Business Images Cabbarus Region 2011 by Journal Communications

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What’s Online Get a glimpse into each of the county’s five municipalities.

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Intelligent Design

Research campus is innovation magnet

Food for Thought

County cultivates number of locally grown initiatives

Green Meets Green

Sustainability breeds business opportunities

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Workstyle Green Meets Green

Sustainability breeds business opportunities

Food for Thought

Cabarrus County cultivates a number of comprehensive locally grown initiatives

Intelligent Design

Research campus is innovation magnet

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Overview

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Business Climate

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Education

Livability

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Through the Lens

On the Cover Solar panels manufactured by SBM Solar sit atop the Cabarrus Bank and Trust building in Concord. Photo by todd bennett

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Digital Edition Where Green Meets Green Cabarrus County launches sustainable strategies to breed new development opportunities Story by Betsy Williams • Photography by Todd Bennett

ustainability isn’t just a buzz word in Cabarrus County; it’s becoming a way of life. Sustainability efforts by business, civic, government and education entities throughout the county are reaping results. Taking a lead role is the Cabarrus Sustainability Council, formed in 2009 through the efforts of Cabarrus County, the cities of Concord and Kannapolis, the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Cabarrus Economic Development. The council promotes public and private sustainability collaborations in everything from process waste reduction, to recycling, to sustainable building practices, to food. ELMA C. LOMAX INCUBATOR FARM At the heart of this unique community sustainability model is a strong focus on local agriculture enhancements and small-business investment, says John Day, Cabarrus County Manager. “For decades, much of the economic base of the Carolinas was in tobacco and textiles, as people traditionally made their living from the ground up,” Day says. “One way for people to return to their roots is by

focusing on the family farms that are still here, not only with land crops, but also animal production.” Cabarrus County leaders strengthened a healthy partnership with North Carolina Extension Service to collaborate and develop a farm incubator, where beginning farmers are offered classroom training and hands-on experience on county-owned certified-organic farmland, located within the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm. Also in the works is a local meat-processing facility that will support expansion of local meat sales, thus reducing the cost of locally produced meat by minimizing time and travel costs for local farmers. The second key element in creating a sustainable community, Day says, is fostering locally owned businesses, which are more likely to be rooted in the community, encouraging entrepreneurs and providing distinctive character. Toward that end, county leaders recently established the Cabarrus County Council for a Sustainable Local Economy, which is charged with creating strategies and recommendations to encourage the development of a resilient, robust local economy.

Produce grows at the Elma C. Lomax Incubator, where fledgling farmers receive hands-on training.

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Intelligent Design

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Food for Thought

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C a b a r r u s R e g i o n

Overview

A Perfect Blend of Business and Pleasure Cabarrus County is the right address for living, working and enjoying the good life superior quality of life. With its rich Cabarrus County has built a people. A centerpiece of bioscience development is the North Carolina vibrant and diverse economy that cultural, arts, recreation and sports Research Campus, a 1-millionspans technology and tourism, opportunities, Cabarrus County square-foot public-private venture communications and education, offers the perfect blend as a place created by visionary David H. manufacturing and distribution, and to live, work and enjoy. Murdock to foster collaboration and has attracted a range of enterprise further knowledge in biotechnology, with its low cost of living, lower taxes For more information, contact: nutrition, agriculture and health. and superb quality of life. The Cabarrus Regional Top-notch health care, exceptional population continues to grow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chamber of Commerce schools, access to outstanding more than 37 percent in the last 3003 Dale Earnhardt Blvd. higher education opportunities, decade alone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the county is Kannapolis, NC 28083 and major entertainment and retail home to a diversified and highly (704) 782-4000 offerings, such as the 200-store skilled workforce. www.cabarrus.biz Cabarrus County is in the vanguard Concord Mills Mall, give the region a of sustainability efforts in everything from land use to waste management. It has launched a number of Cabarrus Region 77 initiatives to promote the local L. Norman economy, including an innovative Mooresville and comprehensive local food initiative. The Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm, a partnership between the county government and Davidson NC Cooperative Extension, gives Kannapolis individuals interested in starting Richfield a farming business classroom instruction, hands-on experience Huntersville Concord and guidance from experienced 49 farmers. Cabarrus Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central location, transportation infrastructure, skilled 85 workforce, hospitality options, retail and service industries offer 52 businesses the resources, people and competitive advantages crucial to success. Both motorsports and Harrisburg 24 life sciences industries have formed growing and innovative clusters in 485 Cabarrus County. The region is home to some 200 motorsports-related enterprises employing 20,000

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Almanac Flexible and Sustainable In Kannapolis, an innovative and sustainable office project is planned that will utilize reclaimed wood from old warehouses for at least 55 percent of its construction. Fairview Flex is the brainchild of Brian Cone, the third generation in his family-owned Kannapolis Construction Co., who has embarked on a sustainable building project that will use the old Dutch lap siding and solid oak boards his grandfather used to build warehouses on the property back in the 1930s and 1940s.

Vroom Vroom Cabarrus County is at the center of the U.S. motorsports industry, a crucial contributor to the region’s economy and employment. Dozens of racing teams, a specialized labor pool, a well-developed supplier chain and some 200 businesses support the motorsports industry and employ more than 20,000 people in the region. Cabarrus County is home to one of NASCAR’s crown jewels, the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the zMAX Dragway racing complex, the MRN Radio network and Windshear Inc., which has a rolling-road wind tunnel that aids motorsports research. The historic Wood Brothers Racing Team, with 600 NASCAR victories, maintains its operations in Harrisburg. The 60-year-old racing family moved to Cabarrus County in 2005, and into its current 160,000-square-foot complex two years later. Wood Brothers stunned the racing world in 2011 when 20-year-old driver Trevor Bayne, in just his second NASCAR Sprint Cup series start, won the Daytona 500. It was the fifth time a Wood Brothers car has won the Great American Race. For more, go to www.woodbrothersracing.com.

