HigH Point

High Point American Economic Development City of the Corporation 2019 Annual Future Report

HigH Point : American City of the Future 2019 is impressive year High Point named an “American City of the Future” Dear High Point residents, business leaders, and allies: the City of High Point has been recognized as one of the Western Hemisphere’s “American Cities of the Future” for 2019-2020. What an accolade our city received! High Point has been recognized as one of the “American Cities of the Future” for 2019-2020. the foreign direct investment honor the accolade – from fDi Magazine, a publication of the Financial times of London – recognizes High Point’s comes from fDi Magazine, a publication of the Financial times of London. efforts, successes, and assets in landing foreign direct investment projects (when a firm or individual in one country makes a business investment in another country). in this annual report, you will learn more about that impressive recognition, other ways High Point demonstrates it is appropriate to call it a city of the future, and our As an “American City of the Future for 2019-2020,”High major 2019 economic development announcements. Point was honored as one of “the cities which have the Sincerely, best prospects for cross-border investment, economic development, and business expansion.” At the High Point EDC 2019 • High Point was ranked in the Top 10 in the annual meeting in November, category of cost effectiveness – for Darlene Leonard was thanked Darlene Leonard Loren Hill municipalities in north America and South for her two years of service High Point EDC Chair High Point EDC President as chair. America with populations between 100,000 and 350,000. High Point and Greensboro demonstrating • Learn more by going to the News Flash section “unique and commendable” economic development collaboration on highpointedc.com. • High Point – which calls itself North Carolina’s At a time when many headquarters are relocating, one of the consultants for the Fresh Market project international City™ – has more than 80 foreign- Fresh Market’s corporate offices will not only be was on the panel. When it was her turn, without High Point’s success in foreign direct investment was highlighted based companies. Please see Page 23. on November 15, 2019, when Netherlands-based AkzoNobel broke staying in guilford County, but the company will be mentioning the location or project by name – and not the “American Cities of the Future” awards were ground for its newest facility in the city. Pictured (left to right) are expanding (see Page 12). knowing Hill was in the audience – the consultant Mayor Jay Wagner, past High Point EDC Chair Jim Morgan, along talked about one of her projects for which two cities presented at the annual conference of the international with AkzoNobel’s CEO Thierry Vanlancker and Communications it was a unique team effort. were working together on a project, willing to sup- Economic Development Council, held in indianapolis, Manager Beth Earnst, who serves on the High Point EDC board. • With the company’s leases soon to expire, Fresh port the company regardless of which building in the indiana, in october. Please also see Pages 10, 23. Market considered many options. Rising to the top county might be chosen. were a building in High Point, two locations in greensboro, and an out-of-state facility. She asked her colleagues on the panel if any had • Due to the close working relationship of the heard of anything like this type of cross-border partners in the guilford County Economic Development collaboration anywhere in the U.S., and none had. At Alliance (Page 24), the High Point and greensboro the joint public hearing, Hill said that the five consul- city councils agreed that this project was so tants’ responses indicated that the unprecedented important that performance-based incentives High Point-greensboro joint effort is not just a unique would apply from each city – regardless of approach for those cities but also for any two whether the project would land in High Point communities anywhere. Cost Effectiveness: or greensboro. Top 10 American Cities of the Future President Chris Chung of the Economic Development • To underscore that collaboration, for the first High Point EDC President Loren Hill (center) received his city’s Partnership of north Carolina congratulated the two For Western Hemisphere cities with time the two local governments held a joint “American Cities of the Future” recognition from two fDi Magazine cities for being part of this “unique and commendable officials: Editor Courtney Fingar (right) and GIS Planning Managing populations between 100,000 and 350,000 public hearing at which each of the city councils collaboration” that he expects “will be cited often as Director Anatalio Ubalde. authorized performance-based incentives for the RANK CITY COUNTRY a best practice in the industry.” Fresh Market project. 1 Alajuela Costa Rica 2019 by the numbers 2 Heredia Costa Rica High Point EDC President Loren Hill reported at the 3 Cartago Costa Rica joint public hearing that he attended the annual 4 Akron, ohio United States conference of the international Economic Development 5 Ensenada, Baja California Mexico Council in october 2019. At one of the sessions, a panel City of High Point 6 High Point, North Carolina United States of site selection consultants was asked what “new” or American City of the Future 7 Spartanburg, South Carolina United States innovative things they were seeing from communities 8 Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila Mexico across the U.S. The High Point and Greensboro city councils held the first ever Top 10 9 Reno, nevada United States joint public hearing to authorize Fresh Market performance-based for foreign direct investment 10 Fort Wayne, indiana United States incentives (photo courtesy of Triad Business Journal). internationally-based 80 companies in High Point

2 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report HigH Point : American City of the Future 3 Transforming downtown High Point Downtown High Point: The Place for Investors and Growing Businesses The transformation of downtown High Point is underway due to an impressive collaborative effort of city Throughout 2019, the High Point EDC staff worked with government, High Point University President Nido Qubein along with other business and community leaders, initiatives which can help revitalize downtown and the downtown revitalization organization Forward High Point, several benefactors, and master developer surrounding areas. Elliott Sidewalk Communities. Small-scale manufacturing in downtown The High Point City Council had established a strategic The City of High Point is working to enhance small-scale goal “to create a downtown catalyst project” to manufacturing as part of its downtown efforts. increase the commercial tax base and create a public • According to a Smart Growth America report, “High gathering space – drawing residents and visitors year- Point is poised to create a strong new downtown and round. In three years, that idea has gone from a vision a revitalized small-scale manufacturing sector.” The to the opening of newly-built facilities. southwest quadrant of the city “is a wonderful The anchor of activity within the redevelopment area is location for these two efforts to come together.” the City of High Point’s $36.6 million multi-use stadium, • The City of High Point applied for and received a Tom Van Dessel – Splashworks president and a past High which opened in May 2019. At the groundbreaking for 275 North Elm were (from left): Jim Smart Growth America technical assistance grant to Point EDC board member – is helping lead the way in High Flannery of Elliott Sidewalk Communities, Elise Peters Carey of Point’s downtown small-scale manufacturing efforts. He • The High Point Rockers professional baseball team Peters Development, Mayor Jay Wagner, City Manager Greg help the city make strategic land-use decisions that calls that stadium home. The team belongs to the will support local producers to grow their businesses. moved his company to within sight of the new multi-use Demko, Tim Elliott of ESC, Brian Rogers of ESC, Councilman stadium. Please see article on Page 11. 21-year-old Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, Wesley Hudson, Ray Gibbs of Forward High Point, and High • A site visit by Smart Growth America and ReCast which is an independent professional league. During Point EDC President Loren Hill. Cities led to the “High Point Small-Scale Opportunity Zones in downtown its first season in 2019, the Rockers finished with 74 Existing buildings near the stadium are being Manufacturing and Place-Based Economic wins and 66 losses, making it to the playoffs. repurposed. Plant Seven and The Factory had originally Development” report. A citizen task force and city Investors across the nation have begun looking to • The stadium has been designed to accommodate been adjacent hosiery factories of the Adams-Millis staff group are implementing the recommendations. develop projects in federally-recognized Opportunity soccer, football, and lacrosse also. Corporation and more recently furniture showroom/ • Staffing the effort are the Economic Development, Zones – a recently-added tool designed to spur • It will be hosting concerts, festivals, and other event space. Community Development and Housing, Planning, and economic development and job creation. community activities. • Plant Seven will be an incubator for makers and Library departments. • High Point has three Opportunity Zones, and two of • The facility has seating for 4,400. With standing designers – embracing the collaborative economy, those zones are in the city’s downtown area. room, it can accommodate more than 5,000. innovation, craftsmanship, and small-scale • An Opportunity Zone task force has been created, manufacturing. It is an initiative of HP365, a nonprofit 2019 by the numbers staffed by the High Point EDC. led by Business High Point-Chamber of Commerce In October 2019, the High Point EDC produced with support from David Congdon, The Earl and “Downtown High Point: The Place for Investors and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation, High Point Growing Businesses” – a brochure featuring downtown University, and others. # City of High Point’s BB&T Point stadium High Point assets and the efforts discussed above. To • The Factory will house amenities to complement ranked best sports/entertainment project review that document and an accompanying video, go Plant Seven and will have meeting rooms to serve the 1in the southeastern U.S. online to https://www.highpointnc.gov/2205/Promoting- to-be-built Congdon Events Center. Downtown.

