Welcome to America’s Most Beautiful Industrial Park
Ferncliff is a unique industrial park. The video describes its uniqueness through the eyes of its Founder, a County Commissioner, former Mayor, an Economic Developer, and Ferncliff Companies. Ferncliff delivers economic impact with guidelines that preserve the environment.
There is a reason NC Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland called it “America’s Most Beautiful Industrial Park.” Others call it unique because of its innovative approach to economic, community, and sustainable development.
When you think of an industrial park, there’s typically a slightly different image that comes to mind. Ferncliff through innovative thinking created a green industrial park that serves as a model and resource for communities, government, and developers on a proven way to develop not only sustainable jobs but also for the preservation of natural beauty, culture, and character.
Full Report Ferncliff Park Design Guidelines
NC Site and LEED Certification Ferncliff Certifications
Economic Development
Ferncliff successfully created the conditions for economic growth based on its business model built with the customer, employee, and corporate brand in mind. One with a focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship to make it an excellent example of a green industrial park.
Full Report Economic Impact of Ferncliff Industrial Park
Community Development
Ferncliff fostered community development in which local stakeholders: Henderson County elected officials, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, and the town of Mills River Town created an innovative green industrial park that delivers sustainable jobs while improving its local community.
Below are a few quotes from the Ferncliff Park video.
Vaughan Fitzpatrick – Ferncliff Founder and Developer
“What I would hope that Ferncliff Industrial Park becomes is a model for other industrial parks around the country. I think Ferncliff proves that it can be done in communities that don’t expect it and that cherish it once it’s been created. Come see Ferncliff, I don’t think you’re going to be disappointed.”
Andrew Tate – Economic Developer
“The Ferncliff model can absolutely be replicated. The concept that you attempt to match a park’s tenants and neighbors with the assets and values and culture of a community is something that reflects sustainability, not just from an environmental feature, but also sustainability from the staying power of the jobs and the taxable investment and the really traditional benefits of economic development.” Andrew was the President of the Henderson County Partnership and is now the Director of Duke Energy Economic Development for North Carolina.
Roger Snyder – Mayor
“I was one of the primary people that helped incorporate the town of Mills River. When we first become incorporated. I was the mayor for about ten years now. Being from Mills River, having a farming background, we were not into this green mentality. Vaughan wanted a world class industrial park. He wanted it green, and he also limited the number of parcels.” Roger was a principal in the founding of Mills River Township served as its mayor from 2003-2013 and councilman for several years after that.
Bill Lapsley – County Commissioner
“The first prospect, major prospect that we had was an industry that we did not know their name at the time. And as it would turn out, the owner was very environmentally sensitive man and family-owned company business. And when his representatives came to look at the property, the first visit that I took them on a tour of the property, it became clear to me that they were looking at numerous sites all up and down the east coast of the United States.” Bill was the Chairman of the Henderson County Commissioners and currently is a Commissioner.
Brian Grossman – Vice President & CTO Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
“We have about a 215-acre parcel here, of that we have developed about 26 or 28 acres. We have about a 400,000 square foot brewery that’s built here and this brewery is capable of about 750,000 barrels of beer a year. It’s a little slice of heaven that you get here. Our guests average time is over 2 hours. So, when they come, they stay sort of awestruck a little bit about, you know, what we’ve got here, what we’ve created.”
Janel Rowbotham – General Manager Linamar
“We’re Linamar light metals. We’re able to supply our customers the OEMs with lightweight product that allows them to get better fuel economy and better sustainability as well as very, very strong materials for their product. We’re one of just a handful of foundries that is LEED certified, our particular certification as LEED Silver. We are one of the technology leaders when it comes to sustainability, so it gives us a cutting edge or an advantage over some of our competitors because we’re LEED certified”.
Elizabeth Jackson – Riveter Founder
“The Riveter is an outdoor adventure center with a climbing gym, bike park, yoga studio, retail space and bar. I chose this spot primarily because of its central location to Asheville, Hendersonville, Greenville and Brevard. Obviously, Ferncliff Industrial Park really drew me here. Businesses like Sierra Nevada, GF Linamar are who are setting a different standard for their impact on the environment as a business.”
Ferncliff serves as an innovative model for communities, government, and developers to create sustainable jobs and preserve an area’s natural beauty, culture, and character.