Spotlight On: Irene Wong, Director of Economic Development, City of Kannapolis

February 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Irene Wong, director of economic and community development in Kannapolis, discussed how the city is leveraging downtown revitalization and industrial growth to shape its economic future. She noted a 20% increase in downtown foot traffic and over $115 million in investment. “For those who haven’t visited in a while, it’s a completely different place now. There’s a new energy and excitement downtown,” Wong said.

Join us at caa’s upcoming leadership summits! These premier events bring together hundreds of public and private sector leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors. Find the next summit in a city near you!

What developments have shaped Kannapolis’ economic growth strategy over the past year?

We continue to grow with a population of almost 60,000. By regional standards, that isn’t necessarily huge, but we’ve continued to see steady growth as part of the Greater Charlotte region. We are focused on quality-of-life investments like parks, greenways, and repairing aging infrastructure.

One thing we’re particularly proud of is our downtown and how much revitalization has taken place since we began working on it in 2015. We have over 50 new businesses, including a variety of restaurants, that have opened in downtown since 2020. We’ve increased downtown foot traffic by 20% in just the past year. People are now visiting Kannapolis as a destination; they ride the train from Raleigh or Greensboro and spend the day here, which is great to see.

What patterns are you seeing in the types of companies being drawn to Kannapolis?

We’re still seeing strong interest from distribution facilities, largely due to our location along I-85 and proximity to the broader regional market, including Greensboro. We’re well-positioned for that industry.

We’ve also seen growing interest from food and beverage manufacturers, as well as advanced manufacturing, particularly in sectors like batteries and electric vehicles. In addition, international companies are increasingly looking at this area, likely due to factors such as tariffs and workforce availability.

Traditionally, most of our growth has been on the Cabarrus County side of Kannapolis due to its proximity to Charlotte, but that’s starting to change. Growth in Rowan County has accelerated significantly, and we expect to see more development and announcements on that side in the coming years based on current developer interest.

How are you aligning recruitment strategies to maintain momentum in sectors like logistics, distribution, and advanced manufacturing?

We work closely with our economic development partners. Since Kannapolis spans both Cabarrus and Rowan counties, we coordinate with both county-level organizations as well as developers and brokers to keep communication flowing.

It’s important to have a variety of building sizes and types available so companies can find what they need. We’re working to maintain a broad inventory of options to stay competitive.

What makes Kannapolis a compelling location compared to other markets?

We’ve been able to maintain a small-town feel while being part of the growing Charlotte market. People choose to live and work in Kannapolis because of that character. It’s affordable, and the quality of life is high. We’re proud to have preserved that atmosphere. Our downtown truly is a gem for the region.

How do you balance preserving Kannapolis’ historic identity with the modernization needed for growth?

It’s always a challenge to address growth while maintaining that small-town character. As we make quality-of-life investments, we try to keep the city’s history in mind. Kannapolis has deep roots in textile manufacturing, and we want to retain the elements that make it unique.

At the same time, we’re managing more traditional growth — industrial and residential — and working to ensure it doesn’t come at the expense of our identity. Fortunately, our elected leadership shares that priority. We have been able to preserve and restore two historic theaters, and we are looking at ways to bring new life into some older commercial corridors. 

What impact has the downtown revitalization made so far, and how is that momentum shaping future planning?

In 2015, the city bought essentially the entire downtown with the goal of revitalization. Since then, we’ve invested over $115 million. We’ve built a new baseball stadium, added residential development, and increased downtown property values by more than $100 million — about six times what they were before.

We’ve added around 500 residential units, with another 80 expected by spring and more planned. For those who haven’t visited in a while, it’s a completely different place now. There’s a new energy and excitement downtown. We have the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers minor league baseball team, the Bank Food Hall, some unique entertainment options like Game Show Arena and the Slot Car Track, and for music and racing fans, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and the Curb Museum of Music and Motorsports. 

With the city’s growth, what are the biggest infrastructure needs?

Cabarrus County is currently facing a significant challenge with limited sewer treatment capacity. That’s a relatively recent issue, forcing municipalities to make difficult decisions about the pace and type of development they can support.

We’re focused on finding cost-effective ways to expand sewer capacity and managing the type of growth we allow as a result. It’s probably our most pressing infrastructure concern right now.

What role do Kannapolis’ cultural and entertainment assets play in placemaking and economic development?

Our downtown has become primarily an entertainment district. We don’t have a lot of office development like a traditional downtown, so it’s evolved into a destination for those seeking entertainment.

We’ve restored the historic Gem Theatre and made it a place the community can enjoy for years to come. We also took over operations of the Swanee Theatre, now a live music and entertainment venue. The ballpark hosts not only Cannon Baller baseball games but also festivals and community events year-round. We are selling out concerts, movies, and events on a regular basis. With nearby free or affordable public parking and a walkable, safe downtown, Kannapolis is a premier visitor location.

All three venues are major drivers of downtown traffic and help connect people to what makes Kannapolis special.

What are you hearing from employers about the local workforce, and how are you working with education providers to strengthen the talent pipeline?

Workforce is top of mind for many companies. We work closely with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, our main workforce development partner. They’re responsive to industry needs. For example, they’ve built an aseptic lab to train workers for Eli Lilly, which is a major project for the county. That facility will also support future life sciences manufacturing. The college also offers basic training programs, like truck driving and construction, where we still see workforce shortages. Having that training capacity is incredibly important.

What are your top economic development priorities for Kannapolis over the next two to three years?

First, continuing to grow and develop downtown to build on the investments we’ve already made.

Second, we need to chart a new direction for the North Carolina Research Campus. That development is underutilized right now, and we need to rethink how it can better serve the region.

Lastly, on the industrial side, we’ve added about 2.5 million square feet of space in the last five years, with another 5 million planned or underway. Recruiting quality companies with good-paying jobs to fill those buildings is a major focus for Kannapolis.

Want more? Read the Invest: Charlotte report.