North Carolina's Eastern Region Economic Development Review 2011-12 by Journal Communications

north Carolina’s businessclimate.com/nc - eastern

Eastern Region Economic Development Review

Sea of Opportunity

Labs advance marine biotech research

Trove of History Cultural attractions draw heritage tourists

The Place to Be Region’s workforce, location attract business

Sponsored by North Carolina’s Eastern Region | 2012-13

Discover Jones county

… it’s about time.

Business center specifications Manufacturing space: 7,000 square feet ceiling Height: 20 feet power: Jones-Onslow EMC, MDP 120/208V, 3 phase, 800 amps Gas: Piedmont Natural Gas office space: 1,000 square feet

The Lenoir Community College Jones County Center is a modern facility with administrative offices, classrooms, computer labs, a learning lab, a vocational shop and two health science labs. A variety of curriculum and continuing education classes are offered at the Center as well as throughout Jones County making LCC “Your College in Your Community.” 509 Hwy. 58 N. • Trenton, NC 28585 252.448.5021 • www.lenoircc.edu

Jones county econoMic DeveLopMent coMMission Larry Meadows, Economic Development Consultant 134 Industrial Park Dr. • P.O. Box 340 • Trenton, NC 28585 252.448.1315 Tel • 252.448.1374 Fax lmeadows@co.jones.nc.us www.co.jones.nc.us

Lab: Wet lab with fume vent fire protection: Sprinkler system Drive-in Door: 10’ wide x 12’ high amenities: Use of conference room, fax, copier

40 P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f B i ll R u s s

Workstyle The Place to Be

Region’s workforce, location attract business

Sea of Opportunity

Labs advance marine biotech research

Sky’s the Limit

Military fuels aerospace, defense growth

A Durable Industry

Local manufacturers expand nationally, globally

Trove of History

Cultural attractions draw heritage tourists Table of Contents Continued

On the Cover Greenville City Hall in Greenville, one of the population centers of North Carolina’s 13-county Eastern Region. Photo by Todd Bennett

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Insight Overview

Almanac

Energy/ Technology

Transportation

Health

Education

Livability

Gallery

Economic Profile

Through the Lens

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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ONLINE

CONNECTIONS

An online resource at businessclimate.com/nc-eastern

digital Magazine >>

north Carolina’s businessclimate.com/nc - eastern

EaSTErn rEgiOn EcOnOmic DEvElOPmEnT rEviEw

Sea of Opportunity Labs advance marine biotech research

Trove of History Cultural attractions draw heritage tourists

Lifestyle Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes the community such a special place to be.

The Place to Be Region’s workforce, location attract business

SPOnSOrED By nOrTH carOlina’S EaSTErn rEgiOn | 2012-13

Read the magazine on your computer, zoom in on articles and link to advertiser websites. site guide >> Find available commercial and industrial properties with our searchable database.

Workstyle A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies

success breeds success >> Meet the people who set the pace for business innovation. Dig Deeper >> Plug into the community with links to local websites and resources to give you a big picture of the region. Demographics >> A wealth of demographic and statistical information puts the community at your fingertips.

See the Video Our award-winning photographers give you a virtual tour of unique spaces, places and faces.

guide to services >> Links to a cross section of goods and services special to the community

go online

businessclimate.com/nc-eastern

201 2-1 3 Edition , volum e 2 editorial project manager Emily McMackin Content Director Bill McMeekin Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Contributing writers Will Blesch, John Fuller, M.V. Greene, Melanie Kilgore-Hill, Joe Morris, Kathryn Royster Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Jake Shores, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers Rachael Gerringer, Erica Lampley, Taylor nunley, Kacey Passmore Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Mitchell Franz color imaging technician alison hunter Executive Integrated Media Manager Suzi McGruder Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton Senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing kim holmberg V.P./business Development Clay Perry V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./travel publishing susan chappell V.P./Sales Rhonda Graham, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Sales Support Coordinator Alex Marks Sales Support project manager sara quint system administrator Daniel cantrell Web Creative Director Allison Davis Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Designer II richard stevens Web Development Lead Yamel Hall Web Developer I Nels noseworthy Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Creative Services Director Christina Carden Creative Technology Analyst Becca ary Audience Development Director Deanna Nelson New Media Assistant Alyssa DiCicco Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

North Carolina's Eastern Region Economic Development Review is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through North Carolina's Eastern Region. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: North Carolina's Eastern Region 3802 Highway 58 N. • Kinston, NC 28504 Phone: (252) 522-2400 • Fax: (252) 523-9017 www.nceast.org

Visit North Carolina’s Eastern Region Economic Development Review online at businessclimate.com/nc-eastern ©Copyright 2012 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member Member

The Association of Magazine Media Custom Content Council

Member North Carolina's Eastern Region

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Overview

Delivering the ‘Wow’ Factor North Carolina’s Eastern Region: An inviting place to invest, work and live Welcome to North Carolina’s Eastern Region, an economically and culturally diverse 13-county area of more than 1 million people. The Eastern Region offers an arsenal of advantages including a favorable labor environment, low cost of living, a wealth of developable land and sites, world-class transportation, a central location to market, and a network of colleges and universities. The region has built key industry clusters that include advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, logistics, maritime, value-added agriculture, life sciences, major health-care facilities, tourism and higher education concentrations. A highly developed transportation infrastructure includes easy access to major interstates and highways, regional airports with daily service to some of the nation’s busiest hubs and Class I rail carriers. A signature development is the 5,700-acre Global TransPark near Kinston, which combines space for industrial development with an airport offering an 11,500-foot runway and one of the region’s two Foreign Trade Zones. The Port of Morehead City sits just four miles from the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and handles breakbulk and bulk cargo. The 11 campuses of the North Carolina Community College System that serve the 13-county area, a quartet of four-year higher education institutions and an array of specialized training centers give the region a powerful set of tools for developing and upgrading labor skills. A roster of brand-name manufacturers have invested in the region including Mt. Olive Pickles, Moen, Bosch/Siemens, Lennox, General Electric, Electrolux, Sara Lee, the Cheesecake Factory, Spirit Aerosystems, AAR and Honeywell. With its proximity to the Research Triangle, the region has crafted a life sciences sector employing more than

5,000 people in disciplines such as pharmaceuticals, medical device manufacturing, marine sciences and nutrition, and advanced biofuels. East Carolina University, a major research center, includes a sizeable medical campus containing schools of medicine, nursing, allied health sciences and a new school of dental medicine. ECU’s Brody School of Medicine ranks among the country’s top medical schools in the graduation of family practice doctors.

to major Revolutionary and Civil war battles to the African-American experience, the Eastern Region embraces its history and culture. The region offers spectacular natural assets, world-class culture and top-rated beaches. Eclectic music and entertainment options coupled with a low cost of living, moderate temperatures, safe neighborhoods, unique locally owned shops and shorter commute times offer an unparalleled quality of life.

Playing on North Carolina’s high national ranking in areas like sweet potato, cucumber, hog, poultry and seafood production, more than 20,000 people in the region work for some 160 value-added agriculture facilities. Eastern North Carolina’s fertile soils and temperate climate produce a wide array of produce, grains and other crops.

