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Cleveland County Chamber Economic Development
2006 Accomplishments

 

Cleveland 20/20 Organizational

  • Completed and began to operate under the bylaws for Cleveland 20/20 Economic Development Partnership that was approved.

 

    New Industry Recruitment

  • Announced the location of Chris Craft Boat’s Yacht Division, to the old 215,000 Axle Alliance Building, which includes 85 acres of property.  This will create 640 new jobs, and will be a $19 million dollar investment.
  • Announced the location of Indian Motorcycle Company to the old 40,000 sq. ft.  International Paper Building, which includes 11 acres of property. This will create 167 new jobs, and will be an investment of over $23 million dollars.
  • Announced the location of Kitchen Ventilation Systems, LLC, to the 50,000 sq. ft MRA building in the Cleveland County Business Park. This will create 86 jobs and a $5 million dollar investment over the course of three years.
  • Continued aggressive recruiting efforts in targeted business sectors.
  • Continued to analyze and improve formal marketing plan for prospect recruitment.

 

    Existing Industry

  • Implemented a formal county wide existing industry retention and expansion program  - “BEAR HUGS”

Ø      Conducted First Quarter (6 visits) Existing Industry Synchronist Database Program for existing industry tracking and data management; Installation and Training.

Ø      Data compiled, reviewed, and edited; needs to be printed and bound.3Q will be available.

  • Maintained and enhance cooperative relationships with existing industry.

Ø      Continued dialog with local industry through site visits.

Ø      CCLC meetings – Cleveland County Lean Council – regular meetings of industrial quality professionals;

Ø      CCEHSE meetings – Cleveland County Environmental, Health, and Safety Exchange – regular meetings of industrial EH&S professionals; and

Ø      Involvement with CIRA meetings – Focused on Future 4 Kids online mentoring program that Cleveland County Chamber Education Division and Workforce Development Steering committee of Cleveland 20/20 have strongly promoted with support of John Lattimore, Dean Cleveland Community College.

Ø      Promoted success of local existing industry through local media and planned events

Ø      Cleveland 20/20 Newsletter, next newsletter forthcoming in next few weeks;

Ø      Press Releases

Ø      Chamber sponsored Industrial Safety Awards Banquet some of our local industries were recognized for up to 3 million hours of work safety time this past June. See past Chamber newsletters for details on these awards.

  • Developed cost effective programs for existing industry on an on-going basis to initiate follow up from formal expansion and retention program (ex: “How to reduce healthcare costs”)

Ø      Most current example is Kings Mountain’s Buckeye Fire Equipment Company. See attached documents about North Carolina Military Business Assistant program.)

  • Actively identified and promoted state and federal grants for existing business and assisted with application process as needed

Ø      Ongoing efforts through site visits and industry group meetings.

  • Continued to refine and implement aggressive small business program through the Chamber’s Small Business Council to tailor specific message to issues effecting small business

Ø      Lunch-n-Learn series continues to do well and expand in both strength of program and number of participants.   Marketing and Sells related topics are by far the most requested and highest attended programs.    2006 Fall/Winter Series will be starting up next month and will be promote through local media and Chamber website.

  • Held ongoing recognition programs to highlight local successes as a method of marketing Cleveland County’s small businesses

Ø      Small Biz of the Month continues to be a successful tool to recognize and reward local Chamber Small Businesses.  Carolina Trophy donates the plaque each month – engraved with the recipient’s business name.   Banner purchased with monies made at Lunch-n-Learn series rotates each month to award winner.    Many businesses receiving this award comment on the additional exposure and inquiries this recognition brings to their place of business.

  • Assisted in the overall team led by City of Shelby and supported by Cleveland county to maintain PPG’s presence in the county and allow a $20 million dollar expansion
  • New Industrial Park near Shelby owned by Cleveland County Government
  • New 60,000 sq. ft. Adveco Spec Building being built in Cleveland County business park

 

Staffing Successes:

 

  • Successfully hired Economic Development Associate, Kristin Fletcher in July 2006.
  • Successfully hired Vice President of Economic Development, Dave Hart in October 2006.

     

    Additional Opportunities:

     

    • New Johnson Development Speculative Building 500,000 sq. ft. should be completed by Spring 2007, Kings Mountain
    • MRA building served as a speculative building – 50,000 sq. ft expandable to 123,000 sq. ft and is now being leased by Kitchen Ventilation Systems, LLC.
    • KEMET, Copeland and Universal buildings, and numerous other large facilities giving us additional opportunities for businesses needing a quick entry into a new building.