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A MORE PERFECT UNION
A mix of rural tranquility and big city employment options and amenities create Union County’s unique identity. The combination is attracting business and residential growth.
Union County is part of the growing Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which counted nearly 2.9 million people in 2024. Monroe, its seat, had more than 37,000 residents in 2023, according to N.C. Office of State Budget and Management. “Union County is an incredible county,” says Monroe Mayor Robert Burns. “The people here are very friendly. They’re hard-working, and they’re family oriented. If I were to brag on anything, I’d brag on the people.”
That hustle and bustle contrasts Union County’s roots, which are firmly planted in agriculture. They deserve some bragging, too. Union produced the state’s most wheat in 2023 and fourth most turkeys in 2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics. More than half of the county’s 404,347 acres were farmland in 2022, according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture. “This county is known for farming and large beautiful plots of land,” Burns says. “And agribusiness is very important to Monroe with the opportunities it creates for jobs.”
Beyond Monroe, Union County is dotted with smaller communities, from Hemby Bridge, whose population was 1,713 in 2023, to Stallings, which counted 17,438 residents that same year, up from 16,116 in 2020. “Our county includes towns that are attracting new businesses and include emerging commercial centers, while other communities offer suburban tranquility and convenient access to Charlotte’s urban amenities,” says Pat Kahle, whose 11-year run as president and CEO of Union County Chamber will end with her retirement in June. “Other areas of our county have a stronger rural vibe and offer country living, small town charm and wide-open spaces. Residents and visitors can enjoy Cane Creek Park, the Carolina Thread Trail, along with shopping in charming historic downtowns or attend a wide variety of community events and festivals.”
That expansive rural landscape surrounding an ever-evolving urban core is making Union County a top choice for businesses and residents. “In the past decade, Union County’s business community has grown tremendously and diversified greatly,” Kahle says. “While agriculture remains a cornerstone of our economy and the county remains the state’s third-largest agricultural producer, [it] also boasts a strong manufacturing community. In addition, Union County now includes a robust retail and commercial base, particularly in the western part of the county.”
Accelerated by the Monroe Expressway that opened in 2018, Union County’s expanding industrial base includes manufacturing, aerospace and pharmaceutical ventures. There are multiple higher education workforce development options through South Piedmont Community College, helping residents land better jobs and businesses meet their growing needs, along with community-friendly downtowns.
“[Union has] a sense of community and ambiance that make it a special place to live, work and do business,” Kahle says. “One of the greatest strengths of Union County is the diversity of its 14 municipalities, each with its own unique identity.”
MEET MONROE
Burns was elected mayor in November 2023, when a tie vote forced a coin toss. He inherited a growing city. Toward the end of 2024, the city and county formed independent economic development offices, dissolving Monroe Union County Economic Development Commission in the process. “Union County is growing as a whole, and our efforts have to be about Monroe, so about September or October the county decided to do its own thing,” he says. “No harm, no foul. With the growth Monroe has had, and having all its own resources — like water, sewer, police, fire — we have a lot of things we’re pushing. We have land and expansive property, and we’re not boxed in.”
Monroe’s municipal gas, electric, water and sewer operations are an incentive to prospective businesses. It serves about 12,000 electric customers with eight substations and 304 miles of power lines. As a public power provider accountable directly to its customers instead of shareholders, it has earned Reliable Public Power Provider Diamond designation from the American Public Power Association. “With Monroe having all its own resources, we have our destiny in our own hands,” Burns says.
City Manager Mark Watson calls Monroe a sustainable community. “Monroe is a place where businesses can succeed and families can flourish,” he says. “Our strategic location just southeast of Charlotte positions us as a hub for industry, commerce and aviation. We take great pride in our parks, recreation and cultural assets, offering residents and visitors a high quality of life with vibrant community programs, green spaces and entertainment venues.”
Watson points to several city amenities. There’s the 88,000-square-foot Aquatics and Fitness Center and five community centers, which host private parties, parks and recreation leagues, and after-school programs. Monroe Country Club’s course includes the last nine-hole course designed by golfing legend Donald Ross, and Monroe Science Center opened with 30 interactive exhibits in 2023.
Then there is the Dowd Center Theatre downtown, which opened in 1940. After years as a movie theater, it closed in 1991. After ownership and interior changes, the city purchased it in 2013. It was renovated again and opened as a multipurpose cultural, entertainment and community-events center in spring 2020.
Burns says Monroe’s downtown, which is south of busy U.S. 74, is growing stronger. “You can walk around, shop, get food, see what’s up on a Friday or Saturday night, and what makes it so authentic are the people,” he says. “They recognize you and talk to you. There are more lofts and living spaces, and it’s what people want — the younger generations and the older generations. That’s what we’re finding. It’s a snowball thing. [Monroe] will be more welcoming, more lively. All of that gateway [on 74 off of the expressway] is improving. There will be some kind of entertainment complex, more boutique stores, better parking. People are doing life in this city.”
