Brown Mill: From Industrial Landmark to a New Era of Community Transformation

For more than a century, the Brown Mill site has been part of Concord's industrial and economic history. Built in the early 1900s as the Brown Manufacturing Company, this facility helped drive the textile boom that defined Cabarrus County throughout the 20th century. Later acquired as part of the Cannon Mills network (Plant 10)—one of the most influential textile producers in the nation—Brown Mill contributed to the county's rapid growth and employment, weaving itself firmly into the region's identity.

Now, more than 100 years later, this historic site along Cabarrus Avenue is entering a bold new chapter. The Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM) has purchased the 10.5-acre property, which includes four large structures totaling about 220,000 square feet, with plans to transform it into a mixed-use community development that addresses one of the most pressing issues of our time—housing stability.

CCM's vision, called The Rebuilders Campus at Brown Mill Commons, represents a partnership between local organizations, government leaders, and the community to combat homelessness and housing insecurity in Cabarrus County. The new development will provide transitional housing, essential support services, and job and educational programs to help individuals and families regain stability.

The first phase will include two 24-unit apartment buildings, a program and activity center, and a daycare facility—serving 48 families and roughly 150 individuals. Long-term plans call for four apartment buildings totaling 96 housing units and supporting nearly 300 residents. Each family will have access to health, nutrition, employment, and education programs, along with dedicated case managers to help them achieve long-term independence.

In recognition of the site's history and the local families who helped shape Concord, CCM hosted a special naming ceremony to honor several influential local families. The Tucker family, founders of Shoe Show, Inc., will be recognized through the official naming of the Tucker Rebuilders Campus, celebrating their decades-long partnership with CCM.

Two additional buildings within the development will carry legacies tied to Cabarrus County's industrial and philanthropic roots:

• The Ann and Bill Cannon Enterprise Building—honoring leaders of the Cannon Mills family—will include retail spaces and gathering areas to serve the community.
• The Davis Family Education and Wellness Building, named for Alan and Robin Davis of S&D Coffee, will house programs by the Cabarrus Health Alliance and classroom space for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and other training partners.

CCM's planned $43 million revitalization project, expected to unfold in three phases over seven years, will transform the historic mill into a hub of housing, education, and opportunity—a fitting evolution for a site that once powered the county's economy. With nearly $20 million raised through public and private funding, The Rebuilders Campus at Brown Mill Commons represents both a remembrance of Cabarrus County's industrial past and a hopeful investment in its future.

Where machinery once produced textiles that clothed America, the site will soon produce something even more lasting—a renewed sense of community, purpose, and hope for generations to come.

Learn more about The Rebuilders Campus at rebuilderscampus.com.