Wilkes Economic Development Corporation

09/03/2026

Employment Opportunity! Provalus in North Wilkesboro, NC is holding Walk-in Interviews on-site (711 Main Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659) each Wednesday, 10A-3P in September. Positions include:

Healthcare Customer Service Analyst - Entry Level

Inside Sales Agent -TelcoMedia Industry - Early Career & Experienced

Inside Sales Team Lead- TelcoMedia Industry

Be sure to visit NCWorks Wilkes for resume, interview prep, and application assistance!

09/03/2026

📢 Wilkes County entrepreneurs, our Fall 2026 Entrepreneur Grant Program is open. This program offers funding to help start or grow your business right here in Wilkes County.

🗓 Application Deadline:
Friday, October 30 at 5:00 PM

🛠 Need help with your application?
The Wilkes Community College Small Business Center is an excellent resource for applicants. This is a great opportunity to review your application materials one on one with Laurie Brintle-Jarvis, Director of the Small Business Center.

Appointments can be booked here:
https://www.wilkescc.edu/sbc/

🔗 Learn more about the grant program and apply here:
https://wilkesedc.com/business/incentives-grants/local-programs/entrepreneur-grant-program/

If you have been considering starting a business or taking the next step toward growth, this program is a great opportunity.

09/02/2026

Join the Wilkes Entrepreneur Network tonight at Anchor Coffee for an evening of networking and supporting local entrepreneurs at Pitch Night! See below for more details.

We are super excited to see everyone tomorrow evening for our pitch event! Thank you InfusionPoints, LLC for supporting this event! A huge shout out to Anchor Coffee for the beautiful space and tasty beverages.

All are welcome to come out and support our entrepreneurs.

09/02/2026

Last Tuesday, more than 150 investors, partners, local leaders, and guests joined us as we celebrated 30 years of partnership, mission, and impact at Wilkes EDC’s 2026 Annual Meeting.

Now, we’re taking a look back at the evening and everything that was shared.

Explore our full recap for an overview of the program, a gallery of photos from the event, and links to our 2025–26 Annual Report and presentation videos.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening possible!

🔗 Read the full recap:

More than 150 investors, partners, local leaders, and guests gathered at the Blue Ridge Outpost on the evening of August 25th for Wilkes EDC’s 2026 Annual

08/29/2026

So excited to see Russell Flower Farm receiving this recognition! 🌸 We’re proud to have supported their journey through the Wilkes EDC Entrepreneur Grant and love seeing their continued growth. Congratulations!

08/27/2026

Videos from our 2026 Annual Meeting are now available!

While we continue preparing a full event recap and photo gallery, we are pleased to share the videos and music presented during the evening.

Together, these pieces celebrate Wilkes EDC’s 30-year history, local entrepreneurship, continued investment in Wilkes County, and the partnerships shaping our community’s future.

Watch here: https://wilkesedc.com/news/2026-annual-meeting-videos-music/

More photos and a complete recap are coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who joined us Tuesday evening for the Wilkes EDC 2026 Annual Meeting. While we continue preparing a full event recap and photo gallery,

08/26/2026

Last night, Wilkes EDC welcomed our investors, community partners, and local leaders to the Blue Ridge Outpost for our 2026 Annual Meeting and a celebration of 30 years of partnership, mission, and impact!

Together, we reflected on progress throughout Wilkes County, recognized our Entrepreneur Grant recipients, celebrated project announcements, and looked ahead to exciting opportunities for our community.

One of the evening’s biggest moments was Wilkes EDC’s introduction of the River District Development Company (RDDC) and its shared vision for the future of the Boros. We were proud to highlight the momentum already underway, including the donation of the Block 46 area by the Leonard G. Herring Family Foundation and the historic North Wilkesboro Rail Depot by Scott Nafe. These gifts provide an important foundation for future development, community gathering spaces, and stronger connections between the Boros.

Read more about RDDC and our work over the past year in the 2025-26 Annual Report: https://wilkesedc.com/news/2025-26-annual-report/

We are incredibly grateful to the sponsors who helped make our Annual Meeting possible:

✨ Event Sponsor
Frontier Natural Gas Company

✨ Innovation Sponsors
Duke Energy
Life in Wilkes, powered by Life Life In The Carolinas TV Show

✨ Prosperity Sponsors
Spectrum Hospitality Family of Hotels
RYGID AV

✨ Growth Sponsors
Yadkin Valley Railroad
ECS Group of Companies
Wilkes NC Tourism

✨ Community Sponsors
NC Carolina Core
Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery
TwoBoros Brewery & Pizzeria
Odds & Ends Greenhouse
Wilkes Soil and Water Conservation District

🌟 Event services provided by:

Venue: Blue Ridge Outpost
Catering: Can Do Catering
Photography: Pixels On Paper Photography
Bar Service: Merle’s
Awards: Williams Crafted LLC

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to all the partners who continue working alongside Wilkes EDC to move Wilkes County forward. We are proud of what has been accomplished together and excited about what comes next!

Over the next several days, we’ll share more photos and highlights from our Annual Meeting, followed by a full event recap featuring the announcements, recognitions, and updates shared during the program. Stay tuned!

08/24/2026

08/08/2026

Wilkes County is making its mark on the statewide entrepreneurial stage.

Congratulations to Victoria Gadbois on being selected as a finalist in the inaugural SBCN Startup Showdown. We’re proud to see Wilkes represented!

Shoutout to the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center for the mentorship and support helping local entrepreneurs take their ideas to the next level.

Best of luck, Victoria!

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