GREENVILLE, North Carolina (January 5, 2021) – The new year is starting off strong for economic development in North Carolina as the state receives a prestigious award. Business Facilities, a leading source of intelligence for corporate site selection, expansion, relocation, and area economic development solutions, names North Carolina as its 2020 State of the Year.
“North Carolina has been a rising star on our radar for several years,” said Business Facilities editor-in-chief Jack Rogers. “The successful execution of a regional economic development strategy targeting a diverse group of growth sectors in North Carolina is reflected in the proliferation of top-ten results for NC in our state rankings.”
This is the first time North Carolina has earned Business Facilities’ top honor, which has been bestowed annually by the magazine since 2007.
“This is an honor for our entire state, specifically the eastern North Carolina region,” said Steve Weathers, president and CEO of the Greenville – Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Alliance. “With recent project announcements in the Pitt County area, companies are seeing that businesses thrive in our state and in our region.”
North Carolina is widely known as one of the most pro-business states in the country. In addition to offering the nation’s lowest corporate income tax rate at 2.5 percent, the state has a competitive incentives program.
“We know that North Carolina is the best state to do business and it’s great to see it recognized on the national level by various publications including this selection by Business Facilities. We’ve also received other recent designations by Site Selection Magazine, Forbes.com, and Updater,” said Weathers.
In previous years, North Carolina has placed high in other Business Facilities rankings. In 2020, it was recognized in several top ten categories of the magazine's annual state rankings for workforce development and attraction, best business climate, unmanned aerial systems, installed solar power capacity, manufacturing employment, manufacturing output, FDI projects, opportunity zones, biotechnology strength, and fastest growing states.
“North Carolina is leveraging its advantages — including a prime logistics location, a steadily expanding skilled workforce, and impressive higher education resources — to seal the deal on one big project after another,” said Rogers. “The Tar Heel State has put down a marker that it’s ready to compete for a leadership position in the emerging growth sectors of the 21st century."
Greenville is a thriving economic center and one of the fastest growing regions in the state. The region's workforce, resources, and cost structure give companies what they need to prosper and succeed.
---
Media Relations Contact: Maria Satira
Director of Marketing and Communications
Greenville - Eastern North Carolina Alliance
satira@encalliance.com
252-414-2875
