The economy in our nation and in our state has been difficult in recent years.  Cleveland County has suffered as well.  However, the leaders in this county decided that they would not sit idly by and watch their friends and neighbors struggle.  Cleveland County, along with our neighbors to the east, received a federal grant to conduct an in-depth economic study. The comprehensive economic development strategy, known as Focus Cleveland, explored six areas:  economic development, entrepreneurial efforts, government, infrastructure, marketing, and work force.  This intense process confirmed what we already knew… that Cleveland County has much to offer.

Being strategically located between Charlotte and Asheville in North Carolina and a short distance from the Greenville/Spartanburg area in South Carolina is at the top of the list for economic development.  Whether it is a small business or an international manufacturing firm, geographic location is vital to developing and growing a business.  Access to airports, interstates, and a well-trained labor force are key ingredients for economic success.

The Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is just a short drive from anywhere in the county.  We have easy access to four major interstate highways (I-85, I-77, I-26 and I-40), easily connecting the county to the Southeast and beyond.  Over 250 trucking firms operate out of the region, including a few from right here in Cleveland County.  Rail travel is also easily accessible.

Industrial diversity has helped keep the economy in Cleveland County strong.  While still home to several agricultural and textile operations, Cleveland County has many international manufacturing companies.  We are the location for the manufacturing and distribution of a number of products including compact discs, transmissions, aircraft parts, and a variety of other products. 

Officials in Cleveland County are committed to attracting new industry partners. Since 1997, we have developed three new industrial parks and each are served with water, sewer, and fiber optic infrastructure. We also maintain an inventory of over 2.8 million square feet of Class A Industrial space ready for tenant occupancy. Additionally, the cities of Kings Mountain and Shelby are ranked by Site Selection Magazine as two of the top 100 small cities for corporate location.

Finding the right employees is made easy with the assistance of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission.  The ESC has an active office in Shelby and works closely with area educational institutions and the Cleveland County Chamber.  Workforce development is an essential component of our economic development efforts.  Specific programs available to citizens are detailed in the Education section of this publication.

Education and Industry
The JobReady Partnership is a fabulous example of business and industry involvement in our community.  JobReady activities include:

• CHOICES, a program that targets ninth-grade students, is presented each year by volunteers from area business/industry.  CHOICES advocates continuing education and the importance of decision-making for future success..
• The Workforce Career Fair is provided for the county’s eighth grade students.  The annual one-day career fair is held at Cleveland Community College.
• Job Shadowing opportunities are available for both middle and high school students.  Programs are either half or full day and give students the chance to learn about a career by spending time with a mentor on the job.
• Youth Leadership Cleveland County--provided by the Cleveland County Chamber, Communities in Schools, and the Dover Foundation YMCA--is a program for selected high school sophomores.  The program complements the Leadership Cleveland County, the civic education and leadership program for adults.
• The High School Manufacturing Certification Program is a semester-long course for high school students, designed and taught by local industry personnel and community college instructors.
• The Chuck Earley Tech Prep Scholarship Funds provides eight $500 scholarships to students planning to attend Cleveland Community College.  The scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors who plan to live and work in Cleveland County.

Cleveland County Industrial Park
Nearly 250 acres of prime industrial property sits just five miles from Interstate 85 in Kings Mountain.  The Cleveland County Industrial Park, less than a half hour away from Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, is home to Sara Lee Intimate Apparel, MRA Industries, and Owens & Minor.

The convenient location and the park’s infrastructure have been so appealing to Sara Lee that they have recently expanded their operations in Cleveland County.  Along with a prime location, the Cleveland County Industrial Park enjoys utility services provided by Duke Power and a fiber optic digital phone network from BellSouth.  A million gallons of water per day and wastewater capacity are available at the park.  The City of Kings Mountain provides natural gas through a six-inch line.

Economic incentives are available to industries relocating to the Cleveland County Industrial Park.  For more information on the park, contact the Cleveland County Chamber.

The county is also home to one of the state’s most premier economic development locations.  Cleveland County owns a 103-acre site with rail access located within 1000 feet of the proposed U.S. 74 Bypass west of Shelby. 

Economic Incentives
Economic incentives, including tax credit programs, are available to industries that choose to locate or expand in Cleveland County.  Cleveland is considered a Tier Two county by the State of North Carolina and that means that certain tax incentives under the William S. Lee Quality Jobs and Business Expansion Program are available.  Eligible firms include manufacturing and processing operations, warehousing and distribution plants, and data processing firms that pay at least 110 percent of the average county wage.  More information is available through the Chamber’s economic development division.

Tax credit and incentives available include:

• The Jobs Tax Credit program is available to both new and existing industries.  For each full-time job created by a manufacturing firm, beyond a threshold of five, the company will receive a $3,000 tax credit.  The credit, paid in equal installments, is taken over a four-year period.
• The Research and Development Tax Credit allows companies that qualify for the Federal Research and Experimentation Tax Credit to receive a state tax credit.  The credit is equal to five percent of the state’s apportioned share of the taxpayer’s expenditures for qualifying research and development activities.
• A credit of 50 percent or $500 can be taken for each employee trained under the job creation or investment tax credit (for eligible businesses).
• All types of companies are eligible for the Business Property Tax Credit.  The credit is equal to four and one-half percent of tangible personal business property capitalized under the tax code.  That is up to a minimum single year credit of $4,500 and is taken in five equal installments, beginning in the taxable year the property is placed into service.

Our Economic Future
With our location, a skilled labor force, excellent school-business partnerships, support services, a lower cost of doing business, and the best people you can find anywhere, Cleveland County has a bright economic future.  The atmosphere in Cleveland County is conducive to successful business environment.  You will find progressive leaders willing to make Cleveland County the best place to live and do business in the Southeast.