WAXHAW, NC – As part of the Chamber’s focus on Public Policy, we hosted a virtual State of Union County event on Thursday, November 5. The event featured County Manager, Mark Watson, and Executive Director of Monroe-Union County Economic Development, Chris Platé on a panel with Jeff Atkinson, moderator.

They answered questions on a variety of topics affecting Union County, including the following information:

• Monroe-Union County Economic Development has been heavily focused on retention in 2020
• Union County has fared well in comparison to other parts of the country in regard to COVID-19
  • Since August, capital investment has been growing
  • The number of residential permits issued has exceeded previous years
  • Land splits will also likely exceed past years
• Development Projects:
  • Yadkin Water project has broken ground on facilities in Norwood and New Salem. The project is expected to meet water needs for the next 100 years and will help develop the eastern part of the county.
  • New Sheriff’s Administration Building – construction has started
  • New Emergency Services Building – breaking ground in November
  • New Library near Cuthbertson High School in the final design stage
  • Jesse Helms Park in Wingate – Renovations will add capacity for indoor and outdoor events in connection with the Agricultural Center
  • Piedmont Innovation Park near Goldmine Rd – This 200-acre facility will target precision manufacturing plants
• Workforce
  • The biggest challenge the county faces moving forward is having a ready workforce and the technology available for remote work.
  • Union County’s unemployment rate is 5.7%Union County received $8 million in CARES Funding.
    • A certain percentage was ear-marked for municipalities
    • Purchase of PPE and Sanitizer
    • Contact Tracing Expenses
    • Back to Business Grant Program which awarded over $204 million to 200 local businesses.