In response to opinion pieces recently published regarding the now-dissolved Alexander County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the current Alexander County Commissioners would like to provide a clarification to address factual inaccuracies and to ensure residents have complete and accurate information regarding the board’s actions, investments, and oversight responsibilities.
We, the current Board of Commissioners, value open dialogue and civic engagement; however, when statements presented as fact are false or incomplete, we feel a responsibility to provide verified, correct information to the public.
Economic Development: Structure, Oversight, and Accountability
First of all, the Economic Development Department remains open for business. The staff is dedicated to assisting existing businesses and industries with their needs, while also working behind the scenes to recruit new businesses, great-paying jobs, and a wonderful quality of life to Alexander County. This dedication to business growth has not changed.
Alexander County remains fully committed to supporting business and industry and to fostering responsible, long-term economic growth. Recent actions taken by the Board of Commissioners to no longer fund the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which led to the EDC Board of Directors voting to dissolve the non-profit, were not intended to eliminate economic development efforts. Recent discussions involving restructuring are focused on improving accountability, transparency, and efficiency.
The EDC was approved as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in December 2006 and became fully operational in mid-2007. From its inception, the Board of Commissioners has provided almost all operational funding and the required matching grant funds for economic development activities. From FY 2007–2008 through FY 2023–2024, the Board appropriated more than $3.7 million directly to the EDC, and that does not include staffing, facilities, utilities, supplies, and more. Public funds remain public even when appropriated to a non-profit tasked with economic development.
As stewards of taxpayer dollars, we began discussions on reorganizing economic development into a structure with greater oversight and accountability. These discussions started during the tenure of a previous County Manager and have resumed following the appointment of the current County Manager.
County-Led Investment in Business and Industry
Contrary to claims made in the recent opinion pieces, the Board of Commissioners has played a substantial role in economic development across Alexander County for decades. Board action has included infrastructure investment, incentive grants, utility extensions, broadband expansion, and financial participation in state and federal grant programs, as outlined below.
Alexander Industrial Park
Board-approved investments and partnerships include:
• 25 acres purchased at the industrial park in 2008 by the County
• 88 acres purchased in the industrial park in 2009 using County funds
• $632,412 Golden LEAF Foundation grant awarded to the EDC in 2022-2023 for grading a 16-acre site
• $500,000 NC Railroad Company grant, awarded to the County and passed through for the same project during 2022-2023
• $226,165 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant awarded to the County to install gravity sewer lines, requiring a 100% local match provided by the Board of Commissioners
• $226,165 NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) grant awarded to the County was used as the matching funds for the ARC project
• County worked to secure $422,330 from the State for sewer projects
Existing Industry Expansions
The County received grants and dedicated funds for a rail spur to an existing industry expansion in 2024.
• $222,375 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awarded to the County
• $143,500 NCDOT Rail grant awarded to the County
• $67,813 in special sales tax funds appropriated to completing the rail spur
Utilities and Infrastructure
• Multiple water and sewer extension projects have been supported through state and federal grants, with local matches approved by the Board of Commissioners.
• Commissioners have had ongoing negotiations with the City of Hickory to secure additional water and sewer capacity to support future growth.
• According to estimates, it would cost approximately $125-150 million to build a water plant in Alexander County, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to operate and maintain it. It is simply impossible that a new water plant could be constructed, operated, and maintained without raising property taxes in the near future. However, local officials and staff are in discussion regarding different avenues of how the County should approach this issue in the long term.
Broadband Expansion
• The current Board approved partnerships with Open Broadband and Spectrum, resulting in hundreds of new internet installations, multiple tower sites, hubs, and free Wi-Fi locations across the county, including significant investment in Stony Point, Taylorsville, and other communities.
Over the past two decades, the Board of Commissioners has supported economic development efforts that have resulted in tens of millions of dollars in private investment associated with incentive grants, infrastructure improvements, and utility projects, in addition to the many thousands in grant funds that have been secured.
Incentive Grants and Financial Oversight
The Board of Commissioners has supported local employers through property tax incentive grants and other financial tools, both before and after the creation of the EDC. Incentive grants have always required public hearings and formal Board approval.
County Budget Growth and Property Taxes
One opinion piece implied that property taxes increased simply because the County budget increased, but that does not tell the full story.
The FY 2021–2022 original budget was $45.9 million, with a final amended budget of $51.4 million. The FY 2025–2026 adopted budget is $60.6 million.
Budget growth during this period reflects:
• State-mandated increases in retirement contribution rates
• Cost-of-living adjustments for employees
• Additional salary increases for public safety departments
• Rising health and workers’ compensation insurance costs
• Expanded public safety staffing, including a school resource officer at every school
• Capital purchases delayed by supply-chain disruptions
• Required local matches for state and federal grants
• Increased appropriations to the local school system
All budget decisions were discussed in public meetings, documented in annual budget messages, adopted by a formal vote of the Board of Commissioners, and made public by detailed news releases.
Land Development Code and Transparency
Claims that major Board actions regarding rezoning occurred without public knowledge are inaccurate. The adoption of the Land Development Code followed extensive public notice, newspaper coverage, public hearings, and months of draft availability on the County website. The Board fully complied with all public notification requirements under North Carolina law.
All major decisions by the Board of Commissioners are made in open meetings (unless mandated otherwise by state or federal laws), with agendas, meeting summaries, and minutes made publicly available.
Investment in All Communities
Despite what one opinion piece stated, the current Board continues to invest in infrastructure, public safety, education, utilities, broadband, and quality-of-life projects that benefit all areas of Alexander County, including Stony Point. These investments include fire protection improvements, library and senior center facilities, water and sewer infrastructure, school partnerships, broadband expansion, and public safety services. Sewer is available along NC Hwy. 90 in Stony Point due to a County-industry partnership, with grant funding from Golden LEAF and ARC. Sewer was also extended to Stony Point Elementary School, which was made possible by the project.
Commitment to Accuracy and Transparency
The Board of Commissioners believes residents deserve complete and accurate information regarding decisions that affect public resources, economic development, and long-term planning.
While differing opinions are part of the democratic process, the Board has a responsibility to correct the public record when statements presented as fact are inaccurate or incomplete.
We remain focused on responsible growth, sound financial stewardship, and ensuring that decisions are made transparently, in open meetings, and in the best interests of all Alexander County residents.
Residents are encouraged to attend Board of Commissioners meetings and to follow County news on the website and social media.
Sincerely,
Larry Yoder, Chairman of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners
Josh Lail, Vice Chairman
Kent Herman, Commissioner
Marty Pennell, Commissioner
Ronnie Reese, Commissioner