Enjoying a Rockers game in July were City of High Point officials who hosted two ElectriCities guests – Brenda Daniels (center) and Jennings Gray (second from left). 2019 by the numbers Surrounding the stadium will be more than $80 million worth of newly-constructed properties – a public plaza, offices, restaurants, retail shops, a hotel, an events $232 MILLION center, children’s museum, residential properties, and being spent in 5 years to transform downtown mixed-use properties. $195.4 million • A September 18 groundbreaking ceremony took from private sources place for 275 North Elm, the lead-off, 50,000-square (Dr. Nido Qubein and his extensive efforts, foot building of The Outfields development. Congdon Family Foundation, Peters Development, • 275 North Elm will have a 12,000-square foot food Elliott Sidewalk Communities, and many others) hall called Stock + Grain Assembly, 36,000 square $36.6 million feet of Class A office space, 2,000 square feet of from public funds (City of High Point’s investment retail space, and more. in the multi-use stadium)

The first home game of the High Point Rockers professional baseball team took place in BB&T Point stadium on May 2, 2019.

4 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 5 2019 office/industrial projects in High Point Home builder Eastwood Homes leased 5,000 square High Point’s industry clusters include innovative manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, aerospace, life feet of space at 3980 Premier, Suite 120. sciences, specialized business services, and arts & design. Furniture’s reach is wide-ranging – it extends into all but one of those clusters. Ennis-Flint continued its growth in High Point in 2019 when it opened an assembly facility at 4189 Eagle Hill Allegacy Federal Credit Union opened at 3015 East Canteen Vending opened a distribution hub in the Drive, where it will be adding 30 jobs. In 2017, the River Way. The credit union offers consumer, mortgage, 40,000-square foot facility at 100 North Pendleton company – a manufacturer of road pavement markings – small business, financial planning, commercial services, Street. The company brought 125 jobs to the city – moved its headquarters to 4161 Piedmont Parkway. and more. 25 jobs are new, and the remaining positions are employees transferring to High Point from operations In 2019, Amazon completed construction on two that had been in two nearby cities. The company is the facilities in Guilford County that are less than three only nationwide automated merchandising company in miles apart. the United States. Cutting the ceremonial ribbon for the Amada • The company opened a $12.7 million, 66,800-square manufacturing plant were (from left to right) company foot “last mile” distribution center at 7929 National Colonial is a leading provider for display and branding executives Patrick Medlin, Mike Guerin, and Yukihiro Service Road in High Point. The facility hired products in the mattress industry. It has two buildings Fukui along with Mayor Jay Wagner and High Point EDC hundreds of full-time and part-time employees. across the street from one another, and the building Executive Vice President Sandy Dunbeck. • Amazon finished building a $60.9 million, one-million- at 543 Townsend Avenue will be expanded with a square foot fulfillment center in June. The building 30,000-square foot warehouse addition. Ennis-Flint officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Amada opens first will open in 2020 with approximately 1,000 on June 19, 2019. of three buildings Crest Leather expanded by moving from just outside employees working there. The City of High Point will Amada held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on High Point to a 24,000-square foot facility at 4328 Enterprise Holdings opened a High Point office at supply utilities for this distribution center, which is in December 6, 2019, for its 261,732-square foot Federal Drive, Suite 101, in the city. The high-quality 4050 Premier Drive, Suite 200. The business is the the town limits of Kernersville. manufacturing facility at 3889 Amada Drive – finished leather company is headquartered in the parent company of car rental companies Enterprise, the first of three buildings on its 37-acre campus. Baltek, headquartered in Switzerland, added 30,000 United Kingdom, and this facility serves as its U.S. National, Alamo, and Enterprise CarShare. square feet to its 122,000-square foot manufacturing corporate office. Under construction at year’s end was Amada’s Environmental Air Systems added 87 jobs in facility at 5240 National Center Drive. The company technical center, which will serve as a showroom 2019. The company is a “mission critical” mechanical makes composite products for wind energy, military, and training center for the company’s equipment. marine, mass transit, and other industrial applications. contractor/custom HVAC equipment manufacturer. EAS has three buildings in High Point: the 245,000-square The Japanese-owned company is investing more The Bank of Oak Ridge will be opening its fifth foot building at 250 Swathmore Avenue, 623 McWay than $125 million in its High Point campus, when branch at 2513 Eastchester Drive. The community bank Drive, and 3501 Jamac Road. The company is High all phrases are completed. Amada will create was established in 2000. Point’s 10th largest employer, with 977 jobs. 201 jobs – engineers, production control staff, production managers, assemblers, machine Brittano Studios – which produces commercials, Ethnicraft USA will be expanding its distribution operators, welders, quality-control staff, and television shows, feature films, and corporate training capabilities. In addition to its facility at 101 Prospect administrative jobs. videos – began full operations in High Point in 2019. The Crown Mark President Joseph Ngo and CEO/Founder Sue Street, the company is adding the 80,000-square foot company hosted the High Point Economic Development Hsaio cut the ribbon at the company’s distribution center building at 730 Taylor Avenue – tripling the company’s The company is a manufacturer of a full line of Corporation board of grand opening. warehouse space. The Belgium-based company – which precision sheet metal fabricating equipment for directors in April at its Crown Mark held a grand-opening ceremony in April will be adding 18 jobs – makes contemporary solid- the auto and appliance markets. building on West English for its 250,000-square foot, $11.7 million furniture wood furniture. Road. By year’s end, the Please also see the photo and caption on Page 23. distribution center at 720 Gallimore Dairy Road, which studio relocated to 521 had opened in late 2018. The company also made “Amada is excited to join the High Point-Guilford West Green Drive. upgrades to its downtown showroom facility (Page 21). 2019 by the numbers County business community. We look forward to being an active, involved corporate citizen moving Carpigiani, an Italian Davis Furniture – at 2401 College Drive – is forward.” distributor of frozen dessert expanding its 25-acre campus by constructing a ninth Yukihiro Fukui equipment, will be moving building. The new 50,000-square foot, $6.5 million Amada North America CEO Julian and Karie Brittano of into the multi-tenant building will house its offices as well as a product City of High Point Brittano Studios attended building at 738 Gallimore showroom and extra manufacturing space. office/industrial project “Our customers purchase our equipment to make the High Point EDC annual Dairy Road. 47 announcements products you see around us every day, like kitchen meeting in November. Drake’s Fresh Pasta Company will make an appliances, aircraft parts, steel shelving — 8,625-square foot addition to its manufacturing (compared to 31 in 2018 and 18 in 2017) basically anything that has sheet metal in it.” building at 636 Southwest Street. The company sells to Jeff Otten foodservice professionals, specialty grocery stores, and Amada CMO home chefs.

6 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 7 Fastenal added 33 jobs in 2019 and announced in Hillcrest Realty Group formed in 2019 with 10 September that it would be adding it and finance realtors in a temporary location on Hillcrest Place. By jobs also. the company has a 756,000-square year’s end, the firm moved into the restored historic foot facility at 4100 Beechwood Drive and a house at 1006 North Main Street. The firm expects to 240,000-square foot building at 4110 Premier Drive. hire another 20 agents in 2020. the company is the largest fastener distributor IE Furniture, which brought 162 jobs to High Point in north America, providing companies with the in 2018, continued adding jobs in 2019 in its newly- industrial and construction supplies needed to acquired 259,000-square foot building, which is in the manufacture products, build structures, protect Randolph County part of the city. Dr. Lenny Peters and his daughter Elise Peters Carey personnel, and maintain facilities and equipment. host High Point businessman Bob Brown (left) and State Fastenal’s High Point distribution center serves as James River Equipment Sales began clearing land for Senator Dan Blue (right) from Raleigh. N.C. Governor Roy Cooper makes the Aetna job not only a regional hub within the company’s “hub its John Deere dealership. The new 53,400-square foot announcement at the High Point Municipal Building on Peters Development and allied and spoke” distribution system but also the master facility will be on a 35.2-acre site. Thirty-four jobs will be companies investing in downtown February 21, 2019. distribution center for East Coast operations. added to its current workforce of about 46 employees. Three allied companies – Peters Development, Aetna adding 380 jobs Future Foam is expanding its plant at 1300 An exterior building products company, Lansing Peters Holdings, and Bethany Medical – Prospect St. it will build an $8.5 million addition Building Products is expanding its showroom and Aetna, a CVS Health business, is adding 380 announced multiple projects. jobs in clinical care management and customer and add 25 jobs. At this plant, raw materials are warehouse facility at 8016 Thorndike Road with a service at its 142,000-square foot facility at 4050 converted into flexible polyurethane foam for use 5,000-square foot addition. In downtown near BB&T Point stadium: Piedmont Parkway. in furniture cushions, mattresses, and more. Italian-based LC America is growing at its • The company plans to construct a 100,000-square foot mixed-use HAECO Americas added 120 jobs in 2019 at its 68,000-square foot plant at 8221 Tyner Road. The Eighty jobs were added at the end of 2018, and building that will have office, retail, 300 more jobs were announced by N.C. Governor 8010 Piedmont triad Parkway facility. At this High company opened a new line, enlarged its parking lot, and will add jobs to its workforce. The company makes apartments, and other uses. Roy Cooper in February 2019. The new jobs are Point location – the company has other facilities • In the same block will be a high-end projected to be in place by the end of 2020. in the region – HAECo manufactures a variety of snack pellets, a semi-finished food that is sold to snack food manufacturers. condominium building. The company will be investing approximately components for aircraft interiors including galleys, • Peters Development has joined forces with $2.5 million in building upfit and equipment as it overhead bins, lavatories, and side walls. Please The marketing firmMARC has leased 5,000 square feet Elliott Sidewalk Communities to construct also see Page 13. of space at 3980 Premier Drive, Suite 150. creates these jobs. the 275 North Elm/The Outfields multi-use HandCraft Services built and opened a building. Please see Page 4. Aetna finished 2019 with 1,350 High Point 75,600-square foot facility. the company – which • Peters is renovating a former medical employees, making it the city’s 9th largest employer. will create 150 jobs at its High Point facility – office building at 645 North Main Street, CVS Health, including the Aetna business, has serves medical practices and hospitals with quality which will become the corporate offices approximately 9,000 employees in North Carolina. health care linen and uniform services. for the three affiliated companies. the building will feature a rooftop event/ Aetna serves an estimated 39 million people, Hanesbrands added 200 jobs when it opened a conference/meeting space. offering a broad range of health insurance new 340,000-square foot distribution center. the products and related services. facility handles Hanesbrands’ Champion products, Downtown is not the only place for the especially men’s athletics and jersey apparel. companies’ new investment. Bethany Medical has “Our growing investment in the community plans to develop a $7 million, 36,000-square foot and economy of High Point reflects the medical office building between Skeet Club Road strength of its talent pool as well as the 2019 by the numbers and Peters Court. company’s commitment to improving the health care experience for individuals and New Path Digital moved to a building near “Our mission is to bring year-round living the new BB&T Point stadium. families across North Carolina. Our job to the area and to help create a walkable growth in High Point is the result of strong # New Path Digital expanded when it moved from downtown.” customer interest in innovative benefits 1 West Lexington Avenue to 113 Gatewood Avenue. The Elise Peters Carey administration and value-driven, patient- Guilford County has more digital marketing and advertising agency is headed by Peters Development President Chris Whitesell, a member of the High Point EDC board. centered care.” manufacturing employees “We are going to do what we talk about, not Jim Bostian than any county in N.C., and is N.C. State Employees Credit Union is building an just talk. And we’ll do it first. So we build this Aetna Market President for North Carolina # 8,500-square foot facility at 1638 Westchester Drive. many apartments and maybe it takes some 3 time to fill, that’s okay.” in Southeast U.S. Dr. Lenny Peters Founder and CEO (Both quotes courtesy of Triad Business Journal, December 2019)

