Welcome to Catawba County
Here's the bottom line—we want your business to be part of our dynamic economic region. Catawba County, NC offers a wide range of building and site options, and you’ll definitely benefit from our adaptive and well-trained workforce. Whether you’re engaged in advanced manufacturing, light assembly, data centers, distribution, corporate or back office functions, you’ll be welcome in here in Catawba County. We are a community of makers and doers, who enjoy a good quality of life while working together to make a difference for the better. Join us in "Making. Living. Better."
Check out Business NC's Catawba County Community Close-up in the July 2024 issue!
Location of Catawba County
Catawba County Making. Living. Better.
Catawba County and its municipalities consistently rank high in national lists and publications. Forbes.com ranks the Greater Hickory Metro as having the lowest business costs in the nation. Since 2006 the metro area has been ranked no lower than 6th. Travel & Leisure Magazine ranks Hickory as the #1 Most Affordable and Beautiful Place to Live in the US. US News & World Report has named the Hickory MSA as #1 in their list of Most Affordable Places to Live in the US. Inc. has ranked Hickory among its 6 cheapest cities in which to start a business and NerdWallet named Hickory and Conover the 4th and 6th best places to start a business in North Carolina.
With 30% of our workforce employed in manufacturing and raking 5th in the nation for manufacturing concentration, Catawba County and the Hickory MSA have long been considered a top location for the manufacturing industry. Business Facilities Magazine ranked the Hickory MSA as #8 in their list of Mid-Size Manufacturing Hubs. Catawba County and the Hickory Metro have spent years diversifying their industrial base. Just some of the diversified manufacturing sectors that call Catawba County home include machining and metal working, plastics, fiber optic and coaxial cable and furniture. Catawba County led North Carolina’s data center recruitment efforts with a focused approach to targeting data centers through the development and marketing of the NC Data Center Corridor.
Catawba County’s manufacturing prowess is supported and accentuated by a rich geography and diverse lifestyle that has brought the area national recognition. Catawba County is not just a great place to do business, it's a great place to live for people of all ages. US News & World Report named Hickory as 3rd for Best Places to LIve in NC, 31st for Best Places to LIve in the US, 3rd for Best Places to Retire in the US, and one of the Top Ten Best Places to Live Near the Mountains in the US.
Most Affordable & Beautiful Place to Live in the US
Travel & Leisure MagazineHickory Metro area ranked 1st in the nation for lowest business costs in 2019 (no lower than 6th since 2006)
Forbes.comHickory MSA rated #1 in the US for Cheapest Places to Live
U.S. NewsNewton ranked as 2nd Best Business Environment of the state’s 50 largest communities.
Business North CarolinaHickory MSA ranked #3 for Best Places to Live in NC
U.S. NewsHickory named 4th Best Place to Start a Business in North Carolina
NerdWalletBest Places to Live in North Carolina
US News & World ReportConover named 6th Best Place to Start a Business in North Carolina.
NerdWalletMost Affordable Places to Live in the US
US News & World ReportMid-Size MSA Manufacturing Hubs (Population 150k - 500k)
Business Facilities MagazineBest Main Street
USA TodayHickory named the 9th Best Place to Raise a Family in North Carolina.
Smart AssetHickory named in top ten in Best Places to Live Near the Mountains.
US NewsNews & Events
Aviation Walk opens in Hickory
Read MoreNew life for Bed Bath & Beyond datacenter in Catawba County
Read MorePleneri Opens Innovation Center at the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover
Read MoreContact Us
Catawba County Economic Development Corporation
1960-B 13th Ave Dr SE, Hickory, NC 28602
P | 828.267.1564
F | 828.267.1884