Burke Development, Inc.

08/18/2026

Great things are happening in Burke County, North Carolina - and they’re certainly not happening by accident.

Strategic investments, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to creating diverse economic opportunities are collectively building momentum in our community.

Our team at BDI, along with other community partners from The Industrial Commons, Western Piedmont Community College, and NCSSM-Morganton had the privilege of welcoming North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley last week to proudly showcase some of that work firsthand.🧡

You can read the full press release here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:4dbf7c9e-3b91-4677-8568-e73b01516b9e

Brandon Ruppe Burke County Government City of Morganton, NC Government

08/14/2026

A well-deserved spotlight on Drexel Town Manager and BDI Board member Bill Carroll, whose leadership and enthusiasm for strategic economic development are helping position Drexel for its next chapter.

As a result of his collaborative efforts with BDI, ElectriCities of NC, Norfolk Southern, and other partners - the former home of Drexel Furniture in Burke County, North Carolina, is now a 100-acre, pad-ready industrial site, which is positioned to help attract manufacturing, investment, and opportunity back to the heart of the Drexel community.

With Norfolk Southern rail access, utilities already in place, and immediate proximity to U.S. 70 and I-40, the site is uniquely positioned for modern manufacturing growth in Burke County.

Public partners like Bill are critical to building the partnerships and alignment needed to strengthen Drexel and create opportunities that benefit all of Burke County. This is economic development at its best; working together to move our communities forward.🧡

You can also learn more about the Drexel Industrial Site by visiting our website:

https://burkedevinc.com/sites-buildings/available/

Bill Carroll discusses Drexel’s industrial redevelopment, infrastructure, and strategy for economic growth.

08/13/2026

As we near the end of "Safe and Sound Week", we wanted to spotlight two manufacturers in Burke County, NC that earned 2026 NC Department of Labor Million Hour Awards: SGL Carbon and Saft.

Big kudos to both companies on this well-deserved recognition and their ongoing commitment to workplace safety excellence. 🧡

08/12/2026

Today, during "Safe and Sound Week" - we’re recognizing Burke County's 2026 NC Department of Labor Gold Safety Award winners. We appreciate their ongoing commitment to workplace safety - big congratulations! 🏆

08/11/2026

Workplace safety deserves ongoing recognition! 🧡

Back in May, the Burke County Chamber hosted the 2026 Safety Awards Banquet - and so we decided it was fitting that during "Safe & Sound Week 2026" we give those outstanding organizations another well-deserved spotlight.

Today, we’re recognizing Burke County's NCDOL Silver Safety Award winners for their commitment to workplace safety. Congratulations!🥈

And throughout the remainder of the week, we’ll also be highlighting this year’s Gold and Million Hour Safety Award winners. All of these employers continue to set the standard for safety in Burke County and we are incredibly honored to spotlight them.



City of Morganton, NC Government Town of Valdese SGL Carbon Burke County Chamber of Commerce NC Department of Labor UNC Health Blue Ridge Catawba Valley Staffing

08/10/2026

A strong manufacturing community is built on more than innovation, investment and jobs. It’s built on a deep commitment to the people who make it all possible.

This week, as we celebrate Safe + Sound Week 2026, we’re recognizing the importance of creating workplaces where safety and health are a shared priority; from leadership to every employee on the floor.

And that commitment starts right here at home. Burke Development Inc. is proud to be recognized during Safe + Sound Week 2026 for outstanding performance, dedication and teamwork in making our workplace safe and healthy.

We’re equally proud of the many Burke County manufacturers who demonstrate that same commitment to safety every day. Throughout this week, we’ll be highlighting the local companies whose dedication to workplace safety earned them 2026 safety awards and recognition.

These manufacturers understand that a strong safety culture doesn’t happen by accident. It takes leadership, employee engagement, continuous improvement and a shared commitment to making sure everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.

At Burke Development Inc., we’re proud to support a manufacturing community that makes safety a priority; because strong workplaces are safe workplaces.🧡

08/03/2026

For more than 82 years, SGL Carbon has been an integral part of Burke County, NC's manufacturing legacy and continues to help shape the future of advanced materials.

Production of advanced materials and graphite in Morganton began in 1944, and the facility became part of SGL Carbon following the merger of SIGRI and Great Lakes Carbon in 1992. Since then, the site has continued to expand and invest in new technologies to meet the growing global demand for high-performance graphite products.

Today, SGL Carbon's Morganton operation plays an important role in supplying advanced graphite materials used in industries ranging from semiconductors and renewable energy to aerospace, automotive, and other high-tech manufacturing applications.

We're proud to recognize SGL Carbon as one of Burke County's long-standing manufacturing leaders and thank them for their continued investment in our community.

Interested in joining the SGL Carbon team? Explore current career opportunities here:

👉 https://jobs.sglcarbon.com/search/?createNewAlert=false&q=&locationsearch=morganton+&optionsFacetsDD_location=&optionsFacetsDD_facility=&optionsFacetsDD_country=&optionsFacetsDD_customfield2=

07/28/2026

Big things are happening in Burke County, North Carolina! 💛

Stay connected with the latest economic development news, projects announcements, industry updates, and events.

Click on the link below to subscribe, follow us on social media, and connect with our team.

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/nT3b2gu/BurkeCountyNCWorks

07/23/2026

Dinner and a show? Yes, please.☺️
Yet another reason why .

🎟️CoMMA’s 2026/2027 lineup was just recently released, and you can purchase tickets here:
https://www.morgantonnc.gov/comma/page/events
………………………………………………………….