ASSEMBLING A FUTURE Making our state the best place for business.
ECONOMIC DATA FOR ALL 100 COUNTIES
BIOTECH BETS BIG ON THE TAR HEEL STATE
AEROSPACE AND AUTO- PARTS MANUFACTURERS REV UP GROWTH
FINANCE MERGES WITH TECHNOLOGY IN A THRIVING NEW SECTOR
We call them Statesville, NC Smart Sites.
Business Park Drive Bu You’ll call them Highway US 70 a no-brainer.
Page Rd What are Smart Sites? US 264 d oa • Shovel-ready for development t R Legget • On-site municipal electric service • Water & sewer within 500 feet • Within 5 miles of Interstate or Interstate-quality highway Washington, NC • Reviewed and qualified by consultants and engineers
Statesville Business Park: Wilson Corporate Park: • 44.25 acres, Smart Sites qualified • 350 acres, Smart Sites qualified • Underground utilities in place • I-95 (0.34 mi ); Interstate quality US 264 (0.01 mi) • Interstate quality US 70 (0.41 mi); I-77 (5.24 mi); I-40 (7.8 mi) • Potential for on-site rail • Sale price: $27,500 per acre • Sale price: $28,000 per acre
Smart Sites are a slam-dunk choice for companies that are ready to grow now. The Smart Site (or S2) designation guarantees that a site has met stringent requirements and is “shovel-ready” for immediate development. Each Smart Site has municipal electric service, water and sewer access within 500 feet, and is within five miles of an Interstate or Interstate-quality highway. Potential sites undergo an extensive review process by engineers and other experts, and S2 sites are periodically recertified to ensure accurate, reliable data. Faster construction, fewer uncertainties and less risk for companies and site selectors alike — that’s the genius of the Smart Sites program. But that’s only part of the story. You see, Smart Sites are located in some of the best places in America to live and do business. We’re ElectriCities, representing more than 70 North Carolina Public Power communities, and we created the Smart Sites qualification program to assist our members in developing ready-to-build sites. Railroad , NC I-95 Cor por at e P a Merck Road r k Lamn Road w
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Salisbury Highway y
US 264 and I-795 rive B rk D u Pa d siness lv al B ation Intern
I-95 Airport Blvd NW Wilson, NC
US 64 (Future I-495)
Cherry Run Road US 64
McNair Road
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McKendree Church Road on, NC Tarboro, NC
Washington-Beaufort County Industrial Park: Tarboro Commerce Center: • 81 acres, Smart Sites qualified • 95.89 acres, Smart Sites qualified • Interstate quality US 264 (1.5 mi) • Interstate quality US 64 (0.67 mi); I-95 (19 mi) • Sale price: $15,000 per acre • $10,000 per acre, negotiable. Copyright © 2016 ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc.
When you choose a Smart Site, you’re also choosing the superior customer service municipally owned and operated electric distribution systems are known for. And you’re making a green choice, too — a significant percentage of our power comes from low-carbon and carbon-free sources, and that percentage will continue to rise as we implement more clean energy technologies. Call us today for quick and confidential answers to your questions, or to schedule a Smart Sites tour. If you’re planning to start, expand or relocate a business, it’s a no-brainer.
To learn more about these properties, contact Brenda Daniels at 800.768.7697 ext. 6363 or [email protected].
®
ECONOMIC dEVELOPMENt GuIdE
OVERVIEW RESOURCE RICH 10 Local, state and private groups work 10 together to lend companies a hand. CasE studIEs POWER PLAY 18 A new natural-gas pipeline will boost energy resources in eastern North Carolina. By Edward Martin FULL SPEED AHEAD 28 Auto-parts manufacturing revs up as companies discover the state’s business-friendly environment. By Sam Boykin 18 THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION 36 A Danish drugmaker picks North Carolina for its $1.8 billion manufacturing plant. By D. Lawrence Bivins TAKING FLIGHT 42 A talented workforce helps aerospace and aviation companies compete in a global marketplace. By Spencer Campbell
FINa NCIa L t ECHNOLOGY THE FUTURE OF MONEY 48 Financial-technology firms help bolster the state’s reputation as a hub for innovation and technology. 42 By Sam Boykin
AROUND THE STATE 10 reasons to be here...... 6 Transportation and infrastructure...... 54 Regions at a glance...... 57 North Carolina by the numbers...... 62 Economic data by county...... 64 Economic-development partnerships ...... 78 For more information...... 80
57 Cover photo of Linamar Corp. by Taylor Johnson. NCEDG | w elcome 10 REASONS TO BE IN N.C.
1. A business-friendly tAx climAte and Interstate 77 connecting Ohio to South Carolina. The North Carolina is committed to making its already competitive state has four international airports and 11 regional airports. taxes even more business-friendly. Under a multiyear tax North Carolina also has the largest consolidated rail system in overhaul, the corporate income tax rate will fall to 3% on the country and two deep-water ports located along Atlantic Jan. 1, 2017 — the lowest top rate among 44 states with the shipping lines. levy. In addition, the state will fully phase in single sales factor apportionment for all corporations by January 2018. The method 6. nAtionAlly recognized business climAte encourages business growth by calculating tax liability based North Carolina consistently finishes among the leaders in entirely on a company’s North Carolina sales instead of also national business rankings. The state is tied with Texas as Site factoring in corporate payroll and property value in the state. Selection magazine’s most competitive state for attracting new plants. Forbes ranks North Carolina as the nation’s second-best 2. skilled And growing workforce state for business and careers; Chief Executive as the third-best North Carolina’s population is at 10 million and growing — by state for business; and CNBC as the fifth-best state for business. 281 new residents a day. The state is the nation’s ninth most- populous, and its labor pool has access to world-class education 7. QuAlity of life and training. Students are seeking degrees at 53 colleges and North Carolina’s low cost of living, broad access to quality health universities across the state. The state’s 58-campus community- care and family-friendly reputation make it an ideal place to college system is the nation’s third-largest and a national call home. North Carolinians also enjoy a moderate climate model for customized workforce training. Moreover, North year-round and unique access to a variety of stunning natural Carolina’s 100,000-plus active-duty military personnel offer landscapes, flanked by the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue ready technical skills as they enter civilian life. Ridge Mountains to the west and 300 miles of beaches to the east.
3: AffordAble business-operAting costs 8. comfortAble in the globAl economy North Carolina’s cost-effective business environment is clear North Carolina embraces its growing role in the global in measures of electricity and natural-gas rates; office lease economy. The state exported $30 billion in merchandise and construction costs; wages; and overall cost of living. to global markets in 2015. North Carolina exports have Average construction costs in the state’s metropolitan areas increased 20% over the past five years. Over the last decade, are 18% below the national average. North Carolina’s industrial North Carolina has attracted 538 foreign direct-investment electricity costs run nearly 9% below the national average. In projects, the sixth-most in the nation. addition, the second-lowest unionization rate in the nation contributes to affordable salaries and flexible workplaces. 9. performAnce-bAsed, tArgeted incentives North Carolina offers eligible companies state and local 4. leAdership in reseArch And innovAtion programs that lower their costs and increase their global North Carolina’s universities excel in research and development competitiveness, including performance-based grants tied to job and generate significant intellectual property. The University creation. In 2015, legislators increased the annual cap on grants of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University rank from the state’s flagship incentive program by one-third and among the top 50 universities worldwide for the most U.S. utility significantly expanded possible grants for projects that create patents issued in 2015, and North Carolina State University large-scale employment and investment in North Carolina. ranks among the top 100. 10. economic-development AssistAnce 5. you cAn get there from here The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Manufacturers in North Carolina, with its central East Coast based in Cary, helps companies of all sizes identify sites, location, have excellent access to U.S. markets via some navigate economic-development incentives, find workforce of the nation’s primary transportation arteries, including solutions and more. If you are interested in locating or Interstate 95 along the length of East Coast, Interstate 85 growing your business in North Carolina, call 919-447-7744, through the Southeast, Interstate 40 stretching to California email [email protected] or visit edpnc.com.
6 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE Source: Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Inc. PORT OF Hello, Tomorrow.
Building for tomorrow has always been our goal. Which is why North Carolina Ports is investing more than $100 million in infrastructure improvements to accommodate the ever-changing shipping industry. And why we have one of the only on-terminal cold storage facilities on the East Coast, with 101,000 square feet to store goods and blast freeze imports and exports right on-site. All to better help you succeed. So start tomorrow today. Give us a call and learn all the ways we’re working for you.
1.800.218.3454 / NCPorts.com
PORT OF PROGRESS open for business AND CLOSE TO EVERYTHING We work hard to make our community the ASSEMBLING ideal place to establish your company. We A FUTURE Making our state have a state-of-the-art FAA-certified aviation the best place for business and technical training center; world-class broadband; and plenty of affordable commercial,
ECONOMIC DATA FOR industrial or warehousing space. Need a site ALL 100 COUNTIES BIOTECH BETS BIG ON THE TAR HEEL STATE with runway access? We have that too. AEROSPACE AND AUTO- PARTS MANUFACTURERS REV UP GROWTH
FINANCE MERGES WITH TECHNOLOGY IN A WE’RE RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED THRIVING NEW SECTOR TO BE, AND CONNECTED TO the WHERE YOU’RE GOING. opportunity is Our strategic location enables same-day PROJECT EDITOR RIGHT HERE, Cathy Martin trucking to over half the nation’s consumer RIGHT NOW and industrial markets. The Port of Virginia CONTRIBUTING EDITORS is just 50 miles away. We’re close to 11 Pete M. Anderson, D. Lawrence Bivins, regional and three international airports Elizabeth City is more than just a great place Sam Boykin, Spencer Campbell, Edward Martin and, our Elizabeth City Regional Airport can to visit; it’s a wonderful place to work, raise a CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER accommodate helicopters, Lear jets, and 747s. family or retire. To take a closer look, contact: Taylor Johnson ELIZABETH CITY | PASQUOTANK COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY PHONE 252.338.0169 TOLL-FREE 888.338.1678 HarborOfOpportunity.com PUBLISHER Ben Kinney
EDITOR WE’RE NOT JUST AN AIRPORT. David Mildenberg SENIOR EDITOR WE’RE AN AIRPORT WITH A VISION. Allison Williams ASSOCIATE EDITOR Cathy Martin
SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Edward Martin
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Moira Johnson
ART DIRECTOR Kathryn Galloway Charlotte Douglas International Airport ACCOUNT MANAGERS is an integrated transportation center; Andrea Kroger, Melanie Weaver
a multimodal hub connecting air, MARKETING COORDINATOR Jennifer Ware rail and truck to create economic opportunities – the Gateway to the Carolinas. 1230 W. Morehead Street, Suite 308, Charlotte, NC 28208 Telephone: 704-523-6987 All contents copyright ©2016 Old North State Magazines, LLC
PRESIDENT David Woronoff EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jim Dodson cltairport.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Andie Rose NCEDG | WELCOME ONE SIZE FITS ALL
orth Carolina attracts companies because of largest insulin-maker, and HAECO Americas, which its strong workforce, top-notch educational repairs and refurbishes airplanes at PTI International N resources and business-friendly regulatory Airport in Greensboro. A workforce skilled in information policies. Those businesses choose to stay technology, fi nancial services and other sectors is helping and, in many cases, expand because of the outstanding make Charlotte and Raleigh two of the fastest-growing quality of life, mild weather with four distinct seasons and large metro areas in the U.S. At the same time, North unparalleled recreational opportunities. Carolina is dotted with thriving smaller cities that off er This year’s North Carolina Economic Development a slower pace and close-knit community. For urbanites, Guide® spotlights industries, companies and people surburbanites or rural dwellers, it’s a great state to raise who have caught the Tar Heel spirit. They include a family. Cornel Broenner, who has lived in several states since Couple those advantages with outstanding attractions emigrating from Germany in 1999 but decided to settle such as beaches and mountains and it is clear: There’s in Henderson County, where he is general manager of a no better place to work and play than North Carolina. new Demmel AG auto-parts manufacturing plant (“Full We hope this guide provides a closer look at the state’s speed ahead,” page 28). many attributes. Many other companies are choosing North Carolina, including large expansions by Novo Nordisk, the world’s — Cathy Martin, project editor
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 9 statewide | Q+A resource rich
Local, state and private groups work together to attract industry and promote tourism in North Carolina.
hough North Carolina consistently lands at or near the top of national business-climate rankings, the state isn’t T resting on its laurels. Two years ago, the state created a public-private partnership to tackle job-recruitment, tourism-promotion, international-trade and other efforts previously handled by the state Commerce department. While several high-profile projects and events have bypassed the state due to the controversial public-accommodations law commonly known as House Bill 2, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina remains steadfast in its efforts to recruit business. The group is led by Christopher Chung, who came to the Cary- based organization in 2015 after helping launch a similar effort in Missouri. The nonprofit EDPNC enables the state to tap into additional private resources, allowing it to be more aggressive and wide-reaching in its efforts to connect with companies looking to move or expand here, Chung says. He explains how the partnership works with businesses in carrying out its five core functions: recruiting new companies, taking care of existing employers, promoting North Carolina exports, promoting the state for travel and tourism, and providing counseling for small businesses and startups. Comments were edited for brevity and clarity. REGAN BRYAN
10 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE NORTH CAROLINA AT A GLANCE 10 BILLION POPULATION, 9TH LARGEST IN THE U.S. 4.8 MILLION CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE 53 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 58 COMMUNITY-COLLEGE CAMPUSES 12 FORTUNE 500 COMPANY HEADQUARTERS
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 11 How Has tHe public-private How does tHe edpnc Help companies find partnersHip improved business- tHe rigHt location witHin tHe state? recruitment efforts ? Some companies come with a preconceived notion of It’s given us access to even more resources, primarily where they want to be, or where they think they need to be. financial, to broaden and strengthen the reach of the Some have done a lot of desktop data analysis prior to even organization’s marketing message of “why North picking up the phone, looking at workforce-availability Carolina?” The two biggest audiences that we try to models, utility-cost models, availability of suitable real reach, business and tourism, are both critical to economic estate, etc. development in this state. The more successful we are in Others come with ideas based on familiarity: Charlotte, getting those audiences to put their investment here in Raleigh, Durham are places they’ve heard of and that’s North Carolina, that’s ultimately something that helps the where they want to look. If a company comes in and says entire state’s prosperity. ‘this is the only area we are focused on,’ and it’s very clear Unlike a state agency, as a nonprofit we are able to why, we’re not going to push them elsewhere. raise dollars from private-sector companies that also With other companies, based on their parameters, would benefit if North Carolina’s economy is firing on the entire state could be in play. Any time we have the all cylinders. So it’s no surprise that a lot of our private- ability to influence where the company is looking, it’s our sector investors are power companies, construction firms, responsibility to broaden that playing field as much as real-estate firms, banks — those are all industries that see possible because that puts more options in the mix for benefits to their bottom line if North Carolina’s economy North Carolina. As a state organization, anywhere is a win is performing at a very high level. for the state. Y burn H am cind
12 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE Let’s Get Moving
The CSX Carolina Connector Intermodal Terminal (CCX) will position the Twin Counties of Nash and Edgecombe, along with all of Eastern North Carolina, as a major logistics terminal/hub for the East Coast. The terminal offers huge potential for manufacturing and distributing businesses — from improved market access to lower shipping costs — and will certainly lead to economic development throughout the state. So all aboard. Learn more about the CSX Carolina 427 Falls Rd • Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Connector Intermodal Terminal at econdev.org. 252-442-0114
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NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 13 WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR EXISTING resources that can help them do that. Other times, it’s a BUSINESSES OR COMPANIES NEW TO THE STATE? regulatory challenge, maybe a permit that they need but It’s incumbent on us to take care of all companies, haven’t been able to get, and we’ll help them navigate that whether they’ve been here for a day or 50 years. We have process. Sometimes it’s a transportation issue — maybe to one representative for each of eight regional prosperity facilitate an expansion, they need a new turn lane added zones who spend their workdays calling on existing on their access road. Or it may be just offering resources employers, usually in partnership with local economic to help with things like lean management and greater developers. They walk through issues that may be holding efficiency in the workplace. those companies back from growing further here in North Fundamentally, their toolbox is essentially any and all Carolina, and discuss available opportunities for those state, regional or private-sector resources that can help assist companies to expand in the state. And if so, what resources with a company’s growth. They have a whole Swiss Army could help accelerate the timetable for that expansion? knife of resources that they can pick and choose based on Sometimes, it’s a workforce-development issue. Maybe whatever particular issue a company is facing. The end goal they don’t feel like they have the resources to hire and is to not only get those companies to keep their doors open train a workforce, so we’ll connect them with some of the here, but also facilitate future growth or expansion.
14 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE HOW DOES THE PARTNERSHIP HELP MANUFACTURERS? A key function of the EDPNC is export assistance. Some companies have products that are selling very well here in North Carolina or in the United States, and they may be looking to expand into Canada or Mexico, oftentimes further afi eld. Our goal is to help these companies fi gure out whether, where and how they can enter new markets overseas. These are small or midsized companies that don’t have a global sales team or global distribution network — smaller fi rms that are selling a pallet-load today but want to expand that to a container-full down the road. If those companies are successful selling more of their goods overseas, that money is by and large going to fl ow back to the companies here, and it’s money they can invest in further expanding their operations.
