November 2021 Activity Report

November Activity Report 2021 Program Focus Areas Existing Business Activity ̴ Business Recruitment ̴ Real Estate Development Project

Averages Project Averages Active and Missed

Project Activity Stats Active Projects

Projects Added

42 Missed Projects Over Last 12 Months

62 JOBS

3

27

JOBS 221

61

SQUARE FEET

Site Visits

0

3 Project Added 2 Missed Opportunities due to lack of: Available Buildings and Pad Ready Sites

New

Missed Project Opportunities 12 Month Project Type and Main Reason for Missing

THOUSAND SQUARE FEET 167K

15

ACRES

ACRES 43.3

$3.1

Projects by Location

INVESTMENT

MILLION INVESTMENT $84.7M

Projects by Source

Projects by Type

Retention & Expansion

November 2021

Existing Business Current and YTD Total

14

Activity Since July 1, 2021

UNIQUE VISITS

47

5

FOLLOW UP VISITS

20 Total Visits YTD: 67

Program Stats

7

PARTNER MEETINGS

44

6

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

Fall 2021 Entrepreneurial Grant Winners Seven local small businesses were announced as receiving Entrepreneurial Grants from the Wilkes Economic Development Corporation at the EDC’s board meeting on Friday, December 10, 2021. This is the eighth year of the Entrepreneurial Grant Program competition awarded by the EDC, but the first time the program has been held twice in one year thanks to local sponsors.

Applicants were asked to submit a video pitch in addition to their business plans and financial summaries to give the judges insight into their proposed use of funds.

Submissions were judged based on potential funding impact to the business, and the sustainability of each respective recipient. Grant amounts totaling $13,000 were distributed between the seven winners.

Fall 2021 Sponsors

President of Wilkes EDC, LeeAnn Nixon, encourages others to consider contributing to the Grant Program.

“The future of this program relies on sponsorships to encourage entrepreneurship. We hope to continue holding it twice per year in the Spring and Fall.” The EDC has already received funding commitments for the Spring 2022 Program thanks to several donors. Sponsorships are available at various levels. All program sponsors will be included in promotional marketing efforts.

October Unemployment Rate

3.5%

Down from 3.8% in Sep

Regional Oct. Rate is 3.1%. State Oct. Rate is 4.1%.

26

22 SOLUTIONS PROVIDED

102

July Unemployment Rate

Retention

November 2021

Fall 2021 Entrepreneurial Grant Winners cont. & Expansion Created by Coffee Designs, a retail and graphic design business in Wilkesboro, received $2,000 toward the purchase of a new laptop that will allow utilizing state of the art software. Visit her website, or email createdbycoffeedesigns@gmail.com for more.

Crosswoods Lumber is a mobile sawmill business created by Michael Hodges of North Wilkesboro. Michael received $3,000 toward the purchase of the steel he will need to finish building his sawmill. Contact Michael by emailing him, or call (336) 902-5981.

Redding Homestead Vineyard, formerly Windy Gap Vineyard on Pardue Rd in Ronda, was purchased by Mitchell Welborn and his wife Kelsey Redding Welborn. They received $2,500 toward the purchase of 500 Chardonelle vines to replace the current 20-year-old Chambourcin ones that are underproducing. Contact them by emailing mswelborn92@gmail.com .

Steps 2 Grow LLC, owned by Austen Lincoln, nurtures natural child development, and promotes developmental wellness through direct occupational therapy evaluation and intervention with children, consultation with parents, and online trainings. Steps 2 Grow received $1,500 for the purchase of new materials needed to help expand her current services. If you are interested in contacting Steps 2 Grow, visit www.steps2grow.com .

The Meat Sweats is a Veteran-Owned meat processing business started by Jason and Chantelle Sargood. The Meat Sweats will be processing wild game and domestic livestock but will also offer products for sale in their retail store located at 1016 West D Street in North Wilkesboro.

Jason and Chantelle received $2,000 to purchase a cooler for their retail meat selection. Find them on Facebook to contact, or email tms.sargood@yahoo.com .

Top Knot Salon, located at 102 Wilkesboro Avenue in North Wilkesboro, is proudly owned by Erica Scearce. Top Knot received $1,000 to purchase new styling chairs, which will add an opening for an additional stylist. Find Top Knot Salon on Facebook, call (336) 667-9550 to schedule an appointment, or email Erica.

Vernon’s Cake Carousel is located at 1260 College Avenue Suite 7 in Wilkesboro. Owner Vernon Tilley received $2,000 to purchase a new cooler for his bakery that will increase storage space for orders and allow his employees to maximize their efforts. Stop in and taste a number of delectable treats, or email vernonscakecarousel@gmail.com for custom ordering information.

Retention

November 2021

& Expansion

Wilkes County Remains Tier 1 Status for 2022 Tiers are assigned to all 100 Counties to determine a variety of state funding opportunities that assist with economic development. In 2021 Wilkes moved to a Tier 1 ‘Most Distressed’. Being a Tier 1 actually gives us the ability to request the most assistance in relation to state incentives and grants. Since we remained a Tier 1 for 2022, the question is did we improve or decline? We improved in tax base, median household income and our unemployment rate, and we declined in population. Overall, although we improved in those areas, we did not prevent our rank from falling in relation to other counties. Formerly ranked #36 to now #29 out of 100 counties where 1 is the ‘most distressed’ and 100 is the ‘least distressed’.

Adjusted Property Tax Base Per Capita:

2021-2022

2020-2021

2019-2020

$90,091 (#35)

$83,712 (#35)

$82,130 (#37)

2017-2020

2016-2019

2015-2018

-1.56% (#28)

0.29% (#30)

0.62% (#33)

2019-2020

2017-2018

2016-2017

$45,250 (#27)

$44,080 (#40)

Tax base increased 7% allowing more infrastructure and public service revenue. Ranking remained 35.

Population Growth: Population declined. Ranking fell from 30 to 28.

Median Household Income:

$42,453 (#35)

Income increased 2%. Ranking fell from 40 to 27.

Unemployment Rate, 12 Month Avg.: Unemployment improved. Ranking fell from 64 to 56 Wilkes County 2022:

2020-2021

2019-2020

2018-2019

4.90% (#56)

5.99% (#64)

4.14% (#53)

July Unemployment Rate Ju Overall Ranking #29 (formerly #36)

Average Wages: $40,441 ($19.44/hr); 5% Increase from 2021