AIRPORT TAKING OFF
Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport is home to two flight schools and three private hangar complexes with two more on the way. It’s the state’s only general aviation airport that offers onsite U.S. Customs and Border Patrol service but no commercial flights. And it has become a landing zone for related companies. “The aerospace cluster is comprised of companies that provide products and/or services to aviation around the world,” says Monroe Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell.
ATI Specialty Materials, an international supplier that serves customers in aerospace, defense and other markets, and UTC Aerospace Systems, one of the world’s largest providers of aerospace systems, avionics, interior systems and information management for commercial aircraft, are at the airport.
Burns says Monroe is one of the state’s top manufacturing cities, if not the top. “And people don’t realize that,” he says. “One of our largest energy consumers is ATI, and they have city power and city natural gas. There are so many manufacturers that surround the airport. Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, they want to bring planes in. Hangar space brings awareness to the airport.”
Monroe’s airport offers convenience beyond Customs services. “With the increased air traffic associated with Charlotte Douglas International Airport, many corporate aircraft wait in line with commercial flights then spend additional time moving around the ramps to arrive at the [fixed base operator for private aircraft],” Hollowell says. “In many cases, they can land [here] and be at their destination [in Union County] before they’d arrive at the FBO in Charlotte.” The airport has been awarded federal discretionary funding through the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program for two major projects — apron rehabilitation in fiscal year 2026 and Taxiway A rehabilitation in fiscal year 2028. Both involve reinforcing pavement and hard-surfaced areas for loading, unloading, boarding and refueling, opening the door to larger corporate and private aircraft.
The Monroe Corporate Center is near the airport and two of South Piedmont Community College’s four campuses. It has room to add to its mix of local and international companies. “Monroe’s industrial base continues to expand with the Monroe Corporate Center,” Hollowell says. “As a recognized hub for the aerospace industry, Monroe has seen significant expansion in the [corporate] sector, closely aligning with the airport’s ongoing enhancements. The recently extended 7,001-foot runway and its 6,000-square-foot terminal provide a prime location for businesses seeking to land and store private jets, further solidifying Monroe’s position as a key destination for corporate aviation and industrial growth.”
WORKFORCE TRAINING UNDERWAY
Education partners and business leaders comprise Union County Chamber’s Workforce Development Task Force. Its efforts take several directions. “Existing partnerships have strengthened, and new collaborations have formed,” Kahle says. “Through these collaborations, the Chamber is working with South Piedmont Community College, Union County Public Schools and Wingate University to ensure our community’s education system aligns their programs with current and future career opportunities in our community.”
The Chamber’s most recent job fair, held at Union County Agricultural Center in April 2024, was its largest in recent history. More than 530 jobseekers had the opportunity to meet 83 employers. “Interpreters in Spanish and Russian were onsite as well as community organizations that provide services to overcome barriers to work like childcare, transportation and so on,” Kahle says. “In addition, the Chamber expanded our 15 year old Make It in Union County Manufacturing Awareness program from one week to an entire month. The Chamber partnered with Union County Public Schools, SPCC and local manufacturers to engage almost 2,000 students with local manufacturers to learn about the good paying high demand career opportunities in our community.”
SPCC offers Business and Industry Training, a division comprised of its Corporate Education and Training, apprenticeships, and Small Business Center and Career Connector. “Corporate Education is currently managing training projects valued at $2.6 million,” says Rachel Colquitt, SPCC vice president of marketing and communications. “We’re also supporting the creation of 448 new jobs across Union and Anson counties through current training initiatives. The progress is a direct result of strong partnerships between industry and community colleges, partnerships that serve as the foundation of a thriving skilled workforce pipeline.”
Corporate Training uses two pathways — state-funded NCEdge and customized training. Companies that have engaged with SPCC include ATI, Icon Aerospace, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, O’Neil Digital Solutions, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Goulston Technologies, ConMet and Decore-ative Specialties. “A key theme among all our partners is building from within,” Colquitt says. “Many companies promote employees into supervisory roles, making leadership and soft-skills training a crucial component of workforce development. Our Customized Training Program ensures businesses can cultivate strong leaders while maintaining high-performance standards, supporting long-term success and economic resilience.”
Colquitt says Corporate Training is expected to serve 1,393 more participants this year. “Every program we offer is tied to a local workforce need,” she says. “Manufacturing and IT are in high demand, yes, but so, too, are our medical sciences and services programs, including nursing, medical assisting, EMS and one of our newer offerings surgical technology. We have the most highly respected sonography program in our region, and we field dozens of inquiries for this program each week. We have guaranteed admission agreements with universities across the state, including our newest partner, UNC Charlotte. Through the 49erNext program, it is possible for South Piedmont graduates to transfer seamlessly to UNC Charlotte.”
Wingate University, a private four-year school of 3,400 students east of Monroe, offers 37 undergraduate majors and 42 minors. The most-popular fields of study are biology, psychology, exercise science, criminal justice and sports management. It also has nine master’s degrees and four doctoral programs. ■
— Kathy Blake is a writer from eastern North Carolina.