The coronavirus continues to steal a lot of headlines in the county, but make no mistake about it, there are clear and obvious signs that people and companies are getting back to business in a big way after a year and a half of laying low in the pandemic. 

One of several recent crystal clear indicators came on Monday, Aug. 9 when Guilford County made a very rare simultaneous announcement of two new multi-million-dollar manufacturing plants ready to come to Guilford County – one being built by Proctor & Gamble and another by Banknote Corp. of America.

During the pandemic, these types of announcements were all but non-existent.  Company executives couldn’t even get on a plane to see their grandmother, and, of course, the same went for, say, an executive on a site selection trip for a new plant.

Over the years, the Guilford Board of Commissioners has announced a lot of public hearings to consider economic incentives requests, but those came to a virtual halt during the pandemic – and to have two large-project incentives hearings called for the board’s Thursday, Aug. 19 meeting suggests that there’s a backlog of businesses sitting in the wings.

In another positive sign of economic activity, recently, the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority held a closed session to discuss potential economic incentives for an undisclosed entity. The airport has a huge new aviation megasite ready for all takers – and, as air traffic picks up, there’s going to be a big need for aviation services.

While Guilford County just had a two-for-one economic development announcement, the City of High Point recently had a three-for-one announcement.  In that case, one couple owns all three: Classical Elements Inc., M2C Studio and Leyla Gans LLC, which are all in High Point.

The companies – all owned by Stuart and Leyla Gans – will operate at 1200 Redding Drive in an historic mill building in High Point.   

Classical Elements and M2C Studio are creative design, production, and service companies that handle drapery, hardware, lighting and more.  Their custom products are made to the specific needs of the projects underway.

Studio and Leyla Gans said recently that there were compelling reasons to choose High Point and Guilford County. One advantage for High Point, they said, is that it is the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World.”

 They also cited a large amount of available talent in the area.