Henderson County Industrial Representatives and Members of the Partnership are invited to attend the 2012 Industrial Executives Forum scheduled for Thursday, April 19th at Blue Ridge Community College’s Technology, Education and Development Center from 8:30-11:30 am. The forum is offered at no cost to industry and members thanks to sponsorship support provided by Find Great People International and PSNC Energy.

This year’s forum is a reflection of the planning committee’s focus on the availability of a skilled workforce.  The forum will open with a comprehensive assessment of Henderson County’s labor supply, availability trends, and wages compared to regional and national data, provided by Tom Tveidt of Syneva Economics.

Following the wage and labor benchmarking data, Terry Collins, Director of Human Resources for GE Lighting Solutions, and Bill Medlin, CEO of Legacy Paddlesports, will provide case studies relative to their efforts to identify and hire new production and engineering talent in Henderson County.  Hearing lessons learned from a company with a 55+ year history and one in the process of relocating will shed light on the community’s current workforce and wage status as well as providing some best practices and ideas for other employers.

The presentation segment of the forum will conclude with an introduction to Apprenticeship 2000, provided by Pam Howze, Training Manager for Siemens Corporation in Charlotte, NC.  Apprenticeship 2000 is an employer-driven consortium that includes manufacturers, high schools and the NC Community College System.  The program has operated for 16 years, successfully identifying qualified high school students and providing a four-year technical training apprenticeship program.

Small group sessions will close the event, providing an opportunity for participants to deliver feedback and direction on how HCPED and allies might improve the availability of qualified workers.  Throughout the forum, participants will answer questions by presenters via hand-held device to provide real-time data in aggregate form on a variety of topics.  This feature will make the Forum highly interactive and allow our organization to best understand employer needs.  Please call 828.692.6373 or email josh@hcped.org to reserve your space at the Forum.

Fletcher, NC – UPM RFID, part of UPM’s Engineered Materials business group, has announced the sale of its RFID business to SMARTRAC N.V. SMARTRAC is a leading developer of high-quality RFID inlays for electronic passports and contactless credit cards, as well as RFID transponders. While the transaction is still subject to certain customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, it is expected the sale will result in the creation of 22 new, manufacturing positions at the Fletcher facility to keep pace with increased product demands.

UPM has been developing and investing in its RFID inlay business for a number of years. The business unit has evolved from a small venture to a sizeable business and is now recognized as the market leader in its field. According to Jussi Vanhanen, President, Engineered Materials, UPM, “combining the RFID business unit with SMARTRAC, a company with the industry’s widest RFID business portfolio, will give it new leverage to continue to develop successfully. UPM continues to believe in the future and development of the RFID business, and is very pleased to get the opportunity to become an indirect shareholder in SMARTRAC, the undisputed leader in the RFID business.”  SMARTRAC is a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of RFID components for a broad range of applications in all current frequency standards.  According to Christian Fischer, CEO of SMARTRAC, “the transaction with UPM RFID will furnish SMARTRAC with favorable additional manufacturing capacities in strategically important markets.”

Fletcher Mayor Bill Moore said, “We are extremely excited to welcome SMARTRAC to the Town of Fletcher. Our community has long been recognized as a world-class destination for advanced manufacturing and we trust SMARTRAC will enjoy being a part of this area. We look forward to building a relationship with our new corporate citizen.”

Increased product demand resulting from this ownership change will add at least 22 high-tech manufacturing positions to the facility in Fletcher, North Carolina says Mike Keen, Operations Manager. To fill these positions, UPM RFID, Inc. is seeking employees who have a technical education, excellent team skills and who are capable of programming and operating high-tech computerized manufacturing equipment in a fast-paced 24/7 operation.  Successful applicants will be required to meet certain requirements of the ACT® Work Keys® job skill assessment which can be completed at no cost at the JobLink Career Center located at the Blue Ridge Community College campus in Flat Rock, NC.  Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit an employment application through CareerBuilder.com (search for UPM RFID).  The 22 new positions will offer competitive wages and benefits to successful applicants.

The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Inc. is a 501(c)6 organization that works to: retain and attract quality jobs; solicit new business compatible with the assets and values of Henderson County; promote Henderson County’s business image; assist expansion of existing companies; and enhance Henderson County’s overall quality of life.  For more information on the Partnership visit www.strategiclocation.com.  For more information about SMARTRAC, please visit www.smartrac-group.com.

Search for East Coast Operation Site Concludes

Henderson County, NC—Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced their plans today to locate their east coast brewing, bottling and distribution operation in Mills River, NC. The Chico, CA based company, and family-owned pioneer in craft brewing, will break ground on their facility in the coming year.

