The Mitchell County Economic Development Commission (EDC) is proud to announce that a prospective business park site in Mitchell County has been selected as one of five premier locations in Western North Carolina through the state’s Selectsite Readiness Program.
The designation comes as part of the Western North Carolina Selectsite Readiness Report released by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). The report identifies up to five sites across 25 counties affected by Hurricane Helene that are best positioned to support advanced manufacturing projects.
The designation comes as part of the Western North Carolina Selectsite Readiness Report released by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). The report identifies up to five sites across 25 counties affected by Hurricane Helene that are best positioned to support advanced manufacturing projects.
The Selectsite Readiness Program (SRP) was established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2023 to enhance North Carolina’s competitiveness in attracting major manufacturing projects. The program complements the state’s Megasite Readiness Program but is tailored to projects that do not require the 1,000-acre minimum necessary to qualify as a megasite.
In May 2025, the General Assembly enacted S.L. 2025-4, which amended the Megasite and Selectsite programs and directed EDPNC to engage a national site selection firm to evaluate potential selectsites in counties declared major disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Helene.
In May 2025, the General Assembly enacted S.L. 2025-4, which amended the Megasite and Selectsite programs and directed EDPNC to engage a national site selection firm to evaluate potential selectsites in counties declared major disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Helene.
Following a competitive bid process, Global Location Strategies (GLS), a national site location consulting firm, was selected to conduct the analysis, with engineering and technical support provided by ECS and Ardurra. An RFP was issued to economic development organizations across the 25 eligible counties, generating 18 submissions. After comprehensive evaluation, GLS identified five sites with the strongest potential to successfully serve advanced manufacturing operations.
Sites selected through the program will undergo further evaluation to determine development readiness and will have access to Selectsite Readiness Program grant funding to support infrastructure and site preparation improvements.
“This recognition is a significant milestone for Mitchell County,” said Bill Slagle, Executive Director of the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission. “Being selected as one of the top five sites in Western North Carolina validates the hard work of our local partners and positions Mitchell County as a competitive destination for advanced manufacturing investment. We are committed to continuing our efforts to prepare this site for future job creation and long-term economic growth.”
“This recognition is a significant milestone for Mitchell County,” said Bill Slagle, Executive Director of the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission. “Being selected as one of the top five sites in Western North Carolina validates the hard work of our local partners and positions Mitchell County as a competitive destination for advanced manufacturing investment. We are committed to continuing our efforts to prepare this site for future job creation and long-term economic growth.”
The Western North Carolina Selectsite Readiness Report is available on the EDPNC website at https://edpnc.com/resources/.
For more information about economic development efforts in Mitchell County, please contact the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission.
For more information about economic development efforts in Mitchell County, please contact the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission.