At a glance
| Booth | S7330 |
| Country | US |
| Website | www.edpnc.com |
Company profile
North Carolina is home to many semiconductor and microelectronics businesses, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina presents the state's business climate as a factor supporting economic growth for these companies. The state offers business resources in education, research and development, innovative technologies, and a skilled workforce of trained professionals. The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina's International Trade Division assists North Carolina businesses seeking to take advantage of overseas market opportunities. Business Development Managers and six foreign trade offices are available to help North Carolina businesses grow through international sales. The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina operates as a nonprofit public-private partnership under contract with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and receives additional financial support from the private sector. An 18-member board of business and industry leaders representing the state governs the organization, which serves as North Carolina's statewide economic-development organization for those seeking to invest in, visit, or do business with North Carolina. In pursuit of sustainable job creation and investment in North Carolina, the organization works with public- and private-sector partners at state, regional, and local levels. North Carolina cites recognition as CNBC Top State for Business in 2022, 2023, and 2025 and as home to the top workforce in the nation according to Site Selection in 2026, alongside its strong economy, talented workforce, and pro-business environment.
Exhibits
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina helps businesses large and small succeed in North Carolina by recruiting new businesses to the state and supporting the growth of existing North Carolina businesses. It helps manufacturers sell into international markets, provides startup assistance to entrepreneurs, and markets North Carolina as a travel destination. Its Small Business Advisors are positioned as a resource for starting a business in North Carolina and use a Business Planning Checklist to support the startup process. For companies considering expansion or relocation, the organization provides site-selection support around a large inventory of ready-to-build locations in North Carolina. The available-site inventory includes megasites, certified shovel-ready properties, and strategically located developments across the Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain regions. Businesses can use the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina's site-selection tools to explore available locations and compare North Carolina's business attributes with those of other states. Dedicated business-recruitment managers provide personalized assistance as part of the site's expansion and relocation support. The site-selection database can be filtered by property size, building specifications, transportation access, utility infrastructure, and proximity to workforce and suppliers. North Carolina's Mountains region is presented with manufacturing potential, a talented workforce, and quality-of-life attributes for businesses and talent. The Piedmont region is described in terms of top universities, hubs for international travel, and corporate headquarters. The Coastal Plain region is described as offering infrastructure, a talent pool, and quality-of-life attributes for companies. North Carolina has six strategically located megasite land developments intended to support business growth and large industrial operations. A megasite is described as a large parcel of developable land that is considered shovel-ready and can quickly break ground on large industrial operations. The state's megasites are presented for advanced manufacturers with access to skilled workers, major markets, consumers, and suppliers, along with the state's corporate-income-tax position. North Carolina has offered an official Certified Sites program since 2001 to maintain a statewide inventory of industrial sites that have undergone rigorous prequalification for immediate development and consistent standards. The Certified Sites program is intended to reduce development risk by providing detailed information on site price and availability, utilities, access, environmental concerns, potential development costs, and other site factors. Certified sites are periodically re-certified so that the program can maintain current and reliable site information. To obtain the Certified Sites designation, communities must complete a stringent review addressing 31 prerequisites. Those prerequisites include a business or industrial use designation and Phase I environmental audits. The review also includes geotechnical studies, topographical analysis and maps, and aerial photography. Communities must document the availability of public utilities and industrial power quality as part of the certification prerequisites. Engineered site-development plans, detailed analysis of development cost, and complete pricing information are also included among the Certified Sites prerequisites. Documentation for Certified Sites Steering Committee review must be submitted three weeks before a meeting, and the committee generally meets on the fourth Wednesday of every other month beginning in February. The certification process gives potential buyers and developers verified information on availability, pricing, utility infrastructure, transportation access, environmental status, and estimated development costs before they select a site. This pre-development due diligence is intended to reduce project risk and accelerate timelines by addressing uncertainties associated with site selection before development begins. North Carolina also has other in-state certification options that add shovel-ready sites and help site selectors make informed choices. The Smart Sites Program, created by ElectriCities, assists member communities in preparing shovel-ready sites. The Site Readiness Program is intended to identify and improve industrial sites in the Duke Energy service territory. The Cooperative Ready Sites Program from NC Electric Cooperatives provides completed due-diligence studies for sites in order to increase development speed. Across these services, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina connects business recruitment, startup support, international sales assistance, site search, and site-readiness information for companies establishing or growing operations in the state.
Capabilities and products
- overseas market assistance for North Carolina businesses
- international-sales growth assistance
- business recruitment and establishment support
- growth support for existing businesses
- international-market sales assistance for manufacturers
- startup assistance for entrepreneurs
- industrial site-selection support