Partners in Progress 2020 | Page 34

WADESBORO A SMALL AND HISTORIC TOWN T wo hundred and thirty-seven. This represents the number of years that the town of Wadesboro has been incorporated as a municipality and from the very beginning, we have been committed to the ideals of progress, ingenuity, opportunity, and growth. Being centrally located in the piedmont region of North Carolina, Wadesboro and Anson County cherish a rich history and are confident in a bright future for our residents and potential business owners. As the county seat for Anson County, Wadesboro is the hub around which the majority of businesses and industry are based. As the population center for the county, Wadesboro provides a valuable and centrally located concentration of retail, service, and restaurant offerings for our residents. The highway district in town is home to more than a dozen restaurants, from fast food to casual dining, and is also the home to several major retailers ranging from national chains to locally owned small businesses. The downtown district, or “Uptown” as we prefer to call it, is a thriving historical central business district that is home to established and burgeoning small businesses, restaurants, professional legal and accounting services, forestry, museums, and local government centers for both the County, Town, and Court systems. The residential offerings in Wadesboro are both unique and abundant, ranging from 150 year-old antebellum homes to modern new construction and everything in-between. One of the most appealing aspects of the Town’s residential offerings is that regularly homes are available for purchase for a fraction of the cost per square foot when compared to other localities, providing a unique opportunity for homeownership that many could not otherwise afford. Furthermore, one can still reside in Wadesboro and easily commute to larger population centers, affording an opportunity for a successful career in the city with the slower pace of small-town life. In recent years the industrial and business landscape has been steadily improving 34 • PROGRESS 2020 in Wadesboro, from the relocation and expansion of existing corporations to several small businesses venturing into the waters of industry. We are the home to the US headquarters to multiple international corporations and traditional textile industries with longstanding legacies of community involvement, evidence of the business environment in Wadesboro and the desire to see our community thrive through growth. Wadesboro sits at the crossroads of no less than four major US Highways, and three major interstates (95, 85, and 77) are all less than one hour’s drive from the middle of downtown. In addition, with the recent opening of the Monroe Expressway, Charlotte has never been closer for our residents and businesses to engage in commerce without the pressure of population density and traffic that comes with being located in the city. One can travel west on US Hwy 74 and be in downtown Charlotte in less than one hour, a convenience that few municipalities with our level of affordability and character can boast. Further fueling our future hopes of growth is the development of the Wadesboro Industrial Park, located just one mile from the Uptown district and conveniently located with immediate access to all four major US Highways within minutes. The industrial park is a project that will encompass 75 acres with multiple opportunities for industry relocation or expansion at a fraction of the cost found elsewhere. Development of the project is underway with design nearly completed and construction of an access road, water and sewer improvements, and site-ready grading imminent. Potential industries seeking to locate in the Wadesboro Industrial Park will join an existing facility that specializes in agricultural research and will enjoy the incredible benefits of being located close enough to highway access to facilitate efficient logistics and the privacy afforded to businesses located in a rural area. There are many and more reasons to be proud of the rich history in Wadesboro, home to more than 6,000 hard-working people that truly desire for their town and county to thrive. The longstanding tradition of success is not lost here, we are poised and ready for progress to continue and accelerate, evidenced by the business- friendly environment and recent successes in attracting industry. Come and find your place here, you will not be disappointed.