Wyatt, a Partner with Childress Klein Properties in Charlotte, compared the growth of Union County and Monroe with his hometown in south central Virginia. Since 1980 his hometown declined from 56,000 to 45,000, in part because “leaders lobbied – successfully – to prevent what was to become Interstate 85 from coming through their town.”

By contrast Union County has grown since 1980 from 70,000 to 210,000. Nearness to interstates was one factor he cited, “but also the importance of recognizing, and embracing, changes in the world around us.”

“A large potential workforce with a good work ethic is just as important to industry relocation as highway access, low cost utilities and fair taxes,” he continued. “And right now over 27,000 workers leave Union County every day to go work somewhere else, mostly in Mecklenburg County.”

Wyatt pointed out that the average age in Union County is 35, and that “the future health of a region will be determined by how attractive it is to that age group.”

Ultimately, he said, relocating companies look not just at a community but at a specific site. “So you have to be prepared, which means you have to have inventory which plays to your strengths – you have a great aviation base, moderate taxes, a great school system, a favorable government climate, and the 2nd busiest regional airport of the 16 outside Charlotte Douglas. And you’re about to get a road that will greatly improve logistics in the area. Because the one thing you don’t have is an interstate, but the Monroe Bypass will provide a great link to I-485. And from what I understand about the Legacy Project from Maurice Ewing, you are going to have great product to offer for decades to come.”

Also at the UCPP Annual Meeting at Rolling Hills Country Club in Monroe, new officers were elected for the coming fiscal year:

• Chair— Dr. John McKay, President of South Piedmont Community College
• Vice Chair—Phil Williams, Manager Innovative Services, Piedmont Natural Gas
• Secretary—Tammy Whaley, Economic Development Manager, Duke Energy
• Treasurer—Ken Harris, Sr. VP, Wachovia Bank/Wells Fargo

Harris and Whaley were also re-elected to three-year terms as directors, as were:
• Cliff Perry, Sr. VP Community Development, Fifth Third Bank
• Michael Lutes, President & CEO, CMC - Union Regional Medical Center

Two new directors joined the Board for the first time:
• Bill Norwood, President of State Utility Contractors
• John Hendley, President of Brewer-Hendley Oil Company

Outgoing chair Bob Butz of Goodrich spoke briefly about recent activities of the UCPP, and announced that two prominent retiring Board members were being honored with the newly created title of Director Emeritus:
• Jerry McGee, President of Wingate University and former Board chair
• Tom Williams, longtime President of Monroe manufacturer ATI Allvac

“Jerry and Tom were founding directors of this organization and have served loyally as we set about charting a new course for economic development in Union County,” Butz said. “They each served two thee-year terms on our board, and Jerry served three years as Chair. Tom in his many years as President of Allvac and Jerry in his role as President of Wingate set the standard for leadership on our board and for dedication to the welfare of Union County.

“It is our custom to recognize volunteer leaders of our organization with a clock, which signifies the time given to us and to Union County. We hope these small tokens of appreciation for your service to this organization will serve to symbolize not only the time you have given us and to so many other worthy causes, but we hope they will also represent many hours of health, prosperity and success that will surely follow you no matter where your life’s next adventures take you.”