Whether it’s coastal living, small-town charm or larger city amenities, the Eastern Region delivers a sophisticated, multifaceted economy that will most definitely make you want to work where you want to live. North Carolina’s Eastern Region 3802 Highway 58 N. Kinston, NC 28504 (800) 474-8499 www.nceast.org

The Eastern Region is not all business. From the earliest Colonial settlements

North Carolina’s Eastern Region 58 581

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Nashville

Rocky Mount Tarboro 43

Raleigh

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64 58

Wilson 40

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Greenville

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GREENE Snow Hill P I T T

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Goldsboro 13

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LENOIR

Pamlic

o Rive

70 258

403 50

C R AV E N

Trenton

JONES

Kenansville

DUPLIN

Bayboro New Bern

PA M L I CO

Oriental

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53 421

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Mount Olive

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Almanac

Built to Last

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f J a rr e t t B ay B o at w o r k s

From its humble beginnings constructing ships out of a tin shed more than 25 years ago, Jarrett Bay Boatworks in Beaufort has grown to a state-of-the-art facility that builds and delivers more than 85 sport fishing boats, and provides maintenance and customization for tens of thousands of other ships. Jarrett’s custom vessels range in size from the compact 25-foot center console named Done Deal to the massive 75-foot sport fisherman dubbed Blank Check. Jarrett is a certified refit center for New Bern-based Hatteras Yachts and an authorized service center for other boat builders in the region including Albemarle, Cabo, Carver, Grand Banks, Horizon, Lazzarra and Marquis Yachts. Visit www.jarrettbay.com for more details on the company.

International recognition Greenville has been earning kudos across the pond for its progressive economy and potential for future business growth. European-based fDi Magazine recently included the city among its top 10 in four categories, ranking it as: Fourth Overall Micro City of the Future; Fourth Micro City for Economic Potential; Fifth Micro City for Foreign Direct Investment Strategy; and Sixth Micro City for Human Resources. Criteria for evaluation included economic potential, business friendliness and quality of life. The Greenville metro area is home to Japanese, South American and several European companies.

A Full Plate Value-added agriculture employs more than 200,000 people in North Carolina’s Eastern Region and produces products for several top brands including: •

Mt. Olive Pickle Company: The company produces the country’s second largest-selling pickle brand, employing 500 year-round workers, and ships its pickles, relishes and peppers to all 50 states.

•

Butterball: Butterball’s Mount Olive facility produces more than 1 billion pounds of turkey a year, which nets over $1 billion in annual revenue.

•

Smithfield Foods: The meat producer operates pork processing facilities in Kinston and Wilson.

•

The Cheesecake Factory: The restaurant chain has a bakery production facility in Rocky Mount that supplies its restaurants and businesses.

•

Sara Lee: The dessert maker operates a 400,000-square-feet bakery in Tarboro.

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Keeping Marines in the Air

Photo Courtesy of FRC E ast

With a tradition of service dating back to World War II, the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center East aboard Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point has been providing critical MRO services to keep America’s airpower strong for more than 60 years. This tenant command encompasses 147 acres and its facilities contain 1.9 million square feet of space. Workers use the latest equipment to maintain and repair Navy and Marine Corps aircraft including the AV-8B Harrier, the V-22 Osprey, the AH-1 Cobra, the CH-46 Sea Knight, the CH-53 Sea Stallion, the H-60 Seahawk multiuse helicopter and the RG-88 Fire Scout UAV. On average, the center repairs more than 17,500 components and supports more than 166 aircraft models. Its annual payroll of nearly $300 million for more than 3,500 workers makes it one of North Carolina’s largest industrial employers. Learn more at www.navair.navy.mil/frce.

A He art for Art Off the beaten path in Wilson County sits one of the country’s most eclectic examples of modern art: whirligigs. Created by machinist Vollis Simpson, these windmill-styled structures are fashioned from recycled machine parts that Simpson paints and covers with thousands of reflectors. Simpson developed the art while serving in the military in Saipan during World War II, where he built his first whirligig to power a washing machine. After retiring from his machine repair business, he developed Windmill Farm to display his whirligig collection. Along with being works of art, the structures harness air currents that power a host of machines. Simpson’s art is known nationally; the High Museum of Art in Atlanta included whirligigs in its 1987 collection, and the city featured Simpson’s sculptures during the 1996 Olympics.

Making a Splash When summer temperatures reach triple digits, Kinston will soon be able to provide a cool retreat. The 18-acre Woodman Community Center and Water Park will open this year, thanks to several community donations. The Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society donated $7 million through its charitable arm, the Woodmen Foundation. Kinston and Lenoir County governments added $1 million, North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund contributed $500,000, and the Golden LEAF Foundation gave $350,000. The state-of-the-art park and community center will include a fitness center, an elevated walking track, indoor soccer, an 8-lane competition swimming pool, two waterslides and meeting spaces for groups.

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Hallowed Ground New Bern is home to Tryon Palace, one of North Carolina’s most treasured historic properties. Originally built in 1770 by Royal Governor William Tryon, the Georgian-style palace served as the state’s first permanent capitol building and was the site of its first general assembly sessions after the Revolutionary War. A fire destroyed the palace’s main building in 1778, but revitalization efforts restored the structure to its former glory in 1959. Today, the palace and its nearby interactive history museum give visitors a glimpse into the state’s first seat of government and Colonial life along the North Carolina coast. To plan a tour, visit www.tryonpalace.org.

Anchors Away P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f A n n e ’ s D u mpl i n g s

Located on the banks of the Pamlico Sound, which connects to the Neuse River, and the second largest estuary on the East Coast, Oriental is known as the sailing capital of North Carolina. Also located near several navigable creeks and the Intracoastal Waterway, Oriental’s proximity to numerous waterways makes it a natural oasis for fishing, boating, swimming and water sports. Sailboats outnumber residents in Oriental by three to one, and the town hosts numerous sport fishing competitions and sailing-themed events such as the Oriental Cup Regatta, the annual Croaker Festival and the Oriental Dragon Boat Festival.

A Taste of Home Since its inception as a home operation in 1981, Anne’s Old Fashioned Food Products in Ayden has lived up to its name. The company produces high-quality food with a homemade taste. The family-owned business is known for its chicken dumpling strips, which contain organic and wheat dumplings, in addition to those prepared traditionally. Other products include organic and vegetable bases, along with chicken, beef and ham varieties. Owner Ann Grimes discusses the best way to prepare dumplings in her Dumplings ‘N More cookbook, which shares family recipes. The business, now featuring production lines and cryogenic freezing technology, markets its products to restaurants, hospitals and day-care centers, as well as grocery warehouses that distribute to supermarkets. Learn more at www.annesdumplings.com.

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Business Climate

The Port of Morehead City

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The Place To Be

Story by Joe Morris

orth Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eastern Region is drawing attention for its many amenities, especially among national and international companies looking for the next best place to invest. The region offers competitive assets including a robust transportation grid, a well-trained workforce, economic development incentives and more. Its business base is made up of regional, national and international firms, allowing it to draw various industry sectors. And by working with new and existing firms, the area is on pace to continue its strong pattern of growth, says John Chaffee, President and CEO

Workforce, location make Eastern Region ideal for new, expanding companies

Multimodal Transportation Infrastructure Interstate highways: Northâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;south I-95, I-795 and east-west I-40 Freeways: U.S. 64, U.S. 264, U.S. 70 Deepwater ports: One Panamaxready, two others; container and bulk/breakbulk cargo with FTZs

Todd Bennet t

Rail: Two Class 1 carriers and a short-line carrier

Airports: Three international within a short drive, three regional with scheduled commuter service to Atlanta and Charlotte hubs as well as Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., and 13 general aviation facilities including the North Carolina Global TransPark b u s i n ess c l i m a te . c o m / n c - e a ste r n

Todd Bennet t

The region has a deep pool of educated workers, thanks to higher education institutions like East Carolina University and other colleges.

