The City of Lenoir City Council set a vision for Lenoir in 2021 during a two-part, virtual retreat last week. Council's top priorities focused on employees, housing, infrastructure, and cleaning up the city.
City Council held their annual retreat during two Zoom meetings. The first session was Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, at 8:30 am and the second session was Thursday Feb. 25, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. The agenda for the sessions is available online at www.cityoflenoir.com/councilmeetings.
During the Tuesday session, Council reviewed the City's Mission and Vision statement and got an update from Paul Meyer, Executive Director for the North Carolina League of Municipalities. City Manager Scott Hildebran also gave a state-of-the-city presentation that covered more than 80 slides about private and public investment in the City of Lenoir during the past year.
More than a dozen private businesses and organizations opened or added to their operations in Lenoir. Woodgrain Millworks received a $200,000 grant to help renovate a 216,137-square-foot building. The company expects to add 33 jobs and invest $202,750. Malouf acquired a 500,000-square-foot warehouse building on Complex St SW to support the company’s growing product lines and same-day shipping policy. Malouf owns three other locations in Lenoir. Craftmaster Furniture out of Taylorsville is expanding manufacturing by 20 percent with a new plant in Lenoir in the former Broyhill Complex.
Several new businesses opened in the City including Telco Community Credit Union, Southern Roots Salon, The Flour Shoppe, Main Street Magic Café, Mandem Syndicate, Hole Lotta Doughnuts, and Moonjoy Meadery. Click the following link or the slide below to view the state-of-the-city slide show - Hindsight 2020: The Future Looks Bright (PDF). A bulleted list of the presentation is at the end of the article.


During the Thursday session, county tax administrator Monty R. Woods gave an update on the Caldwell County Revaluation and Planning Director Jenny Wheelock talked about updating the City's comprehensive plan. Council also reviewed and ranked priorities for 2021.
Council's top goals for the coming year are to continue efforts to offer competitive compensation and benefits for employees, pursue market rate housing, encourage affordable housing opportunities, implement the City's branding and wayfinding plan, address commercial blight, address appearance issues at city entry corridors, fund the street paving plan, fund water and sewer capital improvements plan, develop strategies for diversity, equity and inclusion, fund sidewalks and greenway paving, support code enforcement, develop plan to address litter in community, re-initiate neighborhood meetings (once safe to do so), and encourage Whitnel and West End area improvements.
The City of Lenoir City Council generally meets three times a month and all Council meetings are open to the public. Click here to go to the Council Meetings page.
Hindsight : The Future Looks BrightThis is a bullet point list of the slides presented during the City of Lenoir City Council virtual retreat held Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Click the following link to view the presentation with photos and details - Hindsight 2020: The Future Looks Bright (PDF). |
Private Investment Opened In Past year- Blue Ridge Energy
- Telco Community Credit Union - January
- 818 Harper Ave - January
- Yokefellow - January
- Waterlife Church - February
- Google Greenway Extension - April
- Woodgrain Millworks Grant - April
- Caldwell County Farmers Market Moved Downtown - May
- Malouf Distribution Center Expanded Footprint - May
- Southern Roots Salon - May
- The Flour Shoppe - June
- Jonas Hill Hospital and Clinic - July
- Main Street Magic Café - August
- Caldwell Pediatric Dentistry Moved To New Location Downtown - August
- Lenoir Family Medicine - August
- Craftmaster Furniture Expanded To Lenoir- August
- Mandem Syndicate - August
- Hole Lotta Doughnuts - August
- Dollar General new location - September
- Moonjoy Meadery - October
- Teachery Townhomes - December
- MMI Textiles & Mikan Printing Co-Located In Lenoir - December
- Tumbleweeds Steak & Tavern New Ownership - January 2021
- Mi Carreta - February 2021
| Private Investment On The Way- Bionutra
- West Avenue Apartments
- 819 Harper Ave
- Housing Permits
- Multifamily Housing
- Kattz Corner Llc
- Blue Bell Lenoir Llc
- Single Family Housing, Woodbine Place
- Parkview Subdivision (18+ houses) & New Greenway
- Single Family Housing Building Permits
- Georgetown Estates Building Permits
- Summerhill Building Permits
- Stonecroft Building Permits
- Cubesmart Storage In The Lenoir Mall
- 814 Harper Ave
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Public Investment Completed in the Past Year- Roof Replacements at City buildings
- Lenoir Optimist Park
- Caldwell County EMS Bases
- False Alarm Reduction Program - January
- New K9s - February
- City Hall 1st Floor Renovation
- City Hall Sculpture - December
- Baton Water Agreement - March
- Covid-19 Downtown Response - March
- NPS & Main Street America Façade Grant - March
- Life In The Carolinas Show - November
- Safety Improvements - March
- Financial Assistance - The City Of Lenoir And Caldwell County Yokefellow Partnered To Provide Water/Sewer Bill And Mortgage Help
- Led Lights in City buildings
- Main Street Awards - March
- NC3C Awards - July
- Finance Receives CAFR Award - May
- Automated Garbage Collection - May
- Community Garden, WPCC Horticulture Student Delivered Nearly 1,000 Plants - May
- #8CANTWAIT - July
- Norwood Street Parking - August
- Nuisance Ordinance - August
- Paving - October
- Greenway Expansion At Wilson Park - November
- Social Media Reach, Increased By 14.4% From December 2019 To December
- Bernhardt Lease Public Works - December
- Minimum Housing
- Water Risk & Resiliency Study - December
- Branding & Wayfinding - January 2021
- City Website Refresh With New Brand - January 2021
- Virginia Street Property - January 2021
- NCGS 160D Update - January 2021
- Broyhill Walking Park Improvements- January 2021
- Tree Trimming In Downtown - January 2021
- Police Parking Lot
- Outside Dining Tables - February 2021
| Public Investment Coming Soon- Recreational Trails Program Grant
- Hospital Avenue Sidewalk
- Greenway Extensions
- Aquatic Center Improvements
- LHS Renovations
- AMI Metering & WaterSmart Portal
- Gryphon Biosolids Drier
- Smith Crossroads Sewer Project
- Finley Avenue Water Project
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