Burke County’s industrial shell building project entered the next phase of its development.
The project will create a commercial building ready for a company to move in to and finish for its needs. The building will be located in the Burke Business Park off Kathy Road in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, and is being funded through a state economic development grant, according to a news release from Burke County. The state allotted $20 million for the county to build shell buildings, according to a previous News Herald article.
The project is part of the Burke County Board of Commissioners’ goal to accelerate economic growth and job creation, the county said.
One of the plan’s initiatives is the development of a speculative Class A industrial shell building in partnership with Burke Development Inc.
This rendering shows what the new shell building will look like at the Burke Business Park off Kathy Road in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥.
Burke County has not seen the construction of a new Class A advanced manufacturing facility in more than 30 years. This long-standing gap has hindered the county’s ability to compete for large-scale industrial investment, the county said. Over the past two decades, the county has lagged behind nearby counties in job creation, capital investment and average wages. The county said that is largely due to the absence of ready-to-use industrial space.
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“Economic development is a highly competitive industry. Nearly 80% of companies looking to relocate or expand require an existing building to minimize development risk and speed their time to market,†said Board of Commissioners Chairman Jeff Brittain. “This project directly addresses that need and positions Burke County to better compete on a national scale.â€
The shell building will have:
- 100,000 square feet of initial space.
- A pre-graded expansion pad for up to 85,000 additional square feet.
- 32-foot ceiling heights.
- Precast insulated wall panels, offering flexibility and energy efficiency for advanced manufacturing or logistics operations.
The design phase, which began in spring, is now complete. Thirteen general contractors expressed interest in the project, and the bidding process is now underway. A contractor is expected to be chosen by early October, with construction complete in the second quarter of 2026, the county said.
“This investment is more than just a building — it’s a critical piece of infrastructure that will attract high-quality employers and provide long-term economic benefits to the residents of Burke County,†said Burke Development Inc. board Chairman Joel Welch.
The county also recently got $700,000 for a gas line to be connected to the business park.
The property that became Burke Business Park was first purchased in 2005 in a collaboration between Burke County, the city of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and the towns of Valdese, Drexel and Rutherford College with the goal of supporting economic development in the county.
