Hickory Economic Development

Economic Development

Welcome to the City of Hickory's Economic Development web page. Hickory is the hub of a metropolitan area of 350,000 people, located on the shores of the Catawba River in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a three time All America City, most recently in 2007. Hickory and the metro area has strong transportation, utility, higher education, cultural and workforce development networks that have produced a strong manufacturing base and extensive medical, retail, service and residential development.

The Hickory Metro area has been named the 10th Best Place to Live and Raise a Family in the United States by Reader's Digest. The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton M.S.A. has also been named the 3rd best M.S.A. in the country for Business Costs by Forbes Magazine. Business North Carolina magazine also reported that Catawba County's largest city, Hickory, was the 8th best city in the state for its quality of life.

The City's economic development goal is to foster economic growth, job creation and quality of life through attracting and retaining business and industry, providing resources to promote small business development, encouraging tourism and supporting community revitalization. The City and its departments focus on collaborating with existing and new businesses in the development process, and on working with outside agencies like the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Duke Power, the Carolinas Partnership, Advantage West, the Hickory Downtown Development Association, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and surrounding local governments to promote balanced growth and job creation. Please don't hesitate to contact us to request a service, ask for a site visit to your business or ask questions.

Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager
thefner@ci.hickory.nc.us
Phone: 828.323.7482
Fax: 828.323.7476

Location: 76 North Center Street in downtown Hickory
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mail: PO Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603

Return to Economic Development Department
Back to the Main

Frequently Requested Information

BUILDING CODES
New Construction and Remodeling Armin Wallner, Catawba County Building Inspector (828) 465-8454 http://www.catawbacountync.gov/

Click here for information about occupying existing buildings

BUSINESS LICENSE AND TAX REQUIREMENTS
Hickory Finance Department, Deanna Rios, Finance Director http://www.hickorygov.com/Finance/

BROWNFIELDS
Hickory Planning Department, Brian Frazier, Planning Director http://www.hickorygov.com/planning/

FOREIGN TRADE ZONE
Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager http://www.hickorygov.com/planning/

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Hickory Public Schools, Dr. Rick Vandette, Superintendent http://www.hickoryschools.net/default.aspx
Catawba County Schools, Dr. Timothy Markley, Superintendent http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/
Catawba Valley Community College, Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, President http://www.cvcc.edu/
Hickory Metro Higher Education Center Dr. Jane Everson, Director, http://www.hmhec.org/
Lenoir-Rhyne College, Dr. Wayne Powell, President, http://www.lrc.edu/
Champions of Education, Mr. Lamar Mitchell, Executive Director, http://www.catawbachamber.org/education/

LAND DEVELOPMENT/ZONING
Brian Frazier, Planning Director http://www.hickorygov.com/planning/
MAPS - Catawba County Real Estate Maps http://www.gis.catawba.nc.us/website/Parcel/parcel_main.asp
Burke County Real Estate Maps http://arcims.webgis.net/nc/Burke/
Calwell County Real Estate Maps http://maps.co.caldwell.nc.us/

SMALL BUSINESS/ENTRPRENEURS
Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager http://www.hickorygov.com/planning/
Connie Kincaid, Director, Hickory Downtown Development Association http://www.downtownhickory.com/
Grow Your Own Biz Website - Links to numerous assistance agencies http://www.growyourownbiz.com/

TRANSPORTATION
Chuck Hansen, Hickory Public Services Director/City Engineer http://www.hickorygov.com/publicservice/
John Tippett, Planning Director/MPO Coordinator http://trans.wpcog.org/
John Marshall, RPO Coordinator http://trans.wpcog.org/
Mike Bennett, Piedmont Wagon Transit Manager http://www.hickorygov.com/piedmontwagon/index.html

UTILITIES
AT&T North Carolina, LaVoy Spooner, Director of External Affairs http://www.bellsouth.com/
Duke Energy, Gary Laws, District Manager, http://www.duke-energy.com/
Embarq, Pat Elmore, Public Affairs Manager, http://www.embarq.com/
Piedmont Natural Gas, Michael Durham, Community Relations Manager, http://www.piedmontng.com/
Charter Communications, John McNelly, Director of Sales & Marketing/Purchasing http://www.charter-business.com/
Water and Sewer, Kevin Greer, Hickory Public Utilities Director http://www.hickorygov.com/publicservice/

