Burke Development, Inc.

10/05/2026

Did you know? 💡

North Carolina recognizes October as Manufacturing Month - and here in Burke County, we believe the manufacturers who power our economy and strengthen our communities deserve a huge T H A N K Y O U !

This month, and throughout the year, BDI will continue to shine a spotlight on the manufacturers that call Burke County home; highlighting their innovative technologies, products, career opportunities, talented workforce, and unique stories.

Their contributions extend far beyond the factory floor, and we are so proud and thankful to have them in our community. 💛

09/29/2026

Please join us! 🧡

Join us for our next Coffee & Conversation featuring Brandon Ruppe, President & CEO of Burke Development, Inc. !

Learn about the latest economic development initiatives, current projects, future plans, and opportunities shaping Burke County's growth. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from one of our community's leaders and ask questions about the future of economic development in Burke County.

📅 October 14
⏰ 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
📍 Glory Mountain Retreat Center

Breakfast will be provided starting at 7:30am. Program will start at 8am.

Register today! https://business.burkecountychamber.org/events/details/coffee-conversation-with-brandon-ruppe-on-economic-development-11117?calendarMonth=2026-10-01

09/24/2026

Today, the BDI team and Burke County, NC local leadership were in Charlotte for Invest: Charlotte 6th Edition Leadership Summit + Report, where Burke County, NC is being featured as part of this year’s publication highlighting the communities and leaders shaping economic development across the region.

The Burke County feature, “Land, Labor, and Legacy,” showcases our community’s manufacturing heritage and the assets positioning Burke County for the industries of tomorrow - including our workforce, education and training resources, industrial sites, infrastructure, and strategic location.

The publication also highlights the collaborative work happening across Burke County and the leadership helping move our economic development efforts forward, including insights from BDI President & CEO Brandon Ruppe, as well as other community and regional leaders, who have helped us in this endeavor to share our story directly to the business, economic development and site selection community - and to strengthen the relationships that connect Burke County to the broader Charlotte region.

Additionally, we were proud to see Gary Paxson, FACHE, RN, BSN, MS, Burke County’s CEO of UNC Health Blue Ridgeparticipating in one of the panel discussions today, as he helped to also highlight some of Burke County’s assets and trends impacting the future of healthcare.

The digital version of Burke County’s Chapter in the Invest: Charlotte publication can be found here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:bb2d3950-3061-46ce-8209-d5bb9f06da4c

09/22/2026

Congratulations to Case Farms in Burke County-Morganton, NC, one of our community's longstanding manufacturers, who recently completed an expansion which represents approximately $50 million in new capital investment and 51,00 additional square feet.

Last week, the company marked the completion of the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by Burke County Chamber of Commerce North Carolina and sponsored by BDI, which was attended by local elected officials, community leaders, and economic development partners.

Supporting the growth and continued investment of existing manufacturers is a key component of BDI's economic development strategy, and we are grateful to Case Farms for their ongoing commitment to our community.🧡

09/11/2026

Huge thank you to Brandon Ruppe, President of Burke Development, Inc. for coming to speak to our group yesterday! Brandon shared updates with our group on how BDI is working to advance Burke County's economic outlook through innovation, investment and partnership.

09/01/2026

Burke County Job Fair & Employment Opportunities coming your way!

The Burke County Job Fair is set for Sept. 15. Here's more information from our community partners hosting the fair:
📅 Date: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Location: Collett Street Recreation Center
300 Collett Street, Morganton, NC 28655
✅ Come dressed to impress!
✅ Bring copies of your résumé!
✅ Meet with top employers!
This is a great place to find your next job!

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! 🏆