Industry Leaders Learn the State of The County at Iredell EDC’s Industry Leaders Council
Iredell EDC considers the retention of existing businesses and their employees to be a key component of Iredell County’s growth strategy. Their dedicated business retention and expansion program is laser-focused on building and maintaining critical relationships with business and industry. This direct engagement allows Iredell EDC to quickly connect companies with solutions and resources they require to be successful in Iredell County as well as the region. The quarterly Industry Leaders Council is just one of the proven tools Iredell EDC utilizes to provide business and industry leaders with the 
opportunity to freely discuss the issues that are impacting their businesses now and learn more about real solutions. In June more than 30 industry leaders convened in the conference center of Goodwill’s Workforce Development Center in Statesville for a presentation by Beth Milton, Iredell County’s County Manager, and Melissa Neader, Vice Chair of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners, on the State of the County.
The theme of Ms. Milton’s presentation was the same as the theme for Iredell County, growth. Between 2010 and 2022 Iredell County’s population grew by 22.6%, far outpacing the growth of North Carolina which is now the seventh largest state in the country. This level of growth is expected to continue by almost 9% over the next five years.
As expected, with significant growth brings its challenges, and for Iredell County, one of the greatest challenges is maintaining two top school systems, Iredell-Statesville Schools and Mooresville Graded School District, as well as Mitchell Community College. “Our goal is for people to live here, work here, and raise their families here,” Ms. Milton says. “So, our schools are always a priority.”
A fiscally conservative county, Iredell County has adopted a PAYGO, Pay-As-You-Go, policy. Ms. Milton explained the county’s plans to complete Weathers Creek High School as well as Parkertown Elementary School and Mitchell Community College’s Public Safety Training Center.
After a question-and-answer session with Ms. Milton and Commissioner Neader, Sharine Sample, Regional Manager Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC, led industry leaders on a tour of Goodwill’s Workforce Development Center
with an in-depth look at the many services Goodwill offers regarding workforce development.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be part of the Industry Leaders Council, John Johannesen, Director of Marketing/Recruiting for deBotech, shared. “Iredell EDC provide fantastic speakers with significant insights that generate valuable discussions with the business leaders in Iredell County. I am proud to be part of the team.”
Industry Leaders Councils are a quarterly, invitation-only program of Iredell EDC. If you are an industry leader and would like to be included in the unique and informative program, contact Todd Black, Existing Industry Manager, [email protected]
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State of Iredell County
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