Bethany Fuller | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | April 28, 2007

After nearly 30 years of promoting Statesville businesses and hearing rumors about the upcoming growth, Danny Hearn left the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce.

Now, at his new position as president of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, he said he is finally starting to see some of the growth he’s heard so much about.

“In a lot of respects, it was still the same,” he said. “I think that is what bothered me more than anything.”

While Statesville appears to be developing slower than Mooresville, the city has tried to boost its retail, office space, residential and industrial growth over the years, said current chamber president and CEO David Bradley.

“We are proving to be more resilient to the economic downturn than the rest of the country,” he said.

One of the big factors that has helped both areas in this pursuit, ASMO Human Resources Manager Jeff Stutts said, is the accessibility of the interstate.

“Doosan is moving here for a reason,” he said of the overseas manufacturer that recently purchased the Dana Corp. facility. “It’s not rocket science.”

Statesville will soon be home to the regional headquarters of Korean-manufacturer Doosan Infracore, which is currently hiring.

Other Statesville industries do quite a bit of recruiting of their own.  In 2007, Pratt Industries, RP Machine Enterprises, Amesbury Group and Newell Rubbermaid announced new employment opportunities.

“Right now, I think things are still going positive,” said Greater Statesville Development Corporation Director Michael Smith. “Certainly, there have been challenges in the economy. I think, due to our work force and due to our location, we continue to be in a good position here.”

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