8 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 9 Piedmont Federal Savings Bank opened at 3870 2019 by the numbers John Gordon Lane. The company prides itself on being a customer-focused local bank. Quality Packaging is headquartered on Prospect Street. The corrugated packaging company plans Top 10 to create a multi-building campus centered at 255 Swathmore Avenue, a building that is half in High Point/ for 8 years is a row Guilford County and half in Archdale/Randolph County. and for 12 of past 15 years Greensboro-High Point MSA rankings Ralph Lauren Corporation reported 584 more for # of new/expanded facilities workers in December 2019 than in December 2018, Employees celebrated the groundbreaking for (of U.S. metro areas with populations of with 2,681 full-time-equivalent employees. It designs, The Oasis Village for Wellness & Ageing is the brainchild AkzoNobel’s newest building. 200,000-1,000,000) markets, and sells apparel, accessories, home goods, of Dr. Adnan Mjalli, a biotech scientist and businessman AkzoNobel investing $55 million and fragrances. Ralph Lauren has three major High Point who spoke at a World Economic Forum event. in High Point North State Telecommunications – which facilities: 2755 NC 66, 201 North Pendleton Street, and The Oasis Village for Wellness 4100 Beechwood Drive. AkzoNobel will be expanding its campus at 1431 announced in December 2019 that it will be acquired & Ageing to be $500 million Progress Avenue – making a milestone $55 million in 2020 – added 116 employees during the year. The Splashworks expanded when it moved to 515 West investment investment, which will transform its wood coatings company provides telephone, fiber optic network, cloud, English Road. The manufacturing company makes home The Oasis Village for Wellness & Ageing will be a facility into a best-in-class manufacturing site. IT, and cybersecurity services. décor items such as wall art, decorative pillows, fabric $500 million pharmaceutical research park where wall coverings, and more. See photo on Page 5. The Netherlands-based company made the Office Evolution is opening a workspace solutions facility 1,600 employees will work. investment public at a groundbreaking ceremony at 3980 Premier Drive where it will have 26 offices, IT company Tardigrade Technology opened at 101 According to a Triad Business Journal article, “The for its latest building on November 15, 2019. North two conference rooms, and an open co-working space. South Scientific Street. campus will cater to biotech and pharmaceutical Carolina Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland Triad Business Bank – currently under organization engineers, as well as doctors, scientists, made the announcement. – will be opening at 2485 Penny Road. The intent is professors, and support personnel working in drug Before an audience of company employees, to establish three co-equal office suites in High Point, and medical research and development.” elected officials, board members of the High Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The High Point City Council annexed 80 acres Point Economic Development Corporation, and Triad Work Space has opened a co-working facility on Gallimore Dairy Road for the Oasis project on others, Mayor Jay Wagner proclaimed that day as for tenants at 2203 Eastchester Drive, Suite 101. June 3, 2019. “AkzoNobel Day” in the city. vTv Therapeutics has moved from Mendenhall Oaks By year’s end, the project had expanded in Joining the mayor and company officials in making Parkway to a 10,000-square foot space at 3980 Premier scope and changed its name from the original remarks were Ard Van Der Vorst, who is the consul Drive, Suite 300. The clinical-stage pharmaceutical announcement, when it was initially called Oasis general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and company is focused on treating metabolic diseases. Pharma Center. Secretary Copeland. The research park now will have 2.5 million The company will construct a 50,000-square foot Branch Manager Mike Armentrout (right) and other Ox Bodies square feet of mixed uses – Class A office and facility and make other upgrades. employees show off a just-completed truck body installation. 2019 by the numbers research space, a convention center, a 116-room AkzoNobel is North America’s top producer of Ox Bodies opened in the former Hatteras Yachts hotel, shops and eateries, 136 apartments, wood coatings – including paints, stains, lacquers, building at 2100 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. The executive triplexes, a day-care facility, a gym ultraviolet finishes, and more. company will create 40 jobs and increase the tax base and swim club, parking garages, an urgent care High Point companies adding by at least $2 million. Ox Bodies is a manufacturer of medical building, and more. Please also see photos/captions on the cover and dump truck bodies and truck equipment. At the High 50+ jobs in 2019 on Pages 3 and 23. Biotech entrepreneur Dr. Adnan Mjalli, a former Point location, Ox Bodies will paint dump truck bodies; Ralph Lauren Corporation 584 High Point EDC board member, is heading up the install those bodies on the chassis provided by clients; “The fact we chose to spend this money to Aetna 120 effort. Byron Development, LLC, of Greensboro is and provide parts, service, and installation of other rejuvenate, upgrade, and bring up-to-date the developer. commercial truck accessories. HAECO Americas 120 our facility here is a great sign of the trust North State Telecommunications 116 we have in the High Point site, but also in the Penrod constructed a 42,378-square foot distribution “It is a new model. I don’t think there is an Environmental Air Systems 87 High Point community and the state of North center addition to its original 24,600-square foot employment center like it in North Carolina. Carolina, to make it happen.” building at 601 Alton Place. The company distributes High Point University 60 It’s the first one.” Thierry Vanlancker forest, metal, and PVC products. Bethany Medical 50 Dr. Adnan Mjalli AkzoNobel CEO Oasis founder (Quote courtesy of Triad Business Journal, June 2019)

