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City of Hickory Business e-Newsletter | December 2024

Hickory Recognizes 2024

Business. Well Crafted. Award Winners

The City of Hickory is proud to announce the 2024 Business. Well Crafted. Award winners:

• Dustin Davis with DDI of Hickory General Contractors
• Caring Cremations
• Catawba Valley Engineering & Testing
• Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley
• JK Landscaping & Grading, Inc.
• Bumgarner Oil Company
• Home Rule LLC
• Samurai Institute LLC

Presented by the City’s Business Development Committee (BDC), the Business. Well Crafted. Awards annually honor businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs that support and affirm the City of Hickory's vision for economic vitality.  

Congratulations to all 2024 Business. Well Crafted. Award winners!

Read more about the businesses at the link below.

Business Resources

Each month, we share resources vital to our communities and helpful for businesses. The feature of this month is the Entrepreneurship Department at Lenoir-Rhyne University. 

The department offers a robust program focused on fostering innovation and business leadership. The faculty consists of experienced professionals and educators who are passionate about equipping students with practical skills for launching and managing successful ventures. The department actively collaborates with local businesses, providing opportunities for students to intern and gain hands-on experience. These internships serve as valuable resources for local businesses, allowing them to tap into the fresh perspectives and skills of emerging entrepreneurs, while also giving students real-world insights into the business landscape. The department's emphasis on experiential learning, mentorship, and community engagement makes it a vital asset for both students and local enterprises.

Lenoir-Rhyne's Broyhill Entrepreneurship Program's vision is to create a dynamic environment where students can recognize opportunities, master effective communication, and lead collaboratively. The LRU Charles M. Snipes School of Business and Economics (CSSBE) Entrepreneurship Program's mission is to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to become successful entrepreneurs and innovators. The program fosters a supportive and collaborative environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. This program equips students with the tools they need to identify opportunities, develop business plans, and launch their own ventures. LR strives to create a community of future leaders who will make a positive impact on society through entrepreneurship. 

Please contact Ali Oguz at Ali.Oguz@lr.edu for internship opportunities with LR students.

Together We Are WNC Strong!

WNC Strong is a collective of partners dedicated to revitalizing the community by providing essential resources to local businesses affected by Hurricane
Helene. The website acts as a tool box of resources to assist in finding grant funding, access to loan information, and many other valuable resources.

Hurricane Helene’s impact is far reaching. If your business has been impacted, please visit the below link to gain insight into resources available to you! 

The Chamber of Catawba County's Regional Electronic Export

Document Issuance

Did you know? The Chamber provides a digital service to streamline the processing of export documents for international trade.

This service is used to verify documents such as Certificates of Origin, Commercial Invoices, and Packing Lists. 

This service is open to Chamber partners at a discounted rate. This offering is also extended to members of other Chambers in our region and any bordering county of Catawba, including Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Lincoln, and Iredell. 
Learn more about the process with the link below.

Western Piedmont's Newest

Economic Indicators Newsletter (EIN)

This is a little end-of-the-year reading for your knowledge. The EIN includes in-depth analysis of economic issues facing the four county regions including, American Community Survey results, bank deposits, commuting trends, construction activity, employment trends, income and poverty, retail sales, and tourism. 

Access the newest Economic Trends report of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) of Fall 2024 with the link below. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family from the City of Hickory Office of Business Development. May your heart be filled with the magic of the season and may success follow you in all your endeavors. Happy holidays!

Events Calendar

The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!

Dec 19, 2 PM - 3:30 PM, Online

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The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!

Dec 19, 6:30 PM - 8 PM, Online

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