MILLENNIALS RECENTLY SURPASSED BABY BOOMERS AS AMERICA’S LARGEST GENERATION. HOW IS NORTH CAROLINA POSITIONING ITSELF AS A PLACE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WANT TO WORK AND LIVE? A lot of places are trying to fi gure out how to attract their fair share of this population, because there’s some credence to the idea that employers will follow the workforce rather than the workforce following the employers. I think the eff ort to build a place that’s attractive to this generation tends to be led more by people in metro areas or at the county level. Charlotte’s had a lot of great success building out the LYNX light rail line, and the new extension from downtown up to UNC Charlotte’s campus (expected to open in fall 2017) is a great example of that. North Carolina is very fortunate to have both beaches and mountains, which are in close proximity to our metro areas. That alone is enough to compel people to put North Carolina on the list of places they’d like to move.
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 15 In the South, we were always taught not to “toot” our own horn… There’s no silver bullet to how you But a few notes of praise never hurt anyone. attract millennials, but North Carolina is Only minutes from Raleigh NC and located at the crossroads of still a relatively aff ordable environment. - - Taxes, housing and energy costs are all I 95/I 40 and the CSX/Norfolk rail, Johnston County is in an considerably at or below the national enviable position for recruiting new, high-tech companies with average. We’ve got a lot of things close proximity to the RTP, RDU and three renowned research naturally fl owing to our advantage. universities. 2015 - 2016 Announced Investments HOW IMPORTANT IS INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT? It’s very important. Historically, $1.8 Billion when you look at the number of business-recruitment projects and expansion deals that we are competing for, about a third are foreign-owned $375 Million companies. Europe, Canada, Asia are probably the three largest markets. We are increasingly seeing deals fl ow from India, Turkey and China. $30 Million We’ve really tried to beef up our foreign direct investment attraction eff orts, focusing on the businesses that are looking to set up operations here in the U.S. We’ve tried to strengthen that 919-205-1232 www.JCNCED.com approach in hopes it will lead to more deals that North Carolina can compete for and ultimately win.
John L. Pinnix DO INCENTIVES MATTER? In 90% of the cases where we are competing with other states to attract ALLEN & PINNIX, P.A . a particular employer or to convince an Immigration Strategies for Employing Foreign Nationals existing employer to grow, incentives are part of the conversation. For some companies, absolutely, it’s going to • Multinational Personnel Transfers - Executives/Managers/Specialized Workers break the tie between North Carolina • TN Status for Canadian and Mexican Citizens (NAFTA) and another location. For other • H-1B Specialty Occupations companies, it may be somewhat less important. You still have to have a • E-2 Treaty Investors and Essential Employees strong business case in all the other • Employment Based Green Cards areas that a company is evaluating, such as the overall cost of business from tax, Jack Pinnix is a NC Board Certified Immigration Specialist energy and real-estate perspectives. You still have to have an available workforce and institutions that can crank out Comprehensive Immigration Representation for Over 35 Years that future workforce, such as two- and four-year colleges, K-12 schools, etc. You WHEN RESULTS MATTER, EXPERIENCE COUNTS still have to have good infrastructure and locational access to whichever 919.755.0505 l [email protected] markets a company is trying to serve. All of these things are going to be immigration-naturalization-law.com weighed in diff erent proportions by 1101 Oberlin Rd., Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27605 each individual company. But incentives are not the only thing.
16 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF NORTH CAROLINA IS“ VERY FORTUNATE NORTH CAROLINA’S MILITARY POPULATION. TO HAVE BOTH BEACHES AND MOUNTAINS, We’ve got about 17,000 members of WHICH ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR the armed services leaving the military each year, re-entering civilian life and the METRO AREAS. THERE’S NO SILVER BULLET private-sector workforce. A lot of these TO HOW YOU ATTRACT MILLENNIALS, BUT individuals bring a wealth of real skills and an indisputable work ethic to any NORTH CAROLINA IS STILL A RELATIVELY employer lucky enough to have them. The question is, how do you help an AFFORDABLE ENVIRONMENT.” employer translate what someone did in the armed services into something that’s analogous in the private sector? For example, if you’re in artillery command, what does that actually translate to in terms of a skill set that a private-sector employer can appreciate? There’s been a lot of progress here in North Carolina in updating job- search databases. If you’re active-duty military, you put in your qualifi cations, and the job-search platforms can essentially translate what your skill set means in the armed services versus what it would parallel in the private sector. The North Carolina For Military Employment initiative, which helps connect military talent with jobs and education opportunities, was launched in the middle of 2015. Having access to these men and women leaving the armed services is another pipeline of really high-quality talent that can help our employers be that much more productive.
HOW IS THE STATE FARING, IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? n Serving over 12,000 curriculum students each year We’re having a strong year in terms of FOR MORE n activity and companies that are looking Serving over 9,800 continuing education students each year INFO VISIT here and considering North Carolina. I n 66 Curriculum programs available think we benefi t from doing very well n 100 Certificate and diploma options PITTCC.EDU in business-climate rankings that come n degrees, certificates, and diplomas available Forbes More than 40 OR JOIN out each year, including CNBC, completely online and CEO Magazine. That gets us on US ON n a lot of short lists to be considered by Listed as one of G.I. Jobs 2016 Military Friendly Schools companies when they are growing. n Customized industrial training available But that’s no excuse for us not being proactive and intentional when we go out there and target other opportunities to recruit more companies.
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 17 EASTERN NoRTh CARoliNA
Challenge: To provide reliable energy resources and stabilize costs for existing and prospective new industries in eastern North Carolina.
Solution: Four energy companies form a joint venture to build a 600-mile pipeline that will help the region meet rising demand for natural gas and generate $11.7 million in annual economic activity in N.C. V i DED BY DUKE ENERGY PR o 18 North Caroli N a E C o N o m i C D E v E l o p m EN t G u i DE case study | energy POWER PLAY
Utilities unite to bring a natural-gas pipeline to eastern North Carolina, bolstering the state’s energy resources.
By EDWARD MARTIN
urn right up there off the main road, go a little ways and take another right,” the clerk at the country store says. He adds with “T a grin, “I don’t think you’ll miss it.” His meaning is soon clear: The pine plantations that line both sides of River Road in the tiny rural community of Cofield suddenly give way to a massive industrial complex. Its inner workings are even more striking than finding the plant here on the upper Chowan River, where tugboats nudge barges of scrap metal to its dock. Figures in fireproof hoods go about their jobs in what could be the caldera of a volcano. Roaring, 3,000-degree furnaces belch orange flame as overhead cranes shuttle cauldrons of molten metal toward rollers that flatten it into steel plate. Charlotte-based Nucor Corp.’s Hertford County steel plant began production in 2000. Nucor is the nation’s largest steel maker and one of the world’s largest recyclers, and this plant alone can turn out more than $1 billion worth of steel annually. Nearly 480 employees here typically earn about $90,000 a year, almost triple Hertford’s average. To the southwest and about 90 miles inland is another plant, but one more attuned to its rural Tar Heel setting. Forklifts dart about, unloading hundreds of tons of orange-hued sweet potatoes, Nash County’s second largest crop to tobacco. The potatoes tumble along conveyor wash lines, on the way to being sliced, pureed, dehydrated, ground into flour or otherwise processed. Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients Inc. supplies the global food industry with filler materials for soups, baked goods, pet food and other products. The company is part of Richmond, Va.-based Universal Corp., whose separate, 1.2 million-square-foot Universal Leaf subsidiary nearby is among the world’s largest tobacco processors. Dissimilar as they are, the steel and food manufacturers have a bond. Nucor is widely considered North Carolina’s largest industrial energy user, and Universal is one of eastern North Carolina’s largest natural-gas consumers, says Rich Worsinger, director of energy resources for the nearby city of Rocky Mount. Within two years, the two could have something else in common.
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline will provide natural gas to power stations including Duke Energy’s Sutton Energy Complex in Wilmington. The combined-cycle plant came online in November 2013, replacing a 59-year-old coal plant.
North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 19 Clarksburg The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a proposed $5 billion conduit for natural gas that will roughly parallel Interstate 95 for nearly 200 miles in eastern North Charleston Carolina. When completed in late 2018, it could reduce or stabilize energy costs for these manufacturers and others by more than $130 million a year, according to economic Richmond studies commissioned by its builders. It could also reassure prospective new industries of the volume and reliability they need and trigger 95 development on a scale unseen in eastern North Carolina. Natural gas, which emits half as many carbon pollutants as coal, is soaring in Raleigh demand from industries and utilities seeking lower energy costs and environmental bragging rights, says David Trusty, a spokesman for Piedmont Natural Gas Co., whose territory covers 95 eastern North Carolina. He compares Lumberton the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s impact on North Carolina to “bringing a major interstate to The Atlantic Coast Pipeline will a region that didn’t have one previously.” traverse eight counties in North Carolina, Nucor spokeswoman Katherine Miller says the company beginning in Northampton and ending in is keeping a keen eye on the pipeline’s progress through Robeson, refl ecting $1.2 billion in capital expenditures in the state. federal and state regulatory and licensing channels. It uses electricity to power its furnaces that melt the scrap metal and natural gas to fi re its tempering, reheating and austenitizing — or hardening — operations. “We couldn’t operate without it,” she says of natural gas. As with other ANNUALLY, THE ATLANTIC COAST Tar Heel homes and businesses that rely on electricity, the PIPELINE IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE: pipeline’s reach will exceed its signature blue fl ame. “With natural gas being used in greater and greater amounts to $48 MILLION generate electricity, our indirect use of it through electricity LABOR INCOME BENEFIT IN NC consumption is also growing.” Others in eastern North Carolina are eager for the pipeline too. In Greenville, John Chaff ee, president of NCEast Alliance, a private nonprofi t economic- $82 MILLION development agency whose area encompasses more than a GROSS STATE PRODUCT million residents, hopes it will put an end to tales echoed by many of the region’s industry hunters. “Over my almost 40- year career, I’ve repeatedly had companies tell me, ‘Sorry, we can’t consider that site because the gas company is $134 MILLION telling us it can’t guarantee a good supply of natural gas,’” AVERAGE ENERGY COST SAVINGS he says. “This, we think, will be largely a remedy for that FOR NC CONSUMERS circumstance.” Over the last 15 years, Rocky Mount has had numerous industry prospects that needed more gas than the city or $11.7 MILLION Piedmont could off er, says Worsinger, who until recently IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN NC was chairman of Washington, D.C.-based American Public Gas Association, representing about 700 municipal gas utilities. “They were always told the same thing: ‘We’re maxed out.’ They say, ‘Thank you, but we’re going [some 925 JOBS place] where more natural gas is available.’ Now, I’m going to have a huge transmission pipeline running just west of Rocky Mount.”
20 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE • • • “ he pipeline originates near With natural gas being used in T one of the country’s largest greater and greater amounts to concentrations of natural gas, in the Marcellus and Oneida regions generate electricity, our indirect of north-central West Virginia. In early 2014, Duke Energy Corp. and Piedmont use of it through electricity Natural Gas, now a division of Duke after consumption is also groWing.” the Charlotte-based utility bought it for Katherine Miller $4.9 billion in October 2016, set out to tap Nucor it to fuel construction of new natural-gas electricity plants and to meet growing customer demand. About 80% of the pipeline’s capacity will go to generating electricity for its power plants, says Duke spokeswoman Tammie McGee, and the remainder directly to homes, industry and businesses. Including electricity generation, more than 90% of the pipeline’s total capacity is spoken for before construction begins, though its planned 1.5 billion cubic feet per day volume, which utility analysts say is equivalent to the energy needs of 5 million homes, can be expanded to 2 billion cubic feet. “We’ve built five gas plants in North Carolina since 2011 and have two more planned,” adds Tom Williams, Duke’s external affairs director. One of the proposed sites is in Asheville, the other is in South Carolina, and additional plants are scheduled, though sites have not yet been chosen. “Our carbon [emissions are] down 28% since 2005 and 6% in 2015 alone,” because of reduced coal-plant production. Meanwhile, abundant Marcellus and Oneida shale gas is producing surpluses and driving down commodity prices. “We use about 2 billion cubic feet per year,” says Worsinger, referring to the Rocky Mount system of about 27,000 electricity customers With hundreds of companies utilizing our 317 miles of and 17,000 natural-gas users. While he never track, and millions in annual dividends paid to the state, expected gas to fall below $5, it had fallen to half that price in mid-2016. “Through we’re an essential part of North Carolina’s comprehensive fracking and shale gas, natural gas has transportation system. We’re committed to helping become plentiful, and the price has dropped.” expand economic opportunities, attract new industry Measured in dekatherms (one thousand and create good jobs — today, and well down the line. cubic feet), the common method of billing customers, Piedmont’s benchmark or wholesale cost was as high as $11.50 per dekatherm as recently as 2008, says Trusty. By summer of 2015, it had dropped to $2.25. ncrr.com And power-intensive manufacturers such as Nucor and Universal aren’t the only customers who benefit from lower costs.
North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 21 SOME SAY “NATURAL GAS AND RENEWABLES AREN’T COMPATIBLE, BUT NATURAL GAS WILL IN FACT FOSTER GROWTH IN THE RENEWABLES INDUSTRY. … IT’LL HELP MAKE THOSE PLANTS VIABLE AND ECONOMICAL.”
DAVID TRUSTY PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS
Rocky Mount, like more than 30 other municipalities in eastern North Carolina, is a member of the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency. The group for decades purchased power both wholesale and through ownership stakes in about a half dozen power plants and then distributed it to 270,000 local customers, who Facilities such as Duke Energy’s 620-megawatt Buck Combined sometimes railed about high prices. In 2015, a subsidiary Cycle Station in Rowan County combine gas combustion of Duke Energy bought the agency’s generating stakes for turbines and steam turbines to convert natural gas to electricity. $1.25 billion and in turn agreed to sell it wholesale power for 30 years. “After the sale, we became a wholesale customer of Duke, and the pipeline will provide an additional stable source them up to emissions standards. We’ve already retired 11 of shale gas from West Virginia and western Pennsylvania coal plants in North Carolina and built newer, more effi cient that’s less expensive than gas from the Gulf Coast area for gas plants,” including several in eastern North Carolina. electric generation,” Worsinger says. “There were a lot of After Duke and Piedmont sought a builder and operator concerns about our power costs. Now, we’ll have rate parity.” for the pipeline, Dominion won the bidding. Its subsidiary, Pending approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Dominion North Carolina Power, also supplies about 120,000 Commission in early 2017, the pipeline will soon inch from the electricity customers in northeastern North Carolina, including mountains near Clarksburg, W. Va., a total of nearly 600 miles the Outer Banks. Helping set the stage for the pipeline is North through central Virginia to North Carolina’s Northampton Carolina’s longstanding reliance on a sole source for the entire County, and from there, to its terminus in Robeson County. state’s natural gas. Snaking through the Piedmont countryside It’s an expensive undertaking — the construction impact west of Charlotte and northward, the Transco pipeline, owned in North Carolina alone will be about $680 million and create by Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams Cos., began as a single line in more than 4,400 jobs. Virginia’s Dominion Resources Inc., the 1950s and has since expanded into four side-by-side lines which will build and operate the pipeline, originally planned along the same right of way. to own 45%, while Duke Energy, the nation’s largest utility Transco, short for Transcontinental, is the largest natural- holding company, would own 40% and Piedmont would gas conduit in the country, carrying 11 billion cubic feet own 10%. (Duke agreed to sell an undisclosed portion of its of gas per day, about seven times what the Atlantic Coast interest in the project to Dominion following the acquisition Pipeline will carry. It supplies North Carolina, mostly of Piedmont.) AGL Resources Inc., the Atlanta-based parent through Piedmont Natural Gas, and much of the East Coast, company of Virginia Natural Gas Co., will own 5%. including half of the gas used in New York City. Branching Natural-gas use is expected to increase about 3.5% out from the main transmission line is a web of distribution annually through 2035. “Piedmont saw the growth in demand, lines in North Carolina, fueling many users such as Nucor, and realized it didn’t have enough capacity to meet it,” says 200 or more miles from the main line. Duke Energy’s McGee. “Utilities like Duke and Dominion Chaff ee, the NCEast Alliance CEO, explains Transco’s are moving away from coal and more to natural gas for a lot limitations. “When you’re at the end of the distribution of reasons. Some are environmental, but also, some plants line, pressure drops as you get farther and farther from the have just simply aged out and it’s not economical to bring source,” he says. “If all of a sudden you’re in the month of BY DUKE ENERGY PROVIDED
22 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
January and have a cold snap, the gas company calls and says, ‘Sorry, we’re going to have to cut your service.’ Major industrial users are the fi rst to go, and if you’re trying to recruit manufacturers, that’s a serious liability.” Without the new pipeline, it’s uncertain if the region could land another Nucor, says Gary Brown, director of Northampton County’s Economic Development Commission. “From everything I’ve heard from Piedmont Natural Gas, the end supplier for our area, that’s the case.” Piedmont’s Trusty says the company can adequately supply existing customers, but another major industry could require a scramble. North Carolina is one of few U.S. states without redundant pipelines, says Duke’s McGee. A sober reminder struck on an August night in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast. It didn’t damage the Transco pipeline, but it shut down scores of natural-gas processing plants, wells and other components along the coast. Soon, North Carolina industries were hit with soaring prices and fl uctuating supply. Similar spikes occurred during the record cold of 2015. When Katrina hit, about 23% of U.S. natural gas came from the Gulf, Trusty says. Prices spiked from about $5 or $6 per thousand cubic feet to upward of $12 to $15. Now, he estimates about 10% of the East Coast supply comes from the Gulf as production has shifted north to the shale gas region of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The buried Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which will be 42 inches in diameter for about 330 miles from West Virginia through Virginia, will drop to 36 inches for its 186- mile Tar Heel segment. Northampton will get the greatest direct economic punch with about 22 miles of the line. It also will host a compressor station and a regional offi ce. Smithfi eld in Johnston County is also gaining a pipeline offi ce. “We’ve traditionally been an agriculture-based economy, but in the last 30 years or so, we’ve undergone industrial diversifi cation,” says Brown, Northampton’s economic director. About two dozen of the more than 50 permanent pipeline jobs will be set in Northampton, joining an industrial base that includes West Fraser Timber Co.,
24 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE near Seaboard, the nation’s largest lumber manufacturer, and Southern Peanut Co. “The pipeline’s number of employees “ isn’t huge, but they’ll be skilled, technical THE PIPELINE’S NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ISN’T positions so their incomes will be certainly HUGE, BUT THEY’LL BE SKILLED, TECHNICAL welcomed in Northampton.” The pipeline will have other economic POSITIONS SO THEIR INCOMES WILL BE consequences: When completed, the CERTAINLY WELCOMED IN NORTHAMPTON.” property taxes on it will pump about $7.7 million a year into the coff ers of the GARY BROWN eight Tar Heel counties it will cross. Some NORTHAMPTON COUNTY of its impact, however, will be harder ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION to pinpoint. • • • t’s a scorching late-July day, I just west of Elizabeth City and about 100 miles east of Rocky Mount. Here, in a broad, fl at expanse that locals call The Desert, one of the world’s largest cranes hoists blades to the hub of a tower as tall as Raleigh’s 33-story PNC Plaza. This is one of the fi rst of 104 wind turbines that will make up Amazon Wind Farm US East, the giant online retailer’s $500 million, green-energy project being built by Spain’s Iberdrola Renewables LLC. The wind farm, along with more than 700 solar installations and other Tar Heel clean-energy projects, generated more $7 billion in renewable energy revenue in 2015, according to Raleigh-based N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, propelling the state to second in the nation behind California in clean-energy spending. The association estimates about 1,000 70
64 companies contributed to that fi gure. Duke 64 Energy is heavily invested, having plowed 64 77 85 about $4 billion into wind and solar projects 65 55 73 75 95 nationwide, including 35 solar farms in 81 74 North Carolina and other states. 26 40 However, renewable-energy proponents 40 40 24 like to say that the sun doesn’t shine at night 40 40 or on rainy days, and wind sometimes goes 74 85 calm, meaning growth of the industry will 75 73 need a fossil fuel — natural gas — for the 59 26 foreseeable future. Industrial-scale battery 20 storage such as projects Duke is pioneering in Ohio and Texas might eventually bridge those gaps, but natural gas-fi red power plants are being tapped for their ability to start up and shut down quickly. That’s already in play in Charlotte, at Duke’s headquarters. In a high-security room, facing a wall of giant, television- like screens, analysts, meteorologists
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 25 Staffers at Duke Energy’s Renewable Control Center monitor weather patterns that could impact output of solar and wind farms. Natural-gas power plants can respond to fluctuations in renewable power in a half-hour or less, ensuring reliable energy for customers.