10 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 11 2019 office/industrial projects in other parts of Guilford County As a member of the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance (Page 24), the High Point Economic A supplier of janitorial supplies, food service items, PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Development Corporation works with its Greensboro Chamber of Commerce counterparts on behalf of all and industrial packaging equipment is growing. HAECO Americas announced two years ago that of Guilford County. Southeastern Paper Group will be expanding its it would create 500 additional jobs on the airport 110,000-square foot warehouse at 6201 Corporate Park grounds, and it continued hiring those new employ- Below are the largest 2019 office/industrial announcements in those parts of Guilford County that are Drive by building a 100,000-square foot addition. ees in 2019. The company is one of the largest global outside the High Point city limits. providers of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul Sunlight Batteries USA will assemble and distribute services. Please also see Page 8. GREENSBORO in May 2019, Kontoor Brands became a publicly- lead and lithium batteries at its first North American Centric Brands announced its new downtown office traded company after being spun off from VF Corpora- facility. The industrial battery manufacturer – which at 620 South Elm Street. The company will be adding tion. the new denim company – headquartered at 400 is headquartered in Greece – will create 46 jobs and 213 new positions paying an average annual salary of north Elm Street – features such world-known brands invest $6.5 million in machinery and infrastructure. $54,014. The company designs, produces, merchan- as Wrangler and Lee. triad Business Journal reported Please see Page 25. dises, manages, markets, and distributes kids’ wear as that by year end the company had added 250 net new Truist Financial Corporation – formed in December well as women’s and men’s accessories and apparel. jobs since the spin-off, bringing its local employment 2019 by the merger of SunTrust Bank and BB&T – will to more than 1,000. relocate a 36-member mortgage leadership group from out of state to Greensboro. Morrisette Paper Company is more than doubling its size, due to growth in the packaging business. Walmart leased a 130,000-square foot space at the company is making a 120,000-square foot 4755-A McConnell Center Drive. According to the warehouse expansion at 5925 Summit Avenue. Triad Business Journal, the company will “use the At the July groundbreaking, N.C. Governor Roy Cooper (right) facility as a staging spot for renovating and/or updating congratulates Michimasa Fujino, CEO and president of Honda Mother Murphy’s Laboratories – which manufactures Aircraft (photo courtesy of Triad Business Journal). flavorings for doughnuts, cookies, ice cream, drinks, its area stores.” Centric Brands held its block party/ribbon-cutting event pharmaceuticals, and more – is adding 10,000 KERNERSVILLE Employing over 1,500, Honda Aircraft Company in November. square feet to its 90,000-square foot facility at 2826 Amazon finished construction on a major distribution broke ground on a $15.5 million manufacturing A national specialty grocery retail chain, The Fresh South Elm-Eugene Street. center (Page 6). facility. According to the company, this additional Market is expanding its corporate headquarters. The building will bring its investment to $245 million on A company is adding a 30,000 square-foot expansion Trucking and logistics company Averitt Express is company will retain 248 positions and add 53 jobs the airport grounds. to its facility at 8765 West Market Street. RSVP expanding and relocating. A new 50,000-square foot with a combined average wage of $86,000. The Communications is a full-service marketing support building with 100 dock doors is being constructed on headquarters is currently in two Greensboro firm with contact center, managing fulfillment, direct 30 acres at 1661 Old Greensboro Road. The company buildings and will consolidate to 300 North Greene 2019 by the numbers mailings, and CRM application development. will be adding 20 jobs over the next three to five years. Street in downtown. Please see Page 2 for the unprecedented High Point-Greensboro approach to Old Dominion Freight Lines is building a this project. 53,326-square foot, $6 million facility on 25 acres at

1651 Old Greensboro Road. The new service center will North Carolina earns top spot on Forbes # magazine’s Best States for Business augment the company’s existing major hub in Greensboro. 1ranking, for third year in a row WHITSETT North Carolina is top-ranked state for A 270,000-square foot facility is being built for economic growth potential in Business FedEx Ground, its second distribution center in # Facilities magazine’s 15th Annual Rankings Guilford County. The new building will be at 6538 1Report Judge Adams Road. North Carolina ranking on CNBC’s RegO – which manufactures valves and controls for # 2019 ranking of America’s Top States propane and liquefied natural gas customers – is 3 for Business expanding at both its 1239 Rock Creek Dairy Road North Carolina ranks No. 4 top- facility and nearby in Alamance County. The # performing state in Chief Executive company will be adding 50 new jobs in those plants. magazine’s 2019 Best and Worst States 4 for Business survey OTHER AREAS OF GUILFORD COUNTY Joining two Sunlight Batteries representatives at the announcement ceremony were N.C. Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland (third from right, front row), state legislators, City of Greensboro elected officials, a state business recruiter, Ritch Face Veneer – a wood veneer products and local economic developers. company in south High Point – is planning an office/ warehouse project just outside the city limits where Harvey Road, Riverdale Road, and Business 85 meet.

12 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 13 High Point – an “American City of the Future” – and its region prepare for their future Working together regionally for future growth High Point was named an “American City of the Future” for 2019-2020 for its efforts, assets, cost effec- The organizations in the Guilford County Economic Commerce work closely with the Piedmont Triad tiveness, and successes in landing foreign direct investment projects in the Western Hemisphere. Please Development Alliance – Guilford County, City of High Partnership, Winston-Salem Business, Inc., see that story on Page 3 and the list of High Point’s internationally-based companies on Page 23. Point, City of Greensboro, Greensboro Chamber of Winston-Salem Chamber, Randolph County EDC, Commerce, and High Point Economic Development and other regional economic development groups. A “city of the future” looks forward and plans ahead, of course, but it also recognizes the need to continu- Corporation (Page 24) – continue to work ever more • An unprecedented High Point-Greensboro approach ally re-create itself. closely together in economic development matters. for The Fresh Market project has been called a High Point and its region are doing just that – making impressive changes, getting land and buildings • Collaborating regionally and promoting our collaboration that in the future will “be cited often ready for future and transformative growth, and working together ever more closely. collective assets have become the norm. The High as a best practice in the industry” (Page 2). Point EDC and the Greensboro Chamber of

Product for the future An overview of the “American City of the Future” Regional megasites • High Point has two apt nicknames: North Carolina’s • The city is the only municipality in North Carolina international City™ (Page 23) and Home that is in four counties. Most of High Point is in Furnishings Capital of the World™ (Page 21). guilford County, but it also extends into Forsyth, • High Point is a “gig city” with internet connections Randolph, and Davidson counties. that are amazingly fast, up to 1 gigabit per second. • High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem are in • The city is impressively reinventing its downtown north Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region, the nation’s Greensboro-Randolph Piedmont Triad International Carolina Core and (Page 4). While downtown High Point makes a 35th largest metro area with a population Megasite Airport Aerospace Center its four megasites good initial impression – large showroom exceeding 1.7 million. The area is halfway between The 1,900-acre Greensboro-Randolph Piedmont Triad International Airport The Piedmont Triad Partnership, a buildings, interesting architecture, a restored train Boston/Miami, Washington/Atlanta, and Charlotte/ Megasite has been assembled to (GSO) has nearly 1,000 developable regional business leadership orga- host a major manufacturing opera- acres ready for prospective aero- nization, is promoting the branding station, clean sidewalks – there is little activity Raleigh-Durham. Superior transportation assets tion that – along with suppliers who space-related projects. Eight sites are identify effort called the Carolina on the streets most of the year. Since 2008, the include five Interstate highways, the FedEx air hub would locate in the area – will bring available for projects needing runway Core. It is a corridor along U.S. 421 city’s commercial tax base in a portion of and ground hub, a UPS hub, freight and passenger thousands of high-paying jobs to the access – such as airplane manufac- from High Point, Greensboro, and downtown has lost a significant amount of value. rail service, a N.C. Ports inland terminal, and region. The megasite is located in turers, aircraft component manufac- Winston-Salem to Fayetteville, which City leaders are creating a new downtown. Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO). Randolph County on the border with turers, and airplane maintenance, features four megasites: two of Guilford County. It is eight miles from repair, and overhaul operations. The which are the Greensboro-Randolph the Greensboro city limits and 13 airport is less than one mile from the Megasite and the PTIA Aerospace 2019 by the numbers miles from the High Point city limits. High Point city limits. Center. Together the four have more than 7,200 acres.

High Point business parks Population estimates Greensboro–High Point–Winston-Salem A city of the future needs business parks, new Combined MSA is #33 in the nation buildings, and developable land to be ready for Piedmont Triad 1,700,249 clients. High Point has been fortunate recently to have Guilford County 533,670 developers adding them in the city. Greensboro 294,722 Showplace is an impressive showroom facility in the center Winston-Salem 246,328 • In 2019, development began at the Pegg Road of High Point’s downtown furniture market district. High Point 114,183 Industrial Park. The under-construction first building is a 176,000-square foot industrial building Accolades tout future regional opportunities at 780 Pegg Road. A proposed second building will The rendering of 780 Pegg Road building indicates that the under-construction building will feature a 32-foot • The Greensboro-High Point metro area was named • The Piedmont Triad region will be a top location for have 234,000 square feet of space. Each building the best place in the nation to start a small business jobs in 2020, according to a Manpower Group study can be multi-tenant or all used by one company. ceiling height. • Lakeview at Mendenhall Oaks Business Park by ZenBusiness. The study used 10 data points that that appeared in Forbes magazine. Greensboro- • Gallimore Industrial Center opened in 2019 and indicate a company’s likelihood of success, including High Point ranks 10th in the nation, and Winston- already has three companies located in the park’s opened its first phase in 2019 on a 3.3-acre tract. the park will feature six buildings with office costs of operation, workforce availability, taxes, and Salem ranks 6th. first two buildings. The 40-acre park is expanding the survival rate for existing businesses. by adding 31 acres. condos ranging from 4,000 to 7,700 square feet. • The Premier Center, Piedmont Corporate • A 17,500-square foot retail center is being Future-thinking High Point organizations constructed at the corner of Wendover Avenue and Park, and Piedmont Centre business parks all • High Point University announced a 10-year, • Daimler’s Thomas Built Buses – High Point’s Piedmont Parkway. saw new projects in 2019. $1 billion growth plan (Page 22). largest manufacturer and North America’s largest • Amada (Page 7) and Oasis Village (Page11) school bus maker – is looking to the future now will have state-of-the-art facilities. by making electric school buses.

