A Message From Our Executive Director

A Message From Executive Director, Robby Carney

During these unprecedented times, our corporation’s responsibility is to continue working as a hub of communication for the business community. We are witnessing large scale disruption to key sectors of industry. This has impacted both jobs and availability as well as revenue to our community across the board.

Driving job opportunities into our community as well as revenues to our government partners has never been more important than during these times. In many ways, we will all have to challenge previous definitions of what success in economic development looks like.

As this situation continues to progress, our corporation will continue to reassess our community’s economic development needs moving forward.

GoldenHome International to Establish North American Headquarters in Concord, NC

GoldenHome International, one of the world's leading residential cabinet makers, announced plans to establish its North American headquarters in Concord, NC. The company, which produces premium quality, name brand cabinets for the global markets, plans to base production, business operations, R&D, distribution, marketing and training at its new outpost at The Grounds at Concord.

>> Read the Press Release

>> Podcast About GoldenHome Coming to Concord

NCDHHS to Provide Additional Food Benefits to Over 800,000 Children During COVID-19

“So many families are in need, especially with so many out of work right now. This approval helps people get assistance faster to feed their families,” said Governor Cooper.

>> Read the Press Release

Hem Mills Pivots to Produce Elastic for Surgical Masks & Badger Shields

Local hemp manufacturer, Hem Mills, has completely switched over to producing elastic to help meet demands during the COVID-19 outbreak. There is a huge shortage of one-inch elastic for companies that are making badger shields and surgical masks to protect medical workers.

>> Watch Interview with CEO Madison Sexton

>> Other Local Companies Currently Producing PPE

Save Small Business Grants

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, with founding partner Vistaprint, has launched the Save Small Business Fund, a grant program to provide assistance to small businesses owners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Funded by contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners, the Foundation will distribute $5,000 grants to small employers in economically vulnerable communities.

Grant applications opened on April 20, 2020. Applicants must employ between 3 and 20 people, be located in an economically vulnerable community, and have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.

>> Learn More

Featuring: Page Castrodale, Existing Industry Director at Cabarrus EDC.

Q: How is the EDC supporting local manufacturers during COVID-19?

A: We have tried our best to maintain steady communication with local manufacturers to make sure they have guidance and ready access to resources as they continue to do business during this time. We’re also assisting those manufacturers who have been able to produce PPE supplies and need to ramp up quickly to meet demand. With that, there is a need to make connections with other suppliers and we’ve leaned heavily on our economic development colleagues in other counties in the Charlotte region to make sure our folks here can find the raw materials they need.

Additionally, the EDC is collecting feedback from our local industry to better understand current needs and ways that we might be able to assist. Not surprisingly, most manufacturers have seen a decrease in demand, significant supply chain disruption and increased absenteeism. But 18% of companies who responded have indicated an increase in demand for their product or service, which is a number we hope continues to grow as many begin to find new and innovative ways to move forward.

>> Click here to send us your questions and we'll answer in an upcoming newsletter.

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