It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Matthews Heritage Museum in Matthews, NC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Matthews, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always Best Care has been a lifesaver for our family. We have worked with them”
“Thank you for the care you gave to my dad. He did not have any”
“Always Best Care provided excellent care when I was discharged from Atrium after surgery- the”
“Lisa and her team at Always Best Care have been a great partner and resource”
“Amazing staff and services. Much appreciated.”
“I used this nursing service for my cousin Pat who had cancer. I can not”
“I love being able to work with this company, the owners are great people and”
“Services were geared according to need. We were looking at rehab and they were willing”
“I love working for this company.”
“Chuck and his personnel are truly the best. They helped us with mom and always”
“Always Best Care has been a lifesaver for our family. We have worked with them twice, both in emergency situations and they have treated us as if we were their only clients. Within an hour of our first call, we had paperwork completed and a caregiver on the way – and that was a holiday weekend. When the second emergency occurred, we knew exactly who to contact. We truly appreciate everything that Lisa, Melissa and the entire team have done for our family.”
“Thank you for the care you gave to my dad. He did not have any family living close to him. My sister and I were relived to know he was well taken care of. The caregivers truly care about your loved ones.”
“Always Best Care provided excellent care when I was discharged from Atrium after surgery- the office staff and caregivers were professional and caring- would definitely recommend if you need care at home-”
“Lisa and her team at Always Best Care have been a great partner and resource in providing services to our patients!”
“Amazing staff and services. Much appreciated.”
“I used this nursing service for my cousin Pat who had cancer. I can not express the level of care and compassion that was shown for her. The nurses felt like family! Especially Alicia. You treated my cousin as if she was your family and I can't thank you enough for that. You not only took care of her but us also. I would recommend this service 100%! We only used them for 1 month as my cousin passed quickly. I d not have a single negative remark. Thank you Chuck! Your nurses are amazing.”
“I love being able to work with this company, the owners are great people and support me daily! We have many calls to work on performance and continue to grow and learn!”
“Services were geared according to need. We were looking at rehab and they were willing to see what was needed. Very flexible and focused needs of patient All caregivers were on time We had a great experience”
“I love working for this company.”
“Chuck and his personnel are truly the best. They helped us with mom and always focused on the care and not a much of processes and forms. I would highly recommend them to all.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Stumptown Park in Matthews, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Santé or visit Carl J McEwen Historic Village, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Matthews, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Matthews, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Matthews, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Lowe’s Family Night Out promises hands-on fun for all agesCHARLOTTE, N.C. — This week, Lowe’s is transforming two Charlotte-area stores into vibrant community hubs with Ladies’ Night Out and Family Night Out, free events designed to spark creativity, connection, and a little DIY magic.Brian Shaunfield, Lowe’s Store Manager, joined Charlotte Today to share what makes these nights so special. “We wanted to create something that felt more like a celebration than a shop...
Lowe’s Family Night Out promises hands-on fun for all ages
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This week, Lowe’s is transforming two Charlotte-area stores into vibrant community hubs with Ladies’ Night Out and Family Night Out, free events designed to spark creativity, connection, and a little DIY magic.
Brian Shaunfield, Lowe’s Store Manager, joined Charlotte Today to share what makes these nights so special. “We wanted to create something that felt more like a celebration than a shopping trip,” said Shaunfield. “Ladies’ Night and Family Night are about bringing people together in a space that’s familiar, but reimagined.” Here is what to expect:
Ladies’ Night Out – Thursday, Nov. 6 | 6–8 PM (Sold Out)Lowe’s at 16830 Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NCThis evening is all about relaxation and creativity. Guests can sip mocktails, enjoy tasty bites, and groove to a live DJ while snapping selfies in front of a flower wall. The highlight? A hands-on terrarium-making station. Terrariums are a great starter project,” Shaunfield explained. “All you need is a glass container, some soil, pebbles, and a few small plants. We’ll show you how to layer it all together.” Every attendee receives a 20% off coupon for future projects—just one perk of being a MyLowe’s Rewards member.
*While this Ladies' Night Out is Sold Out - you can still get the kits to make a Terrarium at home. Brian encouraging people to continue to check their websites because they are always adding activities.
Family Night Out – Friday, Nov. 7 | 5–8 PMLowe’s at 2115 Matthews Township Pkwy, Matthews, NCThis event is built for all ages! Kids can dive into slime-making with CAMP, race through an obstacle course, and build surprise projects in a hands-on workshop. “We know it’s hard to find something the whole family enjoys,” Shaunfield said. “So we turned part of the store into a playground. It’s about making memories together.” Both events are free and open to MyLowe’s Rewards members. To register, visit lowes.com/events and search for your local store.
Whether you're crafting with friends or chasing kids through a turf maze, Lowe’s is proving it’s more than a hardware store—it’s a place where creativity and community come to life.
