City of Hickory Business e-Newsletter | February 2025
Outdoor Business Networking Event Recap
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Outdoor Business Networking Event! It was a great experience to connect with our outdoor recreation industry professionals and leaders in the community. We hope you walked away with valuable takeaways and new connections. A special thanks to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, U.S. Economic Development Administration, Outdoor Business Alliance - WNC, Innovative Ink, and and all our partners who made this event possible. We look forward to staying connected and growing the outdoor business community together. If you would like to join the movement, please reach out to Dave Leonetti in the Office of Business Development at dleonetti@hickorync.gov.
2024 Business. Well Crafted. Awards
On December 4, 2024, the City of Hickory's Business Development Committee recognized eight businesses for their excellence and community engagement in Hickory with the Business. Well Crafted. Awards. Over the course of the year, the City will be releasing spotlight videos for each award recipient, showcasing what makes them a Business. Well Crafted.
This month, we put a spotlight on Home Rule LLC and Samurai Institute LLC.
Home Rule LLC
Christy McGlothlin is the founder and CEO of Home Rule LLC, a dedicated provider of private duty nursing and home care aide services that is committed to enhancing the lives of individuals and families across North Carolina. Based in downtown Hickory, Home Rule strives to deliver compassionate, personalized care that prioritizes the well-being, comfort, and dignity of its clients. Home Rule believes in fostering a supportive environment for both clients and caregivers, ensuring that every individual feels respected, valued, and empowered.
Over the past few years, Home Rule has experienced significant growth by expanding its Private Duty Nursing services to additional regions and counties across North Carolina. This expansion has driven the need for a larger team—not only increasing clinical staff, but also growing office staff to support these new services. As a result, Home Rule’s workforce now totals 93 dedicated employees. By broadening its offerings and geographic reach, Home Rule is well-positioned to contribute to the City of Hickory’s vision for economic development and sustainable growth. To get to know more about the business, please visit their website at https://www.homerule.net/.
Military veteran and Hickory native Pete Nappier started the Samurai Institute in 2022 with the goal of creating a martial arts cognitive development center for children. With age-specific programs for one-year-olds up to adults, the Samurai Institute specializes in the defensive art of Aikido with emphasis on their award-winning bully-busters curriculum. Through the platform of martial arts at the Samurai Institute, kids can develop great learning habits and build their confidence.
The term "samurai" comes from the Japanese word saburau, meaning "to serve." The Samurai Institute intends to serve the community in every way possible through the discipline of martial arts and the science of cognitive learning. The Institute continues to see increases in student enrollment and strives to engage students with the community through volunteering. To get to know more about the business, please visit their website at https://martialartshickory.com/.
Airports in North Carolina contribute significantly to local, regional, and state economies. Hickory Regional Airport is proud to be a part of the contribution by supporting 335 jobs, generating $26.6 million in personal income, and creating $66.1 million in economic output. Together, we’re driving growth and prosperity for our community.
The video is from NCDOT Division of Aviation. For more information about North Carolina's aviation industry economic impact, please visit the link below.
The City of Hickory is committed to promoting business and economic development and offers a range of incentives to new and expanding businesses.
For more information on available programs and incentives, visit the Business Development webpageor contact Dave Leonetti in the Office of Business Development at 828-323-7422.
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