Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) recently released its Quarterly Progress Report highlighting its activities and initiatives for the quarter that ended Sept. 30.
“Our Fiscal Year 2025 Strategic Operating Plan reflects a prioritized program of work focused on advancing economic, community, and workforce development initiatives that align with our mission to create new jobs and capital investment in Moore County’s communities that support our citizens and businesses,” said Natalie Hawkins, MCEDP president.
Notable activities this first quarter of the MCEDP fiscal year include:
MCEDP assisted the Town of Aberdeen with securing $210,000 in state grants to support Reliance Packaging LLC’s $7.4 million expansion that will create 32 new jobs. Reliance Packaging manufactures high-quality flexible packaging products, and this project will be the third major expansion for the company since its relocation to Aberdeen in 2014.
MCEDP is hosting the second annual Moore Entrepreneurial Summit on Nov. 19 from 6 -7:45 p.m. at The Fair Barn in Pinehurst. Aimed at entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to take their businesses to the next level, the Summit will feature two expert panel discussions, a Resource Expo with more than a dozen entrepreneurial support organizations, and valuable networking opportunities. Event details and registration information are available at www.moorecountyedp.org/ent-summit.
MCEDP applied for a $200,000 grant through North Carolina’s Southeast’s Industrial Site Enhancement Grant Program to advance development of the Iron Horse Industrial Park in Aberdeen.
MCEDP made an offer to the owners of a 42-acre site in Robbins to secure a five five-year option to purchase. The property was previously identified through the Golden LEAF Foundation’s SITE Program as having high potential for future development as a business park site.
MCEDP staff, with assistance from North Carolina Economic Development Partnership (NCEDA) Foundation Fellow Cameron Brown, completed a comprehensive report that indicates a shell building development program is a feasible option for increasing Moore County’s inventory of buildings available for business creation, recruitment, and expansions that will attract new jobs and capital investment. Next steps include discussions with local governments about the report’s recommendations for implementing private-sector- and/or public-sector-based programs.
MCEDP will host a Moore 100 Members Meeting on March 4, 2025. Guest speaker Patrick Bowen, president of Bowen National Research, will present Moore County’s specific results from the housing needs assessment study his firm conducted for the 21-county Carolina Core region earlier this year.
The full Quarterly Progress Report for the quarter can be viewed on the MCEDP website at www.moorecountyedp.org.
Photo by Sandhills Sentinel photographer Melissa Schaub.
Contributed article.
