five years, calibrated to investment size and job creation numbers. At the state level, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina provides workforce development funding for customized training through Davidson-Davie Community College. The workforce dynamics favor employers. Currently, 49% of Davidson County’s workforce leaves the county daily for employment elsewhere. “What’s been encouraging to potential employers is the opportunity to be able to capture the workforce that’s leaving the county on a day-to-day basis,” Mayor Hayes explains. “Having the availability of a workforce here locally has been a huge draw for us.” The city offers a 750-acre industrial site plus additional parcels scattered throughout the county, supported by electric utility service that positions Lexington among just 19 consortium cities in North Carolina providing this capability. Siemens Mobility’s $220 million rail manufacturing facility typifies the caliber of investment Lexington now attracts. The 200-acre campus, featuring over 11,000 feet of rail track, will create 506 jobs by 2028 at an average salary of $51,568. Production began in 2024 at the carbon-neutral facility, which incorporates robotic welding, 3D printing, and virtual reality welder training. The operation will serve as 35 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 LEXINGTON, NC
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx