The Intersection of Logistics & Workforce Advantages

Henderson County’s competitive advantages in the automotive sector can be attributed to the quality of our workforce, logistics advantages in transportation and supply relationships, and the lack of unionized manufacturing labor.  Expansion Solutions recognized HCPED recently with a Top 5 Award of Excellence in the Automotive Sector.  Announcements by ArvinMeritor, BorgWarner & Continental Teves emphasize Henderson County as a strategic location for growth and consolidation.  Read more below as we analyze our assets for this sector.

Workforce

Quality and availability of skilled workforce is typically the most important factor to address in competing for expansions and recruitment projects.  Labor market information is always a first request in responding to economic development proposals.  17% of Henderson County’s workforce is engaged in manufacturing, compared to 9% nationwide. With educational resources and customized training opportunities at Blue Ridge Community College, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Certification Program, companies are able to access qualified and well-trained employees.  In addition to Blue Ridge, resources found at Western Carolina University’s Rapid Product Development Center, and Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive significantly advance a businesses R&D capacity while reducing front-end capital expenditures.

Logistics Advantages

Henderson County’s central location on the eastern seaboard, with close port access and growing commercial air service, provides the ability to efficiently move product and people.  Located just south of the intersection of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40, component suppliers enjoy convenient access to the nearby BMW facility, the emerging Volkswagen plant, and 11 other final assembly operations located within 250 miles. This scenario gives prospective automotive clients the necessary access to their supply channels while avoiding the added expense of competing for labor and wage levels of a final assembly location.

No Unionized Manufacturing Labor

While many areas of the country continue to deal with large scale labor issues, North Carolina continues to promote its right-to-work status.  North Carolina remains the least unionized state in the U.S. with just 3.1% of the labor force engaged in union activity.  Moreover, Western North Carolina is the least unionized region of NC, with less than 1% of the workforce participating in a union.  Henderson County has no unionized manufacturing labor.  As automotive-related businesses seek solutions to union-wage premiums, many are looking for locations where they can sustain operations long-term without the cost burden of organized labor. 

The State of North Carolina and local units of government are also committed to providing a regulatory and tax environment that encourages economic development retention and expansion efforts. Henderson County has one of the lowest ad valorem tax rates in the state at $0.462 per $100 of assessed valuation.  These advantages for the automotive sector are a big reason why the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development has continued to target the automotive industry and why companies such as Porvair Fuel Cells, Blue Ridge Metals, BorgWarner, ArvinMeritor and Continental Teves call Henderson County home.