Cabarrus EDC Joins Regional Conversation on Infrastructure and Growth

In September, Cabarrus EDC President & CEO Gretchen Carson joined economic development and infrastructure leaders from across the Charlotte region for the North Carolina Economic Development Association’s (NCEDA) Charlotte Regional Networking Luncheon, presented by the NC Biotechnology Center Greater Charlotte Region.

The luncheon featured a panel discussion, “Power, Water & Infrastructure: Can We Keep Up?”, focused on one of the most important issues facing growing communities across North Carolina: ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with new business investment, job creation, and population growth.

Carson joined panelists Danielle Buckins, Director, Economic Development – North Carolina at Duke Energy, and Dan Warrick, Senior Project Manager, Land/Site Industrial Practice Builder at BGE. NCEDA Secretary/Treasurer Julie Pruett moderated the discussion.

Infrastructure as an Economic Development Priority
As the Charlotte region continues to grow, access to reliable infrastructure has become an increasingly important consideration for both new and expanding businesses. Electric capacity, water and wastewater availability, natural gas, transportation, rail, and broadband can all play a role in determining whether a community is prepared to accommodate future investment.

For economic development organizations, that means infrastructure planning and business recruitment must increasingly go hand in hand.

The panel explored how communities and their partners are responding to those challenges, including the importance of understanding existing capacity, planning ahead for future demand, and finding innovative ways to make the most of available resources.

For Cabarrus County, those conversations are particularly relevant as the community continues to attract significant investment while also supporting the needs of existing employers.

A Cabarrus County Approach to Managing Capacity
One Cabarrus County strategy highlighted during the discussion was the City of Concord’s sewer capacity allocation program, which provides a structured approach for managing available wastewater capacity while creating a path for future growth.

Following the luncheon, attendee Scott Osterhoudt, Director of Land Surveying at BGE, Inc., pointed out on social media that the program stood out, particularly in how it balances future development with responsible management of existing resources.

“It is a smart, forward-thinking strategy that creates a clear path for future growth while responsibly managing infrastructure resources. Simple in concept, yet incredibly effective in practice.”

The approach illustrates the increasingly close connection between infrastructure planning and economic development. Having sites available for development is only part of the equation; communities must also consider whether the utilities and other infrastructure necessary to serve those sites will be available when projects are ready to move forward.

Preparing for What Comes Next
Infrastructure planning is a long-term effort that requires collaboration among local governments, utility providers, economic development organizations, developers, and other regional partners.

For Cabarrus EDC, participating in regional conversations like the NCEDA luncheon provides an opportunity to share local strategies, learn from neighboring communities and industry experts, and continue working with partners to anticipate the infrastructure needs that will shape future economic development opportunities.

As Cabarrus County continues to grow, that preparation will remain an important part of supporting existing industries, attracting new investment, and ensuring the community is positioned to respond to opportunities in the years ahead.

Photo credit: NCEDA