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of North Carolina’s Eastern Region. Central Location, Workforce talent “We have a lot of natural elements that work in our favor,” Chaffee says. “Our strategic location on the East Coast puts us halfway between Boston and Miami, and we straddle both Interstate 95 for north-south traffic as well as I-40 for east-west commerce. We are also adjacent to the RaleighDurham Research Triangle, and several world renowned public and private universities.” The region is also one of the friendliest areas in a state known for its pro-business practices. North Carolina ranks near the top of national lists for business climate, and the region has some of the lowest local tax burdens in the state. “We’ve got a AAA bond rating, and we’re also a right-to-work state, so our unionization rate is

one of the lowest in the country,” Chaffee says. The area’s manufacturing heritage has generated a deep pool of talent, and area educational institutions turn out a steady stream of graduate-level workers. For companies needing both, training programs abound. “Our workforce development boards and community colleges are focused on developing the workforce as it relates to all our businesses,” Chaffee says. “Our public school systems are working in that area as well, so we have a steady pipeline of locally trained workers to draw from.” Industries on the Rise Along with shoring up existing industries like defense, value-added agriculture and tourism, the Eastern Region is focusing on new economic opportunities anchored by emerging industries such as life sciences and

Why Do business in the Eastern Region? Access to

170 million U.S. and Canadian customers

60%

Represents Nearly 60 percent of total U.S. retail sales

Access to markets within 700 miles/1100 kilometers of 65 of the country’s top 100 metropolitan areas

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Stay Real, Stay You.

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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites 1156 Hill Farm Rd. • Kinston, NC 28504 • (252) 559-8888 • (252) 559-6588 fax www.hiexpress.com/kinstonnc

Photo Courtesy of FRC E ast

Fleet Readiness Center East artisans repair an AV-8B Harrier at MCAS Cherry Point. Aerospace is one of the area’s fastest growing sectors.

advanced manufacturing. “Advanced manufacturing relies deeply on automation and robotics, and we are helping define that market segment,” Chaffee says. “It has grown even during the recession, particularly in the aerospace and life sciences sectors. We see that as key to our continued leadership in aerospace, health care and biopharmaceuticals.” The region has fortified its farming roots with value-added agricultural businesses including food processing companies that partner with local growers. Regional leaders see potential growth in renewable energy segments such as woody biomass and liquid biofuels, both of which would rely on the area’s agricultural expertise for research and development. “We are fortunate that we have been able to identify our strengths and market those to multiple industries,” Chaffee says. “We have significant assets, and we are getting a lot of traction as people see why we are a good fit for their particular businesses.”

Global TransPark – Region’s intermodal air industrial park

11,500 feet Longest commercial runway between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga. Rail served and with four-lane highway access to port and interstate highways one of two Foreign Trade Zones in the region including Morehead City Port as well as subzones

Region’s Global Firms: Canada: Spirit AeroSystems, Cote Beverage, Dopaco

France: Saint Gobain Brazil: Ioto Germany: BSH, Carolina Technical Plastics, Drahtzug Stein Japan: ASMO, Bridgestone/Firestone, Fuji Silysia Chemical, Keihin Carolina Systems Technology, Uchiyama America, LiveDo Mexico: Gruma Corp Sweden: Electrolux Netherlands: DSM Pharmaceuticals & Dyneema, Lely Corp

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Sea of Opportunity

Region takes marine science and biotechnology research to the next level

A professor from the UNC-CH Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) takes a water sample from Atlantic Beach in Carteret County to test water quality. P h o t o C o u r t es y o f UNC - C h I n s t i t u t e o f M a r i n e S c i e n c es

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World-Class Workforce Training Administered through the North Carolina Community College system, BioNetwork provides customized workforce training to employees in biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life sciences. Curriculum is designed to meet general and specific industry needs, and centers are staffed with highly-skilled trained experts. The BioNetwork Bioprocessing Center is located in North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eastern Region.

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Story by Will Blesch

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) labs for the Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, which works to protect coastal habitats at the federal, state and local level. All of this innovative potential will soon be harnessed and maximized with the establishment of the region’s Marine Biotechnology Center of Innovation. A virtual organization funded by a four-year, $2.5 million innovation grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the MBCOI will work with marine labs and other marine research-based firms across the globe to build collaboration and cooperation, and create

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f UN C W/J a m i e M o n cr i e f

he 85-mile coastline along North Carolina’s Eastern Region may be famous among tourists for its unspoiled beaches and pristine waters, but among researchers it is becoming known as an up-and-coming center for marine science and biotechnology. Along the Carteret Coast, marine labs associated with North Carolina State, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke University, along with East Carolina University, are conducting groundbreaking research in diagnostics, genetics, renewable energies, biochemistry, aquatic foods and more. The region is also home to one of two National

The region’s coastline and waterways draw students from local university labs, who conduct groundbreaking research in marine sciences and biotechnology.

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Photo Courtesy of Duke Universit y Marine L ab

opportunities for commercializing research and bringing it to the marketplace. Not only will the center promote the area’s marine-based assets, it will also brand the region as a top destination for marine science and biotechnology, according to the MBCOI’s new CEO Dr. Deborah Mosca. Mosca’s goals for the center include boosting collaboration among marine students and researchers, and developing synergetic partnerships between the region’s labs and marine-based organizations and firms. “We will work with tech transfer offices at member institutions as a ‘specialized agent’ to increase commercialization of marine-based technologies,” she says. Initial plans for the center include establishing a searchable Web-based inventory of marine research in the region, assessing potential partners for

research commercialization, targeting and reaching out to industries that can provide research support and licensing, and increasing the region’s presence at marine science and biotechnology conferences. The center will have offices in both Wilmington and Beaufort/Morehead City. Along with bringing cutting-edge marine science and biotechnology research from the lab to the marketplace, the MBCOI will provide support for start-up ventures and work to create more success stories like Agile Sciences. Founded in 2007 by two North Carolina State University professors, Agile Sciences develops biofilms – compounds that disperse colonies of bacteria – for application in medical, agriculture and industrial markets. The firm’s biofilms have been tested for use in everything from lung treatments for cystic fibrosis patients to medicines used to fight antibiotic-resistant viruses.

Above: The Duke Marine Lab campus on Pivers Island in Beaufort. Right: Research conducted at university marine labs have the potential for commercial application in diagnostics, genetics, biochemistry and many other fields.

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By the Numbers: Life Sciences in Eastern North Carolina 5 million 26 $264 million 5,000 Estimated annual payroll of life sciences companies in the Eastern Region

Number of workers in the Eastern Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life sciences sector

Number of companies specializing in life sciences

Amount of production space in square feet used by life sciences-related firms in the Eastern Region

Source : North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eastern Region Development Commission

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Culture for Growth Region’s resources, workforce helps biotech firms Grow Along with its pioneering work in marine science and biotechnology, North Carolina’s Eastern Region is building a reputation for cutting-edge research and development in its life sciences sector. Firms broadening their presence in the region include innovators such as Pioneer Surgical Technology, which manufactures spinal and orthopedic implants and instruments. The company, which recently acquired Greenville-based Encelle, relocated its biologics division to its Greenville location earlier this year. The move will allow the firm to increase production and expand its international reach. “This expansion shows our commitment to the North Carolina area, as well as our commitment to being a top tier provider of surgical products for bone and soft tissue

procedures,” says Shane Ray, General Manager of Biologics for Pioneer. Other local companies are also growing. Medical device maker BD opened a new multimillion sterile syringe filling operation in Wilson, drug administration systems maker West Pharmaceutical Services is investing $29 million to install new technology at its Kinston plant, and pharmaceutical maker Hospira is investing up to $100 million to upgrade its Rocky Mount facility. Biotech firms can find plenty of talent in the region. Through the Eastern BioEducation Consortium, public schools and colleges and universities like East Carolina University partner to develop and offer an integrated life sciences curriculum for students interested in working in the sector.

