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Lake Norman Region Existing Company
Reported Capital Investment & New Jobs:
2011: 17 companies reported $20,112,909 investment and 114 new jobs.
Identified 5 expansion opportunities
2010: Six companies reported $9,240,699 investment and 247 new jobs.
Identified 6 expansion opportunities
*Special note: Since many privately held existing companies do not report capital investment and/or job totals and LNREDC is aware of other expansions companies expressly asked not to announce publicly, we know the actual investment and totals are, as usual, much higher than reported.
LNREDC developed a vibrant existing industry program in 2009 with Charity Barbee, LNREDC Associate Director, visiting companies in Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville on a weekly basis. Staff present a monthly BRE (Business Retention & Expansion) report to LNREDC's investors, board of directors and town board members.
- LNREDC works with partners in the region to respond to companies' needs and suggestions following each company visitation.
- The focus of the existing industry program is encouraging existing industry to stay and expand in the Lake Norman Region.
- At the request of company leaders, LNREDC facilitates quarterly Lake Norman Region Executive Roundtable luncheons so business leaders have the opportunity to interact with peer leadership on a regular basis.
- At the request of the community, LNREDC facilitated a team that created a universal commercial permitting checklist for the towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville. The three towns implemented the new permitting checklist in June, 2010.
- Minds That Manufacture awarded Clearwater Manufacturing the 2010 Regional Advanced Manufacturing Award for "Best Innovation Project" for companies with one to 49 employees at a June 24, 2010 awards ceremony. Clearwater Manufacturing introduced a mini-water bottling machine the size of a refrigerator. The "Eco-Friendly" Boomerang Water Bottling System boasts zero waste by reusing glass or aluminum bottles that are returned after use.
- Senator Burr visited Microban International, an existing Lake Norman region company and global leader in antimicrobial product protection, on August 23, 2010 as part of a whirlwind tour of existing companies in eight NC counties.
- LNREDC assisted SAERTEX USA through a multi-year expansion plan which led to the company's October 19, 2010 announcement of a $6.5 million investment and additional 178 new jobs at its Lake Norman manufacturing plant. SAERTEX USA makes lightweight composite materials used by manufacturers in the wind energy, aerospace, civil engineering, auto, and shipbuilding industries. In April 2010, The Charlotte Business Journal recognized SAERTEX USA as one of the Top 20 "Largest Area Energy Companies."
- Irwin Tools announced in October of 2010 moving its customer service center from Wilmington, Ohio to it headquarters at NorthPointe Executive Park in Huntersville. In addition to its Huntersville, NC headquarters, Newell Rubbermaid operates US hubs in Chicago, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia.
- As part of the 2010 BRE program, Barbee conducted 136 visits with 248 additional contacts and identified six expansions. LNREDC conducted three executive roundtable events, facilitated five fast track permitting meetings, sponsored an industry tour for board members and town board members, and coordinated a regional NCDOT update luncheon.
- On January 20, 2011, Daetwyler Corporation's participation in a regional apprenticeship program celebrating its 15th anniversary attracted a visit from Senator Burr. Since inception of the European-style program, six partner companies spent an approximate $80,000 per apprentice and graduated 100 students guaranteed full-time jobs after meeting graduation requirements.
- As part of the BRE program, LNREDC unveiled retail studies for each of the three towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville on September 22, 2011. The retail leakage studies, performed at no charge by ElectriCities in Raleigh, provide data on the lost retail dollars residents spend outside the three towns as well as categories with retail surplus. "One of the primary roles LNREDC plays is a collaborative role with the three towns," says Charity Barbee, LNREDC Associate Director. "ElectriCities offered to conduct sutides for all three towns at no charge, so it made sense to collaborate, to get the data and share it with the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce and three towns we serve so they can decide what to do with the information from here," she says.
- LNREDC organized three executive roundtable events over the course of 2011 on topics including the changing world economy, healthcare reform and company financing. Special thanks to Wells Fargo, Presbyterian Hospital-Huntersville and RegionsBank for sponsoring the roundtable luncheons and to guest speakers Mark Vitner, Congresswoman Sue Myrick, and LNREDC investor banks for their support.
- LNREDC helped SAERTEX MultiCom coordinate a successful September 15, 2011 launch for its new sewer pipe rehabilitation product at its U.S. headquarters in Huntersville.
- In the fourth quarter of 2011, as part of LNREDC’s ongoing work with the three towns to improve customer service on development projects, LNREDC also conducted a survey of 69 developers/general contractors/architects and engineers to identify areas for improvement. LNREDC wrapped up 2011 by filming six existing company executives launched on the organization’s website in 2012.
- In May of 2011, LNREDC expanded its BRE program to include an Existing Company Appreciation Day, recognizing all three towns' existing companies for their investments in the community. LNREDC presented three awards to companies that reported the highest capital investments and job growth for the year.
Following is a list of some of the major existing companies in the Cornelius-Davidson-Huntersville area:
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