2 min read December 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, Randy Isenhower, chairman of Catawba County, discussed the importance of collaboration in attracting economic development opportunities, plans in place for future growth and more. “In the next several years, we will continue to identify new opportunities while continuing to take advantage of and maintain our existing opportunities,” he said.
What have been some highlights for the county this year?
We are working from a long-term strategic plan built out in 2017, where we highlighted eight areas we feel are core to Catawba County’s success for the future. It is a collaborative plan with a focus on economic growth. Microsoft’s announcement is a great example of collaboration because it has committed a minimum $1 billion investment for a data center on three different campuses. The plan also places a priority on quality of life. We recently opened Mountain Creek Park, which is designed to optimize mountain biking and offers more than 19 miles of trails for biking, hiking and access to Lake Norman. Appalachian State University announced a campus in Hickory, and it is conducting extensive community outreach to see how it can align its courses with regional needs and workforce development. We are growing workforce development programs through the Workforce Solutions Complex and are expanding the Manufacturing Solutions Center. In Catawba County, there is a sense that everyone is working to enhance the quality of life here and ongoing economic development.
What momentum will Microsoft’s investment bring to the county?
Its investment shows we have internationally well-known companies that recognize the advantages of doing business in Catawba County. A sense of collaboration has to exist in order to get them here. As Microsoft’s recruitment process developed, I expected some hiccups but in the end we didn’t encounter any substantial problems. The company just wanted to find the best plan of action to get here. We kicked off a data center recruitment strategy more than a decade ago, and we’ve seen it come to fruition through major investments by Apple, Bed Bath and Beyond, and now Microsoft. Apple is our largest taxpayer here, and their presence along with Microsoft shows we are open to doing business on a global scale.
What has been the impact of Trivium Corporate Center?
Trivium is a collaborative project and our first class-A business park. Since 2018, Trivium has attracted investment of $358 million and created 272 jobs, and the park is almost fully occupied. In the past five years, Catawba County has allocated $4.5 million in investments to the center. We are excited about the story that tells and the future success of the business park. Much of the industry coming into the county is built on our manufacturing legacy, and Trivium is a great example of how we’ve worked to diversify those investments. We are looking to add business park acreage there and in other parts of the county that would increase our connectivity to Charlotte.
What challenges are left to tackle as more people move to the area?
Housing is always an issue, particularly affordable housing. We are working on providing the infrastructure, and are also working with municipalities to see what can be done to keep water, sewer and other infrastructure caught up with demand. The definition of a modern county comes down to the core services being addressed: infrastructure, housing, emergency services and best maximizing assets. The newly-announced Workforce Innovation Center near Appalachian State University is a great example of how we are working to address future needs. And we will keep focusing on quality of life above all else. With that comes economic investment and development to support the growing population.
What are you excited to see change about Catawba County as it grows and what do you hope remains the same?
I think we will continue to maintain our small-town feel that is also close to major amenities. We celebrate our geographic location. Our municipalities are doing a great job with growing in a way that ensures they do not lose their charm or character. I would also like us to continue to diversify our academic and medical communities. Our K-64 initiative with Catawba Valley Community College is a public-private partnership with our school systems where we are developing technology for the classroom, teaching work-ready skills and creating work-based learning opportunities that align with local businesses. The Workforce Solutions Complex and Manufacturing Solutions Center will continue to support local businesses with workforce training and assistance in developing new products and services. We continue to be innovative and on top of economic development and quality of life. We are very lucky in our partnerships; collaboration is our secret sauce.
What would you say the next two years hold?
I predict our automotive industry will grow, and we will see the impacts of the investments already made by Microsoft and Apple. We may see spinoffs as a result, and we will continue building on our manufacturing legacy. The region is positioned as an economic engine, and Catawba County adds to that with our growing economy and population. We are becoming a regional commercial, medical and housing hub. We will also continue to have an impact on retail sales; we have great options that attract those living in other areas to come shop here, which generates a significant amount in sales taxes.
We will see more of the same in terms of growth and success. We may be addressing different needs, but we will do so through collaboration. Our commissioners have made big strides and opened doors for the community. In the next several years, we will continue to identify new opportunities while continuing to take advantage of and maintain our existing opportunities. Microsoft’s investment accentuated how we work with municipalities to get things done. Everyone is excited about the opportunities to come.
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