When the Iredell County Economic Development Corporation (Iredell EDC) was established in 2018, it marked a pivotal moment in the history of economic development in Iredell County, North Carolina. Community leaders, elected officials, business executives, educators, and investors came together around a bold idea: create a single countywide organization that could leverage the strengths of every municipality, eliminate duplication of effort, and advance a shared vision for economic prosperity.
The formation of Iredell EDC through the consolidation of existing economic development organizations serving North and South Iredell created a unified strategy focused on jobs, investment, workforce development, and long-term community success.
Eight years later, the results speak for themselves.
Iredell EDC has helped generate more than $3 billion in investment, support over 150 new and expanding projects, and facilitate the creation of more than 6,000 jobs throughout the county. More importantly, it has helped position Iredell County among North Carolina’s most dynamic economies, ranking among the state’s leaders in population growth and average wages.
While the data is certainly meaningful, the real successes are the relationships and collaborations that have formed the underpinning upon which everything else rests. “The greatest accomplishment of Iredell EDC over the last eight years isn’t measured solely in jobs created or dollars invested,” says Jeff Cernuto, Chairman, Iredell County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. “It’s measured in the relationships we’ve built and the partnerships we’ve strengthened. Our municipalities, educational institutions, businesses, investors, and community organizations have demonstrated that when Iredell County works together, we all succeed together. Economic development is a team sport, and our collective commitment to a shared vision has made us stronger than any one community could be on its own.”
Driving growth through new and expanding business announcements
One of the clearest measures of economic development success is the ability to attract investment while supporting the growth of existing industries. Since its formation, Iredell EDC has worked closely with businesses, developers, utilities, municipalities, and state partners to help companies establish, expand, and reinvest in Iredell County.
The impact extends far beyond the numbers. New investments generate quality jobs, expand local tax revenues, strengthen infrastructure, and create opportunities for families throughout the community. At the same time, existing industry has remained a central focus of Iredell EDC’s strategy.
Nationally, most new job creation comes from companies already located within a community. Recognizing this reality, Iredell EDC has invested heavily in business retention and expansion efforts through executive visits, industry councils, workforce assistance, and company outreach. By maintaining strong relationships with employers and responding quickly to challenges, the organization has helped local businesses continue growing and investing in Iredell County.
Accuma Corporation, a leader in the manufacture of energy storage components for the battery industry, is just one example of Iredell EDC’s commitment to existing industry. Chris Totherow, Sales Manager for Accuma Corporation, shares, “Iredell EDC has been an invaluable partner to Accuma, providing support that extends far beyond traditional economic development services. Their team has helped us address operational challenges, connect with key local resources for facility improvements, and identify opportunities for future growth and market expansion. The relationships they have facilitated and the practical solutions they have provided have created measurable value for our business. Their responsiveness, hands-on approach, and commitment to our long-term success have made them a trusted extension of our team and an important contributor to Accuma’s continued growth.”
Product development: preparing Iredell County for opportunity
While business announcements generate headlines, successful economic development begins long before a company selects a location.
A critical component of Iredell EDC’s work has been product development, which includes the sites, buildings, infrastructure, utilities, and transportation assets needed to compete for investment. Without market-ready locations, communities struggle to attract new employers or support expanding industries.
Over the last eight years, Iredell EDC has worked closely with local governments, utility providers, property owners, developers, and regional partners to strengthen Iredell County’s inventory of competitive sites and industrial assets. These efforts have included site assessments, infrastructure planning, transportation improvements, utility coordination, and support for industrial development projects.
As industrial demand accelerated throughout the Charlotte region, Iredell County was positioned to capitalize on new opportunities, and during this period, Iredell EDC helped support the development of 17 new industrial parks and sites, representing an industrial pipeline of approximately 15 million square feet. Ryan Beadle, Vice President of Development for Jackson-Shaw, shares his experience: “Iredell EDC has been a true partner on LKN Crossing from day one—through annexation, rezoning, and entitlements, they were responsive at every step and knew how to get to yes. In my experience, that is what separates counties that talk about growth from counties that land it. Jackson-Shaw is proud to be bringing 885,000 square feet of Class A industrial space to the I-77 corridor in Mooresville, and Iredell County made that an easy decision.”
The organization has also leveraged external resources to improve site readiness. In 2025, Iredell EDC secured a Golden LEAF grant supporting road improvements at Mooresville Business Park East. More recently, Iredell County had two sites selected to participate in Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program. These investments help ensure Iredell County remains competitive for future business recruitment and expansion opportunities.
Creating a talent pipeline through Iredell Ready
If product development creates places for businesses to grow, workforce development ensures they have the talent needed to succeed.
Perhaps no initiative better demonstrates Iredell EDC’s commitment to innovation and collaboration than Iredell Ready, a countywide workforce initiative created to connect education and employment while addressing long-term talent needs.
Launched through a partnership investment of approximately $750,000, Iredell Ready was designed to create a unified workforce strategy that brings together employers, school districts, higher education institutions, workforce agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local governments around a common mission: preparing residents for meaningful careers while helping employers build a skilled workforce.