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Skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Limit

Military, private sector activity fuel defense, aerospace growth

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P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f A i rm a n 1 s t C l a s s J o h n N i e v e s C a m a c h o/ U . S . A i r F o rc e

Story by M.V. Greene

convergence of military and private sector growth with an upswing in transportation and distribution activity is positioning North Carolina’s Eastern Region as one of the nation’s leading centers for global logistics supporting defense- and aerospace-related industries. Stretching 7,000 square miles inward from the Pamlico Sound and Atlantic Ocean, the 13-county area is home to the country’s third largest concentration of military personnel based at installations such as USMC Camp Lejeune, MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS New River, U.S. Navy Fleet Readiness Center East and Seymour Johnson AFB. More than 150,000 active duty military are stationed in or very near the region, and U.S. Army (Fort Bragg) and U.S. Navy (Norfolk) facilities lie just outside the area. That formidable military presence has beckoned a bevy

of defense- and aerospace-related companies including Spirit AeroSystems in Kinston, Honeywell in Rocky Mount, DSM Dyneema in Greenville, AAR Cargo/Defense Systems in Goldsboro, Kidde Aerospace & Defense in Wilson, Spatial Integrated Systems in Kinston, Oshkosh in Jacksonville and Defense Holdings Inc. in Trenton. To support such activity, a logistical presence is emerging, as military units and private sector firms receive and ship products and goods globally from the region, says Leonard D. Kulik, Senior Vice President of North Carolina’s Eastern Region Development Commission. Technical Synergy These defense and aerospace activities are creating a technical synergy between the region’s military installations and private companies, Kulik says. For instance,

Spirit AeroSystems, which opened a new 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in 2010 for work on Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, and the Fleet Readiness Center East at MCAS Cherry Point, which provides maintenance support for Marine Corps aircraft, are both working with new carbon-graphite processes in aircraft structures. “Cutting-edge technology like this is popping up all across the region,” Kulik says. “Leading

More than 150,000 active duty military are stationed in or very near the region

Above: The region is home to thousands of active duty soldiers stationed at installations like Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro. Left: The Beirut Memorial at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, one of several military bases in the region. P h o t o b y T o d d B e n n e t t

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WA MT

OR ID

CA AZ

IL KS

OK TX

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PA WV

NE UT

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AK FL

the Business Climate Is Heating Up in the eastern region BusinessClimate.com brings you North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eastern Region in a whole new way Facts & Stats

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Dive into the details, demographics and information

Learn how leading-edge businesses are breaking new ground

Find out who the major players are

What makes the region a great place to live, raise a family and have fun

Key industry segments that drive the economy

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Trends

Pinpoint the deals and developments that shape the economy

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“Leading international aerospace companies have a choice to go anyplace, and fortunately many of them choose Eastern North Carolina.” – Leonard D. Kulik, Senior Vice President of North Carolina’s Eastern Region Development Commission

work, Sutherland notes. The region and its proximity to ports, roadways, rail and air offers a hub and spoke network for transportation and distribution that attracts military and private companies supporting defense and aerospace. “The idea is that if you can do most of your work in proximity to the end user, you can save transportation costs and turnaround time, which equates to increased readiness and a reduction in your total carbon footprint,” Sutherland says.

Along with its other assets, North Carolina’s Global TransPark, a foreign trade zone, provides resources that help drive down importing and exporting costs. The Kinston Regional Jetport at the TransPark accommodates large cargo planes, including the super-sized Antinov, and offers the largest commercial runway between Washington D.C. and Atlanta. Such facilities give the region a stamp of approval as a springboard for global logistics momentum, according to Kulik. “Extensive military assets,

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f E P -T e a m

international aerospace companies have a choice to go anyplace, and fortunately many of them choose Eastern North Carolina,” he says. Several military trends have emerged to create favorable opportunities to grow the region’s global logistical footprint for the aerospace and defense industries, says Mark Sutherland, Executive Director of the Eastern Region Military Growth Task Force. As military branches realign their resources, for example, they are seeking increased efficiency in how they procure maintenance

Antinov 124, one of the world’s largest aircraft, loads cargo at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston.

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The region’s logical advantages include proximity to multiple East Coast ports, including post-Panamax ready ports, as well as other key infrastructure.

Port of Morehead City

Port of Wilmington

4 miles

26 miles

225,000

42 feet deep, 26 miles long

1.77 million

3.5 million

587

542,006

567,865

540,000 TEUs

Distance from the Atlantic Ocean

Tons of capacity warehouse and open dry-bulk storage

Tons moved through port in fiscal year 2010

Number of ships and barges moved through port in fiscal year 2010

Tons exported to India, the port’s top foreign destination

Distance from the Atlantic Ocean

Size of the navigation channel along the Cape Fear River

Tons moved through the port in fiscal year 2011

Tons exported to China, the port’s top foreign destination

Annual capacity of the port’s container terminal Source : North Carolina State Ports Authority

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Greenville, North Carolina

Have you scouted our talent?

S ta f f P h o t o

Greenville’s prospects are on the rise.

coupled with a very richly developed east-west and north-south logistics infrastructure – roads, rail, ports and airfields – suggest that this region is an efficient way to use your transportation money,” Sutherland says. To enhance its competitiveness for global shipping, North Carolina recently launched a study of its maritime assets and infrastructure. Sponsored by the Governor’s Logistics Task Force, the North Carolina Maritime Strategy has already issued a preliminary draft report addressing maritime transportation issues and guiding regions with future decision making and long- and short-term investment strategies.

✔ Population has nearly doubled in the last 25 years

✔ East Carolina University is the fastest growing university in North Carolina

✔ Regional medical research center, heart institute, dental school

✔ Competitive development costs, no impact fees and a business-friendly development climate

✔ Year-round golf and recreation, a thriving college arts scene City of Greenville, NC Office of Economic Development (252) 329-4502 www.greenvillenc.gov/economicdevelopment

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A Durable Industry Region’s workforce, incentives help manufacturers expand nationally, globally Story by John Fuller • Photography by Todd Bennett

n North Carolina’s Eastern Region, advanced manufacturing has a global reach. From household goods and appliances to engines and automotive parts, the sector produces an array of products used worldwide – and it continues to evolve, thanks to a resurgence in the automotive industry and workforce and job training programs that supply companies with skilled labor to maintain growth. Surging auto sales are providing a shot in the arm to the region’s auto suppliers. Carolina Technical Plastics (CTP), which supplies parts to Ford, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, recently added 50 jobs at its New Bern facility. A subsidiary of German-based WirthweinAG, CTP’s recent growth is the result

of manufacturing an additional component, previously made in Mexico. “The jobs came here because of our higher quality and costcompetitiveness,” says Martin J. Kean, vice president of Carolina Technical Plastics. Two other auto parts makers in the region, Keihin Carolina System Technology and Cooper Standard, are making major investments to expand their plants. Keihin Carolina plans to create 50 jobs and invest more than $13 million to expand its Tarboro facility. The Japanese-owned KCST has been in Tarboro since 1997. Cooper Standard, a supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry, is expanding its Goldsboro facility

to accommodate new products and programs for its global customer base. The project will create 137 jobs, and the company expects to invest $17.9 million. Cooper Standard’s Goldsboro facility began operations in 1984 and expanded in 1997 to include a second facility. “Given our successful history in Goldsboro, we’re confident in our decision to expand Cooper Standard’s current footprint,” says Larry Johnson, Vice President of North American operations for Cooper Standard. “North Carolina’s strong workforce and business culture make it an ideal location for this type of expansion.” Firms Move In, Expand Companies in other advanced manufacturing segments are also

Made in the Region: Nation’s No. 1 Faucet Brand North Carolina’s Eastern Region is home to more than 300 durable goods manufacturers including Moen Inc., which makes kitchen and bathroom faucets, showerheads and stainless-steel sinks for residential and commercial markets. Known as North America’s No. 1 faucet brand, Moen produces more than 352,000 faucets daily at its New Bern facility.

