Catawba County Economic Development Corp.

📊 The 2025 Catawba County Wages & Benefits Survey is LIVE! Now in its 5th year, this essential survey provides a real-time snapshot of the Catawba County talent market — and we’ve restructured it this year to make it easier to complete while gathering even more valuable data: 🕒 Takes about 90 minutes 🏭 Covers positions common across all industries 📅 Open through May 30 📈 Results available in June only to full participants Help us break our participation record and build the region’s strongest workforce data yet. 👉 Start the survey today: https://lnkd.in/eZxy97TA Questions or for a copy of your past submission, please email Nathan Huret ([email protected]). #WorkforceData #TalentStrategies #EconomicDevelopment #TalentRetention #TalentRecruitment #WorkforceTraining #EmployerInsights

This Memorial Day, Catawba County Economic Development Corp. joins our nation in remembering and honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice makes our freedoms — and the way of life we enjoy — possible. Our office will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday, but our gratitude remains front and center. One way we continue to honor that legacy is through our organization's support of HKY4Vets, an initiative that helps connect military veterans and spouses to meaningful opportunities right here in the Hickory Metro. From career support to community-building events, it’s one small way of giving back to those who have given so much. #MemorialDay #HonorTheFallen #CatawbaCountyEDC #HKY4Vets #GratitudeInAction #VeteranSupport

Catawba County is turning up the volume in life sciences and heading to Boston next month for #BIO2025 — the world’s largest #biotech gathering. Our own Nathan Huret will be there, representing the Charlotte Region alongside NCBiotech, EDPNC, and some of the state’s most innovative communities. Stop by Booth #235, say "Hey!" 👋 to Nathan and talk to him about why North Carolina (and Catawba County) should be on your radar. #CatawbaCountyEDC #LifeSciencesNC #BIOBoston #CharlotteRegion #EconDev https://lnkd.in/eda5GJPb

The 2025 Catawba County Wages & Benefits Survey closes May 30, and time is ticking! ⏰ Already, 75 employers representing 12,000+ local workers have weighed in — don’t miss your chance to access the most valuable workforce data in the region. Whether you're hiring now or planning ahead, this insight will help you recruit and retain top talent. 👉 Take the survey today: https://lnkd.in/eZxy97TA #FinalCountdown #WagesAndBenefits #TalentPlanning #CatawbaCounty #CatawbaEDC The Chamber of Catawba County

The North Carolina Certified Economic Developer (NCCED) Program — a professional development initiative offered through East Carolina University — is in the City of Hickory this month for the Attraction NC course! We’re proud to have our own Kimberly Propst, MPA participating, and today, Scott Millar, President of the Catawba County EDC, had the honor of presenting to the class. He highlighted the innovative and collaborative work shaping the future of Hickory and Catawba County. #EconomicDevelopment #NCCED #CatawbaCounty #ECU

It’s Economic Development Week 2025—so what does that actually mean? Economic development shows up in a lot of ways: in the cranes on a new construction site, the Friday night concert series in a revitalized downtown, expanded healthcare facilities, and yes—new job opportunities for local residents. At Catawba County Economic Development Corp., our work is about making sure this community continues to grow in the right ways: attracting quality employers, supporting our existing industry partners, helping to strengthen talent pipelines, and working with local & state governments to invest in the infrastructure that helps it all happen. We’re proud to work behind the scenes to help build a stronger, more resilient Catawba County—today and for the future. #EconDevWeek #CatawbaCounty #EconomicDevelopment #BehindTheBuild #CommunityGrowth #IEDC

Join us in congratulating Catawba County Economic Development Corp. President Scott Millar on once again being named to the Business North Carolina Power List! A repeat honoree, Scott is widely recognized as one of North Carolina’s most impactful economic developers—and for good reason. Over the past 30+ years, he’s helped shape Catawba County’s future through transformational projects like our community's data center initiative (see Apple & Microsoft), a multi-jurisdictional park in Conover, Trivium Corporate Center, and countless strategic efforts to grow opportunity across our community. He probably won’t see this right away (true to form, he’s likely working on the next big thing), but we couldn’t miss the chance to say: "Congrats, Scott—and thank you!" Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2gTGCwk #PowerList2025 #EconomicDevelopment #CatawbaCounty #BusinessNC

🎯 Heading to Techtextil North America next week in Atlanta? Make sure to stop by Booth 2941 in the SEAMS Association Supply Chain Pavilion and connect with the team from the Manufacturing Solutions Center | Testing | Prototyping | Furniture Structural (MSC). If you're in #technicaltextiles or #nonwovens and not already working with MSC, it's time to change that. They’re a top-tier resource for product development, materials testing, supplier sourcing — and helping manufacturers grow right here in the U.S. Ask about: Available space in their incubator How our region supports next-gen textile innovation 📍 More at: nextgen-textiles.com #TechTextilNA #MadeInUSA #AdvancedManufacturing #TextileInnovation #SEAMS #NextGenTextiles

Key Insights into Catawba County's Talent Landscape - We Need You! We’re in the 5th year of our Wages & Benefits Survey — and early data is already offering some great insight: 🔹 3.5% median pay increase in the last year 🔹 72% of employers require background checks 🔹 Top training needs: Leadership & Change Management + Upskilling/Reskilling 🔹 Entry-level median wage: $17.06/hour But we need more voices to validate the data! ⬇️ ✅ Open to all industries & company sizes ✅ Takes roughly 90 mins for first-timers, far less for "repeats" ✅ Detailed report (mid-June) only for completers ✅ We’re happy to share your past responses to help you get started Real-time. Local. Actionable - https://lnkd.in/eZxy97TA #CatawbaCounty #TalentStrategy #TalentRetention #TalentRecruitment The Chamber of Catawba County

Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation — it grows from ongoing research, strong university partnerships, and real collaboration with industry. Fortunately, the Hickory Metro and Catawba County are well-positioned with a growing number of research assets actively working alongside the private sector. From the Manufacturing Solutions Center | Testing | Prototyping | Furniture Structural here in Conover, to the Innovation Quarter in nearby Winston-Salem, to the recently designated R2 research university at Appalachian State University, our region is investing in what’s next.