The first phase of the project will include 4,200 square feet of flexible office-warehouse space intended for businesses that will support the nearby North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. Other sustainable features include photovoltaic awnings on the south side of the building, which will generate part of the electricity needed for the facility, dedicated fuelefficient parking and charging stations, roof monitors for natural lighting and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation and flushing toilets. Go to fairviewflex.com for more information.

Wear Comfortable Shoes You can get your shop on at Concord Mills, the No. 1 tourism destination in North Carolina. More than 17 million people visit the retail and entertainment complex each year. Concord Mills features more than 200 stores including manufacturer and retail outlets, off-price retailers and unique specialty stores. A food court, a NASCAR-themed fun park, an AMC 24 IMAX theater and North Carolina’s only Bass Pro Shop are also part of the draw of the complex, laid out like an oval racetrack and styled with architecture reflective of the Carolinas. Go to www.simon.com for more.

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One Sweet Redevelopment A landmark site that once housed the Cabarrus Creamery dairy products and Coca-Cola bottling operation has been redeveloped as a mixed-use project with space for office, retail and restaurants, as well as an open-air courtyard. The Old Creamery complex has a rich history in Concord. The site was the longtime home of the makers of Cabarrus Ideal ice cream and other dairy products. A building next door housed operations for Coca-Cola Bottling Co. from 1936 until the early 1970s, when Coca-Cola relocated to another site. The dairy bought that building in 1974, expanded its operations and remained at the site until it closed in 2001. Renovated by Concord-based real estate company Harris Morrison Co., The Old Creamery site has been reborn into a 45,000-square-foot mixed-use development. The complex is located on Church Street, a major thoroughfare linking I-85 and downtown Concord. Cabarrus County has purchased a 10,250-square-foot building for its Board of Elections, and two tenants have already taken 6,500 square feet in the remainder of the complex. Go to www.thecreameryconcord.com for more information.

Good Music Lives Here Featuring the musical talents of many North Carolinians, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis is rich with music history. The museum in Kannapolis represents all genres of music and recognizes hundreds of musicians – from Charlie Daniels to Donna Fargo to Thelonius Monk – producers, music executives and writers from North Carolina with memorabilia, art, artifacts and other items. The 2010 inductees into the hall included Andy Griffith, Les Brown, Don Gibson and famed songwriter Don Schlitz. For more information, go to northcarolinamusichalloffame.org.

Frankly, My Dear, It’s a Wonderful Venue It could be called Gone With the Wind, with a Cabarrus County flavor. What started out as a “dream home” project on 22 acres in Mt. Pleasant has evolved into a signature wedding and event locale and a full-time family-owned business. Owners Larry and Tammy Honeycutt’s The Saratoga Springs features a Tara-like setting that allows bride and groom to “experience a storybook wedding in a plantation setting.” Since first serving as a wedding site in the late 1990s – for Tammy Honeycutt’s sister – The Saratoga Springs has hosted hundreds of weddings and receptions. In 2011, WeddingWire, a leading national wedding technology company, named The Saratoga Springs a recipient of its annual Bride’s Choice Award in the wedding and reception sites category. WeddingWire says the award is based on overall professional achievements throughout the previous year. For more, go to www.thesaratogasprings.com.

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Wingate University’s Levine College of Health Sciences (pictured) will be the University’s first LEED Certified Facility and will house the School of Pharmacy and Physician Assistant Studies Program. The 69,000-square-foot, three-story structure will reach completion in May of 2011 as pharmacy students prepare for the new fall semester to begin.

Organizations work diligently to clearly define their purpose and their mission. Ultimately they need something tangible – a physical structure – to help them accomplish what they set out to do. Fulfilling that need is something CM Black Construction does well. Whether it is a Commercial, Industrial or Institutional project, CM Black recognizes the special requirements of each organization. CM Black works directly with members of the planning team to gain a thorough understanding of the specific goals and unique specifications of each project. Then they bring together highly reliable, well-qualified subcontractors and suppliers who have consistently demonstrated their ability to perform to high-quality and safety standards.

“Building is a process that transforms dreams into reality. Great ideas become a tangible place of beauty and function.”

Commercial Industrial Institutional

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A Peek into Mt. Pleasant’s Past Visitors can glimpse life in Cabarrus County from the mid-1800s to early 1900s by touring the Mt. Pleasant Collegiate Historic District. On the National Register of Historic Places, the district retains several buildings of what had been the Mt. Pleasant Collegiate Institute built between 1852 and 1933. The three-story main building is home to the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum, including 30 rooms that house a number of artifacts from Mt. Pleasant and the Eastern Cabarrus area. Other significant buildings include the Society Hall (an 1858 two-story brick Greek Revival structure), the New Dormitory (the largest building on campus), and the Mathias Barrier house (built in conservative Greek Revival style). Go to www.echsm.net for more.

