City of Gastonia

What City of Gastonia does

The City of Gastonia is a municipal government entity serving the residents of Gastonia, North Carolina, and surrounding communities within Gaston County. Founded in the 19th century, the city operates approximately 333 employees across a comprehensive portfolio of public services including public safety (police and fire departments), utilities (electric distribution and water/wastewater through Two Rivers Utilities), solid waste management, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, and community engagement programs. Its core technology infrastructure includes the CityView permitting portal for 24/7 online permit applications, the Customer Self Service (CSS) platform for utility account management, ArcGIS-powered interactive mapping systems, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for water utilities, and the Encode Plus Unified Development Ordinance viewer.

The city's primary subsidiary, Two Rivers Utilities, was formed in 2011 through the merger of Gastonia's and the Town of Cramerton's water and wastewater systems, creating a regional utility serving approximately 100,000 residents across 10+ municipalities including Bessemer City, High Shoals, Ranlo, Stanley, Kings Mountain, Belmont, Lowell, Clover SC, and McAdenville. Two Rivers operates water treatment facilities processing approximately 5 billion gallons per year alongside three wastewater treatment facilities (Long Creek, Crowders Creek, Eagle Rd), all holding North Carolina Environmental Steward designations. The city also serves as lead entity for the 13-municipality Gastonia-Gaston HOME Consortium for federal housing funding coordination.

Revenue is generated through a diversified municipal model including utility service fees (electric, water, sewer billed monthly with late fees after 21 days), property taxes, permits and licenses (zoning, business, construction, event), federal and state grants (notably $2.8 million in HOME-ARP funding from HUD), and fines/code enforcement fees. The customer base spans approximately 100,000 residents served by utilities, commercial/industrial electric customers across multiple rate schedules (SGS, MGS, LGS, GX, TOU), and regional municipal wholesale partners. Distribution occurs through City Hall and Garland Business Center in-person services, online self-service portals, 5 payment kiosks at retail locations, 24-hour drop boxes, phone customer service, and field service operations, serving both direct consumers and B2B/government clients across the Gaston County region.

Name

City of Gastonia

Legal name

City of Gastonia

Website

https://gastonianc.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1847

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The City of Gastonia is a municipal government in North Carolina providing utilities (electric, water, sewer via Two Rivers Utilities), public safety, planning, and community services to approximately 100,000 residents across Gastonia and 10+ surrounding municipalities in Gaston County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Utilities (221), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Municipal Electric Utilities (Munis) (EUADABAB), Public Works Departments (Streets, Bridges, Stormwater, Fleet, Maintenance) (BPAIALAD), Regulatory Compliance Monitoring & Reporting (SDWA/CWA/NPDES, permits, audits) (EUANAJAA)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public utility services
• Water wastewater utilities
• Electric utility services
• Municipal permitting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gastonia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Utility Services Revenue: Revenue from providing water, sewer, and electric services to residential and commercial customers. Bills are due upon receipt with late fees applied after 21 days.
2. Property Tax Revenue: Property taxes collected from residential and commercial property owners within city limits to fund general municipal operations.
3. Permits and Licenses: Fees collected for zoning permits, business licenses, certificates of appropriateness, event permits, and construction/development permits.
4. Federal and State Grants: Funding received from federal programs such as HOME-ARP ($2.8 million), ARPA, and HUD programs for housing and community development.
5. Fines and Violations: Revenue from code enforcement violations, utility late fees ($5 or 1.5% past due balance), administrative fees ($25), and reconnection fees ($30-$35).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The City of Gastonia provides essential municipal government services to residents and businesses of Gastonia, North Carolina, including electric, water and wastewater utilities (via Two Rivers Utilities), solid waste collection, police and fire protection, planning and zoning, permitting and inspections, parks and recreation, and economic development. Through its Two Rivers Utilities regional partnership, the city supplies water and wastewater treatment to approximately 100,000 residents across 10+ surrounding municipalities.

