Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) recently released its Quarterly Progress Report, highlighting its activities and initiatives for the quarter ending March 31.
“This quarter, MCEDP focused on two (2) significant grants awarded to us: one to support small businesses across Moore County, and the other to position the County for recruiting biobased industry investment,” said Natalie Hawkins, MCEDP president, in a news release. “These grants, totaling $100,000, reflect MCEDP’s commitment to expanding opportunity and fostering sustainable economic growth throughout the County.”
MCEDP highlighted its activities in its fiscal year’s third quarter:
Project Activity & Business Recruitment
As of March 3, MCEDP received 109 business leads this fiscal year. This quarter, MCEDP worked on 29 active projects, an increase of 5 from last quarter. These projects span multiple industry sectors and represent more than 1,225 new jobs and over $595.5 million in capital investment. Notably, 69% of these business leads were direct inquiries from project companies, highlighting both Moore County’s appeal as a business location and MCEDP’s increasing visibility as the primary resource for companies seeking to locate or grow here.
In February, MCEDP was awarded a $75,000 Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S Department of Agriculture to obtain a Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) Rating – the first in North Carolina – to support efforts to recruit biomass-based businesses to Moore County. MCEDP is working with Ecostrat, a leading biomass development and supply chain assessment firm, to obtain the rating and initiate a global marketing campaign to attract biobased investment.
Community Development
MCEDP continued to support efforts to restore commercial air service to Moore County Airport. In March, Moore County community and business leaders gathered at Pinehurst Resort to kick off “Fly Local” – a campaign to rally community support and raise funds for daily air service to/from Washington Dulles International Airport on a major airline, with a target start date of Spring 2027. To date, more than $1.7 million has been pledged toward the $3 million minimum revenue guarantee required by the airline. For more information, visit www.FlyMooreCounty.com.
Supporting Moore County’s Small Business Community
In January, MCEDP launched the Moore County Small Business Impact Grant Program, funded by a $25,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. Eligible retail, restaurant, and service-based businesses with a storefront presence in Moore County could apply for grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to use toward strategic business improvements. Out of 44 applications requesting a total of $193,000, six award recipients were selected. These businesses span Moore County – Robbins, Carthage, Cameron, Vass, Southern Pines, and Pinebluff – and represent diverse industry sectors.
Product Development
In addition to ongoing efforts to prepare the Iron Horse Industrial Park in Aberdeen for development, MCEDP identified two properties to evaluate as potential industrial or business park sites: a 107-acre site near Pinebluff and a 324-acre site near Vass. The owner of the Pinebluff property expressed a willingness to sell, and the site was selected for Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program. Consultants will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, including a site visit, to determine the property’s viability for industrial development.
Economic Health Dashboard
A comparison of the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2025, to the same quarter of the prior year revealed a net increase of 2,664 jobs in Moore County, and a $3,224 increase in average annual wages across all industry sectors, from $52,416 to $55,640 per year. The current unemployment rate is 3.4% (February 2026).
Photo by Sandhills Sentinel photographer Wendy Hodges.
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