Gretchen Carson, President & CEO, Cabarrus EDC

Invest: sat down with Gretchen Carson, president and CEO of Cabarrus EDC, to discuss the county’s momentum in advanced manufacturing and life sciences, and how the organization is prioritizing existing-industry support, talent, and infrastructure. “Continuing to support existing industry and helping those employers expand and grow in Cabarrus is essential to maintaining momentum,” Carson said.

What are some of your strategic priorities as the EDC’s new president and CEO?

Cabarrus County is a dynamic community with wonderful assets and diversity, so it is an exciting place to come into.

One priority is strengthening support for the existing manufacturing base, meaning the companies that are already here and the jobs they provide for residents. We want strong relationships with those employers and to stay close to their needs, because what they provide is not just jobs, but long-term career pathways. The positions in these facilities are more than just a job. They’re career opportunities, and there are career ladders behind that.

That also connects directly to talent. If you live here, you can go to college if you want, but you do not have to if that is not the right fit. Community colleges, certification programs, and employer-led training can open doors and create upward mobility.

Recruitment remains a core function, too. On that side, we are focused on targeted strategic growth for companies that align with Cabarrus’ strengths and bring the types of roles that offer high wages and career progression for residents.

How does a focus on the existing base show up in day-to-day work?

Retention is about being present and responsive. When a company is growing, changing processes, or facing workforce constraints, you want to be part of the conversation early, not after a decision is already made.

For us, that means regular touchpoints, connecting employers to training resources, and helping them navigate what they need to expand, whether that is site considerations, workforce connections, or alignment with partners across the region. It is also about making sure leadership in the community understands what those employers contribute, and what they need to keep investing here.

What recent wins or developments best reflect the county’s economic momentum?

The Hendrick Motorsports campus is one example of continued growth and diversification. TWG GM Performance Power Units, LLC, connected to Cadillac F1, is planning its facility now on the Hendrick Motorsports campus. The project includes 300 to 350 new jobs and $140 million in new investment.

Another major development is Red Bull. The project was originally announced in the summer of 2021, and they had their official groundbreaking in September 2025. Their full production capacity is projected by 2031 once the campus is complete, with plans for up to 700 jobs, three billion cans annually, and a total investment of more than $1.7 billion.

What do you see as Cabarrus County’s key differentiators for attracting advanced manufacturing?

Location matters, including proximity to Charlotte and connectivity across the region.

A major differentiator is the workforce. The skill sets in this market are transferable from one sector to another, and motorsports brings an added advantage. The precision manufacturing expertise tied to motorsports can translate across industries, and that helps companies see a clear path to building the teams they need.

How are you strengthening the talent pipeline with education and workforce partners?

You have to look at talent development as a full spectrum. K-12 is your homegrown pipeline, so awareness matters early. Students should understand what is available in their own community and how to access it.

Then you have community colleges and certificate programs that can move quickly to meet employer demand, and universities like UNC Charlotte that support advanced education and research. What is especially powerful in manufacturing is the ability to hire, train, and promote, and then support continued education for people who want to advance.

You also have to broaden the definition of pipeline. North Carolina has a strong veteran workforce, and second-chance hiring can be a meaningful pathway for employers and residents alike. The goal is to make sure we are tapping multiple sources of talent, not just one.

What skills or capabilities are most in demand right now?

A strong example is the BioWork program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Eli Lilly’s announcement in 2022 helped put Cabarrus County and the region on the map for life sciences and pharmaceuticals, and the ability to quickly build training capacity locally is important as that cluster develops through the efforts of the EDC to locate other life-science-related companies.

Having residents prepared through certificate programs creates a path into high-quality roles, whether those jobs are in Cabarrus or elsewhere in the region, and it supports long-term growth in life sciences.

How are shifts in hybrid work affecting the kinds of projects you see locally?

Most of the new investment activity we are seeing in Cabarrus is advanced manufacturing, and that workforce is on-site. Even so, we recognize that for some employers, there is more flexibility for front-of-house roles, and office space decisions increasingly tie back to employee experience.

From a regional perspective, there has been a move back toward more traditional in-office expectations in some sectors, and that can influence how companies think about footprint, amenities, and commute patterns. For Cabarrus, the bigger story is how we support the on-site employers and ensure the broader ecosystem is attractive for the people those companies need to hire.

How does infrastructure factor into economic development conversations today?

Infrastructure is interconnected, so improvements in one part of the metro often benefit surrounding counties over time. Within Cabarrus, utilities are a practical example of what businesses need to see.

We have encountered sewer capacity constraints, and there is a focus on expanding the Rocky River wastewater treatment facility to help accommodate future industrial and residential growth. Addressing those constraints is an important part of staying ready for future investment.

As employers weigh new projects, how does housing availability affect your growth outlook?

Growth is real, and housing choices matter. The region sees 147 (2025) people a day moving in, and Cabarrus is seeing about 9.9 people a day moving into the county, roughly 3,600 per year. That is meaningful growth.

To support that, you need a range of housing options because it is not a single-family home for everyone. Affordability and quality matter, and different life stages call for different types of communities, from established neighborhoods to new development and multifamily options.

How do you position Cabarrus as a live, work, and play destination?

Cabarrus can leverage the amenities of Charlotte and the region while offering a different lifestyle. People can access major sports, arts, and cultural options, but still choose a community that fits their priorities, whether that is more space, different housing options, or school systems.

You also see how preferences change over time. Many people start out wanting an urban lifestyle, and then their needs shift. Communities like Cabarrus can provide that next chapter while keeping residents connected to the broader region.

How do regional partnerships strengthen Cabarrus’ competitiveness?

We work closely with partners across the region, from our peers in economic development from other counties to subject matter experts, such as the NC Biotechnology Center, Centralina Workforce Development Board, or UNC Charlotte. The region benefits when partners share information and align where it makes sense, and that collaborative approach is a real strength here.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for Cabarrus over the next two to three years?

Life sciences is a major opportunity. Eli Lilly’s presence creates potential for additional companies that want to be part of a cluster, and Cabarrus also benefits from assets like the North Carolina Research Campus and the Food Innovation Lab. Defense is another avenue for recruitment, leveraging the base of companies like Hendrick’s Technical Solutions to serve this sector.

We also cannot lose sight of the companies already here. Continuing to support existing industry and helping those employers expand and grow in Cabarrus is essential to maintaining momentum.