Product overview

City of Gastonia is a municipal government providing a comprehensive portfolio of public services to residents and businesses. The city's service offerings are organized around core utility services (electric, water/sewer via Two Rivers Utilities, solid waste), public safety (police and fire departments), planning and development services (permits, inspections, zoning), infrastructure management (streets, traffic, transportation), and community enrichment programs. Key digital platforms include the CityView Permitting Portal for online permit applications and the GIS/Mapping system for spatial data. The city operates Two Rivers Utilities as a regional water and wastewater provider serving approximately 100,000 residents across multiple municipalities, and maintains Advanced Metering Infrastructure for water services. Community engagement programs include the Alliance for Community Enrichment (ACE) recognized communities initiative and Municipal Citizens' Academy educational program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Two Rivers Utilities: Regional water and wastewater utility providing services to Gastonia and surrounding municipalities including Bessemer City, Cramerton, High Shoals, Stanley, Ranlo, McAdenville, Clover SC, and portions of Lowell, Belmont, Dallas, and Kings Mountain.
• Municipal Government Citizens' Academy

Products and services

• Police Services
• Fire Services
• Electric Utility Services
• Water and Sewer Services (Two Rivers Utilities)
• Solid Waste Services
• Parks and Recreation
• Planning and Zoning
• Permits and Inspections
• Streets and Traffic
• Economic Development
• Housing and Community Engagement
• Utility Customer Service
• CityView Permitting Portal
• GIS and Mapping Services
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
• Municipal Citizens' Academy
• Gastonia Farmers Market

Quantifiable outcome

• Regional water treatment capacity of 5 billion gallons per year serving approximately 100,000 residents across 10+ municipalities.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gaston CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Gastonia-Gaston HOME Consortium includes Gaston County and 12 municipalities (Belmont, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Cramerton, Dallas, Kings Mountain, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly, Ranlo, Stanley) with City of Gastonia as lead entity for federal housing funding.
• Town of Cramerton (Two Rivers Utilities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011In 2011, the merger of Gastonia's and the Town of Cramerton's water and wastewater systems initiated the formation of a formal regional utility named Two Rivers Utilities. This partnership enables regional water and wastewater service delivery to multiple municipalities.
• Gaston Farmers Market AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Non-profit association operates the Gastonia Farmers Market under agreement with the city. Market dedicated in May 1995. Association manages vendor recruitment, booth assignments, and market operations during growing season April-November.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreOthersCity of Gastonia was awarded $2.8 million as lead agency for the Gastonia-Gaston HOME Consortium under the HOME American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) for housing assistance programs serving homeless individuals, at-risk populations, and domestic violence victims.
• Gaston CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Gaston County to provide cooling locations during periods of extreme heat. County coordinates with city to offer residents access to cooling facilities during summer months.
• North Carolina Municipal Power Agency 1minorOthersNC Municipal Power Agency 1 provides energy efficient lighting rebate programs for commercial and industrial electric customers served by the city through its member city program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Charlotte Water: Municipal water and wastewater utility operated by the City of Charlotte, NC. Directly comparable to Gastonia's Two Rivers Utilities in operating regional water/wastewater treatment and distribution within a NC municipal-government framework, though at substantially larger scale.
• City of Concord, NC: Cabarrus County seat municipality operating its own water/wastewater utility with regional wholesale service to smaller towns. Closely comparable mid-sized NC city providing municipal services plus electric, water, and sewer to residents and surrounding partners.
• City of Shelby, NC: Nearby Cleveland County municipality providing municipal utilities including water/wastewater and general government services. Comparable scale and similar regional wholesale-utility posture within the broader Charlotte-metro region.
• City of Kannapolis, NC: Adjacent NC city of similar size and economic profile providing municipal utilities (water/sewer/electric) and general government services. Comparable in scale of operations, regional utility posture, and mid-sized manufacturing-region customer base.
• Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC): NC public utility providing water, sewer, and electric services to the City of Fayetteville and surrounding areas. Directly comparable as a municipal-affiliated multi-utility operator with regional reach and similar regulatory environment.
• City of Hickory, NC: Catawba County seat municipality providing electric, water, and wastewater services via its own utilities department. Directly comparable mid-sized NC city with municipal ownership of electric and water utilities and similar regional service obligations.

Broad incumbents

• Durham Water Management: Water/wastewater operations within the City of Durham, NC. Comparable municipal-utility structure serving a similar mid-sized NC population, though with different regulatory and demographic context.
• Raleigh Water: Water and wastewater utility operated by the City of Raleigh, NC. Comparable municipal-utility structure but at substantially larger scale with broader regional service obligations and a more developed AMI/SCADA footprint.

Emerging players

• Cleveland County Water: County-level water utility serving parts of Cleveland County adjacent to Gastonia's service area. Comparable in treatment and distribution operations; an adjacent regional player whose footprint overlaps with Gastonia/Two Rivers service territory.

Regional players

• York County Utilities (SC): South Carolina water/wastewater utility serving York County adjacent to Gastonia. Comparable regional water utility operations on the South Carolina side of the state line; potential partnership or competitive overlap with Two Rivers Utilities' Clover, SC service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gpdexplorer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-gastonia

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 City of Gastonia