Wilkes EDC held its Annual Meeting at the View 2395 venue at Fussell Estate on August 27th, 2024, with over 190 guests registered. We thank our generous sponsors for helping make this event possible: Frontier Natural Gas, Surry Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation, ECS (Engineering Consulting Services), Spectrum Hospitality LLC, Wilkes TDA, and NC Carolina Core. We also thank The Scarlet Hen for serving and catering our event, Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery, TwoBoros Brewery for beverages, and Just One More Mobile Bartending for serving our guests. We thank Buds & Bows Floral at Midtown Garden Market for the flower arrangements and City Florist of Wilkes for the accessories. We thank Kardia Sounds for setting up our sound system and Hannah Crow Photography for capturing photos. Creative LaZer Designs designed and assembled our awards for our recognized businesses and entrepreneurs.
Our Chair, Amy Blair, opened our program, welcoming guests and recognizing Local Government, Board Members, Event Sponsors, and Wilkes EDC Investors. Ron Wilcox, Wilkes EDC Board Director and Executive Advisor to the CEO and COO of Samaritan’s Purse, offered the invocation. LeeAnn Nixon, President of Wilkes EDC, began the program by reviewing our core areas in our Annual Report, now available on our website. LeeAnn shared our five announced projects: T&J Produce, Select Steel Buildings, Retails Solutions Group, TwoBoros Brewery, and Elkin Senior Living (in Wilkes). Representatives from each company had an opportunity to come up and share their experiences working with Wilkes EDC and received a plaque from Amy Blair and Past Chair Terry Bumgarner.
Vice President Robin Hamby and Marketing Manager Francisco Martinez and recognized the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Entrepreneur Grant winners. A few winners had an opportunity to share their success with the program and plans for their continued growth. Following the recognition, Jimmy Flythe, Director of Central Region Government and Community Relations for Duke Energy, talked about the Duke Energy Foundation and introduced a $25,000 grant awarded to the EDC to implement the Downtown Boro’s Small Business Grant Program, which is open now! Jimmy shared the positive impact of the Duke Energy Foundation’s small business grant initiative for small businesses across North Carolina. Wilkes EDC is thankful to have received their support.
LeeAnn continued the program on Workforce Retention and Attraction, efforts in Marketing Wilkes, and Real Estate & Amenities Development. Loren Hill, Regional Economic Development Director of NC Carolina Core, gave an update on the Carolina Core and upcoming activities in relation to Wilkes County.
Jennifer Blackburn Bracey, Chair of the Wilkes County Childcare Expansion Working Group, gave an update on the progress in solving childcare challenges in Wilkes. The group includes Co-Chair Katie Reynolds, Michelle Shepherd, Executive Director of Wilkes Partnership for Children, and Arianna Williamson, Director of Employment Engagement. Amy Blair closed the program, recognizing our Board of Directors, sponsors, and thanking the attendees once again.
Wilkes EDC’s 2024 Annual Report is available now on our website. Visit WilkesEDC.com or scan the QR code to view our digital flip book.