14 HighHigh Point Point Economic Economic Development Development Corporation Corporation 2019 2019 Annual Annual Report Report HigHighh PointPoint : :American American City City of of the the Future Future 15 2019 retail and services projects in High Point

The High Point Economic Development Corporation has retail as one of its focus areas – in addition to its traditional work with office and industrial clients. To help with that focus, the High Point EDC staff works closely with the retail experts from Retail Strategies, a leading national retail attraction firm; and ElectriCities, the organization that supports High Point and other communities that own their own electric systems.

Grocers • DK Bones will be opening in Spring 2020. The • The Aldi grocery store at 2651 South Main Street had building at 2006 East Green Drive is being upfitted its first full year of operation in 2019, after opening for this food service operation, which is promoting its late in 2018. This 12,000-square foot building is the food as “cooked low and slow over hickory for up to german-based grocer’s second store in the city. 14 hours, making it the best BBQ around.” • Earth Fare, a natural foods grocer, built and opened a 24,000-square foot store at 4111 Brian Jordan Place in the Palladium shopping center.

Lacy Beasley, president of Retail Strategies, which is based in Birmingham, Alabama, was the featured speaker at the High Point EDC 2019 annual meeting. The meeting was held in the new 98 Asian Bistro events center. Her remarks were entitled “From Boring to Remarkable: Reinventing Retail.” In August 2019, Harbor One owner Lamar Gardner (left) welcomed Councilman Britt Moore to his new restaurant. •A craft beer brewery will be opening in Spring 2020. • Opening at 144 Westchester Drive, Suite 104, was Participating in the Earth Fare grand opening were (left to Paddled South Brewing is renovating space Sunset Slush. the shop sells flavorful italian ice and right) City Manager Greg Demko, High Point EDC Executive • Harbor One opened at 788 North Main Street. The at 602 north Main Street – an easy walk from the delicious ice cream. Vice President Sandy Dunbeck, and Mayor Jay Wagner. restaurant specializes in chicken and seafood. new downtown multi-use stadium. • Tasty 100 Asian has opened at 3793 Samet Drive, Food and Beverage • High Pint – a cleverly-named bar in the new BB&T • Panera Bread will occupy a building under Suite 140, in the space formerly occupied by Full Kee • 98 Asian Bistro celebrated its five-year anniversary in Point stadium at 301 North Elm Street – is dedicated construction at 1911 north Main Street. the Restaurant. A new owner bought Full Kee a year ago Fall 2019. the restaurant, located at 1800 north Main solely to craft beer, with 10 varieties on tap. With a free-standing, 4,533-square foot restaurant will have but then closed it earlier this year. the original Street in a former car dealership, expanded three nod to High Point’s furniture heritage, the tap handles a drive-through. owner is back now in the same space but under the years ago. in April 2019, it grew again by adding an are made from old furniture pieces and tools, and • The Pipe and Pint will be opening at 3025 north Main new name. events center. Please see photos on Page 20. the room’s centerpiece is a large “friendship table” Street. it will offer craft beer, wine, cigars, pipes, and •The owners of Tipsy’z Tavern and Grill announced they •Opening at 112 East Parris Street will be Bamboo that features an old furniture saw. more. will open a second restaurant in High Point. Tipsy’z Grill. the restaurant’s menu will include Chinese and • The High Point Alcoholic Beverage Control board • Planet Smoothie opened its first store in the Tacos will occupy the space at 1345 north Main Japanese appetizers, soups, and salads. announced plans to build a seventh High Point ABC Piedmont triad region at 1231 Eastchester Drive Street. • Biscuit King opened a 100-seat restaurant at 3916 retail liquor store at 3318 Brookridge Lane. in the oak Hollow Village shopping center. the chain • Uncle Cheesecake is a custom cheesecake bakery Sedgebrook Street. • The national sandwich shop Jimmy John’s will be specializes in real fruit smoothies in over 30 flavors that opened at 3800 tinsley Drive, Suite 111. • A locally-owned upscale seafood restaurant opened opening at 2010 North Main Street. This will be the and combinations. • Wingstop opened at 2101 north Main Street. its at 5820 Samet Drive. Coast is a two-story $4 million company’s second High Point location. •A locally-owned full-service bar and private club menu features 11 flavors of wings. restaurant with a first-floor outdoor courtyard and an • Juice Batch opened at 2758 NC 68, Suite 101, in opened at 138 Church Avenue. Plank Street Tavern is outdoor rooftop terrace. the Heron Village retail center – next door to sister near the main entrance to BB&t Point stadium. restaurant Small Batch. • Qdoba Mexican Eats opened in the Heron Village • Lone Star Burger will be opening a restaurant at retail center at 2754 nC 68, Suite 101. the restaurant 2019 by the numbers 130 West Lexington Avenue. The restaurant chain serves classic Mexican entrées. promotes itself as using the freshest ingredients and • Sapphire Hookah Bar opened at 3793 Samet best-tasting meats, with a goal of quality not speed. Drive, Suite 135. • The “build-your-own-pizza” national franchise • High Point’s newest ice cream parlor is Scoop Zone, City of High Point project announcements Marco’s Pizza opened at 2101 North Main Street. which is located at 144 North Main Street in • Odeh’s Mediterranean Kitchen opened at 3805 downtown High Point. Retail projects tinsley Drive, Suite 111. All foods at the Middle • Starbucks relocated one block from its original 46 Eastern restaurant are freshly prepared. location – to a newly-constructed larger, stand-alone Services projects facility at 2209 North Main Street. Scoop Zone invested in downtown High Point in 2019, 29 holding its grand opening with help from community leaders and Business High Point-Chamber staff.

16 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 17 Shops, boutiques, and stores Specialized children’s services Health, wellness, medical, and • The national discount retailer Big Lots moved to 1677 • Brain Balance Achievement Center opened a continuing care services Westchester Drive, a former grocery store location in franchise location at 2513 Eastchester Drive, Suite • Aspen Dental built a new office at 2011 North Main the Westchester Commons shopping center. The 121. The company has an after-school learning Street, near the Publix grocery store. store had been at 2200 Westchester Drive. center that offers a program of brain training, • Bethany Medical added more than 50 jobs in 2019, • Burke’s Outlet began operations at 2200 exercise, simple physical exercises, skills training, giving it a High Point-based workforce of 320. Please Westchester Drive. The retailer is the “go-to shop for and dietary advice to help children with also see the Peters Development article on Page 9. clothes for every occasion in sizes for every body.” developmental and learning disabilities. • BreakThrough Physical Therapy opened a clinic at • An indoor play gym for children with disabilities and 4144 Mendenhall Oaks Parkway, the company’s Sister Lucy Hennessy (right), chair of the Pennybyrn board special needs, Q’s Corner opened at 1800 18th location in North Carolina and South Carolina. north Main Street. Wheelchair-bound kids can of directors – along with her team members – announced • A new full-service family dental practice called expansion plans on June 4, 2019. be accommodated as well as children with special Dental Care at Palladium opened at 4008 Brian needs like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and Jordan Place, Suite 105. • Pennybyrn is investing $35 million in a major autism. Typical-functioning children are encouraged • Outpatient clinic Eleanor Health opened at 206 expansion and enhancement project on its campus to come and play with special-needs kids. gatewood Avenue. Its mission is “to help people at 109 Penny Road. The continuing-care senior struggling with addiction live amazing lives.” community is mostly in High Point but has a small • Eye Point Optometry has opened its cleverly-named part of its campus crossing over into Jamestown. office at 1105 North Lindsay Street. Being added are a transitional rehab center, an adult • Fit Hub, a boutique fitness studio offering personal day enrichment center, and 40 new independent training and small group exercise classes, opened at living apartments, as well as enhancements to Cindy Lou’s Boutique and Gifts opened in 2019. 120 West Lexington Avenue. assisted living, dining, fitness, and other areas. • Up to 30 employees are being hired at the new • Piedmont Endodontics will be moving its • Opening its doors at 1701 North Main Street, Suite B, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, which specialist practice from North Elm Street to a new was Cindy Lou’s Boutique and Gifts. The store opened at 4117 Brian Jordan Place. facility at 1313 Eastchester Drive. features accessories, apparel, and gifts. • River Landing at Sandy Ridge is expanding on its • Goodwill opened a new store and donation center at Candace Humphrey, co-owner of Q’s Corner, shows off campus at 1575 John Knox Drive. The continuing- 2012 North Main Street in a former drug store building. the space as renovations and upfit begin care senior community is building 58 housing units, • iHemp opened two High Point locations – at 2100 (photo courtesy of The High Point Enterprise). renovating its health care and wellness areas, and north Main Street, Suite 104, and 2766 NC 68, Suite Event Centers constructing a new clubhouse. 107. The retailer sells various edible products,lotions • 98 Asian Bistro opened a new events center called and creams, and pet supplies made from hemp. 98 Events Center. Please see Page 16 and the Convenience stores • J’s Doc Dive Shop opened at 1000 North Main Street. photos on Page 20. • Apple Tree Grocery opened at 1105 East Green the company sells, services, and rents snorkeling • Baby Grand Event Center will be opening at 1209 Drive after being closed for remodeling. and scuba-diving gear. It also fills air tanks, provides greensboro Road. • A newly-built gas station and convenience store for lessons, and organizes diving trips. • The 100-attendee Banquet Hall at Deep River Family Fare/BP opened at 1101 East Lexington • Natural Dog Pet Food Market opened a opened at the J&S Fresh Kitchen cafeteria at Avenue in the College Village Shopping Center. 13,048-square foot store at 1589 Skeet Club Road. 5835 Samet Drive. • A Great Stops convenience store is being built at • Building a new automotive parts store is O’Reilly Hand & Stone is the first tenant in its new 6,400-square • Espinoza Banquet Hall will be built at 3207 East 4826 West Wendover Avenue. Automotive Stores. It will move from four blocks foot building. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive. • Sheetz opened a newly-built gas station and away to a larger facility at 2412 South Main Street. • The J.H. Adams Inn is undergoing a $1.2 million • Humbled Warriors Yoga will soon be opening at 120 convenience store in the Palladium shopping center • Southern Grace Salon & Boutique has opened at improvement. Its outdoor courtyard will be enclosed West Lexington Avenue. Both yoga and meditation at 4120 Brian Jordan Place. 119 West Parris Avenue. The hair salon sells clothing, to make it a year-round event space for weddings classes will be offered. jewelry, and housewares. and other occasions. • Iora Primary Care has opened at 274 Eastchester • Thick’ems Clothing Boutique has opened its Drive, Suite 120. The medical practice focuses on 2019 by the numbers “trendy fashion at affordable prices” shop at 1211 Artist studio older adults on Medicare. greensboro Road. • High Point’s Gallery on Main, sponsored by • A business has opened at 1313 North Hamilton • Trigg Jewelry opened at 109 West Farriss Avenue. the Triad’s Artist Collective, seeks to establish Street, Suite 103. Moving Room Coaching offers the shop features one-of-a-kind handmade silver and a thriving artist district in downtown High Point. a comprehensive approach to wellness with 835,000 gold jewelry. opening at 100 South Main Street, the venue services such as wellness coaching, personal Residents in region’s workforce • Opening in a 45,000-square foot building at 1100 has affordable studio rentals and is dedicated training, group exercise, and more. to encouraging local artists and entrepreneurs 115,000 Surrett Drive was Twin Deer Antique Mall & Students at region’s 18 colleges Design. The store features antiques, vintage and to pursue business ventures. and universities reclaimed items, hand-made pieces, and more.