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locating and expanding in the area. The Roberts Company, a provider of design, fabrication and installation services for the chemical, power, mining, and pulp and paper industries, is adding a new Pitt County facility. The company plans to create 29 jobs and invest $3.25 million over the next three years in Winterville. The Roberts Company, which works around the world for large heavy manufacturers and mining facilities, opened its facility in 1986 and employs 460 workers. “We have enjoyed the benefits of the excellent workforce available in Eastern North Carolina,” says Chris Bailey, President and CEO of The Roberts Company. “This new facility will enhance our fabrication capabilities and allow us to continue our growth and success in serving our customers locally, as well as internationally.” Other foreign companies have also established advanced

manufacturing plants in the region including: Uchiyama America Inc. in Goldsboro and ASMO Greenville, both based in Japan; Drahtzug Stein USA Corp., a subsidiary of a German firm; and British-owned Air System Components LP. Two major names in home appliances have a large presence in the region. German-based BSH Home Appliance Corporation announced a new dishwasher manufacturing line expected to bring about 100 jobs to New Bern. “Continuing to support the county that our factories have resided in for 14 years now is a true honor,” says Stephan Koss, North American BSH CFO and Executive Vice President. “We are excited to be playing an active role hiring employees today and training the workers of tomorrow.” Swedish manufacturer Electrolux operates a dishwasher manufacturing plant in Kinston

with 650 workers. “Kinston allows Electrolux to deliver innovative dishwashers to the market faster, thanks to its excellent proximity to major markets and distribution channels,” says Caryn Klebba, Director of Corporate Communications NA for Electrolux USA. “The area promotes a strong labor pool and, because we are a large employer to the region, it allows for a strong connection to the community.” Many of these expansions were made possible in part through grants from the One North Carolina Fund, which provides financial assistance through local governments to attract and support businesses creating new jobs. Most of these manufacturers also invest in continuing education and manufacturing skills development for their employees through partnerships with local community colleges.

By the Numbers: North Carolina’s Eastern Region Workforce

480,000 Total labor force in the region

32% Workers possessing an associate’s degree or some college

49,697 Number of workers employed in the manufacturing sector

18.7% Workers possessing a bachelor’s degree or above

10 10%

Percentage of community colleges throughout the state located in the region

10,000 Annual military personnel discharges from bases within the region

Source : North Carolina’s Eastern Region Development Commission

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Skill and Support Region teems with talent, workforce initiatives Along with a deep pool of skilled labor, the region offers a wide range of programs and initiatives to prepare both adults and students for the next generation of top jobs, says Kathy Howard, Vice President of Workforce and Client Development for North Carolina’s Eastern Region. To build an attractive workforce, NCER partners with organizations including workforce development boards, high-school leaders, chambers of commerce, economic developers and community colleges. “The Eastern Region was the first in North Carolina to create a regional WorkKeys initiative through ASPIRE (Assessing Skills for Performance in a Rebounding Economy), an alliance of 11 community colleges serving all 13 counties,” Howard says. WorkKeys helps employers identify aptitude and measure skills among potential employees.

Engineering & Technology and East Carolina University Industrial Distribution and Logistics. Plus, five of the region’s community colleges provide advanced CNC machining associate degrees. Many workers already possess plenty of on-the-job knowledge, thanks to the large number of advanced manufacturing companies in the region, including aerospace

leaders such as Spirit AeroSystems, Honeywell and Kidde Aerospace; top engine manufacturers like Cummins and engine component manufacturers like Stanadyne; and household goods giants such as Bosch, Electrolux and Moen. “Workers here are known for their work ethic, loyalty, training and education,” Howard says. – Kevin Litwin

Plenty of Positives Other workforce training resources in the Eastern Region include the Institute of Aeronautical Technology, Lenoir Community College Advanced Machining Center, North Carolina State Industrial Extension Service, East Carolina University Industrial

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A Trove of History Historical, cultural attractions draw heritage tourists

Story by Kevin Litwin

Left: Built following the War of 1812, Fort Macon was the site of the 1862 Battle of Fort Macon. The fort is one of many historic Civil War sites in the region.

photos by Todd Benne t t

ourism is big business in North Carolina, and heritage tourism is especially popular in the Eastern Region, where many of America’s earliest settlements began, Revolutionary and Civil War battles were fought, and maritime history was made. The 13-county area is part of a consortium seeking National Heritage Area Designation status from Congress, which would secure federal funds to promote historical, natural and cultural sites throughout 40 counties in Eastern North Carolina. The region’s top heritage attractions include Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the ghostly town of Portsmouth on the southern Outer Banks, Historic Beaufort, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center at Harkers Island and the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Carteret County, which features exhibits on famed pirate Blackbeard and his ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Civil War sites at Kinston and Fort Macon have also been

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drawing visitors lately as part of North Carolina’s 150-year Civil War commemoration. One of the most visited historic venues in the Eastern Region is Tryon Palace in New Bern, which served as the first permanent capitol building of North Carolina in the 1770s. The property added an interactive North Carolina History Center in 2010 that includes a Pepsi Family Center and a Regional History Museum. “We also have the Duffy Exhibit Gallery, Cullman Performance Hall, Lawson’s Landing: A Riverwalk Café, and a museum store on site,” says Trish Ashburn, Tryon Palace and North Carolina History Center Marketing and Communications Manager.

Another must-see stop is the North Carolina Baseball Museum, the only museum of its kind officially deemed to represent an entire state. Located in Wilson, the facility is part of Fleming Stadium, the home field for the Wilson Tobacconists, the minor league baseball team of the Coastal Plains League. “The museum is open Thursday through Sunday, with 5,000 artifacts highlighting baseball on all levels in North Carolina,” says Kent Montgomery, North Carolina Baseball Museum board member. “We cover youth, high school, college, minor leagues and semipro, and recognize the more than 370 Major League Baseball players who were born in North Carolina including seven Hall of Famers – Luke

J e f f r e y S . OTTO

photo by Antony Boshier

Left: Located on the southern Outer Banks, Cape Lookout Lighthouse is a landmark in the region. Below: Visitors tour New Bern’s Tryon Palace.

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plan your trip to north carolina’s eastern region

Nash

North Carolina Baseball Museum 300 Stadium Street Wilson, NC 27893 (252) 296-3048 www.ncbaseballmuseum.com

Edgecombe

Wilson

Tryon Palace 610 Pollock Street New Bern, NC 28562 (252) 639-3500 www.tryonpalace.org

Pitt Greene

Wayne Craven

Lenoir

Pamlico

Jones Duplin Onslow

Craven

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center 1785 Island Road Harkers Island, NC 28531 (252) 728-1500 www.coresound.com

Carteret Cape Lookout Lighthouse 131 Charles Street Harkers Island, NC 28531 (252) 728-2250 www.ncbeaches.com

Appling, Rick Farrell, Jim ‘Catfish’ Hunter, Buck Leonard, Gaylord Perry, Enos Slaughter and Hoyt Wilhelm.” Cradle of Jazz A future regional attraction being developed is the African American Music Trail, which will span Edgecombe, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Nash, Pitt, Wayne and Wilson counties. The trail, overseen by the North Carolina Arts Council, is scheduled to open in February 2013. “The musicians honored on this trail will reflect their home communities, with their sounds transcending time and place,” says Rebecca Moore, North Carolina Arts Council

Senior Program Director for Marketing. The trail will pay homage to legendary jazz, blues and gospel musicians with ties to the region including natives Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Boy Fuller and Elizabeth Cotton. Interactive kiosks will be located at arts councils and visitor’s centers and include descriptions of musicians, venues, sites and other music resources, along with directions and a local calendar of events. Kinston has been designated as the African American Music Trail headquarters, and North Carolina artists David Wilson and Brandon Yow are working to design a Gateway Music Park in the city that will serve as the trailhead.

