Yancey County officials have taken legal action against Florida‑based Paradigm Energy and Storage, seeking to regain ownership of the 84.5‑acre industrial parcel in Burnsville that the county deeded to the company in 2025.
Failure to meet contractual commitments
The county’s complaint, filed on Oct. 14, alleges that Paradigm has not fulfilled any of its obligations under the economic development agreement. The agreement required a $175 million investment and the creation of 150 jobs by 2027, none of which have materialized.
In addition to the lack of progress, Paradigm’s North Carolina certificate of authority was revoked last month for failing to file required annual paperwork. The company also owes $33,441 in overdue property taxes dating to last year.
County’s response and next steps
County Manager Lynn Austin told Carolina Public Press that, while she cannot discuss ongoing litigation, the county is “looking forward to picking up where we left off” in finding a new partner for the site. Austin expressed confidence that the lawsuit will result in the land returning to county ownership.
Yancey County purchased the parcel in 2022 using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, intending to develop a state‑certified industrial site. After the county’s development pause in 2024 due to Tropical Storm Helene, the county has already allocated $13,000 for water and wastewater services, matched by $98,000 in state funds.
Red flags and unanswered questions
Earlier reporting highlighted irregularities in Paradigm’s formation documents, including a Florida attorney’s cellphone listed as the principal office number and a deceased Linville Falls resident named as the registered agent. Both the attorney and the family denied any association with the company.
Paradigm’s North Carolina address was a private mailbox at a UPS store, and its founder, Florida native Chris McKendree, has remained out of public view since introducing the project to residents in February 2025. Attempts to contact McKendree this year failed when his cellphone was deactivated.
Co‑defendant and potential complications
The lawsuit also names Nicholas Styles, a Yancey resident who bought just under half an acre of the site for $10 in September 2025, as a co‑defendant. Styles has not responded to inquiries, and neither he nor Paradigm have been formally served.
Summoning Paradigm to a North Carolina court may prove difficult, given the company’s apparent retreat to Florida. The county’s retained attorney, John Noor of Roberts & Stevens in Asheville, has not commented on possible recourse if Paradigm remains non‑responsive.
Future prospects for the Burnsville site
If the land reverts to county control, officials plan to seek a new industrial partner. Yancey’s remote location on the Tennessee border makes large‑scale development rare; the last major facility, an Altec Industries plant built in 2006, remains the county’s largest employer.
Local Democratic commissioner candidate Landon Beaver expressed hope that existing manufacturers like Altec might expand onto the site, bringing “real economic benefit” to the community.
Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.