and others monitor weather patterns, forecasts, status of “We were pleased because the Transco pipeline runs solar- and wind-generating farms and other factors at the through the property,” says NTE spokesman Mike Green. company’s Renewable Control Center. Williams explains “But the [pipeline] will certainly add to that robust supply. that natural-gas power plants can respond to fluctuations in It just gives us more reassurance.” The combined-cycle gas a region’s renewable power in a half-hour or less, compared and steam turbines of the plant will generate about 500 with as much as 12 hours for a cold start at a coal plant, and megawatts of electricity, enough to serve about 450,000 far longer for nuclear plants. homes. The power will be sold wholesale to such customers “Some say natural gas and renewables aren’t compatible, as municipal utilities and industries. but natural gas will in fact foster growth in the renewables Dominion and Duke officials and others say the Atlantic industry,” Piedmont’s Trusty adds. “It’ll help make those Coast Pipeline is expected to be completed by late 2018, plants viable and economical.” despite delays caused partly by environmental groups that The pipeline could have another virtually hidden have urged federal regulators and others to block it. They impact, adds Chaffee of NCEast. Just before entering North argue that its right of way will scar the land through which Carolina, a 20-inch spur will jut to the east, 80 miles toward it passes, and that the line will pose a potential explosion the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. The economies of hazard. Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby and other that area and northeastern North Carolina are increasingly proponents, however, remain optimistic. merging as thousands of Tar Heels commute across the “The next critical stage will be when the Federal state line to work. Hampton Roads’ Foreign Trade Zone 20, Energy Regulatory Commission issues its draft and final likely to soon be extended to include seven northeast North environmental report,” Ruby says. “We anticipate it’ll be Carolina counties, will strengthen the tie, and gas-using certified in early 2017 and that we’ll begin construction industries in both regions will tap the spur line. next summer.” The line’s spillover impact could also be felt elsewhere Meanwhile, Worsinger, the Rocky Mount utility in the state. When St. Augustine, Fla.-based NTE Energy executive, is among those who argue the line’s added Corp., announced recently it would build a $450 million gas- reliability will let them sleep easier. “We have a great fired electricity power plant in Rockingham County, north relationship with Piedmont,” he says. “But whether of Greensboro, one of the factors in the decision was the electricity or gas, we want the belt and suspenders Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s possible role as a backup source to approach. I never want my pants to fall down, and this will the nearby Transco pipeline. provide us with a great pair of suspenders.” PROVIDED BY DUKE ENERGY PROVIDED
26 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE
North Carolina: A global life science leader 600+ #2 bioscience companies life science region (Raleigh-Durham)
support companies 63,000 total workforce 6.6% job growth 2012-14
total economic activity
state and local tax revenues
Sources: Battelle Institute, 2014; JLL Life Sciences Outlook, 2015
Join us. ncbiotech.org/superscience 16_220-CA
Offices in Asheville · Charlotte · Greenville · Research Triangle Park · Wilmington · Winston-Salem case study | AUTO-PARTS MANUFACTURING full speed ahead
Auto-component manufacturers are revving up in North Carolina.
By Sam Boykin
etter known for its apple orchards, hiking trails and mountain views, Henderson County may seem like an unlikely place B for auto-parts manufacturers to establish state-of-the-art factories. When Linamar Corp. and GF Automotive revealed in early 2016 plans to open a jointly-owned plant in the county of 111,000 people, it was yet another example of how the industry is growing in western North Carolina. Scheduled to begin production in mid-2017, the $217 million GF Linamar LLC facility will make lightweight aluminum die-casting components for automakers, creating about 350 jobs over five years. This new facility adds to Canada-based Linamar’s other locations in the state: The 50-year-old company, which had sales of $4 billion in 2015, also has a machining and assembly plant in neighboring Buncombe County and a forging plant in Wilson County, in eastern North Carolina. Adding to the momentum is Titusville, Fla.-based Krystal Engineering LLC, which is opening a new $21 million production facility in Caldwell County and creating 82 jobs over five years with an average annual wage of more than $60,000. Krystal makes a variety of electronics components for the automotive and other industries. Company officials said they were attracted to the area due to such factors as low energy costs, a skilled workforce and training resources such as Caldwell Community College. “Perhaps the most important advantage for us has been the longstanding relationships we have with several key members of the business community here,” CEO Mark Rauchfuss said in a news release announcing the project. “The level of enthusiasm and desire that we encountered has been extraordinary — no other state is able to offer this combination of compelling attributes.” A month after GF Linamar’s announcement, Germany-based Demmel Inc. announced plans to invest about $4.3 million in a new 90,000-square- foot production facility in Henderson County’s East Flat Rock community and build a 50-person workforce over the next five years. The company will make trim parts and decals for BMW, which makes crossover SUVs at
Canada-based Linamar Corp. opened a machining plant in western North Carolina L o R J H n S on ay in 2012. Now, the company is partnering with Switzerland’s GF Automotive to build T a $217 million plant that will produce aluminum components for automakers.
28 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
CHALLENGE: To attract advanced- manufacturing jobs to western North Carolina, a region best known as a popular vacation destination.
SOLUTION: Tout the region’s quality of life, educational opportunities and strong sense of community to get on the radar of domestic and international manufacturers.
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 29 ECONOMIC DRIVER
estern North Carolina isn’t the only place in the people. The company makes transmission parts. Jan-Christoph state where auto-components manufacturing Schwarck, the president and plant manager, says KSM plans to W is thriving. Thanks to competitive advantages invest about $80 million over the next six years, adding at least such as a favorable tax climate, business-friendly another 50,000 square feet and 120 new employees. labor environment and access to an extensive rail system, Schwarck says he decided to locate the plant in Shelby North Carolina is home to more than 290 automotive- due in part to the city’s proximity to Charlotte Douglas manufacturing establishments and a workforce of more International Airport as well as state and local incentives. than 26,000, according to the Economic Development The company also received a lot of support from local Partnership of North Carolina. This refl ects a 25% increase economic developers and Cleveland Community College. over the last fi ve years. “They already had a workforce-training system in place that In Shelby, about 45 miles west of Charlotte, the state’s is comparable to German apprenticeship programs. This is largest city, Cleveland Yutaka Corp. has been operating a huge benefi t for us.” for 20 years. The precision auto-parts manufacturer is a In addition to all the business benefi ts, Schwarck says he subsidiary of Japan-based Yutaka Industry Co. and operates and his family love living in Shelby. “We have waterfront out of a 56,788-square-foot-facility, where it has invested property on a lake, which is something we could never fi nd more than $10 million. in Germany. Plus, in Germany it rains about 250 days a In addition to established companies like CYC, Shelby is also year. Here, it’s sunny 250 days a year. And while Europeans home to Germany-based KSM Castings Group, which in 2014 are reserved, people here are so friendly and open. Our opened a 127,000-square-foot facility where it employs about 130 neighbors actually say hello to us.”
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30 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE a plant near Greenville, S.C., about 45 minutes south of Henderson County. “ It will be Demmel’s fi rst U.S. facility. PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THEY CAN ACTUALLY “Auto-parts manufacturing is a LIVE HERE, MAKE GOOD MONEY AND WORK big priority for us,” says Andrew Tate, president and CEO of the Henderson WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT FOR County Partnership for Economic CUTTING-EDGE COMPANIES. IT’S LIKE Development. “These companies are HITTING THE JACKPOT.” taking note of the area’s many CORNEL BROENNER advantages, and we anticipate more DEMMEL and more will be moving here. Part of our responsibility as economic developers and stewards of North Carolina is to make sure these companies understand the inherent advantages that come with doing business here.” Tate is quick to point out western North Carolina’s many perks for new and expanding auto-parts manufacturers, including aff ordable property taxes and beautiful natural scenery. Asheville, known for its breweries, acclaimed restaurants and art galleries, is in adjacent Buncombe County and about Is your site ready for the a 30-minute drive from Hendersonville, the county seat. digital economy? Tina Köhler, a spokesperson for Switzerland-based GF Automotive, says the company chose Henderson
County because of its proximity to both Broadband infrastructure is a must-have for todayʼs tech-savvy site the existing Linamar plant and its U.S. selectors. Entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations all view customers. “We also found a strong, it as a necessary tool to survive and compete in local, national, and global markets. A site without ready access to fiber, telecommunication service skilled and dedicated workforce, and redundancy and diversity, and competitive services from multiple providers we are getting great support from the might as well be an open field. Knowing what technology is available and community,” Köhler says. where it is located can make all the difference in site selection. This support includes Blue At ECC Technologies we specialize in telecommunications infrastructure Ridge Community College, which assessments for the economic development community. We work with an serves Henderson and Transylvania array of public and private partners, including local governments, economic developers, the business community, civil engineering companies, site counties. The two-year institution consultants, power companies, broadband providers, and other partners to works closely with area businesses to provide the most comprehensive site analysis available to you. Donʼt you want promote economic development and one of the lead marketers of dark fiber across North Carolina on your team? off ers a new advanced-manufacturing Donʼt let your site fall behind the competition. program that focuses on plastics and metal molding. Köhler says GF Contact us today! Automotive recently arranged to A Telecommunications Consulting Firm ECC Technologies, Inc. provide a die-casting machine for 13341 New Falls of Neuse Rd. the college to support the training of Raleigh, NC 27614 potential new employees. Other local 984-204-7506 www.ecctechnologies.com resources include Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, which has a variety of workforce-development
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 31 programs. The college recently opened a new advanced- relocate to North Carolina, and I am looking forward to this manufacturing center that offers short-term training geared new challenge,” Vasto says. toward finding employment. • • • When GF Linamar opens its new facility on a 55-acre hile the new GF Linamar plant is a homerun for tract in the Ferncliff Industrial Park, Carlos Vasto will be W western North Carolina, Tate and others admit that the plant’s general manager. Vasto, who lives in Germany, recruiting these companies to the area can sometimes has held a variety of positions for GF Automotive, including feel like an uphill battle. Tate explains that when an auto-parts in Brazil and England. A division of Georg Fischer AG, GF manufacturer starts to search for a new location, it typically uses its die-casting technology to make automotive parts at consults with one of its original equipment manufacturers nine plants worldwide. “My family and I are very excited to (OEMs) to find a desirable and convenient site. North Carolina doesn’t have an OEM, so more often than not, companies interested in moving to the area will contact the 800-pound gorilla that is BMW. “As you would expect, the state that houses the OEM will try its best to keep the project within the state,” says Tate. “So our challenge is we’re often late coming to the project, or we may not even know about it.” Tate points to a recent tax rate comparison his organization did for a company that was looking at sites in both western North Carolina and Spartanburg County, S.C., near the BMW plant. The results showed that the North Carolina industrial building property tax was about one-seventh of the cost in South Carolina and machinery property tax was about one-sixth. Moreover, another study Tate conducted for an automotive company showed that wage rates were lower in western North Carolina compared with Spartanburg County. “We offer a lower-cost place for doing business,” he says. “But it’s not always just about who has the lowest costs. Linamar is an example of a company that had other location options — including Richland County, S.C. — and very aggressive support from other states. But they wanted to be here, where their employees would be happy long term.” Originally from Germany, Cornel Broenner, general manager for the new Demmel plant, moved to the U.S. in 1999. He met his wife, a Henderson County native, in Charleston, S.C. After the couple married in 2007, they moved all over the country but eventually settled in Henderson County, where Broenner often rides his motorcycle along the scenic mountain roads. “We’re happy here,” he says. “We’re done moving.” Broenner worked closely with Tate in recruiting the company. Demmel
32 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 33 GEARING FOR GROWTH 290 AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS IN THE STATE The Voice of 26K Economic Development WORKERS IN THE INDUSTRY in North Carolina 25% INDUSTRY GROWTH IN NC OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS NCEDA is the SOURCE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT statewide association PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH CAROLINA for professional economic developers and their allies in North Carolina.
actually wanted to go to South Carolina to be close to the BMW factory,” he says. “And I admit, South Carolina had a better off er.” He says that while the county and state off ered nice incentives — including a performance-based 1201 Edwards Mill Road, Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27607 grant of up to $150,000 from the One (888) 246-2332 | [email protected] North Carolina Fund — he eventually persuaded the company to choose Henderson County. While Broenner may be biased, he Our name says it all says western North Carolina is often unjustly overlooked by companies We do what nobody else does - cover one very special place, this state, interested in moving to the region. It’s and its economy, which is as diverse as the people who call it home. particularly hard to compete with the We produce quality, in-depth journalism, digging behind the news, Greenville/Spartanburg area along delivering what we uncover in a manner that, though at times provocative, is always fair, accurate and thorough. the Interstate 85 corridor, he says, because not only is the area backed by aggressive state and county incentives, it also has the BMW plant and is close to an inland port. “The companies that are coming here from overseas and looking for a new location will draw a one-hour circle around the BMW plant,” he says. “About 80% of that circle is in South Carolina. So to pry them away from that area is really hard.” Many visiting CEOs “don’t even make it up the mountain to see how attractive it is here for a potential workforce,” Broenner says. “People don’t realize they The only statewide business magazine can actually live here, make good money and work with state-of-the-art equipment Subscribe today: www.businessnc.com/subscribe for cutting-edge companies. It’s like hitting the jackpot. ... We have to do ALSO AVAILABLE: a digital edition for iPad Buy single issues or subscribe. Download today, available in the App Store more to advertise all of our advantages, because there are so many.” 34 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE Pinehurst, LLC Pinehurst, 2016 ©
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CHALLENGE: Find a site that could satisfy infrastructure and workforce needs for a major pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion.
SOLUTION: Partner with utilities and local governments to provide reliable energy, water and wastewater services for a massive new plant, and tap into the state and region’s abundant resources for fi nding and training skilled workers. PROVIDED BY NOVO NORDISK BY NOVO PROVIDED
36 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE case study | biotechnology the right prescription
Novo Nordisk picks North Carolina, home to a burgeoning life-sciences industry, for its $1.8 billion manufacturing plant.
