The global firm, based in Italy, has its American administrative offices, distribution center, production facility and professional training center in Concord, so much of its day-to-day operations rely on this hub, says Marco Casol, president and CEO.

When the company opened its North American subsidiary in 2002, the site decision was based on several variables including a location on the East Coast, availability of international f lights at nearby Charlotte Douglas International Airport, proximity to the Port of Charleston, climate and the burgeoning economic market that Charlotte offered, Casol says.

“The decision to build our facility in the International Business Park in Concord was inf luenced by the costs and tax incentives offered by the city of Concord and Cabarrus County, the land available and access to highways. Concord and Cabarrus County have been a pleasure to work with and we

are impressed by the commitment they have shown to us and to seeing that we continue to grow and succeed as a part of their city and county,” he says.

At Oiles America Corp., the North American subsidiary of Oiles Corp. of Japan, the focus is on crafting bearing products for a variety of industrial uses. The facility is the company’s only operation in the United States and has been growing steadily since its 1991 opening, says Bob Schulmeister, plant manager.

“Most of what we make here are bearings and bushings for the automotive industry,” Schulmeister says. “We have found Concord to be extremely open and helpful from the start, and we have felt like this is really our home.”

With its facility now spanning 80,000 square feet, the plant has 100 employees working three shifts and, in the coming years, will likely undergo another physical expansion,

Schulmeister says.By working with all types of

manufacturers over the years, the county has built a diversified portfolio of services and incentives that continue to serve the region well, says Ryan McDaniels, vice president of economic development for Cabarrus Economic Development.

“We understand that a diverse economy is a strong economy and increasing the diversity of the employment base allows the county to withstand economic downturns,” McDaniels says. “We are fortunate to have many tools in our toolbox.”

The agency is working to grow the already substantial automotive/motorsports presence in the county, as well as to assist the emerging life sciences sector in its expansion.

But, as McDaniels adds, “Our targets are not set in stone, and we are constantly studying market trends to find potential companies.”

Left: Specialty dessert ingredient maker PreGel America picked Cabarrus County for its U.S. base of operations.

MEDIAN HOURLY WAGES FOR SELECT OCCUPATIONS IN CABARRUS COUNTY

Chemical Process Operator, Level 1 $15.60

CNC/NC Machining Center Operator $18.15

Extruder Operator $14.33

Injection/Molding Operator $14.00

Electronic Assembler, Level 1 $14.01

Production Welder $15.86

Tool Die/Gauge Maker, Level 1 $16.79

Material Handler, Level 2 $14.88

Warehouse Person $12.65

Forklift Operator $12.85

Source: The Employers Association/Cabarrus Economic DevelopmentMORE AT IMAGESCABARRUSCOUNTY.COM




Livability

Cabarrus paints a lively gallery, culture and recreation scene

A vibrant arts scene, bustling urban centers and cultural and sporting amenities give residents

plenty to do in Cabarrus County, and there’s always more in the works.

From its historic and revitalized town centers, to a wealth of parks and greenways, access to world-class retail such as the 200-store Concord Mills shopping destination, a bevy of top-f light golf courses, major sporting events with world-renowned NASCAR tracks, plus proximity to all the amenities a major U.S. city offers, Cabarrus County can deliver a quality of life to suit any style.

Strong downtowns anchor the county’s residential areas, offering unique restaurant and retail experiences while also tying into a diverse mix of arts and culture outlets.

The Concord Downtown Development Corp. keeps tabs on things through a comprehensive master plan, says Vickie Weant, executive director.

“Our organization also provides quite a few events that are open to the public,” Weant says. “Our most popular

are the Spring Into Arts Festival and Union Street Live concert series.”

The CDDC also emphasizes the various activities and amenities to be found downtown, including, but by no means limited to, the Galleries at the Cabarrus Arts Council, Davis Theatre, Memorial Gardens and many beautiful historic homes.

“Our hope is that when people come downtown to participate in our events, they will also take the opportunity to see the beauty and uniqueness of downtown,” Weant says.