The company plans to create 95 full time jobs, 80 part-time positions and invest $107.5 million during the next five years in Henderson County. In addition the company expects that 60 construction and mechanical jobs will be supported during the 24-month building process. The average wage for jobs created will be $41,526 plus benefits, exceeding the county’s average wage by 28%.

“After carefully looking at more than 200 sites east of the Mississippi, Sierra Nevada is pleased to locate our second brewery in Henderson County,” said Ken Grossman, CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “We are very grateful to the officials in Mills River, Henderson County and the State of North Carolina whose time, effort and commitment were instrumental in making this happen. We are proud to be associated with many fine breweries that call North Carolina home.”

The company will be the first occupant of the 262 acre Ferncliff Park, a North Carolina Certified Site. Ferncliff was an ideal fit for the company, because the plan for the park’s development reflected their focus on sustainability, native landscaping, environmental stewardship, and energy efficiency design standards. Sierra Nevada’s location in Ferncliff will further develop the connectivity of the French Broad River, from headwaters and beyond, creating unique opportunities for a customer experience. The full operation is expected to include a restaurant, tasting room, and live music venue.

Tommy Thompson, Chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissions shared, “Henderson County is excited to welcome Sierra Nevada to our community. The culture of Sierra Nevada is a natural fit here and the Board of Commissioners is excited not only for the economic benefit to the region, but also the cultural impact of this company.”

HCPED Board Chairman, Kelly Leonard said, “working with Sierra Nevada was an intimate process, and for those of us involved personally it has been a great pleasure. This is a family-owned operation and through each meeting, we learned that this family was choosing a new home, one that would be an extension of their personal culture. We anticipate great things from this company and their role in  and impact to the community.”

The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Inc. is a 501(c)6 organization that works to: retain and attract quality jobs; solicit new business compatible with the assets and values of Henderson County; promote Henderson County’s business image; assist expansion of existing companies; and enhance Henderson County’s overall quality of life.  For more information on the Partnership visit www.strategiclocation.com.  For more information about Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., visit www.sierranevada.com.

Henderson County, NC - Legacy Paddlesports is moving to Fletcher, NC, bringing $4.5 million in new capital investment and 72 jobs paying in excess of the average wage in Henderson County.  The move will place Legacy right in the middle of the growing outdoor industry cluster that is developing in Western NC.  More importantly it places Legacy very close to the Green River that has served as the inspiration catalyst for liquidlogic, one of Legacy’s premium lines of kayaks, since it’s founding in 2000.

According to Bill Medlin, Legacy’s President and CEO, “The relocation will facilitate Legacy’s continued growth by being able to attract employees that are passionate about the sport of kayaking and the outdoors in general.  One of the primary differentiators between Legacy and most other manufacturers is that Legacy is a company that is owned and staffed by paddlers and other outdoor enthusiasts.”

The company has selected a facility in Fletcher and will begin making the improvements necessary for the relocation this month.  The relocation is scheduled to be complete in July of 2012, leading to the creation of 40 to 50 new positions engaged in manufacturing administration, mold maintenance, facility maintenance, kayak molding and assembly and shipping/warehousing.  Plans for recruiting the new staff have not yet been finalized.  Medlin said that the future hiring plans would be well publicized later in the month and information regarding how application for the new positions should be made will be released at that time.

liquidlogic, well known for its whitewater and crossover designs, has been named manufacturer of the year twice in its twelve-year existence.  Native Watercraft, Legacy’s award winning fishing kayak line, has also been named manufacturer of year during its short five-year life span.

Tommy Thompson, Chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, shared, “Legacy is a great fit for Henderson County, not only because of jobs created, but because the jobs created are a reflection of our outdoor culture and commitment to nurturing the recreation cluster as an economic development strategy.”

All five members of the executive team, including Woody Callaway, Shane Benedict, and Bryon Phillips who were part of the founding team at liquidlogic, and Mike Hooks, one of the founders of Legacy/Native Watercraft, join Bill Medlin in citing the strong outdoor orientation and creative cluster in Western NC as being key to Legacy’s continued growth and success as well as the personal satisfaction and well-being of Legacy’s employees.  Medlin said that the group really appreciates the entrepreneurial, democratic, and cooperative nature of the business climate that predominates in the area as it reflects some of the basic principles that Legacy operates under.

The entire ownership group and executive team of Legacy credits the support and excitement of the Board of Commissioners of Henderson County, the Fletcher Town Council, and the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development as being key to their decision to relocate.  Medlin said that working with these groups has been refreshing and inspiring.  “Clearly, these groups have developed a well-balanced plan for growing their communities and are being very careful how they execute those plans.  We are very happy that they want us to be included in those plans.”

