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‘Race City’ earns magazine’s top rating By SHERRY KITTS, Staff Writer Feb. 20, 2002 - NASCAR, Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse and 29 other companies have helped Mooresville earn a first place ranking. In its March 2002 issue, “Site Selections” magazine, a globally distributed monthly publication aimed at corporate real estate managers and facility planners, ranks Mooresville as the number one small town in America, based on business openings, or expansions during 2001. “It is very exciting news and something we are very proud of,” said Melanie O’Connell Underwood, economic developer with the Mooresville-Iredell Chamber of Commerce. “We run the data in the March issue every year,” said magazine editor Mark Arend. “The numbers reflect a small town’s ranking, and the town that has recorded the most activity in the past.” Data is compiled from small towns across the nation for corporate announcements and or expansions, Arend said. In 1999 and 2000, Mooresville placed third in the rankings. Top place ranking in 2001 was earned thanks to 31 corporate openings or expansions. The number of corporate announcements a town can count towards ranking is based on the number of new facilities or expansion. To qualify, said Underwood a corporation must have 15,000 square feet of workspace, at least 20 jobs, or a $500,000 investment. Mooresville, with 18,500 residents, competes with towns under 50,000 in population. Ranking, said Underwood, is based on corporate announcements only. The count excludes any new retail, medical facilities, schools, or public facilities also opening in the exploding Mooresville area. Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse announcement that it will locate its corporate offices at Exit 33 on I-77 at a cost of $80 million and groundbreaking last spring on NASCAR’s $12 million Universal Technical Institute were leading factors in Mooreville’s top ranking for the year. The institutes is the latest of the 100 plus racing related businesses that have earned Mooresville the nickname “Race City.” Mayor Al Jones said his community’s booming economic growth — and “Site Selections” recognition — is great news. Economic growth “is a vital source for us,” he said. “We want to continue our economic growth.” Underwood, too, is pleased with the town’s national ranking. “Mooresville is an excellent community for businesses to locate and to be successful.”
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