Sports play a big role in Kannapolis’ recreation makeup, with the Kannapolis Intimidators, the Chicago White Sox’s Single A Affiliate drawing big crowds during baseball season. The Summer Entertainment Series, which began in 2004 with a single concert, has grown to include movies, music and storytelling in a downtown setting. Another crowd pleaser is the Modern Film Festival, held at the GEM Theatre downtown landmark, says Karen Whichard, communications director for the city.

“From an economic development standpoint, these events and programs help provide cultural resources that are critical to human-capital recruitment,” Whichard says.

From its home in the county’s historic courthouse, the Cabarrus Arts Council watches all this activity with pleasure and works constantly to promote the region’s offerings, says Noelle Rhodes Scott, executive director.

“When we moved into the courthouse, we developed four gallery spaces that were the first art galleries of this kind the community has ever had,” Scott says. “This has enabled thousands of people who have never visited art galleries before to savor wonderful works by regional and national artists.”

The council offers its signature performing arts series, On Stage at the Davis, as well as two locally produced concert series in the 227-seat Davis Theatre in the courthouse. Enthusiastic audiences enjoy performances ranging from Broadway revues to classic jazz

Art of the Matter

Story by Joe MorrisPhotography by Todd Bennett


to bluegrass concerts.“The council’s successes, ref lect

its willingness to listen to the community, and then respond accordingly,” Scott says.

“We are out in the community, working with artists, people and businesses and listening to what they want. And we seem to be responding in such a way that is getting people excited. We are going to continue to do that, to make this community a more interesting and vibrant place for people to live in and visit,” Scott says.

FAST CARSThings move fast in Cabarrus County,

especially when it comes to auto racing.Cabarrus County is home to the

Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 167,000-seat showcase that hosts two premier NASCAR Sprint Cup events each year, as well as other NASCAR division races on its 1.5-mile track.

Across from the speedway is the 14,500-seat Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which features a four-tenths-mile red clay oval. The track hosts a schedule of events featuring late model stockcars, World of Outlaws, sprint cars and car-crushing monster trucks.

On a 125-acre site adjacent to the speedway is the zMAX Dragway, a state-of-the-art facility featuring four, all-concrete racing lanes. Two NHRA national events are held there each year.

And Concord Speedway offers a variety of racing events year-round on its half-mile track.

For more on Cabarrus County motorsports attractions, go to www.visitcabarrus.com.

Trees line the street in Cannon Village in downtown Kannapolis, home of the North Carolina Research Campus.

“Our hope is that when people come downtown to participate

in our events, they will also take the opportunity to see

the beauty and uniqueness of downtown.”


With the 2009 opening of the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm Park in Concord, the term “locally grown” has taken on a whole new meaning in Cabarrus County.

The park, which is being operated by the county along with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, is giving start-up farmers a chance to hone - and hoe - their skills under the eye of trained professionals. For a small fee, they are allotted a patch of land and get input from extension agents and experienced farmers, says Debbie Bost, county extension director.

“The farm came about as a result of a conversation with residents about what they wanted for the community in terms of sustainability,” Bost says. “The land was bequeathed to the county, and Mrs. Lomax requested that it be farmed. In 2008, we began some cultivation and overcropping, and took applications from beginning farmers in January 2009.”

With additional funds from the Cannon Foundation, the farm was supplemented with a greenhouse, a newly drilled well and irrigation lines. In its first year of operation, nine future farmers grew crops that went straight to community families and also were sold at local farmers markets. And to say the program is a hit is a serious understatement.

“From the start, we have had more demand than product,” Bost says. “We have 30 acres total and have only used a few, so we’re going to till up more land and put more crops out. We’re also helping these farmers learn about business plans and production models, so that we can keep farming as a going concern in Cabarrus County. It’s just been a phenomenal experience for everybody.”

– Joe Morris

A New Crop of FarmersCABARRUS COUNTY AGRIBUSINESS GETS A LIFT WITH A TEACHING FARM

Helping you build a better life …

not a bigger bank

Yes, YOU can join!