Family Night Out:
The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Tuesday is Election Day across the Carolinas, where local municipal elections were being held in dozens of counties.On Tuesday, Nov. 4, ballots were being cast in North Carolina and South Carolina for local offices including mayors, council members, commissioners, and other local issues and offices. WBTV was tracking election results for races throughout the Charlotte region, ...
The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Tuesday is Election Day across the Carolinas, where local municipal elections were being held in dozens of counties.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, ballots were being cast in North Carolina and South Carolina for local offices including mayors, council members, commissioners, and other local issues and offices. WBTV was tracking election results for races throughout the Charlotte region, in both North and South Carolina.
On the election results page, results are organized alphabetically by county. To toggle between North Carolina and South Carolina election results, click or tap the green “More Elections” button at the top of the page.
Election results will populate in real-time as they are reported after polls close.
Election results are not official until they are certified by a board of elections. County boards of elections in North Carolina were scheduled to meet to certify Nov. 4, 2025, election results on Nov. 14.
In North Carolina, polls were open from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
In South Carolina, polls were open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
For voters in either state: If you are in line at your polling place before polls officially close, you will still be allowed to vote even if polls close. You cannot get in line to vote after polls close.
If you still need to return your completed absentee ballot, you must drop if off in person before polls close on Tuesday.
In North Carolina, you can deliver your completed absentee ballot to your local county board of elections office. Click here to find your local office.
In South Carolina, you can deliver your completed absentee ballot to your county voter registration office. Click here to find the office in your area.
Ballots must be returned before polls officially close in either state.
Each voter is assigned a polling place for Election Day based on their residential address.
You can look up a sample of your ballot in North and South Carolina.
WBTV reached out to candidates in several high-profile local races to get their take on a number of issues.
Click the links below to read responses from dozens of local candidates.
On the ballot for Mecklenburg County voters this year is a proposed one-cent sales tax increase.
Residents were voting in favor of or against a transit tax referendum designed to increase the sales tax to benefit transportation initiatives and infrastructure in the county.
If the referendum gets approved, revenue from the increased sales tax would fund improvements for roads, rail, and buses to address traffic congestion and improve transit options across Mecklenburg County.
The sales tax rate in Mecklenburg County would increase from 7.25% to 8.25%.
Click here to learn more about the referendum.
Drawing on their own journey supporting aging parents, Sree and Sara Veda are pairing scientific training with genuine compassion to launch a Griswold franchise built on empathy and integrity.For Sree and Sara Veda, caregiving has never been theoretical — it’s personal.“We’ve experienced the challenges of helping our parents age at home,” Sree said. “I grew up with a big family and my father needed care at home. My mother is still alive but has limited mobility — she also needs home car...
Drawing on their own journey supporting aging parents, Sree and Sara Veda are pairing scientific training with genuine compassion to launch a Griswold franchise built on empathy and integrity.
For Sree and Sara Veda, caregiving has never been theoretical — it’s personal.
“We’ve experienced the challenges of helping our parents age at home,” Sree said. “I grew up with a big family and my father needed care at home. My mother is still alive but has limited mobility — she also needs home care. For my wife, her parents also needed assistance. We were able to help them through these services, and I know how difficult it is to support your parents as they age. That gave me a firsthand understanding of how important and necessary home care really is.”
After long careers in science and entrepreneurship, the couple is taking on a new mission: helping families in their community care for aging loved ones with dignity. With their opening in Matthews, North Carolina, they are using their personal experiences and professional skills to build a business that’s not only impactful but deeply needed. Compassion, they say, is the cornerstone — and gave them the right tools to lead with heart.
1851 Franchise spoke with Sree to learn more about his background, what drew the couple to Griswold and their plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Sree Veda: My background is as a PhD scientist, and my wife Sara is a scientist too. I had my own biotech company and also worked as a clinical consultant for a diagnostics company. But even before we started that business, we were thinking about home care and franchising opportunities. At the time, we didn’t move forward with it. But after selling the diagnostic lab business, I immediately started looking into other opportunities. I talked with a few agencies and finally landed on Griswold.
A big part of that decision came from our personal lives. We’ve experienced the challenges of helping our parents age at home. I grew up with sisters and my father needed care at home. My mother is still alive but has limited mobility — she also needs home care. For my wife, her parents also needed assistance. We were able to help them through these services, and I know how difficult it is to support your parents as they age. That gave me a firsthand understanding of how important and necessary home care really is.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Sree: I’m not from the senior care industry — I’m not a CNA or anything like that. This is a totally new space for me. But with my previous business experience, I had an idea of what it takes to run a business. I felt that franchising would be the better route because it gives you support, training and systems. Griswold made that transition easier for me.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Sree: What really attracted me to Griswold was the type of help they offer franchisees. I felt like it was better than what other franchisors were offering. From our very first conversations, I felt like Griswold aligned with our values and mission. It’s easier to build something that’s already established when you believe in how it operates. We liked how Griswold supports its franchisees — the systems, the network and the resources.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Sree: Our goal is to continue helping seniors in a compassionate and ethical way. That’s really the most important thing. Compassion is a key part of this service. We want to provide excellent care, use the right caregivers and do everything in a way that builds trust. That’s how we plan to grow.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Sree: Both of our children are looking to go into health care, so we’re hoping they will help with the business in the future. This could be something we pass down to them — something meaningful and lasting.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Sree: An agency like this should always be answering the phone — that’s the first thing. You need to listen carefully, be nice and be compassionate. That’s how you build a strong business in this space.