Left: Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center on Harkers Island celebrates the region’s maritime heritage. p h o t o b y t o d d B e n n e t t

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Energy/Technology

Brain Stormers Incubators, entrepreneurial initiatives help tech start-ups thrive Story by Kevin Litwin • Photography by Todd Bennett

number of small, technology-driven start-up companies have been establishing themselves in North Carolina’s Eastern Region, and plenty of local resources are in place to help these companies grow. Incubators such as the Technology Enterprise Center of Eastern Carolina (TEC) and the Kinston Enterprise Center are specifically designed to help entrepreneurs transform their business ideas into viable, lasting enterprises. Kinston’s facility can accommodate 20 start-up businesses, providing them with access to offices equipped with telephone service, high-speed Internet, intranet service, audio/ visual equipment, conference rooms and a training laboratory equipped for distance learning instruction. In Greenville, the TEC offers more than 22,000 square feet of office space, and wet and dry labs as well as light manufacturing space available

for short-term lease to new tech-based start-ups. One prospering incubator tenant in the region is CTMG Inc., a GMP-like clinical trials management company that uses quality-based systems in doctors’ offices to oversee testing of new drugs and medical devices. Another incubator tenant is Chirazyme Labs, a bioscience company that manufactures enzymes used to make natural epoxidation products for the agricultural, veterinary, environmental and chemical industries. ECU’s Entrepreneurial Initative Other key regional players that help start-up companies get grounded are East Carolina University’s Office of Technology Transfer and its Entrepreneurial Initiative, which helps fledgling companies spun out of ECU get started. One of its recent success stories is GuardTracker, a software

Clockwise from top: Marty Hackney, director of ECU’s Entrepreneurial Initiative, which provides support to start-up companies; A scientist with Piedmont Surgical Orthobiotics conducts lab work at the Technology Enterprise Center of Eastern Carolina; Patents developed by ventures launched at ECU.

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package company developed by Sgt. Clinton Williams and his partners Dr. Gary Leonhardt and Dr. Mark Servi, all of whom work at the Pitt County Detention Center. “With GuardTracker software, officers can instantly know any important information about any inmate, including if they are a problem inmate, those who are diabetic, those who can’t be around others, and so forth,” Williams says. “Our ultimate plan is for GuardTracker to go national, and be applicable to other types of businesses.” Marty Hackney, Director of the ECU Entrepreneurial Initiative, says she is proud of Williams and his fortitude to have the software product developed. “We helped him as far as we could, but he was responsible for finding investors,” she says. “ECU developed a market analysis and business model for him, but he did the rest.” Seed Money for Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs in the region can also receive assistance with research, financial planning, marketing and business management through ECU’s Small Business and Technology Development Center and Small Business centers at each of the region’s 11 community colleges. Initiatives are also in place to provide seed money for start-up companies in the region, including the Inception Micro Angel Fund, or IMAF East. The fund invests dollars, time and relationships to early-stage, high-quality, high-growth companies, so they have the best chance of achieving success. Its mission is to help fledgling companies eventually become economic contributors and job creators in the region.

Right: With the help of ECU’s Entrepreneurial Initiative, Sgt. Clinton Williams, center, and partners Dr. Gary Leonhardt, left, and David Jackson developed software to track information about inmates at the Pitt County Detention Center.

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Transportation

The Right Connections Region’s roads, rail and runways give businesses vital access

Story by Kevin Litwin

Brian McCord

strong transportation infrastructure can help drive success in any area, but this is especially true in North Carolina’s Eastern Region. Transportation assets in the 13-county region include Morehead City’s deepwater seaport and easy access to the Port of Wilmington and the Port of Virginia at Hampton Roads. Class I and short-line rail carriers haul cargo for local businesses, while airports in Greenville, Jacksonville and New Bern accommodate commercial travelers with daily connections to Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington D.C. hubs. Raleigh-Durham

International Airport and Wilmington International Airport are also located within a 45-minute drive. A good mix of well-maintained highways and secondary roads offer critical access to local shipping and distribution companies. Interstates 95, 40 and 795 run through the area, along with U.S. highways 70, 64 and 264. The region is also situated halfway between Boston and Miami, within a day’s driving distance of two-thirds of U.S. commercial facilities. Intermodal transportation is vital to tenants of the North Carolina

Traffic flows down I-95, one of several critical routes in the region for shipping and distribution. b u s i n ess c l i m a te . c o m / n c - e a ste r n

More local. More convenience. Offering US Airways Jet Service Smaller crowds Shorter lines and security checks Uncongested gates and timely departures Convenient baggage carousel Centralized rental car counters Fewer parking hassles Restaurant Wireless Internet

400 Airport Rd. Greenville, NC 27832 (252) 758-4707 www.pitt-greenvilleairport.com Visit www.usairways.com or call your local travel agent.

Todd Bennet t

Transportation Impact co-owners Travis Burt, left, and Keith Byrd provide consulting to help companies lower their shipping costs.

Global TransPark, a 2,500-acre airport industrial park in Kinston with a 5.8-mile rail spur under construction that will connect to a Norfolk Southern mainline accessing the Port of Morehead City and western markets. “Also on TransPark property is the Kinston Regional Jetport, with an 11,500-foot airfield runway that can accommodate any cargo plane,” says Jim Fain, North Carolina Global TransPark President and CEO. “The airport is in Foreign Trade Zone 214, a designation that means companies can export and import products through the TransPark without many of the usual customs restrictions and tariffs.” The TransPark has shovel-ready sites available, and is equipped

with telecommunications infrastructure and energy costs below national averages. “Our vision is to mainly serve the aerospace and defense emergency response industries, along with advanced manufacturing and business agriculture,” Fain says. “Current tenants include Delta Private Jets, Spirit AeroSystems, North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources.” Logical Logistics Transportation assets are spurring growth among many local distribution and third-party logistics companies. QVC Inc. recently announced plans to expand its Edgecombe County facility by 1 million square feet, while logistics

companies such as DB Schenker, Kanban Logistics and Longistics thrive in the region. New Bernbased SOS Global Express Shipping provides cost-effective freight shipping for companies with high distribution costs. Another regional distribution company that has taken off is Transportation Impact, an Emerald Isle business specializing in logistics consulting to help companies lower their shipping costs. Some of the company’s staff members are former senior sales and pricing managers from international shipping parcel/ express companies, with Keith Byrd and Travis Burt serving as the company’s co-founders and partners. “We show companies how to b u s i n ess c l i m a te . c o m / n c - e a ste r n

Eastern Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Transportation Network Major Roads: I-40, I-95, I-795 and U.S. highways 70, 64 and 264 Rail: Class I service from Norfolk Southern and CSX carriers, plus short-line rail Air: Kinston Regional Jetport; Pitt-Greenville Airport; Coastal Carolina Regional Airport; and the Jacksonville-Albert J. Ellis Airport; plus proximity to Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington-New Hanover County airports Ports: Port of Morehead City and proximity to the Port of Wilmington and the Port of Virginia at Hampton Roads Multimodal infrastructure: North Carolina Global TransPark, a 2,500-acre industrial site with an 11,500-foot runway at the Kinston Regional Jetport and a 5.8-mile rail spur under construction

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Right: Transportation Impact is one of several third-party logistics companies growing in the region. Left: The North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston offers the state’s largest commercial runway.

photos by Todd Benne t t

negotiate competitive contracts with small parcel carriers, thereby saving our clients money by finding hidden areas of opportunity where cost savings are overlooked,” Burt says. “If we don’t reduce costs for a client, we don’t get paid.” Transportation Impact negotiates best-in-class shipping contracts for companies coast to coast, lowering the costs of 175 clients that ship small parcels, Burt says. “We have several big-name corporations as customers, but I won’t mention their names because it’s a competitive business,” he says. “Our company contributes very well to the economy of the Eastern Region, and we enjoy being headquartered in such a beautiful part of North Carolina.”