Visit us at:

169 Dale Earnhardt Blvd. Kannapolis (adjacent to

NC Research Campus) (704) 934-2300

15 Market St. Concord

(across from the Police Department)

(704) 795-0088

268 Concord Pkwy. Concord

(sharing Call Federal Building) (704) 795-0485 or

(704) 795-0486

www.southernselectccu.com

What’s Online e Learn more about how Cabarrus County is raising a new crop of farmers at imagescabarruscounty.com.


www.southernselectccu.com



Energy/Technology

Technology enterprises plug into Cabarrus

C abarrus County has developed a diverse and growing roster of technology-oriented enterprises.

The community’s deep roots in motorsports have spawned numerous innovations, and NASCAR’s popularity has propelled local company, Racing Electronics, from a home basement operation to a global leader in race communications technology.

The company, with headquarters and manufacturing operations in Concord, offers products for fans who want to get close to all the strategic goings-on and heated moments of NASCAR racing action. The product lineup includes scanners, scanner headphones, two-way radios, stop watches, two-way headsets and cables, race car wiring and equipment cases that, among other things, let users listen to conversations and communications between drivers, crew chiefs and spotters.

But NASCAR racing certainly isn’t the only industry in which Cabarrus County companies are technologically connected. FireFold is a Concord-based online e-commerce company that offers thousands of networking, audio/video and communication products for homes and businesses. The company’s product line includes in-wall speakers, remotes and antennas, switches, computer cables, converters and adapters, speaker wire and wall furniture.

“For the local Cabarrus County market, we also have a retail storefront where customers can pick up their products, but most of our overall business originates online,” says Jennie Burns, public relations director for FireFold. “We also do computer support for small businesses, and audio and video installations for customers

within the Concord and Charlotte metropolitan region.”Burns says FireFold sells most of its products to

do-it-yourselfers.“HD microphone cables that measure about six feet long

are our biggest seller, with many people using those as part of a home theater system they build for themselves,” she says. “We deal with manufacturers throughout the country who ship their products directly to us, and then we ship the products to customers nationally and internationally. At our Concord site, we probably have 2,000 popular parts already in stock related to the audio and video industries, and we can ship those parts in a moment’s notice.”

FireFold has 40 employees and has been in existence since January 2005.

“We chose to locate in Cabarrus County because it is an up-and-coming community, plus no other companies in this area provide a similar service to what we do,” Burns says. “Our company offers networking, audio/video and communication products at the lowest prices, and most of our products are shipped to customers the same day they are ordered.”

Technically Speaking

Story by Kevin Litwin

“We chose to locate in Cabarrus

County because it is an up-and-

coming community.”

www.rowancabarrus.edu


Education

Cabarrus colleges sharpen the skills of the region’s labor force

C all it a movement, call it a necessity; whatever it is, it’s allowing Cabarrus County

colleges to reach students of all ages.As big industries ramp up and area

companies grow, they turn to schools like Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) and Cabarrus College of Health Sciences for workforce solutions.

Educators at Rowan-Cabarrus

address the latest business growth by training new workers at companies such as Harmony Labs, Corning Inc. and CVG-Concord, formerly Cabarrus Plastics.

Jeanie Moore, the college’s vice president of corporate education and continuing education, says popular programs offer technical training and soft-skills training (good oral and

written communication, for example). In addition, the college raises the bar on long-term planning by offering “green” programs to handle environmental issues and techniques to streamline efficiency. New classes start at the end of January.

“Companies need help imple-menting process improvement. They want to be more efficient,

Workforce Helpers

Story by Heather Johnston • Photography by Todd Bennett

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a major supplier of workforce training in the region.


leaner and they need to know processes like Six Sigma,” Moore says.

Much of the innovation is possible because of 2007 seed money from Philip Morris USA, enabling educators to tailor company offerings. Courses may compress an entire semester to a 40-hour week or synthesize skills training to three hours of classroom instruction and three hours of hands-on practice.

Because the college is partially funded by the state and the staff consistently applies for federal grants and other funding, programs are largely affordable regardless of a company’s budget. In addition, the college brings in experts who normally charge higher fees in other settings but offer expertise to the college at a reduced rate. Classes could range from

$50 to several hundred, depending on the course.