No Need to Squint One of NASCAR’s treasures is in Cabarrus County. The Charlotte Motor Speedway, built in 1959 by motorsports legend Bruton Smith, seats 140,000 and hosts a variety of races, including the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America 500. In recent years, the 1.5-mile track added a new garage area for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and a state-of-the-art media center. In 2008, the track complex added the zMAX Dragway, a world-class facility that attracts drag racing’s top talent and events. Overall, the 2,000-acre speedway complex generates an estimated $400 million regional economic impact. In 2011, the speedway built the world’s largest LED screen, a 200-by-80-foot high-definition screen that rises 110 feet above the track along the backstretch between Turns 2 and 3, across from the start/finish line. Fans seated throughout the front stretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 will have clear viewing angles of instant replays, leader board updates and interactive entertainment displayed in 720P high-definition visuals. The screen will be illuminated by more than 9 million LED lamps.

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Business Climate

Plenty of Good Things Low costs, innovation and quality lifestyle bring business to Cabarrus County Story by Katie Kuehner-Hebert • Photography by Todd Bennett

ith its varied industry, proximity to major centers, mild climate and familyfriendly atmosphere, Cabarrus County is an ideal place to conduct business. Situated about 30 miles northeast of Charlotte, Cabarrus County has attracted a wide range of industry, including advanced manufacturing, distribution, life sciences, tourism and motorsports racing. “There’s a lot of diversity within our county,” says Jay White, chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. “We’re striving to reach many different types of business and we have had very good success.” One of Cabarrus County’s major assets for biotechnology, nutrition and health companies is the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. The facility has more than 1 million square feet of lab and office space, including the 311,000-square-foot David H. Murdock Research Institute. 12

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A Sustainable Leader Cabarrus County is becoming a leader in sustainability innovation in everything from land use to waste management to innovative and comprehensive local food initiatives. At the research campus, for example, a number of entities are working on a new sustainability initiative for Cabarrus County that promotes local farming to bolster the economy, better land use, and management and enhancement of local air quality. “The county has an incubator farm that’s helping people become farmers, and the research campus works in conjunction with that, making certain the products being grown are the highest quality product for the consumer,” White says. “Our food products can not only better serve Cabarrus County, but also the world.” Anna Lu Wilson, vice president of business services for Cabarrus Economic Development, notes that the county’s highly skilled and productive

labor force is aided by customized training programs available to area businesses through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. “Moreover, the cost of living is below the national average and we have lower tax rates in Cabarrus County,” she says. “All these things make the cost of doing business much lower here.” Celgard, SBM Make Major Investments Cabarrus County’s business advantages are generating new jobs and investment. Celgard announced that it would build a 150,000-squarefoot facility to manufacture lithium batteries in Concord, creating more than 200 jobs. The company says the new plant will allow it to expand capacity and support demand in the emerging electric car market. The project was aided by incentive grants from the city of Concord and from Cabarrus County. In March 2011, the company announced a second, $65 million investment in lithium-ion

battery separator capacity for Electric Drive Vehicles at its Concord operation. SBM Solar, a startup founded in Concord, is transitioning from a research and development firm to a manufacturer of solar panels. SBM has moved to a 9,000-square-foot space in the Juba Aluminum Products plant so that it can incorporate solar panels into some of Juba’s products. Osbert Cheung, SBM’s owner and president, says he was attracted to Cabarrus County because of its low business costs, access to a breadth of professional services and outstanding quality of life. “We’re not far from Charlotte, where you can get everything you want,” Cheung says. “At the same time, there is nice countryside around here and it’s good to raise your family here. It’s also good for traveling – two hours to the mountains, several hours to the ocean, six hours to D.C. and eight hours to Disney World – it’s a very livable place.”

SBM Solar manufactures solar panels in Cabarrus County due to low costs and access to a broad range of services.

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Where Green Meets Green Cabarrus County launches sustainable strategies to breed new development opportunities Story by Betsy Williams • Photography by Todd Bennett

ustainability isn’t just a buzz word in Cabarrus County; it’s becoming a way of life. Sustainability efforts by business, civic, government and education entities throughout the county are reaping results. Taking a lead role is the Cabarrus Sustainability Council, formed in 2009 through the efforts of Cabarrus County, the cities of Concord and Kannapolis, the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Cabarrus Economic Development. The council promotes public and private sustainability collaborations in everything from process waste reduction, to recycling, to sustainable building practices, to food. Elma C. Lomax Incubator farm At the heart of this unique community sustainability model is a strong focus on local agriculture enhancements and small-business investment, says John Day, Cabarrus County Manager. “For decades, much of the economic base of the Carolinas was in tobacco and textiles, as people traditionally made their living from the ground up,” Day says. “One way for people to return to their roots is by

Produce grows at the Elma C. Lomax Incubator, where fledgling farmers receive hands-on training.

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Roush Fenway Racing and Oiles America Corp. (bottom) were among the companies and organizations recognized by the Cabarrus Regional Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2010 Sustainability Excellence awards.

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Improving air Quality Recycling was the 2010 initiative of the sustainability council, and schools, cities and businesses are now involved in recycling pick-up programs. The focus in 2011 is on improved outdoor air quality, Day says, with indoor air quality to be addressed in 2012. The council’s No Idling initiative encourages motorists to observe the “10 Second Rule” by turning off their car engines after 10 seconds of idling. The campaign includes having at least 75 businesses, schools, day care centers and government offices place No Idling signs around their buildings. An educational component includes a presentation on the affects of idling given to at least 30 local business and civic groups during the year. Roush: A leader in Sustainability Among the leading business proponents of

the county’s sustainability program is Roush Fenway Racing, one of NASCAR’s largest premier racing teams, headquartered in Concord. In 2009 and 2010, Roush met its overall goal of a 10 percent improvement in indoor air quality, reduction of water consumption and improved levels in waste reduction, recycling and energy usage. “Our paper recycling actually went down in 2010, as we proactively reduced the incoming waste stream, and we doubled our plastics recycling,” says Ian Prince, the company’s chief sustainability officer and former chairman of the sustainability council. Going forward, Roush is adopting a no-idling policy on its campus and for all corporate vehicles. “We are also switching our paint operations to a water-based paint, so we will not be using solvents, and we will continue to focus on education and awareness,” Prince says.