BY D. LAWRENCE BIVINS
he telephone request for “high-level” workforce information sounded routine. A large, anonymous life-sciences client was t requesting a summary of what the Research Triangle region had to offer. “We didn’t know who the company was,” recalls Anna Lea Moore, who took the call from a site-selection consultant in spring 2014 while she was a business recruiter at the N.C. Department of Commerce. “They told us the company was doing preliminary investigations in the U.S. and Europe, and that we needed to be prepared.” About 16 months later, top executives from Novo Nordisk A/S joined state and local officials in announcing the Danish insulin manufacturer’s choice of the Johnston County town of Clayton for a $1.8 billion investment that will create nearly 700 jobs. The new complex will sit across the street from the company’s existing plant, where about 800 workers assemble insulin pens for the North American market. “They’ll be hiring workers who will make diabetes care products to help patients in North Carolina and all over the world,” Gov. Pat McCrory said at the August 2015 announcement. The company’s move “underscores the Research Triangle’s global leadership in bio-manufacturing,” he added. “When it comes to life sciences and manufacturing, North Carolina can compete — and win — against any location in the world.” Behind Novo Nordisk’s investment is an alarming global trend in human health. An estimated 415 million people live with diabetes, according to the Brussels-based International Diabetes Federation. By 2040, the figure could reach 642 million — or one out of every 10 adults. The estimated $673 billion spent treating diabetes around the world amounts to 12% of global health care expenditures, IDF says. Novo Nordisk’s leadership in diabetes medication is reflected in its worldwide business footprint. Founded in 1923, the Copenhagen-based company employs 39,700 across 75 nations. Its presence in North Carolina dates to 1993. The new plant will manufacture the active pharmaceutical ingredients of Novo’s diabetes treatments, which have, until now, been
North Carolina’s reputation as a hub for biotechnology companies was bolstered when Novo Nordisk, the world’s largest insulin maker, selected Clayton for its first ingredients-manufacturing plant outside of Denmark.
North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 37 And the facility, the size of seven football fields, will require North CaroliNa’s power — lots of it. “There was no question we would need a transmission source to serve a facility like this,” says John bioteCh boom Nelms, economic-development manager at Duke Energy Corp. “We couldn’t provide a load like that through distribution lines.” That meant the Charlotte-based utility would build a substation at Novo’s site, which typically calls for a seven-figure investment. $73 billion That’s not unheard of for major bio-manufacturers, Nelms says. economic impact of life- “We do that for numerous customers.” sciences companies in 2014 In addition to high quantities of electricity, Novo Nordisk would also need highly reliable power. “If we’re in the middle of a 63,000 fermentation cycle and the power goes out, we’d have to throw out life-sciences workers in nc an entire batch,” explains Gary Lohr, project director and deputy site head for Novo’s Clayton expansion. The consequences would include not just lost production, but also the costly burden 238,259 of safely disposing of the waste. “If we lose transmission through JoBs directly or indirectly a natural disaster, it leads to a whole range of issues,” he says. supported By Biotechnology Lohr says Duke Energy and subsidiary Piedmont Natural Gas Co., which also will provide energy to the site, were valuable partners during the company’s search. So too were $78,000 utility officials from the town of Clayton: To meet the new average annual salary for nc facility’s extensive wastewater demand, local officials are now life-sciences workers in 2012 working to build a regional wastewater pre-treatment plant adequate to meet not just Novo Nordisk’s needs, but also those of Grifols, the nearby maker of blood-plasma products. 31% In March 2016, just seven months after Novo’s announcement, industry growth in nc since 2001 Spain-based Grifols unveiled plans for a $210 million addition to its Clayton operations, adding another 250 jobs to Johnston sources: edpnc, north carolina Biotechnology center County’s bio-manufacturing workforce. • • • hen you look at what Novo and Grifols have “W done in Johnston County, you see a significant produced only in Denmark. With more than 44 million cases biotech corridor,” says Dan Gerlach, president of of diabetes in North America, according to IDF, the U.S. is the Golden LEAF Foundation, which is granting Clayton Novo’s largest market. $4 million for the pre-treatment plant. Rocky Mount-based Competition for the historic investment was stiff. After Golden LEAF was created to allocate funds derived from considering numerous global locations, the company narrowed the 1998 Master Settlement with cigarette makers, providing its search to the U.S. “They looked hard at Boston,” Moore says, aid to rural areas or communities once largely dependent where a well-educated workforce and extensive roster of life- on tobacco. While communities like Clayton are now linked sciences firms were sweetened with a generous array of tax economically with Raleigh and the Research Triangle, the exemptions and other financial incentives. But North Carolina is county as a whole was once among the state’s most tobacco a growing hub for life-sciences companies: Jobs in the industry dependent. “Looking at where the labor force is coming from, grew at triple the national growth rate from 2012-14, according Novo and Grifols are drawing heavily from surrounding rural to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a trade group. counties,” says Gerlach, who notes that Novo’s $1.8 billion More than 600 biotechnology companies have operations in investment alone will spur an economic impact comparable to the state, employing 63,000 people. that of an automotive assembly plant. Novo Nordisk’s site selectors looked at several locations Workforce mobility was central to the search criteria Novo within the state, including Holly Springs, Garner, Wilson and Nordisk explored in early 2014, Moore says. “Their team Research Triangle Park. “Johnston County really had to fight was obviously interested in skills,” she recalls. “But they also for this,” says Moore, who is now vice president for economic wanted to look at where our life-science workers live.” Evidence development at the North Carolina Railroad Co. Site criteria suggested biotech talent in the Triangle region didn’t mind included ample acreage for future growth, easy access by getting in their cars for a daily commute. Clayton is about trucks and car traffic, industrial zoning and convenience 18 miles southeast of Raleigh, the state capital, and close to the to a four-lane highway. The property would need to have Triangle’s research universities. already met preliminary environmental and archaeological Lohr confirms that the area’s strong workforce tipped standards for development. the scales, though he says the company also liked the
38 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE administrative economies it could achieve in Clayton as the state are trained specifically to work with military talent its two facilities will share technical, financial, facility- and the companies needing them. management and other support services. “There are local In recent years, the state has transformed the fusty image synergies with the current site,” he says. The company’s of “unemployment offices” into one of a proactive career- own experiences with the region’s workforce over more than development site capable of serving both employees and two decades were its most powerful testimonial. “We’ve employers. “The perception used to be that these offices been fortunate with talent acquisition at the current site,” were there only to serve people in dire situations,” Collins Lohr says. He points to committed employees such as Luis explains. Today, NCWorks Career Centers help job seekers Romero, a shift manager at Novo Nordisk who began there write impactful resumes, improve interviewing skills, and as a technician in 2010. Romero commutes to Clayton from connect with relevant education and training opportunities Louisburg, about 38 miles away. along with grants and scholarships that help with tuition. Romero, who served in the U.S. Navy in the early The centers even advise on transportation solutions and 2000s, holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems management that he received courtesy of the GI Bill. Novo officials like not only educational credentials, but also what military veterans bring to the company. “Top Shelf” Military experience translates well to Occasions biomanufacturing operations, Lohr says. “About 20% of the workforce at our current site are veterans.” Veterans Our “Top Shelf” means the best in are used to following standards and accommodations, dining and services. procedures, he says. “They’re good If there’s a special occasion in your at documenting what they’ve done. future, perhaps it deserves to be held in a We’ve found that’s a nice, neat fit “Top Shelf” destination. on a day-to-day basis in a regulated industry like ours.” The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Given the presence of sprawling Area of North Carolina was created for bases like Fort Bragg and Camp such moments. Lejeune, North Carolina employers can tap a unique workforce resource. Our gracious hotels, cozy inns and intimate “North Carolina is No. 6 in the nation cottages are perfect for weddings, reunions for veterans transitioning out of the and business conferences. Our restaurants military,” says Will Collins, assistant invite conversation & friendship over secretary for workforce solutions at memorable meals. And then there are our the N.C. Department of Commerce. forty world-class courses which energize An estimated 78,000 service members and relax at the same time. will leave the military through North Carolina bases by 2018, a Commerce Come enjoy the legendary hospitality of study found. “These are people with the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen both hard and soft skills that can drive Area of North Carolina. results for any business,” Collins says. But the transition process is often fragmented. That’s why state leaders established North Carolina For Military Call Beverly Stewart at (800) 346-5362 (Ext.237) Employment (NC4ME) in 2015. The or email [email protected] initiative pulls together workforce- development leaders, military officials for assistance with your group or to submit your RFP and private-sector human-resources representatives to create a common language to describe skills, aptitudes and experience. “We’ve taken military occupation codes and translated them into civilian terms,” Collins says. Staff members at 81 NCWorks Career Centers placed conveniently around
North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 39 affordable child-care options for workers. Employers post open positions through NCWorks and, if necessary, receive assistance in writing job descriptions and community- specific salary data for various professions. “We’ve got a brand new NCWorks Career Center in Clayton about half a mile from Novo Nordisk and Grifols,” Collins says. Also nearby is the Johnston County Workforce Development Center, a 30,000-square-foot training facility constructed by local leaders on property donated by Novo Nordisk. Opened in 2005, the center hosts customized training as well as classes leading to certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees in biotech-related fields. Many groups came together in developing the complicated infrastructure for Novo’s 833,000-square-foot plant, including “When they made the announcement last August, our local officials, utilities and the N.C. Department of Transportation. phones started ringing off the hook with people wanting biotech training,” says Joy Callahan, dean of economic and workforce development at Johnston Community College, which partners with Novo Nordisk and Grifols in funding the to an economic impact analysis by N.C. State University, center and designing its programs. Qualified high-school enough to yield a $1 billion one-time impact to the local students can take college-level courses at the center, whose economy. After that, the 691 new permanent positions at mission is to build and maintain a reliable “pipeline” of local Novo Nordisk will churn $21.5 million in annual payroll life-sciences talent. “Students can start a pathway to a biotech through the area’s economy. career as early as ninth grade,” Callahan says. Winning big in the global site-selection arena also requires a partnership ethos among local government officials, according • • • to Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod. “We were successful in olid local and state leadership also was pivotal in competing for this facility because of the close relationships S Novo Nordisk’s attraction to Clayton. In addition that exist between Johnston County and its municipalities,” to providing data and technical support for the says McLeod, a Clayton native who has been mayor since 2004. company’s search, North Carolina offered Novo Nordisk a “All of us stepped up to the plate to make this happen.” package of financial incentives that included $16.8 million in Chris Johnson, head of the Johnston County Office of performance-based grants, customized community-college Economic Development, agrees that collaboration is at the training, in-kind support from the N.C. Department of heart of Novo Nordisk’s historic investment. “This was the Transportation and the Golden LEAF’s wastewater grant. “The result of visionary decisions local leaders here made years incentives were integral — we’ve always been honest about ago, such as the Workforce Development Center and our that,” says Lohr. “They were key in the evaluation process.” life-science partnerships,” Johnson says. County and municipal governments showed similar With its enviable location, industry-grade highways, Class seriousness. Johnston County is providing more than A rail service, abundant housing options and affordable costs, $94 million in refunded taxes to the company over 15 years, it would be easy to chalk up Johnston County’s success to while the Town of Clayton is putting in an $800,000 grant. geography and money alone. “But the real story of our growth “We’ve agreed to share some of the risks of this investment,” has been people,” Johnson says, “starting with our excellent says Tony Braswell, chairman of Johnston County’s Board of workforce.” Leadership, he agrees, also has been key. “At the Commissioners, “and in return the county and the company end of the day, nobody here really cared who got credit for will both benefit.” Project Bright Sky,” he says, referring to the code name of And benefit the county it will: Construction of the plant Novo Nordisk’s confidential search. “All of us were united by a common, simple objective: winning the deal.” will create 5,100 full-time and part-time jobs, according DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF ECONOMIC COUNTY BY JOHNSTON PROVIDED
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North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 41 case study | aVIa TION taking flight
A talented workforce and local and state partnerships help HAECO and other Triad aerospace and aviation companies compete in a global marketplace.
By spencer campB ell
s the executive director of Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, Kevin Baker gives a lot of presentations a around the region and state. During each engagement, Baker reminisces back to about five years ago, when he had just taken over as the top exec at PTI. “What used to keep me awake,” Baker tells his audience, “was the fear that some company would come [to the Triad] and say, ‘We want to employ 1,000 people in your community, and we want to build airplanes. But in order to do so, we need to have 200 acres, and we need it next week.’ We would have had to say no.” The situation was reminiscent of the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams — “If you build it, he will come” — only the exact opposite: “They want to come, but you can’t build it,” Baker says. “I used to call that the field of nightmares.” Baker sleeps much better these days. In 2017, the N.C. Department of Transportation will complete a $176 million, 9.4-mile highway project to connect U.S. 220 and N.C. 68. The project includes a new taxiway over the adjacent Interstate 73. The taxiway — paid for by the N.C. Mobility Fund, which finances transportation projects deemed necessary for the growth of the state or region — opens up access to nearly 1,000 acres of PTI property on the opposite side of I-73. “Our main function is to make sure that there’s a product for the economic developers to be able to sell,” Baker says. “The products in this case are sites — 100 acres, 200 acres right next to a runway and next to an interstate. They don’t have any environmental problems and can be graded quickly — all the things a company is looking for when it’s looking to locate a new facility. We’ve been making sure over the last five to six years that we are ready.” PTI needed the extra room, because over the last several decades, the airport has become a popular place. In the early 1990s, PTI owned about 2,500 acres, offered two runways and housed an airplane maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider named TIMCO Aviation Services Inc. O
HAECO Americas maintains airframes and refurbishes cabin interiors at Piedmont Triad International Airport. In August, the company broke ground on its fifth hangar, which will be big enough to fit two Boeing 777Xs, the new twin-engine jet that will be the world’s largest when it debuts in 2020. e D B y H aec pr OVID
42 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE TRIAD
CHALLENGE: Ensure that a region has the infrastructure and resources to accommodate the growth of a burgeoning aerospace industry.
SOLUTION: Local offi cials partner with the state transportation department to build a highway and taxiway, opening up 1,000 acres for new development, and team with educational institutions to provide customized training programs. Flushing, N.Y.-based FlightSafety International Inc. provides pilot training in full-motion flight simulators that were designed with Honda Aircraft Co. engineers, test pilots and managers.