Health

Vital Integration Partnerships between Vidant Health and East Carolina University bring cutting-edge care to patients in region Story by Melanie Kilgore-Hill Photography by Todd Bennett

orth Carolina’s Eastern Region is a leader in health care. From developing new surgical techniques like bariatric surgery and minimally invasive robotic cardiac surgery to promoting emerging concepts in preventative care, medical services in the region are top-notch, thanks to health-care networks like Vidant Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Health-Care Pioneer With 10 hospitals, 11,000 employees and a growing number of physician practices, home health services and wellness centers, Vidant Health – formerly known as University of Health

Systems of Eastern Carolina – is the region’s largest health-care provider and North Carolina’s 13th largest employer. “We’re a major medical resource for the state, and we take that very seriously,” says David Herman, President and CEO of Vidant Health. “We’re focused on the needs of the region we serve.” While Vidant facilities can be found in the most rural Eastern Carolina communities, their commitment to service and progress has earned the system national attention. Vidant Medical Center, based in Greenville, ranks No. 3 in the U.S. for hospital-tohospital transfers – which means more patients are transferred to its facility than to Duke University

Nurses check a patient’s status in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Vidant Children’s Hospital in Greenville. The health-care provider is one of the state’s top employers.

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Hospital or UNC hospitals. Vidant is a health-care pioneer as well. The first now-common gastric bypass surgery was performed at VMC, which also offers more training in minimally invasive robotic heart surgery than nearly any hospital worldwide. The system is also a leader in neurosurgery and gamma knife radiosurgery, while its obstetrics unit welcomes approximately 4,000 babies each year. VMC also operates the only Level I trauma center east of Raleigh. Medical Training at VMC The affiliate hospital for area colleges including East Carolina University, Greenville-based Vidant Medical Center hosts more than 1,000 students every day, most from ECUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brody School of Medicine and schools for nursing, allied health and dental medicine. Right: East Carolina Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brody School of Medicine in Greenville trains doctors who go on to practice in the region.

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ECU’s Brody School of Medicine, known nationwide its family practice program, recently opened a new Family Medicine Center.

Because residents often settle in the communities they train in, the partnership is key to attracting the state’s newest doctors. “Our partnership with ECU is one of the strongest private-public partnerships in the state,” Herman says. “Because we have the same goals and visions, we recognize we’re a lot stronger together than we can be separately.” The benefits of the partnership between the hospital and the university are felt daily, says Nicholas Benson, Vice Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. “A medical school relies on a robust teaching hospital to offer

stimulating, safe and enthusiastic training opportunities for medical students,” Benson says. “Vidant Medical Center’s emphasis on providing every patient with great care and an exemplary patient experience means that our faculty has a wonderful setting in which to train physicians of tomorrow. “ ECU’s Influence Together, ECU and Vidant are improving health through joint ventures including the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU, which also houses the Robotic Research and Training Center. In 2011, ECU also opened a new

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Family Medicine Center. Attached to VMC, the facility includes 60 exam rooms, a geriatric center, sports medicine, surgery, urgent care, radiology and more. ECU’s Brody School of Medicine offers nine residency programs, the largest being family practice. The American Academy of Family Physicians recently ranked the school No. 1 for sending students into family practice residencies, many of those in rural Eastern North Carolina communities. More than 40 ECU physicians also made Best Doctors Inc.’s Best Doctors in America list for 2011-12.

Growth Spurt Expansions, new technology coming to region’s community hospitals North Carolina’s Eastern Region has a healthy network of community hospitals that keeps on growing, allowing residents to enjoy quality health care close to home. One of three North Carolina organizations to receive an American Cancer Society grant to fund creation of a cancer care facility, Lenoir Memorial Hospital opened the Lenoir Memorial Cancer Center in October 2011. The hospital also recently opened Lenoir Surgical, the second hospital-owned clinic in Lenoir County. Since last summer, doctors at Jacksonville’s Onslow Memorial Hospital have been using the $1.3 million da Vinci Surgical Robot System. Operated from a console, the system allows patients to undergo minimally invasive procedures for surgeries such as hysterectomies and ovarian and prostate operations. Nash Health Care Systems is also expanding. Construction of a new emergency department and heart center at Rocky Mount’s Nash General Hospital is expected to be completed in December 2013. The $57 million project is the hospital’s largest expansion since the facility was built in 1971. The hospital’s Nash Wound Care Center continues to draw attention for its top-notch care, earning the Robert A. Warriner III M.D. Center of Excellence award from Diversified Clinical Services Inc. in 2011. Other hospitals that serve the area include LifeCare Hospital in Rocky Mount, Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro, Wilson Medical Center in Wilson, Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City and CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern. – Jessica Walker

r e n d e r i n g C o u r t e s y o f W i l k e r s o n A s s o c i at e s Arc h i t ec t s

A rendering of the new emergency department under construction at Nash General Hospital.

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Education

STEM Is In Science, tech, engineering and math education takes top priority in region’s schools

Story by Kathryn Royster • Photography by Todd Bennett

he collection of disciplines known as STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – is a top priority in North Carolina’s Eastern Region, where employers are looking to hire the next generation of workers with training in those fields. STEM East, affiliated with North Carolina’s Eastern Region Development Commission (NCER), is at the center of initiatives in these four disciplines. The organization fosters partnerships between schools, businesses and other entities that want to grow the region’s STEM capabilities. “Our primary goal is to meet the challenges of providing a STEM-trained workforce,” says Steve Hill, Executive Director of STEM East. “Building partnerships, connecting and collaborating with existing or developing resources is

the most efficient and effective way to do that.” Starting with K-12 One of STEM East’s primary projects is its STEM Learning Network, which already includes five learning centers in K-12 schools across four counties. These state-of-the-art classrooms operate as hands-on, studentcentric environments where STEM professionals – engineers, computer programmers and more – work with students and teachers to connect classroom learning with real-world applications. STEM East is also working with two other school districts interested in adding STEM Centers in middle schools and joining the Learning Network. “This kind of interaction with STEM professionals is critical for

attracting students to STEM careers,” says Kathy Howard, Vice President of Workforce and Client Development for NCER. “It’s really what drives students to understand the importance of what they’re learning.” The impact on student success is profound. “We had a troubled fourthgrader who was really struggling before the principal placed him in one of the upper middle-school STEM learning centers as an experiment,” Hill says. “The new concept and environment engaged him so much that he became a high-performing student and was passing eighth-grade algebra.” Of course, high-performing students often become highperforming employees – which is why industry leaders are happy to partner with STEM East. Spirit

Havelock Middle School students work on projects in the school’s STEM center.

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AeroSystems, FRC East and their employees have both donated generously to STEM East projects, but their commitment goes beyond money. They help teachers develop industry-focused curriculum, offer summer internships for teachers and students, and establish school-to-workforce pathways for students interested in STEM careers. Other key industry partners include SPX, AAR Cargo Systems and Cooper Standard. “We even have companies waiting in the wings,” Hill says. “There’s so much interest that we haven’t had time to sit down with everyone yet.” Paving the Way to Higher Education STEM careers are also a priority in higher education. Greenville’s East Carolina University offers degrees in engineering, industrial technology, and the physical and life sciences as well as computer science. The school also works with area community colleges to make it easier for STEM students to turn two-year degrees or certificates into professional-level, four-year degrees. Mount Olive College gives aspiring nurses a head start in their field, thanks to a new program that allows students to earn their RN certification and their B.S. degree simultaneously. Colleges are joining forces with local manufacturers to fill the skills gap in maintenance and other STEM-oriented technical fields. “The focus on STEM is becoming a culture in Eastern North Carolina,” NCER’s Howard says. “We are gaining national attention, presenting in multiple national STEM innovation formats and have been noted as a model for the country. We feel like we’re doing a great job to make sure employers have the workforce they need.”

