ALBEMARLE — A Long Island-based auto-parts manufacturer, American Racing Headers, announced on April 6 that they plan to relocate their headquarters and manufacturing facility to Stanfield. An economic development incentive grant for the company was officially approved at the Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night, but without the company’s name made public.
“American Racing Headers is a leading manufacturer of high quality, high performance header and exhaust systems. Made entirely in the USA with US sourced materials, American Racing Headers is recognized worldwide as having quality second to none,” the April 6 press release from the company said. “For over 12 years, they have been the tier one supplier for GM, Ford and Fiat/Chrysler’s drag race program,”
With a unanimous 6-0 vote, the commissioners agreed to a 10-year, 75% business-development grant for American Racing Headers that will result in new taxable investments of $4.37 million while creating 63 new jobs.
“If they do more than 63, that’s okay,” Vice Chairman Tommy Jordan said as he made the board’s initial motion to approve the grant.
The approval for the economic incentive agreement by the Stanly commissioners was the final step for the offer, as it had been previously accepted by the Stanfield Town Council last Thursday.
“ARH is a family run business now in its 15th year. Our upcoming move from New York to the Charlotte area has been years in the making,” said Nick Filippides, president of American Racing Headers. “Nothing makes us happier than continuing to grow our company while being an active participant in the economic growth of a region so rich with racing history!”
Candice Lowder, director of the Stanly County Economic Development Commission (EDC), addressed the board with the proposal. “The economic incentive agreement will result in the conveyance of eight acres of property from the county of Stanly to a manufacturer of high-performance automotive parts,” Lowder said. “The property is located within the Riverstone Industrial Park in Stanfield and has a current appraised value of $359,544.”
Over $1 million has been invested by the county into the Riverstone Industrial Park, which is located at the corner of Browns Hills Road and Nance Road. While it holds 76 acres of potential business space, the park is currently empty.
“I think it’s great because they’re going to be the first in the park and we’ll see other things come because of it,” Chairman Bill Lawhon said.
Kevin Barbee, the mayor of Stanfield welcomed the company, saying, “This is fantastic news — new jobs and opportunities for folks in the Stanfield community.”
Janet LaBar, CEO and president of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, also welcomed ARH to the area: “We are thrilled to see American Racing Headers relocate to Stanly County and join the Charlotte Region’s robust community of automotive manufacturers. Our region is a hub not only for automotive assembly and machining operations but also innovative industry as a whole. Their presence here strengthens our diverse supply chain network and furthers the opportunities and resources available to our community’s talented workforce.”