According to Brittany Brady, President of the Partnership for Economic Development in Henderson county, Henderson County has a similar economy to Buncombe County in that manufacturing is the industry that “pays the bills.” Currently consisting of about 6,000 individuals in Henderson County alone, there are 130 manufacturing companies providing 30 percent of the tax base for the county.

Within the manufacturing industry in Henderson County, there are six target sectors coming from the area’s history as well as the talent of the existing workforce. These include transportation, food and beverage, nonwoven materials, general machine shops, healthcare products, and outdoor equipment. Brady said that companies like Kimberly-Clark nod to the history of textiles manufacturing in the area, and the area is ideal for testing the outdoor equipment made right here.

“The impact of these companies on the area is huge,” Brady said. They are a multiplier of hundreds of jobs, with each company also requiring outside supporting jobs such as contractors, architects, landscapers, computer programmers. 

Salaries of this workforce are above the county average, according to Brady. “The average wage across all sectors is about $44,000 annually. In manufacturing, it jumps to an average of $59,000,” she said. Entry level positions are paid around $40,000, and there are often opportunities to take this to the next level. Executive-level professionals in manufacturing here can earn a six-figure salary.”

Henderson County, like other counties in Western North Carolina, have programs in place to attract more manufacturing companies to the area. “We are making sure to have available sites to market to prospective businesses,” Brady said. “Partnering with organizations like Ferncliff Industrial Park help to make sure that tenants in the right sectors capture the most investment and highest level wages for our community.”

There are also programs in place to keep existing businesses here. “Our business retention and expansion program meets every company in depth every other year. We provide services like finding necessary equipment, connecting the dots to people and other businesses that they need to know, and offer other resources that these companies need,” Brady said. 

“While many industries are experiencing a labor shortage, there was an exodus in the manufacturing industry early during the pandemic, and as a result, there are more manufacturing positions available now,” she said. “Demand for products is increasing because of supply chain issues, and some manufacturing companies are waiting on other items that they need to build theirs. Because of this, sometimes they need more hands on deck to get their products out in a timely manner.”

Brady said this trend is reflective of the country as a whole, and though WNC is not immune to any labor shortages, there is a strength and resilience to this workforce. Companies are working to retain current workers, and county programs are helping with talent acquisition. “There is a workforce development taskforce always looking for opportunities, partnerships with educational programs like those at Blue Ridge Community College, and apprenticeship programs to create a workforce pipeline for these companies,” Brady said. “Companies also have opportunities to market themselves, visit area schools, and do presentations to potential employees. The Partnership is also marketing manufacturing of today showing that the industry in general is high-tech, clean, and a career that students can picture themselves being successful in.