Since then, the state has completed part of a 44-mile into a global operation just as likely to repair an airliner Greensboro Urban Loop on the eastern side of PTI, making registered in Qatar as one domiciled in the United States. it much simpler for suppliers and travelers to access the Established in 1950, the parent company employs 17,000 airport. Cessna opened an MRO facility for its Citation people around the world through its 17 subsidiaries and line of planes during the mid-1990s. FedEx invested $500 affiliates. “We’re one of the only companies in the world million in the construction of its mid-Atlantic hub at PTI, who can do everything from the design, the engineering, which necessitated the building of a third runway that the manufacturing of the product, the installation, and permits simultaneous landings and takeoffs, multiplying the maintenance of the aircraft,” says David Kelly, vice the airport’s traffic capacity. PTI, now up to 4,000 acres, president of marketing and strategy for HAECO Americas. employs 2,200 people, pays direct wages of $116 million “We’re able to do that by growing our footprint in North annually, and generates $55 million in state and local America, specifically here in the Triad.” taxes, according to a 2016 report from the NCDOT. Its total economic impact is just shy of $2 billion a year. The • • • airport has become a valuable economic-development tool, according to Stan Kelly, president and CEO of the rom the top-floor boardroom of Guilford Technical Piedmont Triad Partnership. “And it is becoming an even F Community College’s Aviation Center III building more important asset,” he says. — a 42,000-square-foot training facility that sits Backing up Kelly’s words are two recent developments. on a 20-acre site next to PTI — Nicolas Yale has an easy First, Honda Aircraft Co., which came to PTI in 2009, recently view of the Cessna Citation Service Center. To the right received Federal Aviation Administration certification for stands Honda’s production facility. On the left, HAECO’s its HondaJet light twinjet plane, meaning production is four (soon to be five) hangars loom. One street separates projected to ramp up at its 680,000-square-foot research, GTCC from the airport’s largest employers. “It’s kind of design and manufacturing center at PTI. The company has interesting that they’re that close,” says Yale, the school’s invested more than $160 million in its Greensboro world director of aviation programs. But it’s also intentional. headquarters, where it employs more than 1,700 people. GTCC launched its first aviation program in 1969, when Second, HAECO Americas, the MRO formerly called the former Piedmont Airlines was still flying out of PTI. The TIMCO that debuted at PTI back in 1990, broke ground on school now offers four different courses of study: aviation its fifth PTI hangar in August 2016. The new maintenance electronics, career pilot, aviation management and aviation- facility will stand 250,000 square feet and allow HAECO to systems technology. During the 2014-15 school year, work on the largest aircraft in the skies — as well as ones GTCC’s aviation programs boasted 655 enrollees, up 32% that haven’t even taken off yet. from the previous year. “Not only do you have the property In 2014, Hong Kong-based HAECO Group acquired [at PTI],” says Brent Christensen, president and CEO of TIMCO, turning the newly christened HAECO Americas the Greensboro Partnership, the city’s chief economic- PROVIDED BY HONDA AIRCRAFT BY HONDA PROVIDED
44 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE development organization, “but you have the workforce in the new High Point facility — I mean, this is furniture that and a community college in GTCC that’s committed to we’re building,” HAECO’s Kelly says. “That’s the great thing continuing to provide the workforce for this industry.” about the Triad area — it’s a great pool of employees from GTCC is able to do that by tailoring its lesson plans to what which we can select.” local aviation and aerospace companies need to grow their businesses. For instance, a few years ago, Landmark Aviation, • • • which has a maintenance-support operation at PTI, began receiving contracts for avionics installations that diff ered ou might think attending a convention in from the kind GTCC performed in its classrooms. “So we went Y Farnborough, England — less than an hour by out and acquired the equipment, tooling and the requirements train from London — would be more vacation than to incorporate that into our training,” Yale says. “Now, our students can walk out of our program and not only say, ‘I have an associate degree in avionics technology,’ but they have also done three or four installs that the industry is doing. That makes a major diff erence for employers: Someone who’s actually done it.” GTCC also has established internships and part- time positions for its students with HAECO and Cessna. The Triad is in TransformaTion Although perhaps the most prominent, GTCC isn’t the only school and we have a sTory To Tell. in the Triad catering to the aviation and aerospace businesses clustered successful Transition to advanced manufacturing in and around PTI. Greensboro is also home to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical rooted in innovation and entrepreneurship University (housed inside the GTCC a Growing Technology Center of the southeast Aviation Center). Forsyth Technical Community College has proposed The Triad’s aviation sector: ready for Take off opening a $16 million aviation campus at nearby Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem to train technicians Key strengths of the Triad and mechanics. Even T. Wingate Andrews High School, about 13 miles south of PTI in High Point, off ers an aviation academy that, in partnership with GTCC, sets students on one of six diff erent career paths, from pilot to airframe and power-plant mechanic. Then again, some might say the Triad region has been training for aviation and aerospace jobs for decades. In nearby Wallburg, HAECO operates a facility that manufactures airplane seats. In High Point, the company will soon open an $11 million factory to make kitchens and The Piedmont Triad region is in central north Carolina around the cities of bathrooms for planes. “If you consider Greensboro, winston-salem and high Point the furniture industry, which has had 416 Gallimore Dairy Rd its troubles in the region along with Greensboro, NC 27409 tobacco, and you look at the seats we 336.668.4556 make in Wallburg and the lavatories [email protected] and galleys that are going to be made www.piedmonttriadnc.com
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 45 Piedmont Triad International Airport encompasses 4,000 acres, up from 2,500 in the early 1990s, employs 2,200 people and generates $55 million in state and local taxes, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
business. But Christensen, of the Greensboro Partnership, Foundation, established to provide grants to rural areas might argue that point. In July 2016, he was one of 1,500 and regions once dependent on tobacco production, also exhibitors from 52 countries who traveled to the ancient town kicked in $1 million for infrastructure improvements. This for the Farnborough International Airshow, the industry’s most kind of support isn’t rare in the Triad: The High Point City prominent get-together. Christensen spent nine hours on his Council and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners feet inside the convention hall, then entertained prospects at have each pledged $147,000 in performance-based dinner before fi nally climbing into his hotel bed late at night. economic incentives for HAECO’s new 250,000-square- “It’s a great location, but typically the only time you see any of foot aircraft-interiors facility. The money will match a the sights are on the cab ride to and from the airport,” he says. One North Carolina Fund contribution of $294,000 tied However, the inconvenience is worth the eff ort because of to the company moving 252 jobs from California to North the story Christensen can tell prospective PTI tenants — and Carolina and creating 147 full-time jobs with an average the main character in that tale is HAECO. Since deregulation annual wage of $60,000. of the airline industry in 1978, global air traffi c has continued “When we’re pursuing these things, we’ve made the to double every 15 years. The only other industry with that type case very loudly to the state of North Carolina that it’s of growth is technology, but unlike Apple with its iPhones, the largest benefi ciary,” PTI’s Baker says, adding that the airlines can’t replace their planes every two years. Planes state has “risen to the occasion every time.” Baker also often are in service longer than three decades. At the same points outs that the state paid for the $15 million grading time, aerospace and aviation manufacturers are building of the HondaJet site, where the company’s workers earn an bigger and wider aircraft. Boeing’s 777X, for instance, boasts average of $70,000 to $75,000 a year. “The state’s $15 million a wingspan of 235 feet, three-quarters the length of a football has already been recouped through payroll taxes.” fi eld. In short, HAECO needed a larger hangar, and there With HAECO’s fi fth hangar well on its way — the was no better place to build it than at PTI. “There’s good company expects to complete the facility during the fourth logistics infrastructure here,” says Richard Kendall, CEO of quarter of 2017 and begin handling aircraft in 2018 — PTI, HAECO Americas. “We work closely with local educational the Triad and North Carolina are turning their attention to institutions, and the scale of aviation in the area provides a luring a Boeing, Airbus or other large manufacturer to the better opportunity to have people trained.” newly opened 1,000 acres on the other side of I-73. That’s It helps that state and local governments are willing why the Economic Development Partnership of North to invest in the Triad’s future by providing economic Carolina sent Christensen to England. “We got a good support to HAECO and other companies expanding in the deal of looks just by being able to say, ‘We’re not standing region. The state committed to funding $4 million of the pat,’” Christensen says. “We’re adding to the properties that $9 million needed for the grading of the 24-acre site, while would be available for companies like yours in the future.” the city of Greensboro and Guilford County approved Christensen admits that such mega-manufacturers are rare. $400,000 in incentives, each tied to the 500 jobs HAECO “But when they do come around, we’re really well-positioned will add between 2018 and 2023. The Golden LEAF to compete for them, that’s for sure.”
46 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 47 financial technology
The fuTure of money
Financial-technology firms help North Carolina retain and accelerate its reputation as a hub for innovation and technology.
By SAM BOy KIN
orth Carolina is custom made for the intersection of technology and financial services. Charlotte, the state’s largest city, is the second-largest banking center in the country. About two hours to the n east is the Research Triangle Park, home to more than 200 cutting-edge companies, including world- renowned clusters in information technology and life sciences. Moreover, North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states, attracting young, tech-savvy workers from around the world — more than 126,000 North Carolina residents make up the state’s growing IT workforce. In fact, North Carolina has the second- fastest growing information-technology industry in the U.S., growing 26% since 2010, according to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Further bolstering the state’s financial/technology landscape are assets including North Carolina’s 58-campus community-college system, as well as renowned research universities such as Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. Growth is assisted by grass-roots organizations such as Queen City Fintech in Charlotte, a boot-camp style accelerator program dedicated to identifying and growing innovative fintech startups. It all adds up to a winning formula for success. The following are examples of four North Carolina companies that are merging financial services and technology and driving both industries forward.
48 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE financial technology
banks with a broad view of each customer, including their past interactions with the bank. Instead of having to re-enter data, the bank can simply create a new loan and the customer can often provide any necessary information electronically, which speeds the entire process. “Borrowers are only interested in two things: Am I approved for the loan, and when can I get the money?” Naudé says. “People want an answer in 24 hours. They don’t want to wait 30 to 60 days. So rather than worry about paperwork, compliance issues and data entry, we’re enabling financial institutions to instead focus on their customers. We are transforming the way bankers operate.” nCino: Naudé entered the financial industry while growing moving banks into up in South Africa. “I always loved technology and wrote code as a kid,” he says. He ended up working as a systems a new era analyst and was one of the pioneers in deploying ATMs in his native country. Looking for opportunities in the U.S., he took a job as divisional president of Atlanta-based S1 Corp., an online-banking technology company. ierre Naudé is on a mission to revolutionize banking. At S1, he befriended James “Chip” Mahan, then S1’s He is the CEO of Wilmington-based nCino, which CEO and chairman. Mahan left the company in 2006 to Pbills itself as the worldwide leader in cloud banking. start Live Oak Banking Co. Today, the Wilmington-based The company has developed an operating system company is one of the country’s leading originators of that enables financial institutions to streamline operations small business loans. When Naudé left S1 in 2012, he and provide speedy and convenient digital services for their asked Mahan about the software that allowed Live Oak to customers. In the process, the company has experienced automate all its loan processes from one location. “This remarkable growth, with revenue increasing more than was the beginning of the nCino platform,” says Naudé. “I 1,800% between 2012 and 2015. The company landed on used that small sample of code, hired a few people, and we Inc. magazine’s 2016 list of the nation’s 500 fastest-growing built a product that services not just SBA lenders but full private companies. commercial-banking platforms.” “We are helping move banks into a new era,” says Naudé. When Naudé founded nCino in 2012, the company had nCino’s main focus is its Bank Operating System software, four employees and Live Oak was its sole client. Today which enables banks to process loans more efficiently while the company has about 235 workers and more than 120 remaining in compliance with regulations. Naudé says the customers, ranging from $100 million community banks operating system provides seamless integration through the to $250 billion multinational banks. Naudé anticipates entire loan process, including document management and greater growth, which will further drive Wilmington’s security. Not only does this increase profitability and lower technology sector. costs for the banks, it also provides a more convenient, user- “When we came here there was a very small presence of friendly experience for the borrower. IT companies,” says Naudé. “But once this company gets “If you look at today’s typical mortgage-application process, big enough, we’re going to lose some people who will go you just want to pull your hair out because it takes so long,” he across the street and start their own company. That’s how says. “You have to go to the bank and fill out a bunch of forms cities like Austin and Charleston became technology hubs. and provide the same information over and over.” I can clearly see us on that path. It’s going to be like Silicon nCino helps eliminate much of this red tape by equipping Valley by the ocean.”
North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 49 FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY FIDELITY INVESTMENTS: HARNESSING THE POWER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
hen Fidelity Investments announced in companies are growing and national companies, to a degree, October 2015 plans to invest $8 million are still looking here. We just need to be in the right position to Wand bring 600 new jobs to Durham and the take advantage of any opportunities that present themselves.” Triangle, it added to the company’s already Conner says Fidelity wouldn’t be expanding in Durham robust presence in the region. The Boston-based asset without confi dence that the area’s workforce can meet manager fi rst set up operations in Raleigh in 2002 and their needs. “The Triangle is very unique. One of our many over the years has added a data center, customer contact strengths is the great universities and colleges, which are center and various walk-in investor centers in Charlotte, continually training new potential employees and making this Greensboro and other cities. Helping seal the most recent a very sustainable location for new and growing businesses.” deal was a state incentive package worth up to $15 million, Much of this educational training is focused on technology, provided the company meets hiring targets. Fidelity which is crucial in preparing the workforce of tomorrow also received a $54.6 million grant to bring 2,000 jobs to and attracting innovative, growing companies. Fidelity Durham and Wake counties in 2006. Investments is not only embracing technology, but driving it. Today Fidelity employs about 4,200 people in North Researchers and scientists in the company’s Fidelity Carolina, most of them at the company’s Research Triangle Labs, including locations in North Carolina, identify and Park campus. Company offi cials indicated that most of explore emerging technologies to create new products and the new 600 positions will be in information technology, services. Recent innovations include the fi rst investing app software engineering and cyber security. The average for both Google Glass and “smart” watches. The company annual salary will be more than $100,000. also works with Harvard, MIT and Stanford to develop pilot Fidelity ranks among the world’s largest money programs for artifi cial intelligence, big data, fi ntech and managers, with its 25 million customers holding predictive analytics projects. $5.4 trillion in assets. It is perhaps best known for its 462 “There is no pure IT industry anymore,” says Conner. mutual funds. Owned by the Johnson family of Boston, “IT is converging into so many other clusters, especially Fidelity can take a long-term view rather than be subject to the fi nancial services. All these diff erent disciplines are coming quarterly pressures facing publicly traded peers. “This was a together and creating new products and new ways of doing very big project for Durham,” says Ted Conner, vice president business, which create a plethora of new opportunities for of economic development and community sustainability for business. Today, in order to compete in the global the Durham Chamber of marketplace, companies either have to have a Commerce. “These are sophisticated IT component or be able to partner very tumultuous times, with the right IT companies. If they don’t, they’ll and we’re lucky local soon be out of business.”
50 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS: HELPING FINANCIAL-SERVICES COMPANIES ADOPT NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
he Teaneck, N.J.-based company fi rst established The most recent expansion included about 150 jobs a presence in North Carolina in 1997, and as the in Charlotte as well as a new IT delivery and operations Tstate’s economy has grown and diversifi ed, so center. Company offi cials said the new center focuses has Cognizant. The IT consulting fi rm, which on helping clients transform into digital enterprises by today has more than 50 delivery and operations centers utilizing new technologies. worldwide and approximately 244,300 employees, Cognizant helps banks and other fi nancial-services uses digital technologies to help companies enhance fi rms analyze data generated by mobile and social productivity and operate more effi ciently. computing in order to streamline services. Some of Working within several core industries, most notably Cognizant’s key innovations include its Emerging fi nancial services, health care and manufacturing, Business Accelerator. A key part of this initiative is Cognizant is one of the world’s fastest growing companies. digital technologies, in which the company’s research and In 2016, it ranked No. 230 on the Fortune 500, jumping development teams experiment with new software that 58 spots from the previous year. The company’s most studies and predicts customer behavior. recent North Carolina expansion began in 2014. The state Several factors are driving demand for Cognizant’s awarded the company a Job Development Investment services in the banking sector. In response to the Grant of up to $5 million to add 500 jobs with an average recession of 2007-09, central banks and government annual salary of about $80,000 and invest more than bodies have adopted policies to manage interest rates, $1.4 million by the end of 2018. North Carolina edged out raise capital requirements, impose new regulations sites in Florida, Texas and Virginia to win the project. and institute risk-mitigation measures. Such actions Company offi cials indicated that North Carolina is have curtailed some revenue sources and increased an attractive place because the state is home to large compliance costs for most financial institutions. current and prospective clients and also boasts strong Moreover, a growing number of institutions are educational institutions and a thriving technology base. adopting new digital technologies to change the way Cognizant employs about 2,500 people throughout the they interface with customers and employees and state, including sites in Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh manage their operations. and Wilson. The company posted $12.4 billion in revenue in 2015, and $1.6 billion in net income.
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 51 FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY
AvidXchange: CHARLOTTE’S PROMISING FINTECH LEADER
harlotte’s AvidXchange is one of the nation’s to help automate accounts payable processes at small and fastest growing fi nancial-technology companies midsized businesses. It took time to catch on as Praeger Cand already making a big mark on its hometown, built a sales force and customers learned the product’s with a majority of its 800 employees based there. benefi t. Now company revenue is growing by more than “They are the poster child for fi ntech innovation and what 60% annually. we want to do in Charlotte,” says Dan Roselli, founder of AvidXchange focuses on the 340,000 U.S. businesses Packard Place, a local business incubator. with annual sales of $5 million to $1 billion, providing Michael Praeger and David Miller started the business awesome growth potential, Praeger says. In 2014, the in 2000, just as the dot-com bubble was bursting. It grew company spurned a South Carolina incentives off er, modestly in its fi rst decade as technology was modifi ed opting for a $10 million package from Charlotte and North and its business strategy adjusted to meet customer Carolina that hinges on hiring 603 people from 2015-18. demands. Millennials moving into senior fi nancial posts To help attract young, tech-savvy workers, AvidXchange don’t understand why they pay bills in their own personal is building its headquarters at the N.C. Music Factory accounts via the internet, while so many businesses retain a mile north of downtown Charlotte. The new six-story paper-based systems, Praeger says. “There was all of this building will have room for 1,000 people when it opens in noise around online bill payments involving consumers. mid-2017, including a mix of tech specialists and support But there wasn’t much talk about business bill payments.” services. Across the street from the new building sits a During its fi rst 14 years, AvidXchange raised about $20 collection of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues million, mostly from founders, private individuals and a in rehabbed textile manufacturing space. former Charlotte venture-capital fund. Then, in 2015, the “Creating a good work and life balance is important,” company attracted $225 million from some of the most Praeger says. “We asked if we were creating the right space successful U.S. tech investors: Bain Capital Ventures, where [employees] want to spend so much of their time.” Foundry Group, NYCA Partners and TPG Special Situation Charlotte is an excellent place for AvidXchange to grow Partners. Board members of the growing company include because its labor costs are lower than Boston, California and Nigel Morris, a co-founder of Capital One Financial and other tech centers, says Matt Harris, managing director of Hans Morris, a former president of Visa. Bain Capital Ventures. In the major cities “scaling to 1,000 A Wisconsin native, Praeger and his wife, Cindy, picked people is prohibitively expensive. Charlotte has a depth of Charlotte as a place to build a business after tiring of high-quality talent and there is a great work ethic.” the weather in Boston, where he worked for a venture- Praeger has the skills to turn AvidXchange into a capital company and later started and sold two tech well-known tech leader, Roselli says. “Like all good businesses. About two years after starting the fi rm with entrepreneurs, Mike is focused and tenacious. He is Miller, who retired in 2011, they added a software feature scrappy and just fi nds a way to get things done.”
52 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE BE PART OF HISTORY
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North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 53 AROUND THE STATE | TRANSPORTATION
City Population GETTINGCity Population
AROUND LENOIR 26
MORGANTON 40 40 North Carolina’s central location on the ASHEVILLE Eastern Seaboard and extensive transportation
SHELBY infrastructure provide advantages no other 26 state can match.
FAST TRACK More than 3,200 miles of railroad track traverse North Carolina, and more than 20 carriers off er service to 22 states in the eastern U.S. Jacksonville, Fla.-based CSX Corp. is building a $272 million intermodal rail terminal in Rocky Mount, about 60 miles east of Raleigh, the capital. The project is expected to open in 2020. The Queen City Express, announced last year, will provide intermodal rail service between Port of Wilmington and a CSX terminal in Charlotte.