18 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 19 High Point’s home furnishings showroom projects Training/education facilities Various other services High Point is called the Home Furnishings Capital of the World™. Twice each year the city hosts the High • Living Arts College plans to open at 906 Mall Loop • AmpliFi opened at 2638 Willard Dairy Road, Suite Point Market, the world’s largest home furnishings trade show. In addition to 180 showroom buildings, Road, in the 25,920-square foot building that has 104. It provides support for all financial aspects for High Point’s local furniture industry presence includes corporate offices, manufacturing operations, design been occupied by Barnes & Noble. The school plans its clients – including business intelligence, centers, distribution centers, and more. to offer degrees and certifications in programs such commercial credit services, and more. as photography, filmmaking, interior design, and • The dog-grooming business Emerywood Grooming the expansion of Parker House became complete game animation. opened at 1800 North Main Street, Suite 128. when the 37,000-square foot, three-story addition • TAK University will begin classes at 1213 • European Wax Center will be opening at 2513 fully opened at 309 South Elm Street. the new greensboro Road in January 2020. Participants can Eastchester Drive, Suite 117. The national chain of building – directly behind the company’s original explore the fundamentals of audio engineering, hair-removal salons also sells skincare, body, and showroom at 314 South Main Street – partially music production, video production, business, and brow products. opened in 2018. entrepreneurship. • Jimmy Clean’s Express Car Wash will be opening a Riverside Furniture purchased 401 South Main Self-storage facilities newly-built facility at 3316 North Main Street. • Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services of Street, the former YMCA that had recently served as • American Self Storage – which until earlier this year High Point has opened its local franchise location a lawyers’ office. Riverside demolished some of the was Armadillo Self Storage – expanded its facility at at 1814 Eastchester Drive. old structure and will build new sections – to create a 1004 Greensboro Road by adding a new modern wing. British-Canadian designer and businesswoman Hilary Farr, • The Reserve, which opened at 4300 Piedmont 70,000-square foot, four-story facility. • The two-story, 94,760-square foot office building at co-host of HGTV’s “Love It or List It,” met with Market Parkway, is a 19,000-square foot facility for the 1925 Eastchester Drive was converted into a self- attendees in October. the 53,000-square foot Showrooms @ Centennial storage of luxury cars, trucks, and motorcycles. storage facility for Life Storage. The Bank on Wrenn opened its 36,250-square foot & Green at 300 South Centennial Street grew in Featured in the climate-controlled building are an • Save Green Self Storage opened in a newly- showroom building at 203 North Wrenn Street in 2019. 2019. the E.C.i. showroom opened on the first floor in onsite concierge service, a paint correction/ceramic constructed facility at 5275 Samet Drive. The Along with extensive renovations, two new wings were 2018, and the upper three floors opened for other coating studio, around-the-clock video surveillance, facility has more than 550 units – some of which will built – one of which features a rooftop reception area. tenants in 2019. the building had originally been part and fire protection systems. be climate-controlled. Crown Mark made upfits and renovations to its of green Street Baptist Church and more recently the showroom at 204 East Green Drive. In 2019, the guilford County Department of Social Services. 98 Events Center hosts HPEDC annual meeting company also held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its distribution center (please see Page 6). International Market Centers began a two- year, $33.5 million renovation of its High Point showroom properties in 2019. Most notable will be improvements to the company’s 14-story, 3.5 million- square foot International Home Furnishings Center at 210 East Commerce Avenue. IHFC, which has 450 exhibitors, will get a new facade for its main entrance, an upgraded lobby and registration area, and new meeting space and amenity areas. Attending a Market function in April were (left to right): Commis- sioner Alan Perdue; N.C. Representative Jon Hardister; Council- Lancaster Custom Crafted Upholstery renovated a woman Monica Peters; Representatives John Faircloth and Cecil 4,800-square foot space at 104 North Main Street and Brockman; Council members Wesley Hudson, Vic Jones, and Britt Moore; and Commissioner Hank Henning. converted it to showroom space. The 2019 annual meeting of the High Point EDC was held in a new venue – the 98 Events Center, which is operated Markor Art Center opened in 2019 at 122 North by the 98 Asian Bistro restaurant (Pages 16, 18). Hamilton Street – the offices in January and the 2019 by the numbers Tu Sen (left) of the 98 Events Center thanks showrooms in April. The China-based Markor Buck Kester, who manages the historic former International Furniture Company built the facility for Lyles Chevrolet complex where her restaurant itself and its U.S. subsidiaries, Caracole and A.R.T. and events center are located. Both of them were # The High Point Market is the world’s speakers at the annual meeting Furniture. The outside of the uniquely-designed largest home furnishings trade show building features 32 curved panels, each having 29 1 (photo courtesy of Mary Bogest). $6.73 billion in annual economic impact, degrees of twist from bottom to top. The five-story, according to 2018 Duke University study 150,000-square foot building features a rooftop 11.5 million square feet of show space events venue. Caracole also has a distribution center 75,000 attendees from 100+ countries at 4200 Tudor Lane. 2,000+ exhibitors 180 showroom buildings

20 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 21 High Point University announces $1 billion, 10-year growth plan High Point’s internationally-based companies

During his 15-year tenure, High Point University President Nido Qubein has led HPU on a meteoric rise that High Point is a globally-connected city, earning its nicknames as North Carolina’s International City™ and includes a remarkable $3 billion investment on campus. On September 17, 2019, he unveiled the institution’s Home Furnishings Capital of the World™. The High Point Market – the world’s largest home furnishings trade $1 billion growth plan for the next 10 years: $700 million in scholarships – focused on students from diverse show – brings to town approximately 14,000 foreign guests each year. City government and the High Point backgrounds, veterans, the first in their family to go to college, and students demonstrating academic merit; EDC encourage foreign investment and work closely with High Point’s more than 80 existing internationally- and $300 million in new construction and programs – a new library, academic building, admissions center, owned companies, listed below. and Division I ice hockey facility, along with the start of a proposed school of nursing and other new programs.

