Lincoln Economic Development Association

Name

Lincoln Economic Development Association

Legal name

Lincoln Economic Development Association

Website

https://lincolneda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Business Service Centers (56143), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Miscellaneous Business Services (7380)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Workforce development programs
• Business recruitment services
• Industrial incentive navigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincolnton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Economic Development Services: LEDA is a private, 501c(3) non-profit corporation. Revenue is derived from public funding (City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County), private memberships, and supporter contributions. Services are provided at no charge to businesses seeking assistance through financial support of The City of Lincolnton and Lincoln County.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit that facilitates industrial, office, and commercial development in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Its core work includes attracting new manufacturing and distribution operations through site selection assistance and incentive negotiation, supporting existing local industries with expansion and workforce needs, coordinating workforce development pipelines via partnerships with Gaston College and Lincoln County Schools, and providing free one-on-one consulting for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Services are provided at no charge to qualifying businesses and are funded by public support from the City of Lincolnton and Lincoln County, private memberships, and foundation grants.

Product overview

Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) offers a comprehensive suite of economic development services rather than a traditional software product. The organization's core offerings include business recruitment and attraction services for new industries, existing industry support programs, workforce development partnerships with Gaston College and Lincoln County Schools, small business and entrepreneur assistance, site selection and building location services, and government incentive navigation. LEDA facilitates collaboration through the Industrial Managers Association (IMA), connecting manufacturers with educators and government. Services are provided free to businesses through funding from the City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County, and the state, targeting manufacturers, distributors, site selectors, and small retail/service businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Recruitment & Attraction Services
• Existing Industry Support Program
• Industrial Managers Association (IMA)
• Small Business & Entrepreneur Program
• Workforce Development Services
• Site & Building Location Services
• Government & Incentive Navigation
• Industry Directory

Quantifiable outcome

• 604 new jobs created and $231 million invested in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Gaston CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership delivering customized training programs, apprenticeship programs (Apprenticeship 321), and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing. Gaston College delivers the second largest customized training program in North Carolina.
• Lincoln County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with K-12 education system including Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, Lincoln County School of Technology offering advanced manufacturing, robotics, mechatronics training. Programs shaped by industry input.
• Lincoln Charter SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Lincoln Charter Schools as part of the workforce development ecosystem connecting educators, industry, and students from elementary school through college.
• City of LincolntoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership with the City of Lincolnton. The city provides financial support to LEDA's 501c3 nonprofit organization and offers Industrial Incentive Grants for expanding companies.
• Lincoln CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership with Lincoln County government. County provides financial support to LEDA and offers Industrial Incentive Grant Program and performance-based utility incentives.
• NC Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partnership for economic development initiatives including Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) programs and site evaluation support for companies like Green New Energy Materials.
• Duke EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary energy provider committed to carbon neutrality by 2050. Duke Energy and Siemens operate the Guinness world-record holding gas turbine at Lincoln County's Duke Energy Station (410.9 MW). Hosts industrial park tours.
• Charlotte Regional Business AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development partnership connecting Lincoln County to the broader Charlotte business community and economic development resources.
• Centralina Regional CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council partnership supporting workforce and economic development initiatives across the Charlotte region.
• Charlotte Douglas International AirportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey transportation partner providing air cargo and passenger services. Located within an hour of Lincoln County, enabling efficient logistics and business travel.
• NCWorks Career CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NC Department of Employment Security providing free, customized talent management support, training connections, and workforce solutions for businesses.
• Industrial Managers Association (IMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEDA supports the IMA of Lincoln County, a network of industrial leaders founded in 1994 that fosters collaboration, workforce development advocacy, and public-private partnerships. IMA connects students with employers for internships and career pathways.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NC Department of Commerce – Economic Development: State-level economic development agency that funds and partners with LEDA on Job Development Investment Grants (JDIG) and other incentive programs. Sets statewide policy framework and competes/cooperates with county EDAs for major project leads.
• Charlotte Regional Business Alliance: Regional economic development organization for the Charlotte metro area. LEDA is an active partner of this organization, and both compete/cooperate on attracting large employers to the broader region, including Lincoln County.
• Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC): Public-private partnership operating as North Carolina's statewide business recruitment and support organization. Partners with LEDA on inbound leads and provides complementary export assistance, layered on top of county-level EDA activity.

Regional players

• Catawba County Economic Development Partnership: Neighbor EDP for Catawba County, NC, also positioned along the I-40 corridor. Competes with LEDA for advanced manufacturing and furniture/textile sector relocations within the greater Charlotte region.
• Iredell County Economic Development Corporation: NC county EDC serving Iredell County, with a similar small-staff model targeting manufacturing and distribution recruitment in the Charlotte region. Competes with LEDA for Charlotte-area industrial relocations.
• Lincoln Trail Area Development District: Regional planning and economic development district serving counties in another part of the country. While not in NC, it operates a comparable small-team nonprofit model focused on local industrial attraction, workforce development, and small business support—useful operational analog.
• Gaston County Economic Development Commission: Adjacent county EDC serving Gaston County, NC—just south of Lincoln County. Directly competes for the same pool of relocating manufacturers, distributors, and site selectors in the Charlotte metro fringe, offering overlapping workforce and incentive programs.
• Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership: Nearby NC county EDP serving Cleveland County. Comparable small-team nonprofit model focused on manufacturing recruitment, workforce development, and small business support—competing directly with LEDA for Western NC industrial prospects.
• Cabarrus County Economic Development Corporation: Charlotte-area county EDC with comparable scope including site selection, workforce development, and small business support. Operates as a public-private partnership similar to LEDA's structure.
• Greater Raleigh Esports & Economic Development (Raleigh EDP): North Carolina peer EDP serving Wake County/Raleigh. While geographically distant, it operates with a comparable small-team professional model focused on advanced manufacturing, tech, and life sciences recruitment—useful structural comparison for LEDA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnEDA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-economic-development-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Economic Development Association