SHIP SHAPE Two deep-water ports and inland terminals in Charlotte and Greensboro provide competitive access to global markets. THE RIGHT SITE The Port of Wilmington in 2016 completed an expansion of At least three industrial megasites suitable for large-scale its turning basin to accommodate ships carrying up to 10,000 manufacturing are in various stages of development. The 20-foot equivalent containers. Also at the Wilmington port, a largest is the Chatham-Siler Advanced Manufacturing new 101,000-square-foot cold-storage facility contains space Site, with more than 1,800 acres of available space and for 10,500 pallets of product, such as poultry, pork, seafood, direct access to the Norfolk Southern Railway. Others are fruits and vegetables. in Edgecombe and Randolph counties.
54 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE N.C. STATE PORTS AUTHORITY/ PATRICK SCHNEIDER PHOTOGRAPHY PATRICK PORTS AUTHORITY/ N.C. STATE AROUND THE STATE | TRANSPORTATION
77 ELIZABETH CITY
85 95
WINSTON-SALEM BURLINGTON GREENSBORO DURHAM HIGH POINT ROCKY MOUNT 40 40 THOMASVILLE 85 CHAPEL HILL LEXINGTON STATESVILLE CARY RALEIGH HICKORY SALISBURY ASHEBORO WILSON 77 GREENVILLE MOORESVILLE
40 KANNAPOLIS SANFORD CONCORD GOLDSBORO 85
GASTONIA KINSTON HATTERAS CHARLOTTE PINEHURST 95 OCRACOKE NEW BERN FAYETTEVILLE MONROE
95 40 JACKSONVILLE MOREHEAD CITY
LUMBERTON
WILMINGTON TOP FLIGHT Nearly 45 million travelers passed through Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in 2015, making it the nation’s fi fth- busiest. The airport is undergoing a $2.5 billion, LEGEND 10-year round of construction projects, which includes roadway expansions to ease passenger congestion, an CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS MEGASITES REGIONAL AIRPORTS WITH expanded terminal and lobby, and the addition of a fourth PASSENGER SERVICE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS parallel runway. It’s one of four international and 11 regional PORTS airports in the state. Raleigh-Durham International Airport, NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD the state’s second largest, is also developing an expansive, CSX 25-year master plan for future development. NORFOLK SOUTHERN
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 55 56 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE AROUND THE STATE | REGIONS THE EAST
ith 300 miles of ATTRACTIONS W coastline for sailing, • Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and boating or relaxing Wright Brothers Memorial, the Outer Banks by the ocean, the beach is • Carolina Beach Boardwalk COUNTIES the main — but defi nitely • Historic Tryon Palace, New Bern Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, • not the only — attraction. Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, • Airlie Gardens, Wilmington Chowan, Columbus, Craven, You can go on a deep-sea • 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse, Edenton Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, fi shing adventure or dine Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, at Calabash, which calls Halifax, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Montgomery, itself the “Seafood Capital EVENTS New Hanover, Northampton, of the World” and is famous • North Carolina Azalea Festival, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, for its battered-and-fried Wilmington, April Perquimans, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, shrimp, fi sh, oysters and • North Carolina Seafood Festival, Morehead Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne and Wilson clams. Stroll the river walk in City, October • downtown Wilmington, tour Cucalorus Film Festival, Wilmington, INDUSTRIES November • one of seven historic coastal • North Carolina Jazz Festival, Wilmington, Aerospace and defense lighthouses or, further inland, • Agriculture February • • Biotechnology explore Greenville, home Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, Fayetteville, • Marine trades to one of the state’s fastest- April • Metalworking growing universities. • Hang Gliding Spectacular, Nags Head, May • Textiles • WILMINGTON VISITORS BUREAU/CHOWAN COUNTY TDA COUNTY BUREAU/CHOWAN VISITORS WILMINGTON Tourism
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 57 AROUND THE STATE | REGIONS CHARLOTTE
he state’s largest T city has it all, from ATTRACTIONS professional and • U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte • minor-league sports to fi rst- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord • Carolina Panthers NFL team, Charlotte class museums and centers • NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte COUNTIES for performing arts. An • Charlotte Hornets NBA team, Charlotte extension of the city’s light- • Carowinds amusement park, Charlotte Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, rail line, scheduled to open Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, in late 2017, will connect the Rowan, Stanly and Union UNC Charlotte area in the EVENTS • northeast to downtown and Carolina Renaissance Festival, Huntersville, October-November South End, a hub for eclectic INDUSTRIES • Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival, shops, restaurants and • Business and fi nancial services Charlotte, May • • Corporate headquarters breweries. With the state’s Food Lion Speed Street, Charlotte, May • • Aerospace and defense largest body of water, Lake Carolina BalloonFest, Statesville, • Textiles Norman, to the north, Lake October • Energy • Wylie to the south and the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch • Automotive manufacturing Norman Games, Huntersville, April Catawba River — a favorite for • Christmas Town USA, McAdenville, kayaking and paddleboarding December — to the west, recreational opportunities abound.
58 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE OWEN JUDY AROUND THE STATE | REGIONS THE TRIAD
reensboro, Winston- G Salem and High ATTRACTIONS Point are the core • North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro • of one of the state’s most International Civil Rights Center & Museum, Greensboro historic regions and home • Old Salem Museum & Gardens, Winston-Salem COUNTIES to a bevy of colleges and • Greensboro Science Center, Greensboro universities. Winston-Salem’s Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, vibrant cultural community Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, includes Old Salem Museum EVENTS Surry and Yadkin and Gardens, a collection • Annual Barbecue Festival, Lexington, October of exhibits showcasing the • Wyndham Championship golf tournament, INDUSTRIES Moravians, early settlers in Greensboro, August • the area. The new LeBauer • Winston-Salem Open tennis tournament, Aerospace and defense August • Furniture Park is invigorating • • Seagrove Pottery Festival Weekend, Finance • Greensboro’s downtown, Seagrove, November Insurance • Textiles while High Point retains its • Mayberry Days, Mount Airy, September reputation as the “Furniture • Dixie Classic Fair, Winston-Salem, October Capital of the World.” In • Autumn Leaves Festival, Mount Airy, October Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is the largest “natural habitat” zoo in the U.S. JOHN GESSNER/OLD SALEM/NCZOO.ORG JOHN GESSNER/OLD NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 59 AROUND THE STATE | REGIONS THE TRIANGLE
ome to Pinehurst, H where you’ll fi nd ATTRACTIONS some of the world’s • North Carolina Museum of Natural legendary golf courses, Sciences, Raleigh • PNC Arena, home of the Carolina and the state’s three major Hurricanes hockey team, Raleigh COUNTIES research universities — • State Farmers Market, Raleigh Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, • Duke University, N.C. State North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh Franklin, Granville, Harnett, University and UNC Chapel • Durham Performing Arts Center Johnston, Lee, Moore, Nash, Hill — the fast-growing • Morehead Planetarium and Science Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Triangle region combines Center, Chapel Hill Warren and Wilson urban amenities with a variety of leisure activities. EVENTS INDUSTRIES Tailgating is a tradition at • World of Bluegrass, Raleigh, September • Biotechnology and college-football games in • Hopscotch Music Festival, Raleigh, pharmaceuticals the fall, and Durham and September • Information technology Raleigh, the region’s largest • North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh, • Clean technology • cities, are bustling with shops October Education and top-notch restaurants • Moogfest, Durham, May as revitalization brings new residents and businesses to the downtown areas.
60 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE THE PILOT/GRCVB/VISITRALEIGH.COM AROUND THE STATE | REGIONS THE WEST
he Blue Ridge ATTRACTIONS T and Great Smoky • Biltmore Estate, Asheville mountains provide • Blue Ridge Parkway room to roam, whether • Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson City COUNTIES hiking, biking, zip-lining • Tryon International Equestrian Center, Mill or skiing. Western North Spring Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, • Sliding Rock, Transylvania County Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Carolina off ers plenty of • West Jeff erson Arts District, West Jeff erson Cherokee, Clay, Graham, options for a weekend Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, getaway, from camping, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, visiting a quaint bed-and- EVENTS Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, breakfast or staying at • Blowing Rock WinterFest, January Wilkes and Yancey Asheville’s historic Grove • Lake Eden Arts Festival, Asheville-Black Park Inn. When you’re Mountain, May and October INDUSTRIES ready to unwind, Asheville, • Folkmoot USA, Black Mountain, July • • also known as Beer City An Appalachian Summer Festival, Boone Aerospace and defense • Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, • Furniture USA, has more breweries Linville, July • Brewing per capita than any U.S. • MerleFest, Wilkesboro, April • Data centers • city, along with top-rated • N.C. Apple Festival, Hendersonville, Tourism • restaurants and a funky, September Advanced manufacturing • Christmas trees artistic vibe.
LEES-MCRAE/HIGHLAND BREWING/BILTMORE FARMS NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 61 AROUND THE STATE | by the numbers aN bEst statE #3 For busiNEss enviable #1(TIE) Chief Executive magazine, 2016 busiNEss most ClimatE CompEtitivE top statE statE #5 For busiNEss With a low cost of living, Site Selection, 2016 CNBC, 2016 competitive tax rates, acclaimed educational institutions and most skilled workforce, North bEst Carolina consistently ranks as a statE For Th CompEtitivE top state for business. busiNEss 11 tax CoDE #2 Forbes, 2016 Tax Foundation, 2017
top 25 publiC CompaNiEs basED iN North CaroliNa*
company headquarters industry 1 Bank of America BAC Charlotte Financial services 2 Reynolds American RAI Winston-Salem Cigarettes 3 Lowe's LOW Mooresville Hardware stores 4 Duke Energy DUK Charlotte Utilities 5 BB&T BBT Winston-Salem Financial services 6 VF VFC Greensboro Apparel 7 Nucor NUE Charlotte Steel 8 Laboratory Corp. of America LH Burlington Medical testing 9 Red Hat RHT Raleigh Software 10 Martin Marietta Materials MLM Raleigh Building materials 11 Hanesbrands HBI Winston-Salem Apparel 12 Sealed Air SEE Charlotte Containers and packaging 13 Albemarle ALB Charlotte Chemicals 14 Quintiles Transnational Q Durham Pharmaceutical services 15 Qorvo QRVO Greensboro Semiconductors 16 Carlisle Companies CSL Charlotte Plastics, cables and industrial coatings 17 CommScope COMM Hickory Telecommunications equipment 18 Highwoods Properties HIW Raleigh Real estate 19 Old Dominion Freight Line ODFL Thomasville Trucking 20 Piedmont Natural Gas^ PNY Charlotte Utilities 21 Premier PINC Charlotte Health care services 22 Tanger Factory Outlet Centers SKT Greensboro Shopping centers 23 Curtiss-Wright CW Charlotte Aerospace and industrial equipment 24 Snyder's-Lance LNCE Charlotte Snacks 25 First Citizens BancShares FCNCA Raleigh Financial services
*ranked by market value as of 6/30/16 ^ acquired by Duke Energy October 2016 source: Capital Investment Companies and The Nottingham Company
62 North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE LARGEST CITIES CHANGE RANK CITY POPULATION 1 CHARLOTTE 818,480 MAKERS 2 RALEIGH 440,621 3 GREENSBORO 282,840 Business incubators can boost a region’s economic 4 DURHAM 250,931 growth, create a culture of creativity and even 5 WINSTON-SALEM 238,899 help larger companies advance innovation. 6 FAYETTEVILLE 208,158 North Carolina is home to dozens of projects that 7 CARY 152,627 assist entrepreneurs, each with diff erent funding 8 WILMINGTON 115,498 and missions. State and local governments and 9 HIGH POINT 109,749 universities are collectively investing millions 10 ASHEVILLE 90,918 of dollars to support ventures that promote new 11 GREENVILLE 87,960 businesses, often partnering with the private 12 CONCORD 87,130 sector. Here are a few examples. 13 JACKSONVILLE 77,464 14 GASTONIA 73,843 15 CHAPEL HILL 59,569 HQ COMMUNITY 16 HUNTERSVILLE 55,602 CHARLOTTE, GREENSBORO, RALEIGH 17 ROCKY MOUNT 55,189 Notable: In 2015, partnered with Wake Technical Community 18 BURLINGTON 52,240 College to bring continuing education and startup training to 19 WILSON 49,357 downtown Raleigh. hqraleigh.com 20 KANNAPOLIS 45,599 21 APEX 44,745 FLYWHEEL 22 HICKORY 40,351 WINSTON-SALEM 23 MOORESVILLE 37,750 Notable: Set within Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, a 1.5-million- 24 INDIAN TRAIL 37,449 square-foot high-tech, mixed-use business and education district 25 GOLDSBORO 34,945 in downtown Winston-Salem. Flywheelcoworking.com 26 WAKE FOREST 34,463 27 MONROE 34,323 28 SALISBURY 34,278 AMERICAN UNDERGROUND 29 MATTHEWS 30,359 DURHAM, RALEIGH 30 HOLLY SPRINGS 30,018 Notable: One of 10 Google for Entrepreneurs North American 31 NEW BERN 29,823 tech hubs. The tech giant provides fi nancial support, technical 32 CORNELIUS 29,431 content, events and access to experts. Americanunderground.com 33 SANFORD 28,802 34 GARNER 28,558 35 THOMASVILLE 27,043 TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE CENTER 36 MINT HILL 26,170 OF EASTERN CAROLINA 37 ASHEBORO 25,740 GREENVILLE 38 STATESVILLE 25,363 Notable: One of the region’s largest business incubators, it 39 KERNERSVILLE 24,211 houses a mix of light manufacturing, offi ce space and labs 40 MORRISVILLE 23,682 and off ers connections with East Carolina University and Pitt Community College. Locateincarolina.com 41 FUQUAY-VARINA 22,864 42 LUMBERTON 21,550 43 KINSTON 21,025 NORTH CAROLINA 44 CARRBORO 20,558 RESEARCH CAMPUS 45 HAVELOCK 20,328 KANNAPOLIS 46 SHELBY 20,089 Notable: Founder David Murdock, owner and chairman 47 CLEMMONS 19,575 of Dole Food, established the campus as his legacy and 48 CLAYTON 18,734 has contributed more than $700 million to the project. 49 LEXINGTON 18,558 Transforming-science.com 50 BOONE 18,553 Source: N.C. Offi ce of State Budget and Management, 2015
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 63 AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
ALAMANCE ALEXANDER
Alamance County Area EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Alexander County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Chamber of Commerce Health care: 16.8% Development Corp. Manufacturing: 40.0% 336-228-1338 Manufacturing: 15.5% 828-632-1161 Government: 11.3% choosealamance.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER alexanderedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Laboratory Corporation of America Craftmaster Furniture
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Burlington (part): population 51,527 Taylorsville: population 2,124
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 138.3 157.6 58.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 35.5 38.3 79.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 65.4 74.3 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 17.2 16.4 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.9% 5.2% Elon University; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.5% 5.0% Catawba County Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $29.3 $34.8 Alamance Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.8 $33.0
ALLEGHANY ANSON
Alleghany Chamber EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Anson County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY of Commerce Health care: 17.1% Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing: 20.7% 336-372-5473 Manufacturing: 15.7% 704-694-4181 Government: 18.3% sparta-nc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER ansoncounty.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Parkdale Mills Hornwood
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Sparta: population 1,776 Wadesboro: population 5,562
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 10.7 11.2 51.3 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 26.5 26.5 80.1 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 4.5 4.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 10.0 10.2 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.6% 6.2% Wilkes Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.6% 6.5% South Piedmont Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.4 $32.5 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.1 $31.2
ASHE AVERY
Ashe County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Avery County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Retail: 15.5% Economic Development Government: 15.4% 336-846-5501 Health care: 15.2% 828-737-5150 Retail: 12.7% ashencedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER averycountync.gov LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER American Emergency Vehicles Lees-McRae College
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Jeff erson: population 1,560 Banner Elk: population 1,161
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 25.6 27.5 43.3 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 17.7 17.9 44.7 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 12.0 11.4 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 7.5 7.2 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.7% 6.1% Wilkes Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.3% 5.8% Lees-McRae College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.8 $31.2 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.8 $30.7 Mayland Community College
BEAUFORT BERTIE
Beaufort County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Bertie County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Manufacturing: 17.0% Development Commission Health care: 14.4% 252-946-3970 Retail: 13.9% 252-794-5301 Government: 12.9% beaufortedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER bertiecountynceconomicdev.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER PCS Phosphate Perdue
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Washington: population 9,639 Windsor: 3,826
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 45.5 47.7 55.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 19.9 20.4 83.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 18.7 18.6 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 8.1 8.0 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.6% 6.6% Beaufort County Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.4% 7.3% Rowan County Community College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $28.4 $36.4 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.0 $32.3 Martin Community College
FOR SOURCES AND NOTES, SEE PAGE 76 64 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
BLADEN BRUNSWICK
Bladen County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Brunswick County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Manufacturing: 44.4% Economic Development Retail: 16.3% 910-645-2292 Health care: 9.1% 910-253-2025 Hospitality: 13.8% bladennc.govoffi ce3.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER brunswickedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Smithfi eld Foods Duke Energy Progress
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Elizabethtown: population 3,576 Leland: population 17,154
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 34.0 35.2 82.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 88.0 121.6 48.5 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 14.2 13.3 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 40.3 45.1 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.5% 8.1% Bladen Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.7% 7.0% Brunswick Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.6 $32.7 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $29.1 $35.3
BUNCOMBE BURKE
Economic Development Coalition EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Burke Development Inc. EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Asheville-Buncombe County, Health care: 20.0% 828-764-9370 Manufacturing: 27.0% 828-258-6101 Hospitality: 13.8% burkedevinc.com Health care: 24.8% ashevillechamber.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Mission Health Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Asheville: population 90,918 Morganton: population 16,716
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 219.2 254.3 60.4 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 88.2 89.2 68.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 111.0 124.8 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 39.4 37.2 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.3% 4.3% UNC Asheville; Montreat College; Warren UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.4% 5.8% Western Piedmont PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $31.1 $38.1 Wilson College; Asheville-Buncombe PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.8 $31.8 Community College Techinical Community College CABARRUS CALDWELL
Cabarrus Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Retail: 17.1% Commission of Caldwell County Manufacturing: 24.6% 704-782-4000 Health care: 13.6% 828-728-0768 Health care: 14.2% cabarrusedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER caldwelledc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Carolinas HealthCare System Merchants Distributors
LARGEST CITY/TOWN Concord: population 87,130 LARGEST CITY/TOWN Lenoir: population 17,849 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* 70.0 cents per $100 value 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 150.0 196.0 POPULATION (000S) 79.6 82.4 63.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 74.5 90.7 HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT (000S) 36.9 33.2 Barber-Scotia College; Rowan-Cabar- HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.5% 5.1% rus Community College; Cabarrus UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 8.2% 6.2% Caldwell Community College and PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $33.3 $38.5 College of Health Sciences PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.8 $30.1 Technical Institute
CAMDEN CARTERET
Camden County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Carteret County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Education: 22.2% Development Council Inc. Retail: 19.4% 252-338-6363, ext. 103 Retail: 12.6% 252-222-6121 Hospitality: 17.0% camdencountync.gov LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER carteretedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Caci Technology Carteret Health Care
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN South Mills, unincorporated Morehead City: population 9,362
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 9.1 10.3 68.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 63.0 69.5 31.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 4.1 4.2 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 30.6 29.4 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.6% 5.9% College of The Albemarle UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.6% 5.9% Carteret Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $30.0 $39.3 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $33.3 $43.9
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 65 AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
CASWELL CATAWBA
Caswell County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Catawba County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Government: 23.2% Development Corp. Manufacturing: 27.1% 336-694-4193, ext. 105 Education: 18.4% 828-267-1564 Retail: 12.2% caswellcountync.gov LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER catawbaedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER WS Construction Catawba Valley Medical Center
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Yanceyville: population 2,018 Hickory (part): population 40,264
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 23.7 23.6 67.9 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 146.5 156.2 57.5 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 9.8 9.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 72.0 70.2 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.9% 6.3% Piedmont Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.2% 5.6% Lenior-Rhyne University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $21.8 $29.4 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $30.4 $36.7 Catawba Valley Community College
CHATHAM CHEROKEE
Chatham County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Cherokee County NC EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Corp. Health care: 17.1% Economic Development Corp. Health care: 17.3% 919-542-8274 Manufacturing: 14.2% 828-835-9564 Retail: 16.3% chathamedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER cherokeecountyedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Carolina Meadows Murphy Medical Center
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Siler City: population 8,552 Andrews: population 1,785