High Point University continued moving forward The city’s global connection was aptly impressively during 2019. demonstrated when High Point was • Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment grew named an “American City of the Future” to 5,400 students. for 2019-2020 by fDi Magazine, a publi- • HPU’s annual economic impact rose to an amazing cation of The Financial Times of London. $765 million. The foreign direct investment accolade • The campus workforce grew to 1,657, making the comes from a Top 10 ranking for cost institution High Point’s 3rd largest employer. effectiveness for projects — like the • Under construction was the $120 million building ones below — considering Western that will house the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Dr. Qubein (left) interviews Dr. Brown during a filming of Hemisphere sites. Please see Page 3. Conference Center, and Hotel. The 4,500-seat arena UNC-TV Presents, that was taped on campus in Fall 2019. Mayor Jay Wagner (right) joins N.C. Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland will accommodate the women’s and men’s basketball officials from Japanese-based thanks Netherlands-based AkzoNobel for Qubein signs 10-year contract extension Amada in starting the new its continued investment in High Point. programs and host major events. The 2,500-attendee facility’s first machine. conference center will provide space for campus and Dr. Nido Qubein became the seventh president of High community groups. The 30-guest-room hotel will Point University in January 2005. In September 2019, Austria [China continued] Italy Norway serve as a teaching facility. Dr. Bob Brown, chairman of HPU’s Board of Trustees, Fulterer USA HTL Furniture Arper Wema Americas • Opening in 2019 was the $65 million Wanek School announced that Qubein has signed a 10-year contract Red Bull Legacy Classic Furniture Calligaris USA South Africa of Natural Sciences – a 128,000-square foot home to extension. “Our university has been blessed with the Wollsdorf Leather Lifestyle Enterprise Inc. Carpigiani (Page 6) Rickety Bridge Winery the biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and profound leadership, courage, and philanthropy of Dr. Markor International Doimo’s Yuman Mod neuroscience programs. Qubein,” said Brown. “I am honored to announce Dr. Belgium Furniture Company ElettroSolution Spain • Under construction was the 15,000-square foot Caine Qubein’s transformational leadership will continue for Ethnicraft (Page 7) (Page 21) Ferrari America Hurtado USA Conservatory, where students and faculty will the next decade.” Food Lion New Classic Furniture Francesco Molon Sweden conduct botanical research and propagate plants for Samson Marketing (Giemme U.S.) Brazil Elmo Leather of America the campus arboretum and gardens. Universal Furniture Freud USA 2019 by the numbers Duratex North America Volvo Group (Page 28) • Dr. Qubein announced a 17-member “Town and Renner USA Corporation Violino L&S Lighting Corporation gown” think tank to ensure that the community and LC America/Le Caselle France Switzerland university continue to thrive together. Two City of Canada (Page 9 ) AXA Advisors Ajilon Professional High Point employees are members: City Manager Décor-Rest Furniture Leonardo $3 billion investment Soboplac USA Services greg Demko and High Point EDC President Golden Impex Matec America on HPU campus last 15 years Corporation Baltek (Page 6) Loren Hill. Groupe Bermex Natuzzi Americas $1 billion investment Danzer Veneer Americas Magnussen Home announced for next 10 years Germany Japan Herzog Veneers Furnishings $765 million annual economic impact Adwood Corporation Amada America, Inc. TE Connectivity Morbern USA Aldi (Page 16) (Page 7) HPU’S growth Palliser Furniture Turkey BeA Fasteners USA Honda Aircraft 2005 2019 Growth Domus Ventures America De Leo Textiles China Corporation (Page 13) Economic impact $160.3 million $765 million 377% Hörmann A.R.T. (Page 21) Kao Specialties Americas United Kingdom Operating and capital budget $41 million $300 million 632% Klingenburg USA Bolier & Company Ricoh Americas The British Shop Undergraduate enrollment 1,450 4,600 217% Stiles Machinery/ (traditional students) Caracole (Page 21) Corporation Bunzl USA HOMAG Group Full-time faculty 108 349 223% Decca Classic YKK AP America Crest Leather (Page 6) Thomas Built Buses/ Total employees 385 1,934 402% Upholstery Essentra (including part-time) Daimler Trucks Netherlands Fine Furniture Design Ferguson Enterprises Campus size (acres) 91 460 449% (Pages 15, 28) Akzo Nobel Coatings HAECO Americas FLIK International Campus buildings 28 122 336% Vauth-Sagel USA (Page 10) Innospec Chemicals (both new and acquired) (Pages 8, 11, 13, 28) W. Schillig Hagemeyer North Julian Chichester HPU’s new Wanek School of Natural Sciences Square footage of campus buildings 650,000 3.5 million 438% Homelegance America features an impressive lobby.

22 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 23 Guilford County Economic Development Alliance “Full recruitment process” and teamwork bring project to Guilford County The Guilford County Economic Development Alliance is a four-year-old collaboration among three local High Point EDC Vice President Marshall Yandle had Ryan nance is director of economic development for governments and two economic development groups – Guilford County, City of High Point, City of Greensboro, a rare experience with Sunlight Batteries (Page 13), north Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. His previous Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, and High Point Economic Development Corporation. a project that landed in Greensboro. He was with position was as a business recruiter for the Economic The GCEDA works to appear to clients and site selection officials as if the two economic development groups the project from the first cold-call contact all the way Development Partnership of north Carolina. through to the announcement ceremony. are one smoothly-operating agency. Together those groups manage projects, share leads, handle marketing, When nance was still with EDPnC, he and Yandle conduct research, hold joint staff meetings, and maintain a countywide building-and-site database. were working a trade show at which Sunlight Batter- ies first learned about greensboro-High Point. 2019 GCEDA Leadership Group nance said that Yandle had a “very rare experience Serving as the board of directors of the in an economic development career where you had a Guilford County Economic Development Alliance is the Leadership Group. personal hand in the full recruitment process – from

1 the initial contact of a cold lead amongst a massive The Honorable Alan Branson , Guilford County commissioners chair Chicago tradeshow floor to a brand-new Brent Christensen, Greensboro Chamber president (ex officio) international business landing in your community.” Greg Demko, High Point city manager Derek Ellington, Greensboro Chamber chair (2019 GCEDA chair) nance continued that Yandle “did an awesome job The Honorable Carlvena Foster, Guilford County commissioner (alternate) representing” High Point and greensboro at that Loren Hill, High Point EDC president (ex officio) Marshall Yandle (left) celebrates a project announcement initial meeting and praised the High Point EDC and Marty Lawing, Guilford County manager with fellow economic developers Loren Hill, Barbara West greensboro Chamber staff for working closely on all Darlene Leonard, High Point EDC chair (2019 GCEDA vice chair) of the Greensboro Chamber, and Sandy Dunbeck (photo office/industrial projects in guilford County. The Honorable Justin Outling, Greensboro councilmember (alternate) courtesy of Joyce Hill). David Parrish, Greensboro city manager 1 Brent Christensen, president of The Honorable Jeff Phillips , Guilford County comissioners chair GCEDA holds summit the Greensboro Chamber, served The Honorable Nancy Vaughan, Greensboro mayor The GCEDA held the first-ever countywide economic as emcee for a project ribbon- The Honorable Jay Wagner, High Point mayor development summit on June 27, 2019. cutting event. The Honorable Chris Williams, High Point councilmember (alternate) Featured speaker Jay Garner discussed “Economic 1 On December 5, 2019, Alan Branson rotated off the GCEDA Leadership Group and was replaced by Jeff Phillips, who was elected commissioners chair. development in the age of disruption – what it takes to succeed in a competitive world.” Other presenters were Karl Robinson of the Guilford Workforce Board, Blake Hall of the Timmons Group, and Tom Conley of the High Point Market Authority. The summit was held on the Cameron Campus of Guilford Technical Community College.

Jay Garner of Garner Economics in Atlanta was the featured speaker at GCEDA’s first-ever Guilford County Economic Development Summit.

County Commissioner Chair Alan Branson (left) served on the GCEDA Leadership Group during 2019. He and Com- missioner Kay Cashion joined High Point EDC Executive At the February 2019 meeting of the GCEDA Leadership Group, Randy Gunter (right), who is dean at the Assistant Penny Westgard at an event in the High Point Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Guilford Technical Community College, conducts a tour. Municipal Building (photo courtesy of Joyce Hill).

