MOORESVILLE, N.C.,None — The number of economic development projects in the Mooresville-Statesville Micropolitan area nearly doubled in 2011, putting the area once again on the top of Site Selection Magazine’s Top Micropolitan List for the sixth time in eight years.
Placing on the Top Micropolitan list isn’t easy. In order to meet the magazine’s criteria, a project for a new or expanding industry must include one of the following measures: capital investment of at least $1 million, creation of 50 or more new jobs or new construction of at least 20,000 square feet.
With 28 qualifying projects, Statesville-Mooresville outpaced runner-up Wooster, Ohio, by seven projects. The micropolitan area logged in 17 qualifying projects in 2010.
“Iredell County has been a consistent performer when it comes to economic development,” said Statesville Regional Development Executive Director Mike Smith
Many local officials, including Mooresville Mayor Miles Atkins and Iredell County Commissioner Ken Robertson, say the award highlights Iredell’s business-friendly climate.
“Our area is consistently viewed as a great place to locate a business,” Robertson said in a press release. “Our business-friendly environment, low tax rates, low electricity rates, dependable work force, excellent quality of life and superior public school systems provide potential employers with a wide range of positive reasons to locate here.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a micropolitan area is as a rural county where the largest city’s population does not exceed 50,000 people.
"The long-term success of this community can only be attributed to the political and businesses leadership that continues to focus on jobs and healthy business growth to improve quality of life for the area," said Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corp Executive Director Robby Carney. “The MSIEDC could not be happier to once again reclaim the No.1 micropolitian status.”
North Carolina jumped to 4th place in the 2011 Governor’s Cup Site Selection magazine, after finishing 6th in 2010. The annual designation is awarded annually based on the number of new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by Conway Data Inc.’s New Plant Database, according to a press release from the N.C. Governor’s office.
The state was ranked number one in the South Atlantic Region.
WSOC
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