2010 Sustainability Award Winners At the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting, winners in the area of Sustainability Excellence were recognized with awards sponsored by Southgate Masonry and Lumber and Vulcan Materials. The 2010 award recipients include: • Oiles America Corp.: Waste Reduction & Recycling • City of Kannapolis Environmental Stewardship Commission Community Garden: Air Quality • Concord Aviation Properties LLC: Energy Reduction • Roush Fenway Racing: Environmental Excellence in Recycling • Cabarrus County Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm and RowanCabarrus County Community College: Environmental Protection

Scrap parts from race cars fill recycling bins at Roush Fenway Racing in Concord. Waste reduction and recycling are components of the race team’s overall sustainability program.

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Hatching New Ideas Cabarrus County cultivates a number of comprehensive locally grown initiatives Story by Kevin Litwin • Photography by Todd Bennett

abarrus County has a bumper crop of initiatives designed to connect local food growers with local consumers. Steering those efforts is the county’s Food Policy Council, which is identifying and strengthening connections between food, health, natural resource protection, economic development and the agricultural community in the county. A year-long countywide food assessment details current food production, processing, distribution and marketing channels of the food system in the county. One of the county’s signature initiatives is the Elma C. Lomax

Incubator Farm, which opened in 2009 on 30 acres in Concord. The incubator gives fledgling farmers a chance to hone their skills under the eyes of trained professionals. The farm, operated by Cabarrus County and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, allots individuals interested in eventually starting a part-time or fulltime farming business a small patch of land. They then receive classroom instruction and hands-on experience. The future farmers learn about food quality, food safety, nutrition, water conservation and waste management. “We also help future farmers learn about business plans and production models, so we can keep farming as a

growing concern in Cabarrus County,” says Debbie Bost, county extension director. Plenty to Root For A total of 16 beginning farmers are now learning to grow organic crops, while nearly 80 people are on a waiting list to train at the Lomax incubator. The prospective farmers are allowed to grow crops for three years at Lomax, then must move their operation off the property to allow others to cycle into the program. “The Lomax program allows potential farmers to learn about farming without having to spend $250,000 of their own money to buy 10 acres and a tractor,” says

Cabarrus County has launched a major initiative around locally grown food and the region’s agricultural community.

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Aaron Newton, Cabarrus County’s local food system program coordinator. Keep It Local Cabarrus County has a full menu of locally grown food initiatives on the table, and the 23-member Food Policy Council is playing a lead role in steering them. The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners implemented the Food Policy Council in May 2010; one of its first efforts is a comprehensive year-long assessment of virtually every food aspect in the county. “The study will show what the people of Cabarrus County are eating, how much of their food is grown in Cabarrus County, where our other grown food is being shipped, and so

forth,” Newton says. “A local food economy will ideally pay your neighbor to grow food for you – not pay someone around the world to grow food for you.” No Hormones or Steroids The county is already home to a number of organic farming operations, such as Creekside Farms, owned by Chad and Faith VonCannon, both Concord natives. Today, Creekside Farms, located just north of Mt. Pleasant, raises and sells all-natural, grass-fed beef, pastureraised pork, chicken, turkeys and brown eggs without added hormones, steroids or antibiotics, and sells the products at farmers markets and at the farm by appointment.

Another local initiative involves plans to transform the current Cruse Meat Processing retail facility in Concord into a $1.2 million beef harvesting facility. Newton says having a slaughterhouse in Cabarrus County will save local cattle farmers from having to make long, multi-hour trips to regional slaughterhouses, as is the case now. “Cabarrus County has 7,000 head of cattle, making it the largest farm commodity here,” Newton says. “To have a local harvest facility that will humanely slaughter and process beef would not only save farmers money, but meat prices would be lowered for local consumers. It would be another example of how it helps everyone to have a local food economy.”

Clockwise from left: Seed planting at the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm; Locally grown products for sale at the Piedmont Farmers Market in Concord; Young spinach grows in a greenhouse at the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm.

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Sustainability by the Bushel Kannapolis community garden grows awareness, fellowship Cabarrus County is going green in a number of ways. Sustainability efforts in the county focus on locally grown food, and initiatives are under way on a number of fronts to promote connections between food, health, natural resource protection, economic development and the agricultural community. Those efforts have taken root in Kannapolis, where a community garden sprouted up just in time for Earth Day in April 2010, yielding a harvest of healthy, locally grown produce and bringing neighbors closer together. The community garden concept was nurtured by the Kannapolis Environmental Stewardship Commission, which partnered with First Wesleyan Church on the project. The church donated a 180-by-80-foot piece of land for the garden. Local organic farmer Brad Hinckley helped prepare the garden for planting, provided plants he had grown from seed, and offered advice to the 30 families who rented plots in the garden on how to grow and protect their crops without using pesticides or chemicals.