Back to the Main

Location, Geography and Demographic Data

Hickory is located in the western part of the State of North Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 50 miles northwest of Charlotte, 80 miles east of Asheville and 35 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The central city of North Carolina’s fourth largest MSA (estimated 2003 population – 348,360), Hickory's current population is estimated to be 39,018. The City spans approximately 28 square miles and resides in the prime juncture of Interstate 40 and US 321 that makes it an excellent location for industrial, retail and residential development. Citizens enjoy the advantages of a setting that allows easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Catawba chain of lakes, including Hickory, James, Rhodhiss, Lookout Shoals and Norman, a mild climate, and excellent interstate, rail and air access. The City enjoys a top rated library system and an unparalleled cultural offerings for a city of this size. For more information about Hickory please consult the resources on our web site, visit the on line offerings of our tourism and cultural partners, or contact Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager.

Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager
thefner@ci.hickory.nc.us
Phone: 828.323.7482
Fax: 828.323.7476

Location: 76 North Center Street in downtown Hickory
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mail: PO Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603

File: Hickory MSA 2000 Census Demographics
File: Catawba County 2000 Census Demographics
File: City of Hickory 2000 Census Demographics
File: Power point presentation of the “economic perspective” of the Hickory Metro
File: List of web links to other data sites a variety of topics

File: Supplementary Information on Hickory.pdf
File: Local Climate.pdf
File: Population Estimates.pdf

http://www.catawbahistory.org/
http://www.artscatawba.org/

Back to the Main

Workforce

The workforce of the Hickory Metro Area is broad and diverse, and has proven to be adaptable to the requirements of our most diversified industries. The North Carolina Employment Security Commission is readily available to assist companies with recruitment and screening at no cost to employers. Catawba Valley Community College can provide customized training for new and expanding industries. Labor analyses for Catawba County have been prepared by the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation and may be explored on our web site. Additional information can be provided by the City, the Economic Development Corporation and the Employment Security Commission. Please contact Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager for assistance.

Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager
thefner@ci.hickory.nc.us
Phone: 828.323.7482
Fax: 828.323.7476

Location: 76 North Center Street in downtown Hickory
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mail: PO Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603

File: Civilian Labor Force Estimates.pdf
File: Labor Analysis.pdf
File: Employment & Wages.pdf
File: Job Applicants Profile.pdf
File: Employment & Temporary Staffing Agencies.pdf
File: Workforce.pdf

Back to the Main

Available Properties

The City of Hickory is committed to assisting new and growing businesses to find suitable properties to grow and expand. For further information about properties available in and from the City of Hickory, please contact Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager.

The City maintains a comprehensive list of vacant buildings throughout the city. While these buildings are currently vacant or under-utilized, they may not be available for purchase.

Click here to access the city's Vacant Building Inventory

Click here for information about occupying existing buildings

You can also explore a variety of buildings and sites on line through the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation at http://www.catawbaedc.org/Available.htm.

Incentives

The City of Hickory is committed to the growth and diversification of its economy. The City, its surrounding counties and municipalities have several programs that encourage new and expanding businesses and industries that generate job creation and investment. For further information about the City of Hickory, please contact Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager. For information on assistance available in the surrounding counties and state, please contact the individuals and agencies below.

Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager
thefner@ci.hickory.nc.us
Phone: 828.323.7482
Fax: 828.323.7476

Location: 76 North Center Street in downtown Hickory
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mail: PO Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603

File: ED Application for Incentives.pdf
File: Incentives.pdf

Scott Millar, President, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation http://www.catawbaedc.org/
Wayne Harris, Director, Burke County Economic Development Corportation http://www.burkeedc.org/
Alan Wood, Director, Caldwell County Economic Development Corporation
David Icenhour, Director, Alexander County Economic Development Corporation http://www.alexanderedc.org/
Ron Leitch, North Carolina Department of Commerce http://www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/

Back to the Main

Existing Business HelpWeb.

The City of Hickory and the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation want to assist new and existing companies to solve business headaches so they can concentrate on their processes, thereby insuring continued business health and growth within the Hickory Metro Area. Please use the link below to let us know how we can help.

Email Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager
or http://www.catawbaedc.org/HELPWEB.htm

Back to the Main