North Carolina tourism generated record visitor spending in 2018 with a total of $25.3 billion. The 5.6 percent increase from 2017 was North Carolina’s largest percentage growth in travel and tourism spending since 2011. Additionally, tourism industry-supported employment topped 230,000 jobs to set another record for the state. “Tourism is a major economic engine for…

North Carolina ranks No. 4 in the nation among the top-performing states in Chief Executive magazine’s 2019 Best and Worst States for Business survey. Chief Executive surveyed CEOs across the country about their opinions of all 50 states for the 2019 report. The results were released today. In its coverage of the award, the magazine…

For the second year in a row, North Carolina holds the No. 1 spot on Forbes magazine’s Best States for Business ranking. North Carolina has been the only state to place among the magazine’s top five states for business overall every year since 2006, when Forbes began ranking all 50 states. In an article announcing the…

CARY, N.C. – North Carolina has a new point person focused on making sure the state is a top contender for defense-related companies considering where to locate or expand. With more than 40 years of experience as a military and defense industry specialist, Dennis Lewis joined the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) in…

ABB, Inc., a global leader in electrification products, robotics, and industrial automation, will expand its current facility in Mebane, North Carolina, creating more than 400 jobs in Orange County and investing up to $39.9 million to upgrade equipment and increase the size of its plant. Although wages will vary depending on position, the average salary…

North Carolina has jumped six spots to No. 3 on CNBC’s 2019 ranking of America’s Top States for Business released today. “Our rise on this well-regarded business ranking is a strong indicator of North Carolina’s immediate and long-term promise for businesses, their employees and their families,” said Christopher Chung, chief executive officer of the Economic…

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is offering a workshop in Greenville that will help businesses new to exporting understand all that is legally required to sell internationally. The EDPNC and Allocca Enterprises, a leading provider of international trade education, will be hosting an export compliance training course from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m….

Is your small business ready to dip its toe into international waters by exporting its product or service? Then you’ll need to have a written export-management compliance program (EMCP) that ensures your company meets all U.S. regulatory requirements to export to a specific foreign market. The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) and Allocca…

Home improvement retailer Lowe’s is locating a new $153-million global technology center in Charlotte, North Carolina, creating more than 1,600 jobs. “We’re excited to stand up our new global technology center here in North Carolina to continue to drive our company’s growth,” said Marvin R. Ellison, president and chief executive officer of the company based…

Outdoor furniture manufacturer POLYWOOD and North Carolina’s economic development team recently received an award recognizing corporate expansion projects across the U.S. expected to have a profound positive effect in their local communities. POLYWOOD, which makes furniture out of recycled plastics, received a 2019 Corporate Investment & Community Impact (CiCi) Award from Trade & Industry Development…

A maker of air filters for commercial, retail and and industrial markets is opening a new manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina, creating 305 new jobs. CleanAire, an air-filtration manufacturing company, plans to invest $10 million in the facility, which will do business under the name Pamlico Air. “More and more manufacturers are finding North…

Three new television and film projects have been approved to receive North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant funds. Combined, the projects are expected to generate a direct in-state spend in excess of $50.6 million. The productions will create more than 5,800 job opportunities in the state, including 1,120 crew positions for the state’s talented film…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 2019 CARY, N.C. ― The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) has hired Duplin County’s economic development director to support business prosperity and growth in a 12-county region of Southeast North Carolina. On Monday, James Wolfe, executive director of the Duplin County Economic Development Commission, becomes the EDPNC’s new…

SynergyLabs, a fast-growing manufacturer of specialty pet products, has selected Burke County as the location for a new company that will create 237 jobs. The enterprise will invest $11.2 million to ramp up a new manufacturing plant in Hildebran. “Pets are family too, and we are committed to providing pet parents with world-class products that…

VBC | Manufacturing – Hamlet, a producer of prefabricated building components for the construction industry, will open a manufacturing facility in Richmond County, creating 130 new jobs. The company will invest more than $12 million in Hamlet within the next three years. The company, a division of the Volumetric Building Companies (VBC), will be hiring…