ABOUT GRISWOLD
With 196 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing professional, compassionate Caregivers 24/7. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness, or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care, and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. In 2024, Griswold was ranked #206 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit or call 215.402.0200.
MATTHEWS, N.C. — The proposed data center in Matthews is no more after the potential developer pulled their application.Most politicians Channel 9’s Eli Brand spoke with said they would not have voted to move forward with that application, but they’re not taking credit for killing it. They say they believe it was the public backlash that caused that developer to pull that application.“Probably for every 100 emails I got, about 99 were against it,” Matthews Mayor John Higdon said.Higdon says ...
MATTHEWS, N.C. — The proposed data center in Matthews is no more after the potential developer pulled their application.
Most politicians Channel 9’s Eli Brand spoke with said they would not have voted to move forward with that application, but they’re not taking credit for killing it. They say they believe it was the public backlash that caused that developer to pull that application.
“Probably for every 100 emails I got, about 99 were against it,” Matthews Mayor John Higdon said.
Higdon says the idea of a data center in the town of Matthews was an interesting one when it was proposed a few months ago. He says it could have potentially been an economic boon for the town, but the public backlash was just too much for it to be doable.
“As I learned about it, I felt that there would be too many unknowns to be real comfortable moving forward with it,” he said.
The proposal, called Project Accelerate, was for 123 acres of development along East John Street. Several neighbors spoke out in recent weeks with concerns about water usage and pollution.
According to the mayor, the center would have recycled the same water during its lifespan, but still would have required 1 million gallons to get started.
“Well, it’s pretty obvious, it’s pretty obvious that the opposition, that you’re going to be pushing that string up a hill and I urged them a severe amount of caution,” Matthews Town Commissioner John Urban said.
Urban says he and other commissioners were also hit with multitudes of negative emails about the proposed project.
As for Higdon, he said more data center applications would not be supported by him.
“I would not recommend any developer come to Matthews and suggest building a data center here,” Higdon said.
Channel 9 reached out to the developer who proposed the data center. They responding with a statement saying, “The development team for Project Accelerate has requested withdrawal of its rezoning petition. This will allow additional time to explore options.”
VIDEO: Developer withdraws plans for controversial Matthews data center project
©2025 Cox Media Group
Duke Energy plans to build new natural gas infrastructure to accommodate incoming data centers and manufacturers. But one data center developer is attempting to distance itself from the associated cost of new energy generation — illustrating the tension between the state’s biggest new power consumers and residents worried about their bills.Matthews residents packed into Town Hall on Thursday night to hear from the developers of a proposed 123-acre data center on John Street, at I-485. Many of their questions centered aroun...
Duke Energy plans to build new natural gas infrastructure to accommodate incoming data centers and manufacturers. But one data center developer is attempting to distance itself from the associated cost of new energy generation — illustrating the tension between the state’s biggest new power consumers and residents worried about their bills.
Matthews residents packed into Town Hall on Thursday night to hear from the developers of a proposed 123-acre data center on John Street, at I-485. Many of their questions centered around how much electricity the new data center would use.
"Because you’re going to be pulling so much more energy than, you just said — than all of us combined — why aren’t you just paying for it? Why do we have to bear the burden?" one resident asked the developers.
The data center would require 600 megawatts of power, according to Drew Nations, CEO of Engineered Land Solutions, one of the project’s developers. For scale, that’s roughly two-thirds the capacity of Duke’s entire Shearon Harris nuclear reactor, outside Raleigh.
Nations said the developers would pay for local transmission upgrades to bring the electricity, but did not mention upgrades to energy generation facilities to make it. He also referenced Duke’s 2025 resources plan.
"They’re saying that they’re planning for power bills each year to be 2.1% increase year over year. That’s already published. This is their plan regardless of what happens tonight," he said.
That annual increase was an estimated average over 10 years and would change depending on large load customers, such as data centers. Duke’s plan has not been approved yet by regulators, and Matthews Town Commissioners have yet to vote on the data center plan.
WFAE remains committed to our mission: to serve our community with fact-based, nonpartisan journalism. But our ability to do that depends on the strength of the financial response from the communities we serve. Please support our journalism by contributing today.
704-552-8581
