Page 34 - Wilkes County NCG

FOSTERING

BUSINESS GROWTH

in Wilkes County

by Michael Hall
If an idea worked somewhere else, shouldn’t Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers started
it work in Wilkes County? LeeAnn Nixon and in Wilkes County and NASCAR has its roots
the Wilkes County Economic Development here, to name a couple.
Corporation asked that question after seeing When that happens, space in the 31,000
a commercial business project bear fruit. In that spirit, the county is home to resources
square-foot building will be available for to help businesses of all sizes. Laurie Brintle-
Nixon, president of the Wilkes EDC, said another company to grow. Revenue from Jarvis runs the Small Business Center at
she was challenged with seeing certain the Commercial Business Center will fund Wilkes Community College. Providing support
investment opportunities slip away similar projects, putting to rest the myth that and assistance to people starting or growing
because investors worried about a lack of rural communities don’t have what larger a small business, the center offers seminars,
available buildings in a rural community. commercial operations need to be successful. one-on-one counseling, and other small-
business resources. “There has
“Sometimes, being a rural already been a lot of businesses
community, it’s hard to get real that started here that became
estate developers to go ahead larger companies or nationwide
and invest,” Nixon said. “They brands,” Brintle-Jarvis said. “At the
think it’s a higher risk. They’re same time, there are a lot of people
not sure if they build something, with independent spirits here. They
will somebody come?”
want to do things their way and
When the Golden LEAF Foundation, forge a path for themselves.”
whose goal is to increase North
Carolina’s economic opportunity, Wilkes County Commercial Business Center That has created a thriving
announced it was releasing its business community in Wilkes
latest round of grants, Nixon County. During the pandemic, much
jumped at the opportunity. The Wilkes EDC of that growth came via remote workers.
applied for and was awarded $1.5 million by “We feel certain we will fill this “People are seeing that, ‘hey, I don’t have to live
Golden LEAF, which Wilkes County matched in Charlotte, or Atlanta,’” Brintle-Jarvis said. “I
to fund a $3 million Commercial Business building up quickly,” Nixon said. can go to a small town and reap those benefits.”
Center that Nixon believes will be a catalyst
for more investment. “Hopefully this will encourage Whether it’s through the Small Business
other development. Maybe this Center, the efforts of the EDC at the
“Our goal is to build a building that will attract Commercial Business Center, or the
investment and jobs,” she said. “Rather than will show them the risk isn’t online resources clearinghouse of Startup
an incubator that works with startups, we’re Northwest NC, another to help support
calling it an accelerator.” what they thought it was.”
local entrepreneurs, Wilkes County has
The plan is for a new or existing company that ample resources to keep its business
has been in business for at least one year She said the center will rely on a community strong.
and that needs more space and resources collaboration of agencies like the EDC
to lease the building so it can grow. and the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce,
governments like the City of North
“We want to see them eventually outgrow the Wilkesboro and Wilkes County, and
space,” Nixon said. educational institutions like Wilkes County
Schools and Wilkes Community College to
support businesses that become tenants.
Finding willing partners to support business
in Wilkes County is never difficult thanks Resources
to the spirit of entrepreneurship that has 4Small Business Center - wilkescc.edu/sbc
existed here for decades. 4Startup Northwest NC - startupnwnc.com
“Entrepreneurship has always been strong 4Wilkes County investment and economic
here,” Nixon said. “It’s amazing if you look development opportunities / Commercial
back at some of the companies that have Business Center - WilkesEDC.com
come out of here.”

30 Wilkes Chamber of Commerce