Looking Back on a Successful 2019

For AnsonEDP and Anson County in general, 2019 was a year of growth and change. Personnel-wise, the organization said goodbye to its existing industry coordinator who left to take a position with North Carolinas Southeast, our regional economic development organization. Rather than replace her, we contracted with the Chamber of Commerce to provide the front-end for those services going forward, a natural fit that will ultimately benefit both organizations.

The impact of the Monroe Expressway, which opened in late 2018, was felt throughout the year in the form of increased interest in residential and commercial development, especially in the western part of the county. One of the major stumbling blocks for the Anson economy has been the perceived distance from the county to crucial business locations such as Uptown Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas Airport. The Expressway cuts travel time from Peachland to these destinations to about 45 minutes, and from Wadesboro to just under an hour.

Two projects which we announced in 2018 opened their doors in 2019. VEIT, A Czech-based manufacturer of poultry transport systems, opened their manufacturing facility in Peachland, and The Vineyard at the Old Place opened their new event center and tasting room near White Store.

On the retail side, Roses Stores announced that they would be coming to Wadesboro, opening a Roses Express at Anson Station, next to Tractor Supply, and the existing Wendy's in Wadesboro underwent a major remodel. The new Bojangles at the intersection of U.S. 74 AND U.S. 52, which began construction in 2018, was completed and opened, replacing an older unit that was demolished to provide additional parking.

In Uptown Wadesboro, the innovative REV Uptown facility consolidated the offices of AnsonEDP, the Chamber, and Uptown Wadesboro with a visitors center hosted by the Tourism Development Authority, Speckled Paw Coffee, co-working space and a business incubator. The development acted as a catalyst for the west side of Uptown, prompting the announcement of a new deli/sandwich shop and a barbers school which both will be opening in the coming year.

Two very significant FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) projects announced in 2019. Loba-Wakol, a German manufacturer and distributor of adhesives and finishes, purchased the former JJ Haines campus and will be moving their North American headquarters there from Charlotte. Sweden-based Borgstena North America opened a sales and engineering office at the REV Uptown incubator in anticipation of building a U.S. manufacturing facility in the future.

To round out the year, AnsonEDP executive director John Marek was honored with the Henry W. Little III Community Leadership Award for his ongoing efforts to revitalize the Anson economy.