Henderson County, NC – UPM Raflatac announced plans today to expand their Henderson County, North Carolina operations.  The Finnish-based company cited new technology and product development opportunities that will lead to the addition of at least 51 new employees and an investment of $11.5 million.  The average wage associated with the project is in excess of $34,653 annually plus benefits, exceeding the County’s average wage.

Before deciding to expand in Henderson County, UPM evaluated sites and buildings in South Carolina, Ohio and Illinois as well as multiple opportunities within the Western North Carolina region.  Company executive Phil Webb stated, “Our company has a strong history in Henderson County, and that relationship is a product of our confidence in the business climate, workforce and support network in place to ensure our successful start-up and ongoing operation.”   Chairman Tommy Thompson, of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners remarked that, “seeing an international company continue to choose to invest and grow in our county, now for the fourth time, is a testament to the business and manufacturing culture of our community.”

The location of the company’s new operation was made possible by support from the North Carolina Rural Center’s Building Reuse and Restoration Program.  The project was awarded a $240,000 matching grant to complete qualifying renovations and improvements to the building at 280 Cane Creek Road.  Senator Tom Apodaca, who provided strong assistance to the Rural Center grant application, said, “the State of North Carolina continues to assess and invest in adaptive programs, like those at the Rural Center, to close projects and deliver quality jobs to our citizens.”

The project received support through local assistance programs with Henderson County and the Town of Fletcher, in addition to a One North Carolina fund grant from the State.  Mayor Bill Moore said, “The Town of Fletcher is recognized as an advanced manufacturing hub in western NC, a place where companies from all over the world choose to grow and employ our citizens.”  Kelly Leonard, Chairman of the Partnership Board of Directors, reinforced Moore’s view by saying, “our organizational priority has always been to focus first on protecting and encouraging those companies that are already invested in our community.  This project is a reflection of the success of that strategy, and we congratulate and thank UPM Raflatac for choosing to grow in Henderson County.”

The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Inc. is a 501(c)6 organization that works to: retain and attract quality jobs; solicit new business compatible with the assets and values of Henderson County; promote Henderson County’s business image; assist expansion of existing companies; and enhance Henderson County’s overall quality of life.  For more information on the Partnership visit www.strategiclocation.com.  For more information about UPM Raflatac, visit www.upmraflatac.com.

The article below was written by Zac Northup of NiSi, presented on Business Insider – read the full article here.

Where will the Internet’s next greatest business be born?

While most people immediately associate the phrase “start-up” with Silicon Valley, or New York, the fact is that there are millions of budding entrepreneurs outside of America’s existing technology centers.

As broadband spreads into rural areas and small towns across the United States, economies are emerging in places that haven’t been considered viable markets by traditional investors and hardware manufacturers looking for areas to expand.

That is about to change.

According to the United States Census Bureau, small towns, cities, and counties with 10,000 to 50,000 residents are considered “micropolitan statistical areas.”

Sometimes, these are college towns filled with young Mark Zuckerberg wannabes who have grown up using all of the gadgets that drive today’s economy.

These young Turks of suburbia can’t remember life without the Internet, and many have viable ideas that, with a little love and mentoring from a tech-savvy angel investor or two, could become successful technology businesses.

Doubt this?  Consider the fact that many colleges and universities with computer science and engineering curricula require students to write mobile applications or develop engineering prototypes for various classes.

Unfortunately, more times than not, all the student is left with at the end of the semester is a good grade and pat on the back.

Science and technology programs at these schools aren’t structured to provide institutional help in finding investors or even teach tech students how to market their great ideas.

But the fact is that it’s easier to teach a computer engineer how to become a marketer than it is to teach a marketer how to become a computer engineer.  All of these dormant apps and technology projects represent a huge untapped market of intellectual property.  Investors just need to know where to look.

With this in mind, we have dug deep into the U.S. Census data and discovered 20 micropolitan areas that meet certain demographic requirements for a budding technology economy.  These factors include a high level of broadband accessibility, a sizable workforce (in relative terms), a vibrant local economy, and the presence of a small college or university.

Interestingly, all of these locations have unemployment rates as much as five points below the national average, and the top five have a broadband availability rate of 100%.  Even though the list is ranked from one to twenty, all things being considered, each of these locations present equal opportunities.