DeAnn Basden, Rowan-Cabarrus’ director of corporate and professional development, says that the college’s strategy is to identify occupations where jobs are available and pursue “any and all funding opportunities.” Enrollment is up; non-credit programs, including certifications, increased 24 percent in 2009, compared to a typical 5 percent growth rate. Academic programs have grown 40 percent over the last two years.

“A lot of people really don’t have time to get through an associate program or even a semester program. They need short-term training to get out there as quickly as possible,” she says.

RCCC is building a $26 million facility at the North Carolina Research

Campus in Kannapolis that will be home to its two associate degree programs – biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology – and to its continuing education programs related to biotechnology and clinical research.

Interest is up for health care careers across the board in the region. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences’ enrollment jumped 17 percent for the spring, compared with an average 5 percent to 7 percent increase, says Dianne Snyder, the college’s chancellor.

The college’s 60-plus year community history gives it a solid reputation and value in the community. Although the Cabarrus County area isn’t experiencing a health care workforce shortage, other cities, such as Atlanta and Baltimore, are recruiting the college’s recent graduates.

From left: Cabarrus College of Health Sciences; Rowan-Cabarrus Community College offers associate degrees in several fields.


A+ for ChoicesCABARRUS COUNTY EARNS HIGH MARKS FOR ITS NUMEROUS SCHOOL OPTIONS

As home to two public school districts and a host of nontraditional private schools, Cabarrus County is rich in choices for parents and students.

The Cabarrus County school district, which is the 10th largest in the state, has more than 28,000 students enrolled in its 37 schools. The system continues to grow rapidly along with the community, continuously making room for the additional 1,500 students who enroll each year. The district has more to boast about than growth, with 2,000 teachers achieving National Board Certification and 735 educators obtaining advanced degrees. Also, the school system is ranked in the top 20 in the state for SAT scores.

Kannapolis City Schools has nine schools within its district, where students consistently achieve the highest physical science scores in the state and excel in the areas of biology, chemistry, algebra II and geometry.

Kannapolis City Schools is one of only seven sites in the state with a Cyber Campus, in partnership with the North Carolina School of Science and Math, to provide enhanced curriculum opportunities to students. The campus is in the east wing of A.L. Brown High School.

The county has a variety of quality private educational institutions, including Cannon School, Covenant Classical and First Assembly in Cabarrus and Harvest Christian Academy, North Kannapolis Christian and Footprints Christian Academy in Kannapolis.

In addition, the county’s first charter school, Carolina

International School, opened in 2004. The school accepts applications and chooses attendees using a lottery system, placing all unselected students on waiting lists. Each grade level focuses on an international city, writing to pen pals and communicating electronically to develop relationships with peers from other countries.

– Jessica Walker

www.sndcoffee.com


Health

Medical center brings top-level treatment, expertise to Cabarrus and beyond

C arolinas Medical Center-NorthEast is much more than a typical community hospital.

Not only is the 457-bed facility in Cabarrus County larger than average, it’s also a Level III trauma center with 30 clinics that treats more than 85,000 patients annually. Even though the primary service area covers Cabarrus County’s roughly 180,000 residents, patients from five counties and beyond seek treatment at NorthEast.

Acquired by Carolinas HealthCare System in 2007, the hospital is on an aggressive growth track. It was approved last February for a $265 million capital project that includes a new eight-f loor patient tower and a second story addition to the existing surgery center. Plus, a crew will break ground this year on a freestanding emergency department in Kannapolis.

“The Carolinas Medical Center system looks to NorthEast to be the

tertiary hub in this region, so we offer many more services than you can get at a typical community hospital,” says Carol Lovin, the CMC’s system vice president of strategic planning and market development. NorthEast includes the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital and six centers of excellence: Batte Cancer Center, Cannon Heart Center, Diagnostics and Imaging Center, Emergency Care Center, the Hayes Family Center and the Surgery Center.

Lovin points to NorthEast’s 2009 cardiovascular benchmark award from Thomson Reuters and an array of treatments unique to the area as proof that it’s living up to its reputation. Last year the hospital recruited Dr. Sherry Saxonhouse, a high-level cardiologist with special training in cardiac ablation, to the facility. She now offers the new ablation treatment for erratic

In Good Hands

Story by Heather Johnston • Photography by Todd Bennett

CAROLINAS MEDICAL CENTER-NORTHEASTwww.cmc-northeast.org

BEDS: 457 acute-care beds

EMPLOYMENT: 4,200 at the main hospital and 30 clinics

MEDICAL STAFF: More than 300 physicians

PATIENT VOLUME: Treats approximately 85,000 patients annually

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE: Batte Cancer Center, Cannon Heart Center, Diagnostics and Imaging Center, Emergency Care Center, Hayes Family Center and the Surgery Center

heartbeats, a targeted surgical treatment for a problem normally treated with a pacemaker.

Meanwhile, the cancer center, re-accredited in fall 2009, offers new services. It’s the only facility in the region to offer an advanced and focused form of radiation therapy known as the CyberKnife. Lovin says that the therapy brings in patients from areas even further out than the hospital’s primary five-county service area. The center also includes a cancer retail boutique, called Wishing Well, that’s open to anyone. The boutique offers hard-to-find products related to cancer care, such as lotions and deodorants for individuals undergoing chemotherapy. Staff members of the boutique provide hair and makeup consultations. Lovin says the store is another example of the center’s commitment to treating the whole person and is “one of the best things added to the suite of services from the center.”

Beyond NorthEast’s cutting-edge treatments, the hospital offers specialized services, such as the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital. The separate pavilion opened in December 2005 and gives children and parents a single setting for care with all specialists under one roof.

“That is a huge advantage – the size and scope of the subspecialists we have,” Lovin says.


What’s Online e Learn more about Cabarrus County’s high quality of life at imagescabarruscounty.com.



Transportation

Sophisticated transportation system keeps region connected

J eff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson f ly out of Concord Regional Airport, as do fellow NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr.,

Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards.The airport, owned by the city of Concord,

has been in operation since 1994. It handles 65,000 f lights each year, with more than 60 percent of its business coming from NASCAR-related enterprises such as Hendrick Motorsports, Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing and Roush Fenway Racing.

“Hendrick Motorsports has three Saab 2000 jets that can carry 40 passengers apiece, and those planes f ly out of here at full capacity to various race tracks all the time,” says Richard Lewis, aviation director at Concord Regional Airport.

The airport is an important component of the Cabarrus County economy. A recent economic benefit analysis showed Concord Regional bringing more than $110 million in

business to Cabarrus County on an annual basis, Lewis says.

In addition to the economic benefit, Concord Regional is a key cog in a sophisticated transportation network in place throughout Cabarrus County. In fact, the county is home to several distribution centers and office developments that were attracted to the region in part because of its airport, road and rail assets.

The community is served by Class I rail carriers CSX and Norfolk Southern, and is in close proximity to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a major hub for US Airways. The airport handles some 600 f lights per day and offers direct or nonstop f lights to 178 domestic and international destinations.

On the ground, Cabarrus County has direct access to Interstate 85 and is in close proximity to major north-south corridor I-77 and east-west route I-40. Other principal

In the Right Place

Story by Kevin LitwinBy the

Numbers

No. 1Rank of Concord Regional Airport among North Carolina noncommercial airports for flight activity

No. 4Rank of the airport among all airports in the state for flight activity

200Average daily operations at the airport

7,400Length of main runway in feet


Nursing Services

Medical Social Work

Physician Direction

Hospice Aid

Volunteer Services

Chaplaincy Services

Bereavement Services

The Bob & Carolyn Tucker Hospice House

HPCCC 5003 Hospice Ln.

Kannapolis, NC 28081 (704) 935-9434

(704) 935-9435 Fax www.hpccc.org

For those who wish to spend their final months or weeks at home,

Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County is here to help.

We have a team of caring and compassionate professionals who can provide

the following services in homes, nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

The Bob & Carolyn Tucker Hospice House has residential

and general inpatient beds for those who are unable to remain at home.