Supporters note that community gardens contribute to cleaner air by cutting down on truck travel required to ship goods from distant places to grocery stores. Kannapolis community garden participants also created a watering cooperative, so that each grower wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to travel individually to the garden to water, thereby cutting down on fossil fuel

consumption. Excess produce the garden yielded was donated to local food pantries. Besides yielding locally grown healthy food, the garden created something else: a heightened sense of community. As this, from the First Wesleyan Church, sums it up: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Work side by side tilling the earth to make a better life for someone else.â&#x20AC;?

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Technology

Center of Discovery North Carolina Research Campus is destined for breakthroughs in technology

Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Todd Bennett

etter-tasting vegetables, an even healthier blueberry, spices that lower inflammation and stress – such discoveries could positively impact nutrition and health. Improving human health is center stage at the North Carolina Research Campus, a thriving scientific community in Kannapolis that brings academia and industry together in a collaborative environment to increase knowledge about biotechnology, nutrition, agriculture and health. Founded by David H. Murdock, owner of Castle & Cooke Inc. and majority owner of Dole Foods Co. Inc., NCRC offers access to the latest technology on its 350-acre, $1.5 billion campus, located on the site of a former textile mill Murdock once owned. In addition to fostering discoveries in health, Murdock is dedicated to creating new opportunities for the families who once depended upon mill jobs.

NCRC’s Academic Presence A unique and important aspect of the NCRC is the participation of the state’s institutions of higher learning. Eight North Carolina universities conduct scientific research on the campus, often working together to find the next major discovery in health, nutrition and agriculture. Researchers from the universities are studying the role of diet in cancer prevention, developing a new generation of fruits and vegetables with superior nutritional characteristics, and working to improve food safety. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has a special relationship with the NCRC. The college recently opened a $26 million biotechnology building, providing state-of-the-art laboratories where its 170 biotech majors and other interested students study for an associate degree in biotechnology science. The building

also provides continuing education programs for those who want to enter the growing biotech field. The program meets some key goals of the college – expanding the skills of existing workers, educating a new generation of students for jobs in the new economy, and attracting new investment by providing qualified employees and training programs. “We want to raise our population’s educational aspirations so that they can see themselves in these new jobs,” says Dr. Carol Spalding, president of RCCC.“It’s futuristic, but it’s happening now – and it’s happening here.” Research Campus Attracts Global Companies In terms of industry, the North Carolina Research Campus has achieved some notable successes. Monsanto, a global leader in agriculture, has signed a longterm agreement and established a

The 350-acre North Carolina Research Campus is a magnet for academic and private-sector research.

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laboratory on the campus to develop better tasting and more nutritious fruits and vegetables. To date, more than a dozen companies, including Dole and General Mills, have a presence at the campus. And these are still early days for the NCRC, which opened in October 2008. Additional milestones for the campus include: • A $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund 20 graduate student positions. • A new U.S. Food and Drug Administration district office.

• Plans for a new medical building to house a branch of Carolinas HealthCare and other healthrelated tenants.

houses the world’s most powerful superconducting magnet, a machine that enhances key areas of research, including drug development and nutrition.

NCRC Offers Top Technology The campus offers more than 1 million square feet of lab and office space, including the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory, which houses more than $150 million of stateof-the-art scientific equipment for use by tenant universities and companies. One of the most impressive life sciences labs in the country, the Core Laboratory

David H. Murdock Research Institute A $1 million USDA grant is funding the Kannapolis Scholars program at the N.C. Research Campus. Graduate students from the University of North Carolina system are studying the effect of omega-VI and omega-III fatty acids on the brain development of 7- to 9-year-olds.

David H. Murdock Laboratory Building is a signature component of the North Carolina Research Campus.

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The NCRC has been a driver in Kannapolisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; revitalization efforts.

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Transportation

A Force by Ground and Air Airports, highways, rail keep county on the move

Story by Katie Kuehner-Ebert Photography by Todd Bennett

Concord Regional Airport 7,400

Length of runway in feet

60,534

Number of flight operations in 2010

469

Concord Regional Airport Cabarrus County’s own Concord Regional Airport is the heart of corporate jet flight in the region. Owned and operated by the City of Concord, Concord Regional is the busiest non-commercial airport in the state and the fourth-busiest airport overall, averaging 200 flights daily on a 7,400-foot runway with full instrument approach. The airport is used heavily by the major NASCAR race teams based in the region and their sponsors. Concord Regional is also becoming the

Number of jobs supported by airport

$110 million Airport’s annual economic impact

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ocation, location, location. That tried and true phrase plays to one of Cabarrus County’s major strengths – its access to a superior transportation infrastructure. Close proximity to Charlotte gives businesses in Cabarrus County direct access to the country’s 17th-busiest airport, Charlotte Douglas International, a major hub for US Airways. The airport is less than 20 minutes from Cabarrus County, and boasts more than 600 flights per day, many to international destinations.

corporate airport of choice for Charlotte business executives, says Dick Lewis, airport aviation director. “It is very easy to come from Charlotte to Concord,” Lewis says. “We have a lot of direct corporate charter flights to virtually anywhere in the country and Europe, and can negotiate competitive fuel prices. We also have a lot of ability to transport goods and services quickly.” The City of Concord is committed to ensuring the airport will continue to stay ahead of the region’s growth. “Our responsibility is to continue to expand and look out for our customers’ future needs,” Lewis says. “For example, the Democratic National Convention will be in Charlotte in 2012, and we’re doing what we need to make sure we are ready for them.” Highways, Trains, Bus and Ports Cabarrus County is served by Interstate 85, and within 30 minutes, Interstate 77 and Interstate 40, as well as several major U.S. and state highways. The region also offers rail service for large freight through short-line

Concord Regional Airport is the busiest non-commercial airport in North Carolina.

