LOOKING BACK ON A
SUCCESSFUL 2019
F
or AnsonEDP and Anson County in
general, 2019 was a year of growth
and change. Personnel-wise, the
organization said goodbye to its existing
industry coordinator who left to take a
position with North Carolinas Southeast,
our regional economic development
organization. Rather than replace her, we
contracted with the Chamber of Commerce
to provide the front-end for those services
going forward, a natural fit that will
ultimately benefit both organizations.
The impact of the Monroe Expressway,
which opened in late 2018, was felt
throughout the year in the form of increased
interest in residential and commercial
development, especially in the western part
of the county. Historically, one of the major
stumbling blocks for the Anson economy
has been the perceived distance from the
county to crucial business locations such as
Uptown Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas
Airport. The Expressway cuts travel time
from Peachland to these
destinations to about 45
minutes, and from Wadesboro
to just under an hour.
Two projects which we
announced in 2018 opened
their doors in 2019. VEIT, A
Czech-based manufacturer
of poultry transport systems,
opened their manufacturing
facility in Peachland, and The
Vineyard at the Old Place
opened their new event center
and tasting room near White
Store.
On the retail side, Roses Stores announced
that they would be coming to Wadesboro,
opening a Roses Express at Anson Station,
next to Tractor Supply, and the existing
Wendy's in Wadesboro underwent a
major remodel. The new Bojangles at the
intersection of U.S. 74 AND U.S. 52, which
began construction in 2018, was completed
and opened, replacing an older unit that was
demolished to provide additional parking.
In Uptown Wadesboro, the innovative REV
90 • PROGRESS 2020
Uptown facility consolidated the offices
of AnsonEDP, the Chamber, and Uptown
Wadesboro with a visitors center hosted
by the Tourism Development Authority,
Speckled Paw Coffee, co-working space and
a business incubator. The development acted
as a catalyst for the west side of Uptown,
prompting the announcement of a new deli/
sandwich shop and a barbers school which
both will be opening in the coming year.
Two very significant FDI (Foreign Direct
Investment) projects announced in 2019.
Loba-Wakol, a German manufacturer
and distributor of adhesives and finishes,
purchased the former JJ Haines campus
and will be moving their North American
headquarters there from Charlotte.
Sweden-based Borgstena North America
opened a sales and engineering office at the
REV Uptown incubator in anticipation of
building a U.S. manufacturing facility in the
future.
To round out the year, AnsonEDP executive
director John Marek was honored with the
Henry W. Little III Community Leadership
Award for his ongoing efforts to revitalize
the Anson economy.