Anson Economic Development Corporation

In 2017, tourists spent more than $17.4 million dollars in Anson County, up 4.8 % from 2016. The higher spending is attributed to a general increase in visitor spending throughout the state and to an increased emphasis on marketing the county to out of town visitors. Overall, Anson recorded the 26th largest year-over-year gain among North Carolina's 100 counties, although the $17.4 million total lagged neighboring counties Richmond ($49.7 million), Stanley ($81.1 million), Scotland ($45.1) and Montgomery ($29.9 million). While the increase in annual spending is certainly a positive, that we fall significantly behind counties of similar size and location is a little curious, at least on the surface. When we dig a little bit though, the reasons become somewhat clearer. Virtually all of our tourism dollars come from pass-through business: People stopping here on the way to the beach or heading back home to Charlotte. Unquestionably, we capture our share of visitors stopping for a qu

Prior to coming to Wadesboro in 2016, I spent 10 years as an economic developer for the City of Statesville. One of Statesville’s claims to fame was that it was annually among the top Micropolitans in Site Selection magazine’s economic activity rankings. During my tenure there, Statesville finished in the top five every year, and number one on four occasions, regularly beating out other similarly-sized North Carolina communities like Shelby, Thomasville and Kinston. A Micropolitan is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a town or city with a population of at least 10,000, but not more than 50,000, that is the primary population center for its county. Anson County’s largest town, Wadesboro, has a population just under 6,000, and as such does not qualify. So why am I even bringing it up? Glad you asked. With the Oldcastle and Southern Fabricators announcements earlier this week, Anson County has announced six major projects (as defined by Site Selection ) since April 1st. If we WERE a

Anson Economic Development Partnership is pleased to announce that Southern Fabricators, Inc. is expanding its Polkton facility in Anson County. The company plans to invest up to $4.8 million at the plant and create 33 new jobs over the next two years. The announcement was made this afternoon at an open house hosted by the company and attended by elected officials and community leaders. Southern Fabricators, founded in 1968, offers “build to print” metal fabrication and welding services from its 100,000 square foot facility in Polkton, 45 miles east of Charlotte. The planned expansion will include a 20,000 square foot addition which will house an extended powder coat line and a new state-of-the-art industrial laser cutter. To support the new capacity, the company, which currently employs 141, will add an additional 33 employees. In support of the project, the Rural Division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce is providing a $165,000 Building Reuse Grant, and Anson County is

Anson Economic Development Partnership is pleased to announce that Oldcastle - Adams Products Division is expanding its facility near Lilesville. The company plans to invest up to $2.3 million over the next 3 years in physical expansion of the plant and the addition of new equipment. The project is expected to generate at least 10 new jobs. Oldcastle currently operates a 100,000 square foot ready-mix bagged concrete facility which employs 69 at the site off Haileys Ferry Road. Products produced at the plant are shipped throughout the Carolinas to hardware stores, big box retail and construction contractors, with  75% of production going to Lowe’s and Home Depot. The new buildings, equipment and jobs are in response to increased demand from the retail sector and the trend toward DIY construction projects, and will be phased in at the location over a 2-3 year period, beginning with a new half-million dollar warehouse expanson that broke ground this past week.  Plant manager Ke

Anson Economic Development Partnership is pleased to announce that Four Branches Sporting Preserve, LLC has selected a site near Polkton for a new European-style sporting clays facility. When Phase 1 is completed later this year, Four Branches will include a fully automated 14 station and five stand clays course, a pro shop and a clubhouse to host corporate events, private parties and family gatherings. Future plans include accommodations for overnight guests, guided upland game and waterfowl hunts and tower shoots. Four Branches is the brainchild of two prominent Anson County couples, Logan and Ashley Scarborough and David and Alesha Griffin. “We originally acquired the land as a timber investment,” said Logan Scarborough, who also owns and manages Plank Road Forestry in Wadesboro. “But when we got out and actually walked the land, a better plan emerged.”  The resort will encompass 400 acres off U.S. Highway 74, south and east of Polkton. While happily catering to local spo

Anson Economic Development Partnership is pleased to announce that AMI Machining Inc. will be opening a new facility in Peachland and expanding its manufacturing presence in Anson County.   AMI, an advanced metal machining and fabrication company that supplies major regional and national customers with precision machined and fabricated metal components, is investing $750,000 in a new 18,000 square foot facility on U.S. Highway 74, just west of Peachland. The company currently operates from a smaller leased space in Polkton. Company president Todd Treadway indicated that AMI was out of space at the Polkton plant and the move to the Peachland site was prompted by easier access to key customers in the Charlotte region, especially with the opening of the Monroe Expressway later this year. "It was definitely a consideration," said Treadway from the construction site. "That's one of my trucks passing by right now. From here, when the Expressway opens, it will cut the t