2019 GCEDA budget 2019 by the numbers Revenues Expenditures Starting balance $103,613 Marketing $207,500 City of High Point $100,000 Professional services $80,000 City of Greensboro $100,000 T ravel, trade shows, consultant visits $30,000 County of Guilford $100,000 O ther $21,250 TOTAL REVENUES $403,613 TOTAL EXPENSES $338,750

24 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 25 High Point EDC board and staff

Citizen of the year named High Point EDC staff recognition and service 2019 High Point EDC Board of Directors County Commissioner Carlvena Foster, a High Point • Executive Assistant Penny Westgard celebrated her The High Point Economic Development Corporation is a department of city government. Business, EDC board member, was named “2019 Citizen of the 15th anniversary with the City of High Point in 2019. governmental, and educational leaders sit on its board of directors. Year” by The High Point Enterprise. She was selected She transferred to the High Point EDC in 2018 after by past recipients of the honor. working for the library and customer service. Serving as the board’s 2019 officers were Chair Darlene Leonard, First Vice Chair Carlos Olvera, Second • Vice President Marshall Yandle has been with the Vice Chair Royale Wiggin, Treasurer/Secretary Chris Patrick, Immediate Past Chair Ken Smith, and President High Point EDC for four years. In 2019, he served as Loren Hill. a liaison to the Southwest (High Point) Renewal Foundation, participated in the Triad Workforce Solutions Collaborative, and was named to the At the High Point EDC annual meeting held on November, 6, 2019, officers for 2020-2021 were elected. Carlos Olvera (right) was elected programming committee for the Piedmont Triad the next chair, and Dr. L’Tanya Bailey (left) was named first vice chair. chapter of NAIOP. Please also see Page 25. Beth Earnst was chosen to be second vice chair, and Chris Whitesell • Executive Vice President Sandy Dunbeck – who was was elected Treasurer/Secretary. named “North Carolina’s Economic Developer of the Year” in 2015 – is approaching her 14th anniversary VOTING BOARD MEMBERS with the High Point EDC. In 2019, she continued County Commissioner Carlvena Foster (second from left) serving on the Guilford Workforce Board and the ELECTED OFFICIALS HIGH POINT CITY MANAGER joins N.C. Governor Roy Cooper, Councilwoman Monica board of the Forward High Point downtown County Commissioner Carlvena Foster, Greg Demko Carl Chavis branch of the YMCA of High Point Peters (right), and Councilman Chris Williams (left) at a revitalization group. IMMEDIATE PAST HIGH POINT EDC CHAIR High Point EDC job announcement. Councilman Jason Ewing1, • President Loren Hill is marking 19 years of working Ken Smith, Smith Leonard Regional “Ten to Watch” and “Power Players” for the High Point EDC. In 2019, he completed four CRE Triad – KW Commercial 2 include High Point EDC board members years of service on the board of the Southern Councilman Britt Moore , Omega Concepts BUSINESS HIGH POINT–CHAMBER APPOINTEES Mayor Jay Wagner, Fisher Wagner PLLC Patrick Chapin, Business High Point Economic Development Council, which is the oldest On October 30, 2019, Triad Business Journal recognized Brian Gavigan1, Wyatt Early Harris Wheeler LLP and largest regional economic development HIGH POINT CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEES 53 persons as 2019 Power Players – Piedmont Triad Maurice Hull, MarketPlace Management association in North America. Hill also served in Dr. L’Tanya Bailey, Bailey Orthodontics “leaders who are risking … money, reputation, clout – Darlene Leonard, Smith Leonard 2019 on the SEDC executive committee and was Bruce Davis, Kid Appeal Learning Center to make a lasting regional impact.” Carlos Olvera, SERVPRO of High Point mid-Atlantic regional director. Beth Earnst, Akzo Nobel • Among those recognized were these High Point EDC Dr. Lenny Peters2, Bethany Medical Jackie King, McDonald’s of High Point, board members/liaisons: Brent Christensen, Ray Mark Prince, Guilford Merchants Association Jamestown, & Greensboro gibbs, Loren Hill, Dr. Lenny Peters, and Nido Qubein. Scott Tilley, BB&T Scott & Stringfellow • Dr. Peters was highlighted on the “Ten to Watch” Chris Patrick, Fastenal list, one of those persons facing “major opportunities, Chris Whitesell, New Path Digital big challenges, significant transitions” that will Royale Wiggin, Thayer Coggin

likely make them “newsmakers in the year ahead.” NON-VOTING MEMBERS/LIAISONS High Point EDC annual report wins ELECTED OFFICIAL GUILFORD COUNTY MANAGER IEDC award N.C. Representative John Faircloth, Marty Lawing Coldwell Banker Triad The High Point Economic Development Corporation HIGH POINT EDC PRESIDENT won the “Excellence in Economic Development” award PAST HIGH POINT EDC CHAIRS Loren Hill for its 2018 annual report, “High Point: Where Great At the August annual meeting in New Orleans, Owen Bertschi, Crescent Ford, Inc. SEDC Chair Raul Peralta [left] thanked Loren Hill ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIES People Make Great Things Happen.” Charles Cain, PL Developments for serving on the board of directors for four years. Brent Christensen, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Don Cameron, Don Cameron & Associates LLC The International Economic Tony Clarke2, Guilford Technical Community College Bill McGuinn, First Citizens Bank (retired) Development Council Tom Conley, High Point Market Authority Jeff Miller, High Point Regional Health presented the honor on Oc- 2019 by the numbers Chip Culler2, High Point Realtors System (retired) tober 15, during the IEDC Commercial Alliance Jim Morgan, Morgan, Herring, Morgan, Green & Annual Conference held in Ray Gibbs, Forward High Point Rosenblutt LLP Indianapolis, Indiana. G.R. Parker1, Guilford Technical Community College Leah Price, BB&T 2019-2020 Jim Wehrley, High Point University The annual report was High Point EDC budget Nido Qubein, High Point University judged on effectiveness, Revenues Expenditures Coy Williard, Williard-Stewart, Inc. clarity of message, innova- City of High Point $456,601 Personnel services $520,023 1 tion, creativity, quality, County of Guilford $100,000 Operating expenses $36,578 Ending service on the High Point EDC board in 2019 were Jason Ewing (December), Brian Gavigan (May), and G.R. Parker (July).

2 Beginning service on the High Point EDC board in 2019 were Tony Clarke (October), Chip Culler (February), Britt Moore completeness, and more. TOTAL $556,601 TOTAL $556,601 (December), and Dr. Lenny Peters (May).

26 High Point Economic Development Corporation 2019 Annual Report High Point : American City of the Future 27 2019 by the numbers

High Point’s largest employers in 2019 For this survey, the high Point EDC asked for “fulltime-equivalent” numbers for high Point-based employees during December 2019. ralph Lauren Corporation – which ramps up employment every December – had the largest number. wake Forest Baptist health, though, is high Point’s largest employer most months of the year.

CoMPAnY/oRgAniZAtion nAtURE oF oPERAtion EMPLoYEES 1 Ralph Lauren Corporation apparel/home goods distribution, customer service, office 2,681 2 Wake Forest Baptist Health1,2 health care 2,566 3 High Point University secondary education 1,657 4 Bank of America finance, customer service 1,650 5 Guilford County Schools1 public education 1,633 6 Daimler’s Thomas Built Buses bus manufacturing, corporate office 1,600 7 City of High Point local government 1,467 8 Alorica3 customer service 1,450 9 Aetna insurance, customer service 1,350 10 Environmental Air Systems HVAC equipment manufacturing 977 11 XPO Logistics Supply Chain1 divisional headquarters/distribution networks/logistics it 900 12 Quest Diagnostics4 medical laboratory services 800 13 Volvo Group1 corporate office 650 14 Marsh Furniture Company cabinet manufacturing 619 15 Advanced Home Care1 health care equipment and services 573 16 Slane Hosiery Mills footwear manufacturing 572 17 HAECO Americas1 aviation manufacturing 550 18 Mickey Truck Bodies truck body, trailer, emergency vehicle manufacturing 441 19 ThermoFisher Scientific/Banner Life Sciences pharmaceutical manufacturing 424 20 North State Telecommunications communications utility 396 21 Fastenal1 industrial and construction supplies manufacturing 369 22 Leggett & Platt1 furniture components manufacturing 360 23 County of Guilford1 local government 353 24 Pennybyrn at Maryfield continuing care retirement community 340 25 Bethany Medical1 health care 320 1 In addition to high Point employees, these organizations also have workers elsewhere in the Piedmont triad region. 2 wFBh bought the local health system in 2018. For the last few years, the previous organization had reported non-high Point employees. 3 Alorica did not respond to the 2019 survey, so its number comes from December 2018. 4 Quest’s job total comes from the triad Business Journal’s December 2019 “Book of Lists,” since the company will not participate in surveys.

High Point Economic Development Corporation the high Point Economic Development Corporation – a city department which is a public-private partnership – works with office, industrial, and retail clients. the department’s mission is to help retain existing business and industry; assist local companies in expanding; attract new businesses to locate in the city; and encourage the creation of head-of-household jobs for residents of Greensboro-high Point. the high Point EDC and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce work closely together in the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance – a collaborative effort along with the City of high Point, the City of Greensboro, and Guilford County.

Loren Hill, president Sandy Dunbeck, executive vice president Marshall Yandle, vice president Penny Westgard, executive assistant

high Point Economic Development Corporation high Point Municipal Building, 211 South hamilton Street, Suite 200, high Point, N.C. 27260 336.883.3116, highpointedc.com, greensboro-highpoint.com