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carrier Aberdeen Carolina & Western and Class I carrier Norfolk Southern, as well as Amtrak passenger service. Bus service includes Greyhound Bus Line, the Express 80x by the Charlotte Area Transit System, and the CK Rider by Concord Kannapolis Area Transit. Port facilities include the Inland Port Terminal in Charlotte, the Port of Wilmington, Del., 220 miles away, and the Port of Charleston in South Carolina, 225 miles away. Cabarrus is a Logistics and Distribution Hub Because of its location, superior infrastructure and easy access to major markets, a number of logistics and distribution operations are located in Cabarrus County.

Novant Health recently expanded its distribution center in the Kannapolis Gateway Business Park to serve an area that stretches from Virginia to South Carolina. The 100,000-square-foot facility ships and distributes clinical supplies to all Novant Health facilities, including hospitals, outpatient centers and physician practices. Additionally, Novantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clinical equipment is repaired at the site. Another recent success includes Distribution Technology, a logistics company based in Charlotte that is currently rehabilitating the former Jevic Transportation facility in Concord. The company is operating a contract consolidation center for retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a project expected to create 86 jobs.

Cabarrus County is served by Interstate 85 and is in close proximity to I-77 and I-40.

Center of Attention new transit center will benefit ck riders A new $1.9 million transit center built between Kannapolis and Concord will serve passengers of the popular CK Rider from both cities. Ridership on the seven CK routes has grown from 266,000 passengers in 2005 to more than 414,000 in 2010. The new center, which will cut travel times for many

riders, includes indoor and outdoor waiting areas, customer service agents, restrooms and a $700,000 automatic locating system, paid for with federal stimulus funds, which will locate a passengerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bus in real time. For more, visit www.ckrider.com.

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Health

Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast is a 457-bed medical complex and Level III trauma center.

Picture of Health CMC-NorthEast adds services in Cabarrus County Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Todd Bennett

major driver of the Cabarrus County economy and a key component in its outstanding quality of life is Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast. A 457-bed medical complex and Level III trauma center, it treats more than 85,000 patients annually and includes an extensive inpatient and outpatient network of services, including 30 outpatient clinics. The parent company of CMC-NorthEast, Carolinas HealthCare System, has broken ground on a $17 million, 26,000-square-foot emergency department in Kannapolis that will be equipped with 10 walk-in treatment bays and two observation rooms. The freestanding emergency department will be called Carolinas Medical Center-

Kannapolis and will operate as an extension of the existing emergency department at CMC-NorthEast in Concord. The emergency department will also offer radiology services that include X-rays, ultrasound and computerized tomography, as well as an on-site laboratory. The one-story Kannapolis site will be located off Exit 63 of Interstate 85 and is expected to open in fall 2011. Though CMC-Kannapolis will offer emergency services, it will not have operating rooms or a surgical staff. Emergency department patients who need surgery or other advanced treatment will be transported to CMC-NorthEast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A freestanding emergency department can be built at a fraction of the cost of a small community i m ag e s c a b a r r u s c o u n t y. c o m

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hospital,” says Joseph Piemont, president and CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System. “And by being located closer to the population being served, they offer great advantages in terms of access and convenience.” CMC-NorthEast has 300 physicians on staff and employs more than 4,200 people. Its service area covers not only Cabarrus County’s 175,000 residents but also patients from five other counties. “We are very committed to expanding the level of care available to people in surrounding communities,” says Phyllis Wingate-Jones, top administrative executive at CMC-NorthEast. “This is borne out by the many improvements currently under way at CMC-NorthEast, and by initiatives that facilitate top-quality medical attention that is both life-saving and convenient.” CMC-NorthEast is home to Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, Batte Cancer Center,

Cannon Heart Center, Diagnostic Imaging Center, Emergency Care Center, Mariam Cannon Hayes Family Center and the Surgery Center. Also serving the health-care needs of the region is Rowan Regional Medical Center, a 268-bed hospital in Salisbury that offers a suite of services including cardiovascular care, a maternity center with a special care nursery, award-winning orthopedics, radiology services such as CT scan and MRI, and cancer services including a linear accelerator. Rowan Regional was recently recertified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. Additionally, the VHA presented Rowan Regional with its 2011 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence, honoring the hospital for exceeding national performance standards for clinical care and improving the patient experience.

cmc-northeast 457

Licensed beds

Surgical operating rooms

85,000

Patients treated annually

4,200

Employees

Phyllis Wingate-Jones, top administrative executive at CMC-NorthEast

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Education

Workforce to be Reckoned With Rowan-Cabarrus readies students for careers in emerging fields Story by Kevin Litwin • Photography by Todd Bennett

es, this will be on the test. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has assumed a key leadership role in the region by offering a range of academic programs aimed at developing a well-trained workforce. The two-year college provides several one-year, two-year and transfer programs that allow its 20,000 students to prepare for careers in emerging industries. RCCC also works with companies, workforce development agencies and economic development organizations to develop customized training initiatives for businesses. “We currently offer 40 associate degree programs along with college transfer options,” says Jeanie Moore, vice president for corporate and continuing education at RowanCabarrus Community College. “The college also provides learning opportunities for adults in our continuing education program, with academic initiatives in areas such as health occupations, law enforcement, business entrepreneurship, career readiness and substitute teaching.”

