Where Ingenuity and Authenticity Intersect
Strategically positioned between opportunity and originality, Cleveland County, N.C. offers a gateway to Charlotte and Atlanta. The region beckons pioneers spanning industry and innovation, attracting individuals seeking a small-town quality of life with big-city benefits located just a short distance away. Movers, shakers, entrepreneurs and makers reap the rewards of operating in Cleveland County, where pro-business meets progress.
Transportation
Cleveland County gives businesses a geographical advantage with easy access to global markets via nearby airports, rail and port facilities.
Eastern Seaboard
Located mid-way between New York City and Miami, and just a short drive from the Southeast’s growing metropolitan hubs, Cleveland County’s location near the country’s Eastern Seaboard allows distributors to easily reach the U.S. market and beyond.
Sites & Properties
Cleveland County offers a wide variety of buildings sites, from shovel-ready to turnkey, for your industrial or commercial business operations.
Educational Institutions
Cleveland County’s higher education assets support a skilled and growing workforce to support new and expanding business.
Communities
Cleveland County is comprised of a plethora of towns and cities in which business and residents are proud to call home.
Making It Work Manufacturing & Engineering Event
The Making It Work Event exposes young minds to the wide diversity of job opportunities in local manufacturing and trade operations. More than 200 students from Cleveland and Rutherford county High Schools will attend. Make plans for your company to be an exhibitor and consider the opportunity to sponsor a scholarship for a graduating senior who will be pursuing a STEM-related educational program. This year’s event is March 29, 2023 at the LeGrand Center in Shelby.
Charlotte’s Backyard NC
Job Fair
Join us or the Charlotte’s Backyard NC Job Fair on April 1, 2023 at LeGrand Center in Shelby from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Click here to register now!
Tools & Resources

Success Story
Clearwater Paper
When it came time to expand, Clearwater Paper chose Cleveland County, NC not just once but twice. Read More