1. Craighead County, AR
2. Fayette County, GA
3. Story County, IA
4. Pottawattamie County, IA
5. Ascension Parish, LA
6. Calvert County, MD
7. Cecil County, MD
8. Saline County, AR
9. Daviess County, KY
10. Lafourche Parish, LA
11. Platte County, MO
12. Madison County, MS
13. Gallatin County, MT
14. Comanche County, OK
15. Roanoke County, VA
16. Ozaukee County, WI
17. Buchanan County, MO
18. Henderson County, NC
19. Grafton County, NH
20. Monongalia County, WV

In today’s global economy, companies spend millions of dollars trying to break into emerging markets overseas but are either missing the fact that 15 years into the Internet Revolution, there are still areas of this country that have yet to fully realize the promise of a technology-based economy.

Great ideas don’t stop at the edge of Harvard Square and tomorrow’s Farmville could actually be written on a farm.   The question is who is going to make money when that happens.

In an effort to recognize and promote members of the Partnership, we will be featuring a member each month on this blog, and also in the Membership Minute newsletter. The profile highlights the assets of the business and civic community in Henderson County and is a way of saying ‘thank you’ for investing in economic development.  This month’s featured member is the National Technical Honor Society.

National Technical Honor Society based out of Flat Rock, NC, is a non-profit, educational organization. The organization was established in 1984 in Inman, SC and located to Henderson County in 1999.

The Society serves over 3,200 schools and colleges in the US, Canada, and overseas. NTHS membership is recognized by education, business and industry as the nation’s highest award for excellence in career and technical education. Member schools provide recognition for their top-achieving technical students and business-industry leaders in their local community. NTHS also supplies graduation regalia for its members.

In addition to local and national recognition, the NTHS ‘Jon H. Poteat Scholarship Fund’ will provide over $125,000 in scholarships to its members in 2012, and the number of scholarships given increases each year. Members also enjoy the benefit of NTHS personal letters of recommendation when applying for jobs, college admission, or for additional scholarships. Additional benefits include the opportunity to be recruited by national and international corporations, colleges, and universities.

Q&A with Allen Powell, Co-Founder and Executive Director:

What do you love most about what you do?
I love helping to honor and lift up top career and technical education students, teachers, and industry leaders. It brings us great joy!

How many do you employ?
Here at NTHS HQ, we employ a total of eight full-time staff, and outsource to local organizations for IT support, graphics and printing, construction, and building and grounds maintenance, etc.

What is your most exciting accomplishment?
Our greatest accomplishment is awarding of scholarships, and a number of these are given annually to NTHS members at Blue Ridge Community College. We also hope to establish more chapters in Henderson County high schools so that more NTHS scholarships will be given to deserving young people in our own county.

Why are you a member of the Partnership?
We have been HCPED members since 2005 and joined because of our strong interest in advancing career opportunities for our membership and for the people of Henderson County. The Partnership has been very effective in bringing new jobs into our community, especially those jobs requiring advanced technical skills and ability. NTHS could not have found a better home than here in Henderson County. We love it!

Thank you NTHS for your support!

BorgWarner Inc. is a product leader in highly engineered components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications worldwide. Customers include VW/Audi, Ford, Toyota, Renault/Nissan, General Motors, Hyundai/Kia, Daimler, Chrysler, Fiat, BMW, Honda, John Deere, PSA, and MAN. While the company operates manufacturing and technical facilities in 19 countries worldwide, Western North Carolina continues to play a critical role in the company’s domestic design and manufacturing capabilities. In fact, WNC is home to two separate divisions, each responsible for different product lines. Henderson County is fortunate to serve as the location for the operation’s thermal division. BorgWarner Thermal is a leading supplier of components and systems for thermal management, which are specifically designed to improve engine cooling, increase fuel economy and reduce emissions. The division is located in the Town of Fletcher and encompasses 50 acres and nearly 200,000 square feet of production space adjacent to Wilsonart International and Diamond Brand Manufacturing.

Since 2008, the automotive industry as a whole has witnessed incredible amounts of change. As the nation struggled to rebound from recessionary economic conditions, the automotive industry was dramatically altered. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), like BorgWarner, were impacted by uncertain markets. Changes in the industry forced OEM operations to move quickly to keep ahead of market trends and ongoing federal legislation aimed at new product development and design initiatives. According to Steve Racher, plant manager of the Fletcher division, “the Company’s focus on developing the latest engine technology developments and keeping pace with regulatory mandates is the driving force behind BorgWarner’s ability to retain its leadership role in the automotive industry.” The company’s engineering staff work tirelessly to develop new technologies and products that are tightly aligned to processes adopted by the world’s leading automotive companies.

