Beth Milton, County Manager, Iredell County
In an interview with Invest:, Beth Milton, county manager for Iredell County, outlined how strong regional growth, state-level policy debates, and rising infrastructure demands are shaping the county’s approach to economic development. The county is working to balance rapid residential expansion, school capacity, and transportation needs while staying fiscally conservative and investment-ready. “Our goal is to be a place where people can live, work, and raise a family without feeling like they have to leave the county for a strong career,” she said.
What recent economic or policy developments have most impacted Iredell County’s business environment?
One of the biggest issues we’ve wrestled with this year has been proposed legislation at the state level that would significantly affect local growth and development. House Bill 765, which later became a Senate bill, is a good example. I understand that growth and development are important and that the state wants to support them, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Some of the proposals created exactly that — a one-size-fits-all framework that would automatically approve projects meeting certain criteria, regardless of local context. Thankfully, the legislation did not pass, but it created real concern. There were elements I thought were positive, like clearer timeframes for plan reviews so projects don’t get stuck in a two-year process. But every county and municipality is different. We all have different infrastructure realities, different target sectors, and different visions for how we want to grow. A blanket approach that removes the local focus and voice is not good for the citizens who must live with these developments.
How would you describe overall business sentiment, and which sectors are you prioritizing for growth?
I’d describe our climate as pro-business. We’re focused on building a diversified tax base, so we’re not overly dependent on any one sector. Years ago, many communities were heavily tied to textiles, and when those jobs went overseas, they struggled. We want to avoid that by attracting a mix of industries that bring good-quality, high-paying jobs. Just as important, we want those companies to be good corporate citizens: engaged in the community, supporting quality of life, and investing back in Iredell County. Our goal is to be a place where people can live, work, and raise a family without feeling like they have to leave the county for a strong career. When we look at prospects, we look for partners who will grow with us and complement who we are as a community.
What differentiates Iredell County as a place to do business and to live?
We’re unique in that we’re such a long county, and it feels like two counties in one. The southern end is much more urban, and the northern end is rural and agricultural. That gives us a healthy mix. If you value open land and green space, we embrace that; we’re the number one dairy producer in North Carolina, which surprises a lot of people. We also recognize we can’t be solely an agricultural county. We need the right mix of urban and rural to keep the economy resilient. We work hard to ensure both ends of the county understand and appreciate each other and see themselves as complementary. Quality of life is a huge differentiator. We have Lake Norman and the majority of its shoreline, which is a major recreational amenity. We have great parks and outdoor amenities that make this a desirable place to live. On top of that, we have strong public school systems — Mooresville Graded and Iredell-Statesville Schools — and Mitchell Community College, which is a key partner for workforce training and retraining. Being able to tell a prospective employer that we have education and training partners ready to support their needs is a real advantage.
How would you assess the labor pool, and how does the county leverage its regional position?
I think we have a good labor pool in Iredell County, but our strength is also regional. We’re the only county in North Carolina that is bordered by nine other counties, and we have two major interstates running through the county. That makes us extremely accessible. Not only do we draw from our own residents, but we can tap into the workforce in neighboring counties that might not have as many high-paying jobs or large employers. For example, if a smaller county doesn’t have certain industries, we can offer those opportunities here while still allowing people to work close to home. Our transportation network is critical in making that possible. Another factor is traffic patterns. A lot of people don’t want to fight traffic heading toward Mecklenburg County, even though there are great jobs there. If Mecklenburg lands a large employer and we can attract the supplier companies that serve that employer, we can create strong jobs here without losing workers to long commutes. Our focus is on being a complement to our neighbors, not in competition with them.
How are you balancing industrial growth, residential development, and quality of life?
That balance is one of our biggest challenges. School capacity is a prime example. The county isn’t the only entity making decisions about growth — our municipalities approve many of the residential subdivisions. When a municipality approves a project with 600 or 2,000 homes, that’s essentially a new school, and the county is responsible for funding that school. We have to be in close communication with our municipal partners so that we know what’s coming in their pipeline. A single approval for a large residential development can mean we need to build a new elementary, middle, or high school. Right now, we’re building Weathers Creek High School in the Troutman area. When it was first approved, the estimate was $80 million. We’ve had to add about $50 million on top of that just to complete the facility, and that’s without athletics. We also had to come up with $52 million in cash for a new elementary school because the need was immediate. We couldn’t wait for a bond referendum and risk it not passing. Growth is a double-edged sword. It brings opportunity, but it also brings growing pains. You need the school capacity, utilities, transportation, and broader infrastructure to keep up, and that’s a constant challenge.
How do you view the role of incentives in attracting and retaining employers?
Incentives are important, but they’re often misunderstood. People sometimes think of them as free money, but that’s not how they work here. Our incentives are performance-based and tied to clear contracts. Companies have to meet minimum investment levels and job creation targets within defined timelines. They make their investment, they pay their taxes, and then a portion, not all, of those new tax revenues are returned back to them over a set period. We’re not pulling money out of existing coffers; the incentive is a share of the new value they’ve created. If a company doesn’t meet the metrics in its agreement, it doesn’t receive the incentive. I know “incentives” can sound like a bad word in some circles, but it’s the name of the game in economic development. Some states are extremely aggressive. South Carolina, for example, is aggressive with incentives, and they’re right next door. Iredell County is generally in line with state norms; we’re not the most aggressive, but we’ve still been successful. That says a lot about what we offer beyond incentives. When you talk to companies, most of them care just as much about the bigger picture: What kind of quality of life will their employees have? Are the schools strong? Are there things for families to do? Can they hire a qualified workforce? Incentives matter, but they’re not the only factor in a location decision.
How is the county approaching digital infrastructure and data center growth?
Data centers are a big topic right now, and we’re already seeing that play out. We have a data center project moving forward in Statesville. There was another project proposed in Mooresville in the southern part of the county, but that one was ultimately pulled by the developer due to concerns. Data centers tend to be polarizing — people are often either fully for them or fully against them. They’re driven by power availability. One misconception is that a data center will use every bit of available power and leave residents without electricity, but that’s not accurate. These projects negotiate with power providers up front to make sure they can ramp up capacity to meet the data center’s needs. It’s also important to recognize that not all data centers are the same. Some are heavy water users, some are not. Some fit better in rural areas, others fit better near interstates. The two projects we’ve seen so far were different on those fronts. Our job is to do our homework — to understand the specific project, weigh the pros and cons, and decide whether it fits the location and the community.
What are your top priorities to keep Iredell County competitive and investment-ready over the next few years?
We’re a fiscally responsible county, and we pride ourselves on maintaining a lower tax rate while delivering a high quality of life. Striking that balance is a core priority for our board. Education will remain a big focus — keeping pace with residential growth by adding school capacity where it’s needed and making sure our facilities can handle the number of students coming in. Transportation is another key priority. With nine neighboring counties and significant through-traffic, we have to keep investing in infrastructure so people can move efficiently in and out of Iredell. From a financial standpoint, we’re fiscally conservative and intentional in our budgeting. We don’t automatically give every department a fixed percentage increase each year. Instead, we ask departments to tell us what they need, we evaluate those requests against our revenues, and we cut where it makes sense. Some departments see their budgets go down, some go up. It’s a needs-based budgeting process, and it helps us be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and avoid inflating the tax rate just because spending is growing unchecked. I think residents and businesses alike appreciate that approach. It gives them confidence that we’re managing growth carefully, investing where it matters most, and keeping Iredell County competitive and attractive for the long term.
