After three decades of service to the City of Kannapolis, City Manager Mike Legg has announced his retirement. Mike communicated his plans to the current Mayor and City Council last week prior to the election.

“This past August I had a milestone birthday coupled with the milestone of 30 years of serving the City of Kannapolis. With the passing of time, you naturally begin to think about what the next chapter of your life both personally and professionally looks like,” he said. “In addition to spending more time with my family, my post-Kannapolis goals are centered on the pursuit of passion projects focused on helping other communities transform the way we helped Kannapolis transition”.   

“My time as the City Manager of Kannapolis has been a privilege and a joy. We have been able to accomplish great things in our City over the last 30 years. Completing the Downtown Revitalization Project, attracting dozens of companies and thousands of jobs and creating a family of employees who deeply care for our City and its residents are just a few of the things I am proud to have achieved during my service to the City.  It is now time to step off the hamster wheel of working full-time and focus on the next stage of my life.”

“As we enter a new chapter of the City’s history, with a new Mayor and new Council Members, it is good time for me to step aside.  A new City Manager will be able to join with the staff and begin to implement the vision and goals of this new City Council. My plan is to retire April 30, 2026, which gives the City Council plenty of time to select my replacement and begin the transition process,” – Mike Legg

“While we are excited for Mike’s new adventures in retirement he will be greatly missed. He could have been a City Manager anywhere in the country, but he chose Kannapolis as his home and his tenure here has shaped the City for decades. His ability to seize opportunities and cultivate relationships that have resulted in economic growth for our City cannot be measured nor should he be forgotten. Our reputation as one of the top cities for corporate development and quality of life is due in large part to his guidance. He will be missed,” said Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant.

Mike Legg has served as City Manager since 2004. He began working for Kannapolis in 1995, first as the City’s Planning Director and then as Assistant City Manager. He has been involved in the dramatic change of Kannapolis over the past decade with the transformation of the community from a textile-based economy to a regional economy with expanding roots in biotechnology and tourism. This transformation included the development of the North Carolina Research Campus in partnership with David Murdock/Castle & Cooke, Cabarrus County and several state universities.

In 2015 Mike played an integral part in the negotiations to purchase approximately 50 acres, and eight blocks of downtown buildings for approximately $6 million.

With this purchase Mike has led his management team and others to develop a strategic downtown master plan which has resulted in a three-phase approach for the Downtown Revitalization Project: replacement and construction of infrastructure and streetscape; the construction of Atrium Health Ballpark and a mixed-use district, VIDA, with a new parking deck.

Under his leadership the City of Kannapolis has survived the closure of one of the State’s largest companies, the layoff of more than 4,000 employees, two major droughts, the Great Recession including stagnant revenues and a global pandemic. Through all those challenges, Kannapolis has found a way to prosper and become one of the top cities in North Carolina and the U.S.

Leaning on his City Planning background, Mike implemented a strategic plan for growth throughout the City. He has systemically used best practices to ensure Kannapolis capitalizes on its strategic assets such as six interstate interchanges, plentiful land in and around the downtown area and areas preserved for industrial investments. He has ensured the City’s commitment in infrastructure improvements along the I-85 and Kannapolis Parkway corridors where people and companies are now investing in significant residential and commercial development. During his tenure, the City now facilitates six thriving industrial areas that are home to numerous companies including two Amazon facilities, Prime Beverage, Gordon Food Service, Haas Racing NASCAR and Formula One Teams, Rebel, and Chick-fil-A Supply and more than 7 million square feet of industrial space.

The Charlotte Business Journal has recognized Mike as one of the Top CEOs in the Charlotte Metro Region and one of the “Power 100” which identified the 100 key players shaping the Charlotte region since 2000.  Mike was also awarded the James D. Prosser Excellence in Government Leadership Award by the Centralina Regional Council of Government.

Over the past thirty years, his community and regional involvement have included numerous boards and support of advocacy groups such as:

Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce, International City and County Managers Association (ICMA), NC City and County Manager’s Association (NCCCMA), Chair of the Water and Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County (WSACC) , Kannapolis Rotary Club (Past President), Kannapolis Education Foundation Board of Directors, N.C. Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors, Foundation for the Carolinas – Cabarrus, Board of Directors, Cabarrus Arts Council Board of Directors, and the United Way of Cabarrus Board of Directors.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, his professional career has included positions with the City of Charlotte, the City of Cape Coral, FL, the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, and Vice President of Benchmark, Inc.

Mike and his wife, Kelly, have two adult children, Tyler and Rachel. He and his wife plan to remain in Kannapolis and stay actively engaged in the community.