Rather than functioning as a single program, Iredell Ready serves as a countywide framework that aligns workforce efforts and creates career pathways from education to employment.
The results have been significant, with more than 150 businesses and community organizations participating in Iredell Ready initiatives. Career fairs, industry tours, internships, apprenticeships, classroom engagement, and work-based learning opportunities have helped thousands of students and job seekers gain exposure to careers available right here in Iredell County.
The initiative has also garnered recognition far beyond county lines. Iredell Ready received an Award of Excellence from the International Economic Development Council, highlighting its innovative and collaborative approach to workforce development.
Most importantly, Iredell Ready has transformed how workforce development is viewed locally. Workforce readiness is no longer considered the responsibility of any one institution. Instead, employers, educators, workforce partners, government agencies, and community organizations work together to build a stronger talent pipeline for future generations.
Advancing educational attainment and economic mobility
The success of Iredell Ready has helped fuel another significant achievement: advancing educational attainment across the county.
As North Carolina’s economy becomes increasingly skills-based, communities must create pathways that help residents earn credentials, certifications, and degrees aligned with workforce demands. Educational attainment is directly tied to workforce competitiveness, income growth, economic mobility, and business attraction.
Through strong partnerships among education, workforce, and economic development leaders, Iredell County has made measurable progress in preparing students for careers available in the local and regional economy. Participation in Career & College Promise programs has expanded, allowing more students to earn college credit while still in high school. Enrollment growth at Mitchell Community College and increased engagement in career-connected learning opportunities further demonstrate the county’s commitment to workforce readiness.
These accomplishments have been recognized at the state level. In 2026, MyFutureNC selected Iredell Ready to participate in its Attainment NC Cohort, providing $200,000 in grant funding to support continued expansion of workforce and attainment initiatives.
This recognition reflects the success of a community-wide effort to connect education and industry while ensuring residents have access to quality career opportunities. As employers continue seeking workers with specialized skills and credentials, these attainment initiatives help prepare students and job seekers for long-term success.
“North Carolina’s 2 Million by 2030 goal is state-led but it will only be achieved through local action and cross-sector collaboration,” states The Honorable John Fraley, Chairman, myFutureNC. “Programs like Iredell Ready connect students, families, educators, and employers to ensure every individual has a pathway to a meaningful credential, a rewarding career, and long-term economic mobility. When we invest in educational attainment and workforce readiness locally, we not only transform individual lives—we strengthen the future of our community, region, and state.”
The power of regional and statewide partnerships
A defining characteristic of Iredell EDC’s success has been its understanding that economic development extends beyond county boundaries.
Many of the organization’s accomplishments have been made possible through strong relationships with regional and statewide partners committed to economic growth, workforce development, and community advancement.
The partnership with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) has helped connect Iredell County to business recruitment opportunities from across the nation and internationally. Through collaboration on project leads, site selection efforts, and marketing initiatives, Iredell County has expanded its visibility and competitiveness. “As a key partner for EDPNC, Iredell County brings great value to North Carolina,” says Abbie Currens, Business Recruitment Manager for EDPNC. “New companies considering the region find an established manufacturing industry, strong industrial workforce, logistics advantages with the I-40/I-77 intersection, and significant utility access across a wide range of sites and product. Additionally, their economic development team brings a depth of knowledge, open spirit, and willingness to adapt to each company’s unique needs that is appreciated by both EDPNC and its clients.”
Workforce and talent development efforts have been strengthened through collaboration with the Centralina Regional Council, which has recognized Iredell Ready as a model for workforce collaboration and supported efforts that align education and workforce priorities throughout the region.
In addition, participation in the North Carolina Economic Development Association (NCEDA) allows Iredell EDC to engage with economic development professionals across the state, share best practices, advocate for economic development priorities, and bring innovative ideas back to the community.
Together, these partnerships have expanded resources, strengthened collaboration, and amplified Iredell County’s ability to compete for investment and opportunity.
Collaboration as the foundation of success
While investment figures, workforce milestones, and development projects are important measures of success, Iredell EDC’s greatest accomplishment over the past eight years has been creating a culture of collaboration.
From its beginning, the organization was founded on the belief that communities are stronger when they work together. That philosophy continues to guide partnerships among municipalities, school districts, higher education institutions, employers, workforce organizations, nonprofit agencies, investors, and economic development partners throughout the county.
The success of Iredell Ready, the county’s attainment initiatives, major business announcements, product development investments, and infrastructure projects all share one common thread: collaboration.
As Iredell EDC celebrates eight years of service, it can point to impressive accomplishments in investment, workforce development, educational attainment, product development, and business growth. More importantly, it has established a framework for continued success.
The story of Iredell EDC is ultimately a story about partnership. By bringing together business, education, government, and community leadership around a shared vision, Iredell County has created a stronger economy, expanded opportunity for residents, and positioned itself for a prosperous future.