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 55.9 69.9 63.4 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 26.0 27.5 52.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 29.5 30.9 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 9.7 10.4 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.8% 4.7% Central Carolina Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.9% 6.5% Tri-County Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $41.5 $51.6 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $22.4 $28.1
CHOWAN CLAY
Edenton Chowan EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Clay County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Partnership Inc. Health care: 19.9% Development Commission Retail: 20.4% 252-482-2007 Retail: 11.4% 828-389-1016 Health care: 14.6% edenton.net LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER claycountyedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Vidant Health Ingles Markets
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Edenton: population 4,857 Hayesville: population 338
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 14.5 14.7 74.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 9.8 10.9 36.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 6.6 5.2 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 4.2 3.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.1% 7.2% College of The Albemarle UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.0% 6.0% Tri-County Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $29.5 $35.1 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.9 $28.2
CLEVELAND COLUMBUS
Cleveland County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Columbus County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Partnership Manufacturing: 19.3% Development Commission Health care: 17.3% 704-669-4701 Health care: 15.6% 910-640-6608 Retail: 13.8% ccedp.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER columbusedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Carolinas HealthCare System Century Employer Organization
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Shelby: population 20,089 Whiteville: population 5,352
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 95.8 98.2 72.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 55.0 57.6 80.5 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 44.0 43.3 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 22.1 21.0 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.1% 6.3% Gardner-Webb University; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.6% 7.5% Southeastern Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.6 $31.7 Cleveland Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.3 $30.9
FOR SOURCES AND NOTES, SEE PAGE 76 66 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
CRAVEN CUMBERLAND
Craven County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Fayetteville Cumberland County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Health care: 17.4% Economic Development Corp. Health care: 18.8% 252-633-5300 Government: 16.8% 910-678-7644 Retail: 13.9% cravenbusiness.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER fayedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER CarolinaEast Health System Cape Fear Valley Health System
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN New Bern: population 29,823 Fayetteville: population 208,158
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 95.5 105.1 53.9 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 302.6 331.2 74.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 38.5 38.5 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 122.3 117.2 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.0% 6.1% Craven Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.7% 7.2% Methodist University; Fayetteville PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $32.6 $39.4 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $31.1 $37.6 State University; Fayetteville Technical Community College
CURRITUCK DARE
Currituck County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY The Outer Banks EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Department Education: 19.3% Chamber of Commerce Hospitality: 24.3% 252-232-6015 Retail: 16.9% 252-441-8144 Retail: 19.2% thinkcurrituck.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER outerbankschamber.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Academi Training Center Carolina Designs Realty
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Moyock, unincorporated Kill Devil Hills: population 7,127
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 22.6 25.6 48.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 34.3 35.6 43.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 11.3 11.7 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 21.4 18.7 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.0% 5.8% College of The Albemarle UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.6% 7.6% College of The Albemarle PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $30.9 $38.8 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $36.4 $44.3
DAVIDSON DAVIE
Lexington Area EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Davie County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing: 22.8% Development Commission Manufacturing: 22.0% 336-248-5929 Retail: 11.9% 336-751-2714 Retail 11.9% lexingtonchamber.net LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER daviecountyedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Atrium Windows and Doors Ashley Furniture Industries
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Thomasville (part): population 26,728 Mocksville: population 5,339
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 153.9 164.9 54.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 38.2 41.5 72.8 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 73.4 75.0 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 18.9 19.1 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.1% 5.5% Davidson County Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.1% 4.9% Davidson County Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $28.6 $34.7 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $33.3 $40.5
DUPLIN DURHAM
Duplin County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Greater Durham EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Manufacturing: 30.2% Chamber of Commerce Health care: 21.7% 910-296-2180 Agriculture: 13.3% 919-328-8700 Manufacturing: 12.7% LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER duplinedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER durhamchamber.org Butterball Duke University LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Durham (part): population 250,810 Wallace (part): population 3,984 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* 74.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 53.6 60.4 73.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 240.8 297.8 HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT (000S) 22.0 25.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 125.0 147.0 Duke University; NC Central HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.2% 5.7% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.3% 4.9% University; Durham Technical James Sprunt Community College Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.5 $35.5 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $34.8 $42.8
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 67 AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
EDGECOMBE FORSYTH
Carolinas Gateway EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Winston-Salem EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Partnership Manufacturing: 17.8% Business Inc. Health care: 19.1% 252-442-0114 Retail: 16.1% 336-723-8955 Retail: 11.4% LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER econdev.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER wsbusinessinc.com QVC Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Winston-Salem: population 238,899 Rocky Mount (part): population 16,277 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* 2005 2015* 73.1 cents per $100 value COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 55.4 55.4 POPULATION (000S) 324.4 367.9 HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT (000S) 22.4 20.8 95.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 161.6 168.9 Wake Forest University; Salem College; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 8.6% 9.6% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.7% 5.4% Winston-Salem State University; UNC HIGHER EDUCATION School of the Arts; Forsyth Technical PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.2 $32.2 Edgecombe Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $36.5 $41.4 Community College
FRANKLIN GASTON
Franklin County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Gaston County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Manufacturing: 19.7% Development Commission Manufacturing: 21.5% 919-554-1863 Education: 12.5% 704-825-4046 Health care: 15.9% franklincountync.us/services/edc LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER gaston.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Novozymes North America CaroMont Health
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Louisburg: population 3,351 Gastonia: population 73,843
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 54.0 63.8 92.5 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 191.8 211.9 87.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 25.4 27.4 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 93.2 97.7 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.6% 5.7% Louisburg College; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.1% 5.8% Belmont Abbey College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.8 $31.8 Vance-Granville Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $30.8 $36.4 Gaston College
GATES GRAHAM
Gates County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Graham County Planning and EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Chamber of Commerce Education: 25.4% Economic Development Construction: 21.4% 252-506-1592 Retail: 11.8% 828-479-7984 Hospitality: 14.7% gatescounty.govoffi ce2.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER grahamcounty.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Ashton Lewis Lumber Phillips & Jordan
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Gatesville: population 313 Robbinsville: population 603
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 11.3 11.9 68.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 8.2 8.9 58.5 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 4.7 5.0 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 3.7 2.8 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.1% 5.5% College of The Albemarle UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.1% 12.2% Tri-County Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.2 $32.4 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.9 $28.3
GRANVILLE GREENE
Granville County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Greene County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Department Health care: 25.6% Development Commission Government: 28.8% 919-693-5911 Manufacturing: 23.2% 252-747-3446 Education: 13.6% granvillecounty.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER co.greene.nc.us/economic-development LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Revlon Principle Long Term Care
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Oxford: population 8,474 Snow Hill: population 1,569
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 54.4 58.3 88.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 19.9 21.3 78.6 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 22.3 27.0 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 8.6 8.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.0% 5.0% Vance-Granville Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.1% 5.6% Lenoir Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $25.1 $33.1 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $21.9 $31.1
FOR SOURCES AND NOTES, SEE PAGE 76 68 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
GUILFORD HALIFAX
Greensboro Partnership EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Halifax County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY 336-387-8312, greensboroeda.com Health care: 13.0% Development Commission Health care: 17.7% Manufacturing: 12.0% Retail: 14.9% High Point Economic Development Corp. 252-519-2630 LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER 336-883-3116, highpointnc.gov halifaxdevelopment.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Cone Health Halifax Regional Medical Center LARGEST CITY/TOWN Greensboro: population 282,840 LARGEST CITY/TOWN Roanoke Rapids: population 15,186 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* 75.5 cents per $100 value 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 444.8 516.4 HIGHER EDUCATION POPULATION (000S) 55.7 52.9 78.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 229.2 242.3 Bennett, Guilford and Greensboro EMPLOYMENT (000S) 21.7 19.0 HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.1% 5.8% Colleges; High Point and NC A&T State UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.5% 8.9% Universities; UNC Greensboro; Guilford Halifax Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $35.5 $40.3 Technical Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $25.0 $32.4
HARNETT HAYWOOD
Harnett County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Haywood Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Education: 17.3% Development Council Retail: 17.6% 910-893-7524 Retail: 16.1% 828-456-3737 Health care: 16.1%
harnettedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER haywoodedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Campbell University Blue Ridge Paper Products
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Dunn: population 9,599 Waynesville: population 9,916
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 100.2 128.0 75.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 56.4 60.2 56.6 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 43.1 46.2 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 26.4 26.5 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.2% 6.7% Campbell University; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.3% 5.1% Haywood Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.9 $31.3 Central Carolina Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.4 $33.9
HENDERSON HERTFORD
Henderson County Partnership EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Hertford County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY for Economic Development Health care: 18.6% Development Commission Health care: 22.2% 828-692-6373 Retail: 14.2% 252-358-7801 Retail: 12.1% gohendersoncountync.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER hertfordcounty.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Vidant Health Hospital LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Ahoskie: population 4,855 Hendersonville: population 13,824 2005 2015* 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 97.4 112.1 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 23.8 24.5 84.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 44.5 47.9 56.5 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 9.2 8.6 HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.0% 4.7% HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.8% 7.0% Chowan University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $31.5 $35.5 Blue Ridge Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.5 $28.8 Roanoke-Chowan Community College
HOKE HYDE
Raeford-Hoke Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Hyde County Offi ce of Planning EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Health care: 19.7% and Economic Development Government: 21.7% 910-875-6113 Manufacturing: 18.1% 252-926-4180 Agriculture: 13.6%
hokecounty.net LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER hydecountync.gov LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Butterball Rose Acre Farms
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Raeford: population 4,857 Swan Quarter, unincorporated
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 39.9 51.6 75.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 5.8 5.7 64.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 16.7 17.7 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 2.7 2.0 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.9% 7.8% Sandhills Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.2% 9.1% Beaufort County Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.0 $28.8 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $25.1 $33.0
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 69 AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
IREDELL JACKSON
Statesville Regional Development, EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Jackson County Economic Development, EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY 704-871-0062, statesvilleregion.com Manufacturing: 16.1% 828-631-2240, Education: 21.4% Mooresville South Iredell Economic Health care: 12.1% jacksonthrive.jacksonnc.org Hospitality: 16.5%
Development Corp LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Jackson County Chamber of Commerce LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER 704-664-6922, edcmooresville.org Lowe’s 800-962-1911, mountainlovers.com DLP Partner Medwest
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Mooresville: population 37,750 Sylva: population 2,679
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 139.3 169.3 52.8 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 36.8 41.3 37.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 68.1 77.5 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 20.3 17.4 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.0% 5.4% Mitchell Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.7% 5.9% Western Carolina University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $33.4 $40.7 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $25.4 $30.9 Southwestern Community College
JOHNSTON JONES
Johnston County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Jones County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Offi ce Retail: 15.2% Economic Development Health care: 23.9% 919-205-1232 Manufacturing: 14.8% 252-448-7571 Education: 17.7% jcnced.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER jonescountync.gov LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Johnston Health Craven Regional Medical Center
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Clayton (part): population 18,734 Maysville: population 1,060
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 144.0 183.3 78.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 10.0 10.5 79.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 68.5 83.0 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 4.6 4.3 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.3% 5.1% Johnston Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.0% 5.8% Lenoir Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $30.1 $34.9 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $29.6 $38.9
LEE LENOIR
Sanford Area EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Lenoir County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Growth Alliance Manufacturing: 29.0% Economic Development Manufacturing: 24.4% 919-774-8439 Retail: 12.6% 252-527-1963 Health care: 19.1% growsanfordnc.com/edc LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER lenoiredc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Coty Sanderson Farms
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Sanford: population 28,802 Kinston: population 21,025
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 53.3 59.2 79.5 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 59.2 58.8 83.5 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 24.4 23.2 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 25.9 25.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.5% 7.5% Central Carolina Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.1% 6.4% Lenoir Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $31.4 $34.6 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.2 $37.3
LINCOLN MACON
Lincoln Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Macon County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Association Manufacturing: 20.3% Development Commission Retail: 17.2% 704-732-1511 Retail: 13.5% 828-369-2306 Hospitality: 14.3% lincolneda.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER maconedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Carolinas HealthCare System Drake Enterprises
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Lincolnton: population 10,558 Franklin: population 4,059
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 69.7 80.8 61.1 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 31.9 34.9 34.9 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 34.0 38.9 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 14.7 14.1 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.7% 5.3% Gaston College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.5% 6.1% Southwestern Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.5 $35.9 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.5 $33.9
FOR SOURCES AND NOTES, SEE PAGE 76 70 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
MADISON MARTIN
Madison County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Martin County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Education: 21.7% Economic Development Corp. Retail: 16.2% 828-649-3766 Health care: 14.8% 252-789-4904 Health care: 15.7%
investinmadison.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER martincountyedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Mars Hill College Ann’s House of Nuts
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Mars Hill: population 2,167 Williamston: population 5,564
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 20.0 21.7 52.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 24.6 23.6 73.5 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 9.3 9.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 11.1 9.0 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.1% 5.5% Mars Hill College; Asheville-Bun- UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.2% 7.6% Martin Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.6 $29.0 combe Technical Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.4 $34.6
MCDOWELL MECKLENBURG
McDowell Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Charlotte Chamber EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Association Inc. Manufacturing: 39.1% of Commerce Health care: 11.4% 828-652-9391 Retail: 11.0% 704-378-1300 Retail: 9.9% mcdowellnceda.govoffi ce3.com charlottechamber.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Carolinas HealthCare System Baxter International LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Charlotte: population 818,480 Marion: population 8,117 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 81.6 cents per $100 value 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* POPULATION (000S) 43.1 45.4 55.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 803.0 1,032.6 HIGHER EDUCATION Charlotte School of Law; Davidson EMPLOYMENT (000S) 19.5 19.9 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 409.0 528.3 HIGHER EDUCATION College; Johnson C. Smith, John- UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.2% 5.5% McDowell Technical UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.9% 5.3% son & Wales, Pfeiff er and Queens PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.1 $29.0 Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $43.0 $49.1 universities; UNC Charlotte; Cen- tral Piedmont Community College
MITCHELL MONTGOMERY
Mitchell County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Montgomery County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Health care: 15.2% Development Corp. Manufacturing: 34.3% 828-688-2139, ext. 1404 Education: 14.7% 910-576-4221 ext. 1307 Health care: 11.0% mitchellcountyedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER montgomeryedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Grede
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Spruce Pine: population 2,224 Troy: population 3,304
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 15.6 15.8 53.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 27.1 27.8 62.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 7.1 5.9 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 11.4 10.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.4% 6.8% Mayland Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.0% 5.7% Montgomery Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.4 $29.5 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.4 $32.3
MOORE NASH
Moore County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Carolinas Gateway EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Partners in Progress Health care: 25.4% Partnership Manufacturing: 18.7% 910-246-0311 Hospitality: 14.8% 252-442-0114 Health care: 13.7%
moorebusiness.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER econdev.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER FirstHealth of the Carolinas Hospira
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Pinehurst: population 16,123 Rocky Mount (part): population 38,912
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 80.4 94.2 46.5 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 90.3 94.3 67.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 33.8 35.9 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 41.2 40.4 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.9% 5.7% Sandhills Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.2% 7.4% N.C. Wesleyan College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $37.4 $41.6 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $29.8 $37.5 Nash Community College
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 71 AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
NEW HANOVER NORTHAMPTON
