Iredell EDC Hosts Their First Investor Event Of 2026
Iredell Economic Development Corporation welcomed more than 100 of their investors, elected officials, and community leaders to their Investor Breakfast, From Motorsports to Aerospace/Defense: Driving Innovation in Iredell County, on January 13 at the newly opened Florence Wine & Beer Garden at Merino Mill in Mooresville.
The focal point of the presentation was a fast-paced panel discussion between industry leaders accustomed to moving at high speeds, Jeff Clark, General Manager of the Manufacturing Division of Roush Yates and Todd English, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing of Roush Yates, along with Joe Hofmann, Chief Executive Officer of Fibreworks Composites, and Will Ricci, Vice President of Business Development of Fibreworks Composites. Moderated by Mike Ryan, International Trade Manager for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the discussion centered on the driving motivation of Roush Yates and FibreWorks Composites to diversify their considerable and nationally recognized capabilities in motorsports to the rapidly growing industry sectors of defense, aerospace, and space.
Key takeaways from the panel discussion included:
- These companies share a culture of innovation and strong work ethic. There is a natural crossover in skills honed in motorsports that directly apply to advanced manufacturing for defense, aerospace, and space sectors.
- Economic impact: These companies have more than doubled in size in the last several years, are creating high-value jobs.
- The secret to their success is partnership with other companies, education institutions, and government agencies.
- Defense spending is expected to increase and the components being made in Iredell by companies like Roush Yates and Fiberworks Composites are in demand.
Gaius Carter, Vice President and Industrial Market Leader, an Iredell EDC investor with EDIFICE Construction shared, “What stood out most was the conversation around leveraging motorsports expertise for defense and aerospace applications. Precision engineering, rapid prototyping, and high-performance standards that define motorsports are now being applied to sectors critical to national security and global competitiveness. This transition underscores the adaptability and resilience of our local economy.”
North Carolina Senator Vickie Sawyer, and North Carolina Representative Todd Carver were also on hand to share their updates and insights.
Equally fascinating as the presentation was the venue itself. Florence Wine & Beer Garden, located at 518 S. Church Street in Merino Mill, is an authentic Italian restaurant and the latest venture of Michal Bay, local restauranter and owner of Merino Mill. Originally the powerhouse for the Mooresville Cotton Mills, Florence is in a century-old structure with 50-foot-high ceilings. On a typical day, Florence is only open for lunch and dinner, and patrons can expect a curated menu of traditional, home-cooked Italian food. For this special event, Bay served a delicious and unique European breakfast.
The Investor Breakfast is only the first Investor event of 2026. It will be followed by an Investor After Hours Event and a highly anticipated Annual Meeting, both of which will offer unique programming and sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in joining this select group of businesses invested in the economic development and prosperity of Iredell County, you can visit https://iredelledc.com/about/icedc-investors/
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