Economic development is top of mind for many in the area: more businesses locating here means more jobs and more tax revenue. County leaders like Economic Development Director Ferdinand Rouse know that prospective industries look at a variety of factors when considering where to locate. It’s not some mysterious, unknown list: businesses are looking for, among other things, a well-trained workforce, shovel-ready sites and buildings ready to be upfitted. Other factors like tax incentives and the presence of existing infrastructure can make or break a decision, too.
Rouse reviewed the county’s economic development picture during the recent retreat of the Vance County Board of Commissioners.
He took a few moments to look back at 2025 and then started in on what the 2026 picture is looking like so far.
Unemployment inched up a bit last year, but the overall number of jobs is up in the county, he noted.
The county’s biggest employers remain in the social systems, retail and health care sectors, he said, with health care related jobs having continued shortages
There’s a greater need for what Rouse called “front line employees” like RNs and CNAs.
Through strong partnerships such as those with Maria Parham Health, Kerr-Tar COG and the city of Henderson, Rouse said the county is working “to put our best foot forward” to address needs.
What the county needs most, he said, are shovel-ready sites that are available for quick turnaround when prospective business and industry send out their inquiries.
The county plenty of sizable tracts – 50 acres, 100 acres, but it’s the infrastructure that sometimes is lacking. If there are roads to access the properties, there may not be water. If there’s water and sewer available, the fiber internet capability may be lacking.
“We’re a victim of our own success,” Rouse said, referring to North Carolina’s number one ranking among states when it comes to economic development and success.
A lot of peer counties – those counties that are similar in nature to Vance when it comes to being ready for economic development – are operating at an optimum level.
That puts them in a better spot to land the business or industry, and “makes us less competitive on time-sensitive projects.”
When state leaders field inquiries and then pass them on to counties, they often expect a quick turnaround – if the county can’t provide detailed responses in a week, they get passed over, he said.
One recent victory came when the China-based company Syntec Precision Technology announced that it’s coming to Vance County, bringing 60 jobs and a $10 million investment as it locates a medical component manufacturing facility here.
Rouse and his team are taking information from a couple of studies – the Golden Leaf Site Selection Study and the Timmons group – to find the truly best sites and focus energies on acquiring those tracts,” he said.
With this multi-pronged approach – grant funding, targeting attractive sites and working with a good group of partners, Rouse said the county is taking positive steps to “put ourselves in a good position to make Vance County successful and have the growth that we desire.”
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