Class Act RCCC has a north campus in Rowan County and a south campus in Cabarrus County, both equipped with modern classrooms and advanced laboratories. “Each program we offer meets specific requirements set by employers in Rowan, Cabarrus and surrounding counties, and representatives of local businesses and industry make up our advisory committees,” Moore says. “We have a strong tie to the real world of work, to provide our students with well-rounded, interesting and practical education.” Technically Speaking RCCC also operates the Cabarrus Business & Technology Center, which helps individuals and groups start small businesses or grow existing companies. The college has opened a $26 million building at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, where it offers several new degree programs in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology. In December 2010, RCCC signed an agreement with the North Carolina Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College offers students 40 associate degree programs, as well as college transfer options.

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(STEM) program to develop and implement a local K-12 STEM program overseen by RCCC. The K-12 STEM program – supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Battelle Memorial Institute and North Carolina STEM – will ultimately help local school districts design programs to enhance student learning and develop the skills they will need to compete for advanced jobs in the 21st century. “It’s no secret that across the United States, we aren’t producing enough graduates with skills and competency in science, technology, engineering and math,” Moore says. RCCC President Carol Spalding is working with business and community leaders and the region’s three public school superintendents to build STEM-based education, Moore says.

Moore points out that STEM subjects often frighten students but are actually the skills people use every day without realizing it. “If you operate a GPS, that’s utilizing technology, and if you are cooking or baking a meal for your family, that’s science,” she says. “Cosmetologists often use math to mix precise doses of chemicals for use on a customer’s hair or face, and there are thousands more examples used in everyday life. RCCC knows that not everyone can be a scientist or engineer, but we want all students to be able to use scientific theory and applications and do basic math. Performing STEM functions will help K-12 students advance in both their personal and professional lives.”

RCCC facts and figures • RCCC has more than 2,000 course offerings. • The college serves a yearly overall enrollment of more than 20,000 students. • Day, evening and online classes are offered. • RCCC oversees a north campus in Salisbury, a south campus in Concord, the Cabarrus Business & Technology Center in Concord, the Cloverleaf Center in Kannapolis and a biotechnology building at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. • RCCC is also involved with an R3 Center in Kannapolis, an adult career development learning facility whose three R’s stand for Refocus, Retrain and Re-employ.

Dr. Carol Spalding is president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Kannapolis.

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Livability

Where Life is Good Cabarrus County offers rich and diverse lifestyle options Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Todd Bennett

hocolatier Barrucand in downtown Concord is such an accomplished French pastry and confection shop that it has even been featured in a Parisian magazine. “Within a two-block radius in downtown Concord we have two art galleries, two live theaters, a historic ballroom, Chocolatier Barrucand, a botanical garden, public library, a 24-hour pottery studio, and fine restaurants and specialty shops,” says Diane Young, executive director of the Concord Downtown Development Corp. “It’s an amazing mix. I was recently driving downtown one

Saturday night and got to the corner of Union and Cabarrus, looked down Union Street and there wasn’t a parking space to be found.” Cabarrus County offers a rich and diverse quality of life, with access to world-class arts, culture, sports and recreation, retail opportunities and lifestyle choices. There are numerous residential options, from traditional neighborhoods and small towns to open-space rural homes or family farms. “Recently, I was driving downtown on a Saturday night and noticed all the parking spaces were filled on Union

Street,” says Ann Gibson, communications director for the City of Kannapolis. “And Kannapolis will always remain the home of the late NASCAR great, Dale Earnhardt.” Cabarrus County is home to five municipalities: Concord Concord is known for a thriving downtown district and famous attractions such as Concord Mills Mall shopping center and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Also part of the community are scenic greenways, Lake Fisher, McGinnis Aquatics Center and several youth and adult sports leagues.

Shops and restaurants line Union Street in downtown Concord.

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Harrisburg This town, in southwest Cabarrus County bordering Mecklenburg County, was settled mostly by ScotchIrish immigrants sometime between 1732 and 1765. Harrisburg is still home to several Scotch-Irish families whose ancestors arrived in the 1700s. Poised for economic growth, the town has abundant available land and an industrial park. Kannapolis Kannapolis, a thriving city of 43,000 residents, is the site of the North Carolina Research Campus, a $1.5 billion life sciences hub that is home to eight universities and such major corporations as General Mills and Monsanto. The Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Department schedules an annual family-friendly Summer Events Series of free concerts, live

arts, library storytelling and G-rated movies each weekend. Midland Midland was incorporated in 2000, and is situated in southern Cabarrus County. Most residents of this small municipality are dedicated to preserving their rural quality of life. A new 190-acre park filled with trees, a large pond and a creek is being planned for Midland as a destination for the entire region. Mount Pleasant This town of 1,600 residents is planning for the future, thanks to continued growth in the nearby Charlotte region. Mount Pleasant, founded in 1848, is home to the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum. The town is also located near Reed Gold Mine, where gold was first discovered in the United States.

Top: The bell from the Tuscarora Cotton Mill at the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum in Mount Pleasant Bottom left and right: The old Cabarrus Courthouse in Concord is now home to the Cabarrus Arts Council.