BorgWarner, and especially the Fletcher facility, represent a critical piece of the company’s global presence. The business’ affinity with the community can be tied to the vast number of resources which can be found locally. According to Racher: “Henderson County possesses a professional and motivated workforce, reasonable tax rates, and excellent access to nearby transportation routes allowing the operation to efficiently ship and receive product from regions across the globe.  Moreover, because BorgWarner places a heavy emphasis on identifying advanced manufacturing practices and professional manufacturing certifications such as ISO 9001, TS/ISO 16949: 2002, ISO 14001, the facility has greatly benefited from the North Carolina Community College System and more specifically Blue Ridge Community College.

To date, BorgWarner continues to play a lead role in the development of technologies and product lines which are specifically designed to meet customer demands for vehicles which possess improved full economy standards and performance specifications. Employees in Fletcher are responsible for designing and assembling some of the most advanced automotive systems in the world. The engineered cooling fans produced in Fletcher are used in a variety of applications for commercial, light, and off-highway vehicles. BorgWarner continues to design more efficient products, utilize fewer moving parts that require less maintenance and weigh less. Combined, the fan systems produced in Fletcher can deliver 1-3% improved fuel economy while simultaneously increasing vehicle performance.  As a result those parts produced locally, in Fletcher, North Carolina, can be found across the globe and in some of the most recognizable automotive brands around the world.

On October 27^th, over 150 manufacturing, business and government leaders will take part in the eighth annual Industrial Appreciation Banquet. The dinner will be held at the Virginia Boone Building at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, with a pre-dinner reception held at the Davis Event Center. The Partnership will honor outgoing Board members, the 2010-11 Partner of the Year, and present an update on legislative matters and performance metrics within the organization.

Generous sponsorships allow manufacturers, members and elected officials to attend at no cost. 2011 Presenting Sponsors are Duke Energy, Forest Commercial Bank and PSNC Energy. Supporting Sponsors are First Citizens Bank, Friday Staffing Services, GE Lighting Solutions, IMOCO, Van Winkle Law Firm and Pepsi. For more information contact the office at 828-692-6373 or e-mail brittany@hcped.org.

The Lockwood Greene Master Economic Development Plan for Henderson County was completed in 2002, providing guidance to the organization and a plan for public and private partners. As previously reported, the plan included a labor study, marketing plan, target industry analysis and competitive assessment.  The target market analysis identified business sectors likely to flourish in our community, and examined why some sectors are or are not an ideal fit with existing assets.  The report identified 8 primary and 4 secondary clusters including plastics, automotive components, medical products, recreational sporting goods, and machinery manufacturing.  The Partnership has focused on these targets from an external marketing effort, as well as supporting core programs of work designed to enhance and facilitate networking opportunities among existing manufacturing operations.

One of the largest and most substantial manufacturing clusters in Henderson County is the automotive sector. Existing companies such as API South, Blue Ridge Metals, BorgWarner, Continental, Elkamet, KLB Racing, Kyocera, Meritor, Ohlins, Prince Manufacturing, Selee, and Skyline Plastics serve as a strong reminders of how Henderson County companies contribute to the global automotive industry while concurrently supporting local employment opportunities.  Together, companies in Henderson County involved in the automotive sector account for over 1,600 jobs, or nearly 28% of the community’s manufacturing labor force.

Through the years, the Partnership has maintained marketing attention on the automotive industry. In August, Josh Hallingse, Director of Industry Relations traveled to Detroit, MI to meet with automotive component executives. This trip allowed the Partnership to maintain and build ongoing relationships with Henderson County automotive companies headquartered in the Midwest, while simultaneously reaching out to companies that have expressed an interest in expanding their manufacturing presence to North Carolina.

Henderson County’s location is one key factor in attracting automotive companies. Henderson County provides ease of access to I-26, I-40, I-85, I-81 and I-77 allowing most major markets to be reached in one day. Sitting just over the state line from major auto makers such as BMW and Volkswagen, allows for companies to actively engage with major companies as well as work with contributing suppliers. North Carolina is a top rated manufacturing state as well as a right-to-work state creating a favorable business climate for companies looking to do business with auto makers in the southeast. In addition to access advantages, companies considering WNC are also met with numerous manufacturing training assets, many of which have a focus on needs specific to the automotive sector. Assets include Western Carolina University’s Center for Rapid Product Realization, the Clemson University ICAR Campus and Blue Ridge Community College.

In addition to marketing trips, the Partnership has an active campaign calendar to reach out to targeted industry sectors. In the process, HCPED keeps an eye on major manufacturers and their suppliers. By creatively introducing targeted companies to the manufacturing potential and access of Henderson County, the goal is to attract more automotive component companies and facilitate the creation of quality job opportunities for our citizens.