FAMILIAR FACES DURING CHALLENGING TIMES

… serving our neighbors since 1985

Home of:

National Educator of the Year, NC Principal of the Year and other award-winning faculty

One of America’s Best High Schools (U.S. News & World Report)

Exclusive partnership with the NC School of Science and Mathematics

Advanced Biotech resources and partnership with NC Research Campus

OPENING SPRING 2011:

Biotechnology Academy

www.kannapolis.k12.nc.us

roadways include U.S. Highways 29, 52 and 601, and North Carolina Highways 3, 24/27, 49, 73 and 200.

Those thoroughfares are a big reason why Kannapolis Gateway Business Park has been able to lure a number of tenants that include several health care clients and NASCAR teams. Convenient roadway access has helped International Business Park in Concord land more than 20 corporate tenants.

Saddle Creek Corp. recently opened a 304,000-square-foot LEED-certified distribution center in Harrisburg. Officials cited the close proximity to Charlotte Douglas International as a key reason for siting the facility in Harrisburg.

The building allows Saddle Creek to offer a full range of warehousing, transportation and contract packaging to its nationwide customer base. In addition to its proximity to Charlotte Douglas International, the company’s new distribution center is also close to I-77 and I-85.

“Airports also play a large role, especially with multinational corporations,” says Ryan McDaniels, vice president of economic development at Cabarrus Economic Development. “We are 30 minutes from Charlotte Douglas, which is the eighth-busiest airport in the United States. Concord Regional is the fourth-busiest airport in North Carolina and provides first-class capabilities and service for general aviation.”

www.hpccc.org

www.kannapolis.k12.nc.us


visit ouradvertisersAlpha Commercial Real Estate www.alphacommercialrealestate.com

Bank of North Carolina www.bankofnc.com

Cabarrus Bank & Trust www.cabarrusbankandtrust.com

Cabarrus Economic Development www.cabarrusedc.com

Carolinas Medical Center Northeast www.carolinashealthcare.org

Crescent Heights www.holidaytouch.com

Embassy Suites Charlotte www.embassysuitesconcord.com

Griffin Stafford – Wingate Inn

Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County www.hpccc.org

Kannapolis City Schools www.kannapolis.k12.nc.us

Keller Williams Realty – Bradley Cohen www.bradleycohen.net

Rowan Cabarrus Community College www.rowancabarrus.edu

S&D Coffee Inc. www.sndcoffee.com

Southern Select Community Credit Union www.southernselectccu.com

Spectrum Sales Inc. www.spectrumsalesnc.com

Whitley's Funeral Home www.whitleysfuneralhome.com

BUSINESS®

CABARRUS REGION, NORTH CAROLINA2010 EDITION, VOLUME 1

CONTENT DIRECTOR/BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS BILL McMEEKIN

PROOFREADING MANAGER RAVEN PETTY

CONTENT COORDINATORS JENNIFER GRAVES, ERICA HINES

STAFF WRITER KEVIN LITWIN

COPY EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JOYCE CARUTHERS, JILL WYATT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS HEATHER JOHNSTON, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA WALKER

MEDIA TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ANALYSTS CHANDRA BRADSHAW, YAMEL HALL, ALISON HUNTER, MARCUS SNYDER

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, BRIAN McCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER

WEB CONTENT MANAGERS JOHN HOOD, KIM MADLOM

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA

WEB DESIGNER LEIGH GUARIN

WEB DEVELOPER JEREMY DICKENS

AD PRODUCTION MANAGER KATIE MIDDENDORF

AD TRAFFIC ASSISTANTS MARCIA MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN

I.T. DIRECTOR YANCEY BOND

I.T. SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES SWEENEY

SALES SUPPORT/COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, CUSTOM RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT LISA OWENS

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE COORDINATOR MARIA McFARLAND

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR DIANA GUZMAN

OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR SHELLY MILLER

SENIOR INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER MARY ANN STAFFORD

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SENIOR V.P./SALES TODD POTTER, CARLA THURMAN