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Gallery

Rocky River Vineyard in Midland Photo by Todd Bennett

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Concord is home to Hendrick Motorsports and other leading teams in NASCAR. Photo by Todd Bennett

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Gallery

A custom car on display at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord Photo by Todd Bennett

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Historic Cabarrus Courthouse in Concord Photo by Todd Bennett

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Whitley’s FUNERAL

HOME

The Whitley Family Offers You Personalized Services: • Traditional Funerals • Cremation Services • Hospitality Center with Full Kitchen • Two Chapels on Premises • Audio/Visual System • Pre-Financial Arrangements through Trust Funds or Insurance Plans • Coming Soon: Whitley’s Event Center – A Special Place to Hold Your Future Class Reunion, Anniversary or Special Function 1748 Dale Earnhardt Blvd. Kannapolis, NC 28083 (704) 933-2222

www.whitleysfuneralhome.com

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economic profile Business snapshot Cabarrus County offers a diverse economic base, location to major markets, fully developed infrastructure, skilled workforce and strong business climate that position it firmly among the most competitive counties in the nation. Located in the Charlotte, N.C. MSA, the county is home to some 200 motorsports-related businesses and a burgeoning life sciences sector.

population Cabarrus County: 178,011

Great Wolf Lodge & Resort: 500

Income

MSA: 1.8 million

Roush Fenway Racing: 475

Households: 67,937

Perdue Products: 460

Median age: 38

S&D Coffee: 425

Median Household Income: $59,762 Per-Capita Income: $26,453

(2010 Data)

Sysco Foods: 420

(2010 Data)

Population Centers

(2010 Data)

Transportation

Key Industry Sectors

Concord: 79,066 Kannapolis: 42,625 Harrisburg: 11,526 Midland: 3,121 Mount Pleasant: 1,652

Services: 42% Retail Trade: 12% Manufacturing: 12%

Highways I-85 crosses through the county, which is within 30 minutes of I-77 and I-40. U.S. Highways 3, 24/27, 29, 49, 52 and 601 also serve the region.

Major Employers

Construction: 9%

Airports

Carolinas Medical CenterNorthEast: 4,500

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate: 8%

Concord Regional Airport www.concordnc.gov

Transportation & Utilities: 6%

Charlotte Douglas International Airport www.charlotteairport.com

Concord Mills Mall: 4,000

Wholesale Trade: 5%

Cabarrus County Schools: 3,800

Public Administration: 3%

Cabarrus County Government: 975

Information: 3%

City of Concord: 936 Connextions: 900 North Carolina Government: 771 Kannapolis City Schools: 750

Rail Service

Labor Force Statistics

Shoe Show: 700

Labor force: 84,159

Hendrick Motorsports: 500

Unemployment rate: 10.3%

ACN: 500

(2010 Data)

CSX www.csxi.com Norfolk Southern www.nscorp.com Aberdeen & Western Carolina Railway Co. www.acwr.com Amtrak Carolinian/Piedmont www.amtrak.com Source: www.cabarrusedc.com

visit our

advertisers Cabarrus Bank & Trust www.cabarrusbankandtrust.com

Cabarrus Eye Center www.cabarruseye.com

Embassy Suites www.embassysuitesconcord.com

Rowan Regional Medical Center www.rowan.org

Cabarrus County www.cabarruscounty.us

Cannon Memorial YMCA www.cannonymca.org

Great Wolf Lodge www.greatwolf.com

S&D Coffee Inc. www.sndcoffee.com

Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitcabarrus.com

Carolinas Medical Center Northeast www.carolinashealthcare.org

Hilton Garden Inn www.charlotteconcord.hgi.com

City of Concord www.ci.concord.nc.us

Integra Springs at Kellswater www.integrasprings.com

Southern Select Community Credit Union www.southernselectccu.com

CM Black Construction Company Inc. www.cmblack.com

Rowan Cabarrus Community College www.rowancabarrus.edu

Cabarrus County Schools www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us Cabarrus Economic Development www.cabarrusedc.com

Time Warner Cable www.timewarnercable.com Whitleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Home www.whitleysfuneralhome.com

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We will value, teach and empower each student in a culture of educational excellence. Vision: • To produce globally competitive lifelong learners through rigorous and relevant curriculum taught by highly prepared visionary leaders who recognize the importance of engaging a diverse body of learners. • To provide 21st-century resources through responsible and efficient use of funding. • To ensure success for all students in safe, inviting and healthy learning communities by building upon a foundation of stakeholder support and caring/respectful relationships.

WWW.cabarrus.k12.nc.us

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Ad Index

46 Cabarrus Bank & Trust

21 Embassy Suites

13 Cabarrus County

38 Great Wolf Lodge

41 Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau

c2 Hilton Garden Inn

48 Cabarrus County Schools 2 Cabarrus Economic Development

33 Cabarrus Eye Center

48 Cannon Memorial YMCA

c4 Carolinas Medical Center Northeast

28 City of Concord

10 CM Black Construction Company Inc.

4 Integra Springs at Kellswater

36 Rowan Cabarrus Community College

30 Rowan Regional Medical Center

1 S&D Coffee Inc.

48 Southern Select Community Credit Union

46 Time Warner Cable

46 Whitleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral HomE

Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced the Cabarrus region through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagescabarruscounty.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments. From Our Photo Blog: Cabarrus region The man watches the action from behind a glass window, like an awestruck visitor at the zoo watching the playful antics of chimpanzees. But this isn’t the zoo, it’s NASCAR country! And this is the window into the NASCAR world. Or at least one that allows visitors to check out one of the working garages at Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, N.C. With Charlotte Motor Speedway down the street, NASCAR is a major player in the area’s economy. Teams like Roush Fenway, Hendrick Motorsports and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing call Cabarrus County home. The teams are also extremely fanfriendly, offering visitors glimpses into the teams’ past, present and future by way of their museums. Through their teams’ stores, they also give fans a chance to take home a special piece from their favorite driver, whether it be a team hat or a front bumper off one of the cars. There is something for everyone. Posted by todd bennett

More Online

See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at imagescabarruscounty.com.

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