Martie Butler, Economic Developer, Richmond County Economic Development Corporation

In an interview with Invest:, Martie Butler, economic developer for the Richmond County Economic Development Corporation, discussed the investments reshaping the county’s economy, including Amazon Web Services’ data center project. Butler highlighted Richmond County’s infrastructure, manufacturing base, and workforce partnerships as central to its growth strategy. “Richmond County is ready for investment,” Butler said.

What changes over the past year have had the greatest impact on Richmond County’s economic outlook?

The largest change has been the AWS announcement for a data center. It represents a $10 billion investment and 500 jobs. Data centers do not always have a high standing in the court of public opinion, but we took a close look at the project and felt it was the best fit for our community.

Construction is underway, and we have already seen builders, contractors, and other workers move into the community and hit the ground running. 

How would you describe the appetite for investment in Richmond County?

Richmond County is ready for investment. We have invested in infrastructure for years, if not decades. We are not a halo community adjacent to a metropolitan area, but we are fortunate to have significant power, water, and natural gas resources.

We are beginning to see that long-term investment produces growth. The county is open for business, and there remains an appetite for diversification and additional jobs. About 22% of our workforce is employed in manufacturing, so adding a data center is an important step toward diversifying both the economy and the employment base.

Our population has declined over the past few decades, and we are excited to begin moving that trend in a different direction. Our budget is growing, and we are seeing population growth, which is not common in rural North Carolina.

What does the recent technology investment say about Richmond County as a business location?

It shows that we are open-minded and evaluate each prospect on a level playing field. A project should not be judged solely by its industry label. We look at what it will bring to the community, what it will invest, and what resources it will require.

There is significant concern surrounding data centers, particularly about water use, but the data center of 15 years ago is not the data center of today. We do not need to expand our water treatment facility for this project, and many of the rumors we heard did not prove accurate.

We apply that same case-by-case approach to heavy manufacturing, technology, and other industries. We also have a strong workforce and a community college that is laser-focused on workforce development. Richmond County remains committed to economic development, business and industry, and growing its industrial base.

How are large capital investments creating opportunities for local businesses and residents?

Population growth creates business for nearly every type of local operation. When 2,000 construction workers come into a community, that means more customers for restaurants, barbershops, waste services, and many other suppliers.

Economic diversification also creates demand for specialized businesses. HVAC, electrical, and other technical contractors may not have had the same level of opportunity here before, but a large-scale data center creates a new market for those services.

That allows companies outside Richmond County to move here or establish a branch operation. We continue to position the county as a strong location for businesses that want to relocate or open a satellite facility.

Which infrastructure assets will be most important to Richmond County’s next phase of growth?

We have focused on infrastructure for decades, and water will remain a major priority. We currently have abundant water capacity and are permitted to pull about 28 million gallons per day from our reservoir, while our water treatment plant has capacity for approximately 9.2 million gallons per day. That gives us room to expand if population or industrial demand increases.

Natural gas is another important asset. Two major pipelines run through the county, and the Duke Energy Smith Generation Plant is located here. I-74 is also coming through the community, which has been a major development over the past several decades.

Much of the investment we are seeing would not be possible without that existing infrastructure. My biggest question is why it took so long, but things are now moving in the right direction. We want to grow strategically. We also want to help shape what that growth looks like.

What workforce skills will be in greatest demand as the county attracts more technology-driven investment?

Electrical skills will be in high demand, particularly for technology-related projects. HVAC and cooling expertise will also be important. The data center will create demand for fiber-related skills, including fusion, splicing, and other technical work.

Our community college is working with potential suppliers and AWS to understand those needs and develop relevant curriculum. We are also trying to reach high school students so local young people can begin preparing for these careers.

Those programs will also be available to people interested in moving to the area or earning a specific certification. The goal is to prepare local workers to meet the needs created by these projects.

Which industries are best positioned to diversify Richmond County’s economy over the long term?

Diversification is especially important because Richmond County was once heavily dependent on textiles. When much of that industry moved overseas or elsewhere, the community was left in a difficult position.

We still have textile production, but we also have plastics, injection molding, furniture manufacturing, and manufactured housing. We do not currently have an automotive supplier, but I believe Richmond County could support that industry.

The county has a rich motorsports history. Rockingham Speedway, also known as The Rock, is an iconic NASCAR track, and the area also has drag racing facilities. That automotive culture could make the county a good fit for suppliers, in addition to the growth we are seeing in technology and data centers.

Manufacturing remains a source of pride, with 22% of the workforce employed in the sector. Our goal is to preserve that strength while ensuring the community does not go through what it experienced when the textile industry declined.

How can Richmond County grow while protecting quality of life?

That starts with the county’s land-use plan. We have identified areas strategically located for industrial growth. Our industrial parks are positioned along the interstate corridor, close to major infrastructure and away from most residential areas.

Keeping industry separate from residential areas is important. Much of the heavy infrastructure is concentrated in the southern part of the county, which helps us direct industrial growth to appropriate locations.

We are also conducting a housing study to identify the best locations and types of housing for future demand. Richmond County has historically not seen homebuilders enter the market to construct speculative housing, but that is beginning to change. We are taking a holistic look with outside partners at the county’s housing needs, including affordable housing for residents from all walks of life.

Growth should also produce additional funding for quality-of-life initiatives, including parks, recreation, and education. My work focuses mainly on industrial development, but the county is taking a close look at the housing piece and how it fits with broader community growth.

What is the central takeaway about Richmond County’s economic direction?

Richmond County has approximately 44,000 residents and has experienced gradual population decline for many years. We are now one of the rural communities in North Carolina projected to see growth, which means we have been successful in beginning to reverse that trend.

Every community has challenges, but Richmond County also has a great deal to celebrate. Changing the narrative is important. With the AWS announcement, we expect to triple our tax valuation. It could increase from between $3 billion and $4 billion to between $12 billion and $14 billion, as that investment and others move forward.

That allows us to bring additional funds into the county and empower our residents. With this influx of funding, Richmond County will have the ability to additionally fund our educational system, law enforcement, and some quality-of-life initiatives that have been neglected due to funding. We want Richmond County to become a place where more people choose to live, rather than a place they feel they must leave.