Wilmington Business EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Northampton County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Health care: 16.5% Development Commission Government: 13.1% 910-763-8414 Retail: 14.3% 252-534-1092 Health care: 13.0% wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER northamptonnc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER New Hanover Regional Medical Center Lowe’s
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Wilmington: population 115,498 Gaston: population 1,130
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 184.7 220.1 62.3 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 21.8 21.1 92.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 94.8 105.7 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 8.3 7.3 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.9% 5.3% UNC Wilmington; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.0% 7.6% Halifax Community College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $33.2 $40.1 Cape Fear Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.3 $31.0 Roanoke-Chowan Community College
ONSLOW ORANGE
Jacksonville Onslow EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Orange County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Retail: 23.0% Development Health care: 23.8% 910-939-7023 Hospitality: 16.0% 919-245-2325 Retail: 10.1% joednc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER growinorangenc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Wal-Mart Stores Eurosport
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Jacksonville: population 77,464 Chapel Hill (part): population 56,459
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 159.9 194.6 67.5 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 122.6 141.6 87.8 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 53.4 60.9 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 63.3 71.7 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.5% 5.8% Coastal Carolina Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.8% 4.5% UNC Chapel Hill; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $33.0 $44.5 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $41.1 $53.0 Durham Technical Community College
PAMLICO PASQUOTANK
Pamlico County Offi ce of EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Elizabeth City Pasquotank County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Retail: 18.7% Economic Development Commission Health care: 17.8% 252-745-3081 Health care: 16.4% 252-338-0169 Retail: 16.1% pamlicocounty.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER elizabethcitypasquotankedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Wal-Mart Stores Sentara Albemarle Medical Center
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Bayboro: population 1,245 Elizabeth City (part): population 17,781
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 13.1 13.2 62.5 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 38.1 40.0 76.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 5.4 5.0 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 16.4 15.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.7% 6.1% Pamlico Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.7% 7.5% Elizabeth City State University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $28.0 $37.9 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.9 $34.3 College of The Albemarle
PENDER PERQUIMANS
Wilmington EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Perquimans County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Business Development Retail: 13.9% Development Commission Education: 17.0% 910-763-8414 Health care: 12.7% 252-312-5314 Hospitality: 16.6% wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER econdevperquimansnc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Pender Memorial Hospital Guest Services
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Burgaw: population 4,050 Hertford: population 2,143
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 45.4 57.7 68.5 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 12.2 13.6 57.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 21.2 23.9 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 4.9 4.8 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.5% 6.0% Cape Fear Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.7% 7.1% College of The Albemarle PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.1 $31.4 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $30.3 $35.7
FOR SOURCES AND NOTES, SEE PAGE 76 72 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
PERSON PITT
Person County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Pitt County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Manufacturing: 16.1% Development Commission Health care: 22.2% 336-330-2206 Retail: 15.3% 252-902-2075 Education: 14.8%
personcounty.net LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER locateincarolina.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER GKN Automotive Components Vidant Health
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Roxboro: population 8,185 Greenville: population 87,960
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 37.4 39.3 70.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 147.0 175.4 68.6 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 17.7 17.2 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 69.4 81.8 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.4% 6.5% Piedmont Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.7% 6.1% East Carolina University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.4 $33.1 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $28.9 $35.4 Pitt Community College
POLK RANDOLPH
Polk County Offi ce EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Randolph County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY of Economic Development Health care: 28.9% Development Corp. Manufacturing: 35.4% 828-894-2895 Hospitality: 8.8% 336-626-2233 Health care: 9.8%
polknc.org/economic_development LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER rcedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER St. Lukes Hospital United Furniture Industries
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Tryon: population 1,730 Asheboro: population 25,740
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 19.3 20.8 53.8 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 135.2 143.7 65.3 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 8.6 8.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 71.0 64.4 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.0% 5.2% Isothermal Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.8% 5.5% Randolph Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $34.1 $37.8 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.3 $31.9
RICHMOND ROBESON
Richmond County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Robeson County Offi ce of EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Manufacturing: 21.7% Economic Development Health care: 19.8% 910-997-8190 Retail: 14.1% 910-739-7584 Manufacturing: 16.6% richmondnced.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER robesoncountyoed.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Perdue Mountaire Farms
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Rockingham: population 9,293 Lumberton: population 21,550
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 46.1 45.5 79.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 127.7 133.3 77.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 18.4 15.5 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 48.2 46.6 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.9% 8.1% Richmond Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.1% 8.4% UNC Pembroke; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.7 $30.0 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $21.6 $26.6 Robeson Community College
ROCKINGHAM ROWAN
Rockingham County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Salisbury-Rowan Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development & Tourism Manufacturing: 22.3% Development Commission Health care: 17.4% 336-342-8138 Retail: 14.9% 704-637-5526 Manufacturing: 16.4%
ncnorthstar.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER rowanworks.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Wal-Mart Stores Food Lion
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Eden: population 15,306 Salisbury: population 34,278
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 92.1 92.5 69.6 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 131.1 138.7 66.3 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 43.2 39.4 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 63.8 60.7 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.7% 6.4% Rockingham Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.5% 5.8% Catawba College; Livingstone College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.7 $32.6 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.7 $31.6 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 73 AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
RUTHERFORD SAMPSON
Rutherford County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Sampson County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Health care: 15.5% Development Commission Manufacturing: 16.7% 828-287-6200 Manufacturing: 15.4% 910-592-8921 Agriculture: 13.6% rutherfordncedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER sampsonedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Rutherford Regional Health System Smithfi eld Foods
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Forest City: population 7,416 Clinton: population 8,647
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 64.6 67.5 60.7 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 61.9 64.5 83.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 26.7 23.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 29.4 27.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 8.8% 7.8% Isothermal Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.0% 5.8% Sampson Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.4 $28.4 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.5 $35.8
SCOTLAND STANLY
Scotland County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Stanly County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Corp. Manufacturing: 18.2% Development Commission Manufacturing: 17.3% 910-266-4326 Health care: 17.3% 704-986-3682 Health care: 14.8% scotlandcountyedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER stanlyedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Scotland Health Care System Stanly Regional Medical Center
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Laurinburg: population 15,646 Albemarle: population 15,979
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 36.0 35.8 $1.02 per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 58.6 61.3 67.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 13.6 10.5 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 27.6 27.1 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 9.9% 10.7% St. Andrews University; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.5% 5.3% Pfeiff er University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.9 $29.0 Richmond Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.5 $32.6 Stanly Community College
STOKES SURRY
Stokes County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Surry County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Education: 16.4% Development Partnership Inc. Retail: 14.9% 336-593-2496 Health care: 16.3% 336-401-9900 Health care: 14.2% stokesedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER surryedp.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Wieland Copper Products Pike Corp.
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN King (part): population 6,288 Mount Airy: population 10,361
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 46.1 46.8 62.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 72.2 73.8 58.2 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 23.1 21.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 32.7 31.2 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.0% 5.3% Forsyth Technical UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.0% 5.5% Surry Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.4 $31.7 Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.6 $33.5
SWAIN TRANSYLVANIA
Swain County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Transylvania County Planning EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Government: 21.6% and Community Development Health care: 16.6% 828-488-7838; swaincountync.gov/ Hospitality: 9.3% 828-884-3205 Retail: 15.8% economic-development.html LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER econdev.transylvaniacounty.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Consolidated Metco Brevard College
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Bryson City: population 1,542 Brevard: population 7,929
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 13.7 15.0 36.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 30.6 33.7 51.1 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 6.7 6.0 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 11.6 12.7 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6.6% 7.9% Southwestern Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.2% 5.5% Brevard College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $22.8 $29.7 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.2 $33.1 Blue Ridge Community College
FOR SOURCES AND NOTES, SEE PAGE 76 74 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
TYRRELL UNION
Greater Tyrrell County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Monroe-Union County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Chamber of Commerce Government: 24.8% Economic Development Manufacturing: 19.4% 252-796-1996 Education: 14.0% 704-282-5780 Retail: 12.6%
visittyrrellcounty.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER developunion.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Whitecap Linen Tyson Farms
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Columbia: population 835 Indian Trail: population 37,449
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 4.3 4.1 69.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 160.3 220.5 76.7 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 2.1 1.4 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 77.2 105.2 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.3% 9.3% Beaufort County Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.2% 4.7% Wingate University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $22.4 $30.1 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $32.3 $41.2 South Piedmont Community College
VANCE WAKE
Henderson-Vance County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Wake County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Retail: 15.0% Development Retail: 11.6% 252-492-2094 Health care: 14.6% 919-664-7000 Health care: 10.4%
vancecountyedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER raleigh-wake.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Variety Wholesalers WakeMed
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Henderson: population 15,094 Raleigh (part): population 439,340 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* 60.1 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 44.0 45.0 89.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 752.1 1,005.4 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 17.1 16.4 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 389.1 506.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION Meredith College; William Peace UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 8.9% 8.6% Vance-Granville Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.0% 4.6% University; St. Augustine’s University; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $24.8 $30.0 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $42.5 $49.7 Shaw University; NC State University; Wake Technical Community College WARREN WASHINGTON
Warren County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Washington County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Commission Government: 22.7% Economic Development Manufacturing: 23.6% 252-257-3114 Education: 14.7% 252-793-5823 Health care: 13.9% warrencountync.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER washconc.org/edc LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Glen Raven Domtar Paper
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Norlina: population 1,101 Plymouth: population 3,700
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 20.5 20.5 71.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 13.5 12.6 81.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 7.4 6.6 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 5.6 4.5 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.3% 8.4% Vance-Granville Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.0% 8.7% Beaufort County Community College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $20.1 $28.4 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $25.6 $32.2 Martin Community College
WATAUGA WAYNE
Watauga County Offi ce of EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Wayne County EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Economic Development Hospitality: 18.3% Development Alliance Inc. Health care: 19.4% 828-264-3082 Retail: 16.4% 919-731-7700 Retail: 14.3%
wataugaedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER waynealliance.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Appalachian Regional Healthcare Wayne Memorial Hospital System LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Boone: population 18,553 Goldsboro: population 34,945
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 45.8 53.3 31.3 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 117.7 125.9 66.4 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 23.5 26.0 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 48.7 50.3 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.5% 4.9% Appalachian State University; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.5% 6.1% Mount Olive College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.2 $31.0 Caldwell Community College and PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.2 $35.2 Wayne Community College Technical Institute
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 75 AROUND THE STATE | COUNTY BY COUNTY
WILKES WILSON
Wilkes Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Wilson Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Corp. Manufacturing: 21.2% Development Council Manufacturing: 20.3% 336-838-1501 Retail: 12.1% 252-237-1115 Health care: 14.2% wilkesedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER wilsonedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Tyson Farms BB&T
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN North Wilkesboro: population 4,477 Wilson: population 49,357
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 67.1 70.0 67.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 76.7 81.7 73.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 30.7 27.8 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 35.6 33.8 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 5.8% 5.7% Wilkes Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 8.1% 9.3% Barton College; PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $27.3 $31.0 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $29.5 $36.0 Wilson Technical Community College
YADKIN YANCEY
Yadkin County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Yancey County Economic EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Development Council Manufacturing: 26.0% Development Commission Retail: 15.6% 336-679-2200 Transportation: 10.6% 828-682-7722 Education: 12.8% yadkinedc.com LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER yanceyedc.org LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYER Unifi Manufacturing Ingles Markets
LARGEST CITY/TOWN LARGEST CITY/TOWN Yadkinville: population 2,923 Burnsville: population 1,703
2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 2005 2015* COUNTY PROPERTY TAX POPULATION (000S) 37.3 37.7 66.0 cents per $100 value POPULATION (000S) 17.7 17.9 60.0 cents per $100 value EMPLOYMENT (000S) 18.5 17.1 EMPLOYMENT (000S) 7.3 6.9 HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 4.6% 4.9% Surry Community College UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.2% 5.9% Mayland Community College PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $26.5 $31.9 PER CAPITA INCOME (000S) $23.1 $29.8
SOURCES Population, counties, largest city/town, employment and unemployment rate: N.C. Offi ce of State Budget and Management. Hyde, Camden and Currituck counties have no incorporated towns. Employment share by industry sector and largest private-sector employer: N.C. Department of Commerce Labor and Economic Analysis Division, as of fourth quarter of 2015. 2016-17 property-tax rate: North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and N.C. Department of Revenue. Per capita income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Community colleges are listed for every county in their designated service area.
*Per capita income is for 2014, the most recent year available.
76 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE North CaroliN a EC o N omiC D E v E lopmENt GuiDE 77 AROUND THE STATE | FOR MORE INFORMATION NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS
CHARLOTTE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP NORTH CAROLINA’S SOUTHEAST REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP RONNIE BRYANT, CEO AND PRESIDENT [email protected] STEVE YOST, PRESIDENT [email protected] NASCAR PLAZA, 550 S. CALDWELL ST., SUITE 760, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202 707 W. BROAD ST., P.O. BOX 2556, ELIZABETHTOWN, NC 28337 CHARLOTTEUSA.COM | 800-554-4373 NCSE.ORG | 800-787-1333 Serves Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Serves Anson, Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties in North Carolina Duplin, Hoke, Montgomery, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, and four South Carolina counties. Robeson, Sampson, Scotland and Wayne counties.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP PIEDMONT TRIAD PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH CAROLINA INC. STAN KELLY, CEO AND PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER CHUNG, CEO [email protected] [email protected] 416 GALLIMORE DAIRY ROAD, 15000 WESTON PARKWAY, CARY, NC 27513 GREENSBORO, NC 27409
EDPNC.COM | 919-447-7744 PIEDMONTTRIADNC.COM | 336-668-4556 Serves the state, working with regional and local Serves Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, partners to help businesses relocate and grow. Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties.
NCEAST ALLIANCE RESEARCH TRIANGLE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP JOHN CHAFFEE, CEO AND PRESIDENT [email protected] [email protected] 1020 RED BANKS ROAD, SUITE 202, 8000 WESTON PARKWAY, SUITE 340 GREENVILLE, NC 27858 CARY, NC 27513 NCEAST.ORG | 252-689-6496 RESEARCHTRIANGLE.ORG | 919-840-7372 Serves Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Serves Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Nash, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Northampton, Onslow, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilson Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, counties and Research Triangle Park. Wayne and Wilson counties.
78 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 79 AROUND THE STATE | FOR MORE INFORMATION
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP N.C. BOARD OF SCIENCE, NORTH CAROLINA OF NORTH CAROLINA (EDPNC) TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS Christopher Chung, CEO John Hardin, executive director Andrea Bushnell, CEO 919-447-7744 919-814-4639 336-808-4222 ext. 222 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] nccommerce.com/sti edpnc.com ncrealtors.org
NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC BUSINESS/INDUSTRY NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT (EDPNC) COUNTY COMMISSIONERS John Peterson, executive director Kevin Leonard, executive director Client Services 919-882-1961 919-715-4369 919-447-7744 [email protected] [email protected] nceda.org [email protected] edpnc.com ncacc.org STATE LIBRARY OF NORTH CAROLINA EXPORT ASSISTANCE (EDPNC) Caroline Lau Shepard, state librarian NORTH CAROLINA Rick Hill, director of international trade 919-807-7410 LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES 919-447-7757 [email protected] Paul Meyer, executive director statelibrary.ncdcr.gov 919-715-3930 [email protected] [email protected] edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/ UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA nclm.org export-assistance General Administration
919-962-1000 NORTH CAROLINA CHAMBER TOURISM (EDPNC) northcarolina.edu S. Lewis Ebert, Wit Tuttell, executive director president and CEO 919-447-7740 N.C. COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM 919-836-1407 [email protected] James C. Williamson, president [email protected] visitnc.com [email protected] ncchamber.net nccommunitycolleges.edu
N.C. COMMERCE WORKFORCE NORTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT N.C. STATE PORTS DEVELOPMENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AUTHORITY Will Collins, assistant secretary A. Hope Williams, president Paul J. Cozza, 919-814-0388 919-832-5817 executive director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] nccommerce.com/workforce ncicu.org ncports.com
80 NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE Carolina isn’t just a place you go. It’s a place you take with you to create
a healthier state. For the UNC-Chapel Hill alumni founders
of Seal the Seasons, that means turning a business idea incubated
on Carolina’s campus into a growing company — one that benefits
our state by providing year-round local produce and creating
a vital new revenue stream for N.C. farmers.
Where has UNC taken you? UNCWithMe.com | #UNCWithMe
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