SENIOR V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY HESTER

SENIOR V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

V.P./CONTENT DEVELOPMENT TEREE CARUTHERS

V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./CONTENT OPERATIONS NATASHA LORENS

V.P. SALES CHARLES FITZGIBBON, HERB HARPER, JAREK SWEKOSKY

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

CONTENT DIRECTOR/TRAVEL PUBLICATIONS SUSAN CHAPPELL

MARKETING CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY KRISTY DUNCAN

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

Business Images Cabarrus Region is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce3003 Dale Earnhardt Blvd. • Kannapolis, NC 28083Phone: (704) 782-4000 • Fax: (704) 782-4050 www.cabarrus.biz

VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES CABARRUS REGION ONLINE AT IMAGESCABARRUSCOUNTY.COM

©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce

www.charlotteconcord.hgi.com

www.wingateinnconcord.com


BUSINESS SNAPSHOTCabarrus County offers a diverse economic base, location to major markets, fully developed infrastructure, skilled workforce and strong business climate that position it firmly among the most competitive counties in the nation. Located in the Charlotte, N.C., MSA, the county is home to some 200 motorsports-related businesses and a burgeoning life sciences sector.

ECONOMIC PROFILE

What’s Online e For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on the Cabarrus Region, go to imagescabarruscounty.com and click on Economic Profi le.

POPULATION

Cabarrus County, 173,392Households, 66,228Median age, 37(2008 Data)

POPULATION CENTERS

Concord, 64,653Kannapolis, 41,487Harrisburg, 5,620MSA, 1.69 million(2007 Data)

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast, 4,500Concord Mills Mall, 4,000Cabarrus County Schools, 3,800Cabarrus County Government, 975Connextions, 950City of Concord, 936Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, 900State Government, 771Kannapolis City Schools, 750Shoe Show, 700ACN, 500Great Wolf Lodge & Resort, 500Hendrick Motorsports, 500Roush Fenway Racing, 475

S&D Coffee Inc., 425Perdue Farms Inc., 390Pass and Seymour Inc., 300(2010 Data)

KEY INDUSTRY SECTORS

Services, 41 percent

Retail, 12.4 percent

Manufacturing, 12 percent

Construction, 9.1 percent

Finance & Insurance, 8.1 percent

Transportation & Utilities5.8 percent

Wholesale Trade, 4.6 percent

Public Administration, 3.4 percent

Information, 2.8 percent

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

Labor force, 83,738

Unemployment rate, 8.2 percent

INCOME

Median Household Income $60,301

Per-Capita Income, $27,196(2009 Data)

TRANSPORTATION

HIGHWAYSI-85 crosses through the county, which is within 30 minutes of I-77 and I-40. U.S. Highways 3, 24/27, 29, 49, 52 and 601 also serve the region.

AIRPORTSConcord Regional Airportwww.ci.concord.nc.us/Departments/Airport/tabid/89/Default.aspx

Charlotte Douglas International Airportwww.charlotteairport.com

RAIL SERVICE (CLASS I)CSX, www.csxi.com

Norfolk Southern, www.nscorp.com

Sourcewww.cabarrusedc.comquickfacts.census.gov


www.cancer.org

www.crescentheightsretirement.com

Ad Index 12 ALPHA COMMERCIAL

REAL ESTATE

C2 BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA

12 CABARRUS BANK & TRUST

2 CABARRUS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

C4 CAROLINAS MEDICAL

CENTER NORTHEAST

C3 CRESCENT HEIGHTS

17 EMBASSY SUITES CHARLOTTE

36 GRIFFIN STAFFORD –

WINGATE INN

35 HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

OF CABARRUS COUNTY

35 KANNAPOLIS CITY SCHOOLS

5 KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY –

BRADLEY COHEN

28 ROWAN CABARRUS

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

31 S&D COFFEE INC.

25 SOUTHERN SELECT

COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

1 SPECTRUM SALES INC.

12 WHITLEY FUNERAL HOME

www.cmc-northeast.org

Documents

Business Images Cabarrus Region, NC 2010