After three decades of service to the City of Kannapolis, Mike Legg was honored with several recognitions at the Kannapolis City Council meeting and a reception this Monday.
Mike was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor that can be bestowed to a citizen in North Carolina. The Kannapolis City Council voted to name the roundabout in front of City Hall the Mike B. Legg Roundabout. He was also presented with resolutions of gratitude and honor from U.S. Congressman Addison McDowell, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator Ted Budd and N.C. Senator Carl Ford. He also received U.S. flags that were flown in his name over the U.S. and N.C. Capitols.
Numerous speakers from all areas of the community from non-profits, the Kannapolis City Schools, Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce, the Community Bridge Project, the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, former and current regional mayors and council members, business owners and professional colleagues spoke about their relationships with Mike.
Comments made regarding Mike’s Legacy included:
“We are in this room – here in City Hall – because he built it. There probably would be no City Hall, no Atrium Health Ballpark or everything else we see downtown without his vision for it”. (Rick Flowe, Benchmark)
“Mike is one of those rare leaders who delivers. He always worked together with us to collaborate on what students at our community college needed. He was key in securing the land we needed for the Advanced Technology Center”. (Dr. Carol Spalding, RCCC)
“The foundations Mike has built will continue to shape our city's future. The teams he has mentored will carry forward the vision. And the relationships he has nurtured will remain strong long after he has stepped away”. (Roger Haas, Former City Council Member & Business Owner)
“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.”
– Mike Legg
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 seen Kannapolis through its incorporation and worked with 25 of 28 elected officials the City has had.
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 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 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 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 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 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 Google, 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 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. He has taken a position with WithersRavenel as Regional Market Executive – Charlotte.
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.
See photos from the event here.
See videos from the event here.