Students explore a variety of learning modules in Havelock Middle School’s STEM center.

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From College to Career Partnerships pave smooth path into STEM workforce Colleges and universities throughout North Carolina’s Eastern Region are working hard to foster the growth of STEM careers. At East Carolina University, partnerships with local community colleges are making it easier for students to earn STEM-oriented degrees. Transfer agreements with Pitt and Lenoir community colleges allow students to complete four-year degrees in engineering, technology, biology/biotechnology or computer science at ECU. The university also has pathways for turning an associate of applied science (AAS) degree into a B.S. degree. “All this means employers are able to choose from a more capable workforce, and students have the opportunity to capture better-paying jobs,” says Paul Kauffmann, a professor of engineering at ECU.

At Edgecombe Community College, students can choose from STEMoriented pre-employment programs at manufacturers Sara Lee, Bridgestone and Keihin. Edgecombe is also part of the North Carolina Advanced Manufacturing Alliance, a federal grant program. The college is using its grant money to help students implement a fully automated manufacturing line right in the college lab. “Programs like this create a match between what students bring to employers and what employers need,” says Randi Dikeman, Edgecombe’s Dean of Corporate and Community Development. “That makes it easier for students to transition into the workplace and for employers to find good local workers who will stay with their companies.” Quality STEM education is also

available at Mount Olive College, which has added a nursing B.S. to its degree programs; Barton College, which is expanding and renovating its campus in Wilson; and North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. – Kathryn Royster East Carolina University

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Livability

Feasts for the Eyes Unique cultural, recreational attractions make Eastern Region a distinct destination Story by Kevin Litwin

S ta f f P h o t o

rom its rivers, sounds and seaside hideaways to its jazz-rich culture, burgeoning art scenes, eclectic festivals and world-class barbecue, North Carolina’s Eastern Region is full of attractions that make it an unforgettable place to live and to visit. Arts and culture thrives throughout the region – and communities recognize its importance to creating a good quality of life. Groups like the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge, which organizes and backs art programs that aid local economic development, work to foster an even greater appreciation for it. “We host First Friday Art Walks

that bring hundreds of people to the Uptown Greenville district,” says Holly Garriott, Executive Director of the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge. “The Arts Council is also helping to establish a cultural arts district in Greenville, with plans to open a longtime closed theater building that would make the district ideal for seeing a show, frequenting restaurants, shopping, and visiting galleries and museums.” East Carolina University is known for its top-notch arts program, thanks to its schools of Art and Design, Communication, Theatre and Dance, and Music. ECU’s jazz program is nationally renowned, and its ensemble was recently selected by the Duke Ellington

From its coastal towns to numerous rivers and sounds, water shapes the culture of North Carolina’s Eastern Region. b u s i n ess c l i m a te . c o m / n c - e a ste r n

Clockwise (left to right): Shops and restaurants line Evans Street in downtown Greenville; A family enjoys the North Carolina Pickle Festival in Mount Olive; The North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City is one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many distinctive events. Todd Bennet t

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family to record one of the famous musician’s “lost” unrecorded songs. The university also honors Ellington’s mentor and famed jazz pianist and composer the late Billy Taylor with its Billy Taylor Jazz Festival, held annually on the Greenville campus. One-of-a-Kind Festivals, Attractions Adding to the region’s cultural flair are other festivals including Wings Over Wayne in Goldsboro, MCAS Cherry Point Air Show, Ayden Collard Festival and the North Carolina Pickle Festival in Mount Olive. Morehead City hosts both the North Carolina Seafood Festival and the Carolina Chocolate Festival. For adventurists and pleasure seekers, the Eastern Region offers a diverse landscape full of opportunities for outdoor recreation including 65 miles of beaches ideal for sailing, fishing, swimming and kayaking, plus several venues where fresh air enthusiasts can enjoy golf, cycling and hiking. For scuba divers, the famous Graveyard of the Atlantic in the Outer Banks – the site of many shipwrecks – is known as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Along the Shackleford

Fun Festivals Wings Over Wayne in Goldsboro April 20, 2013

Ayden Collard Festival September 6-9, 2012

North Carolina Pickle Festival April 26-27, 2013

North Carolina Seafood Festival October 5-7, 2012

Carolina Chocolate Festival

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f Dy l a n R ay

www.carolinachocolatefestival.com

MCAS Cherry Point Air Show www.cherrypointairshow.com

Billy Taylor Jazz Festival www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/music/jazz/ jazz-festival

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P hoto courtes y of B ill R uss / N orth C arolina D ivision of T ourism

T odd B ennett

Top: Wild horse sightings near Shackleford Banks are part of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s must-see attractions. Bottom: The Maritime Museum in Beaufort

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Fine Dining and Lots of ‘Cue The Eastern Region is also resplendent with top eateries including chopped pork barbecue hot spots such as B’s BBQ in Greenville, Pete Jones’ BBQ in Ayden, Wilber’s Barbecue in Goldsboro, and Parker’s Barbecue in Wilson. Highly regarded independent restaurants include On the Square in Tarboro and Chef & the Farmer in Kinston – both recognized among the nation’s top 100 eateries by OpenTable restaurant reservation service. Christinne’s Seafood Grille and Chophouse in Greenville has also been recognized on Wine Spectator’s top 100 list. From the coast to inland cities, the region is full of plenty of other independent restaurants, and fresh seafood abounds in all seasons.

Beaufort Named Coolest Small Town in America Known for its majestic ocean views, antebellum homes and decadent cuisine, Beaufort, N.C., was voted Coolest Small Town in America by readers of Budget Travel magazine. Along with its coastal charms, Beaufort was recognized for its notoriety as the hangout of the pirate Blackbeard three centuries ago. Visitors today can view artifacts salvaged from Blackbird’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, at the North Carolina Maritime Museum or walk past the moss-draped oaks and cracked tombstones of the city’s Old Burying Ground – the resting place of some of the town’s nautical pioneers. Beaufort’s Inlet Inn and Blue Moon Bistro were also spotlighted for their quaint atmospheres.

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Banks in Carteret County, visitors can also catch a glimpse of wild horses descended from the Spanish mustangs European explorers brought to the New World centuries ago.

A vendor chops barbecue at Kinston’s annual BBQ Festival on the Neuse.

The road to success doesn’t start just anywhere.

Pitt County, North Carolina has all the qualities to point your business in the right direction. With a skilled workforce, excellent access to markets, low operating costs and much more, we’ve taken the bumps and detours out of the drive to grow your business. Visit us at www.locateincarolina.com to learn how we can help your business reach its final destination – SUCCESS.

252.758.1989

www.locateincarolina.com

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Gallery

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Maude Moore Latham Memorial Garden at Tryon Palace in New Bern Photo by Todd Bennett

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Gallery

Rocky Mount Fire Museum in Rocky Mount Photo by Todd Bennett

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The Community Council for the Arts in downtown Kinston Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto

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Gallery

Goldsboro City Hall in downtown Goldsboro Photo by Todd Bennett

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North Topsail Beach in Onslow County Staff Photo

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Come andVisit

Can you imagine … a world without children?

Start your tour at the Wilson Visitors Center, a 1925 restored bungalow, National Register of Historic Places property, which begins the Downtown Historic Walking Tour. Enjoy our “Whirligigs,” art studios, antiques, museums, galleries, gardens, great restaurants and shopping, which are all within a few blocks. Catch the Amtrak train for a day excursion.

We Can’t.

Call 1-800-996-4100 to help. www.stjude.org

800-497-7398 • www.wilson-nc.com

visit our

advertisers AfterGlow LLC www.afterglowdirect.com Albert J. Ellis Airport www.flyoaj.com Carolinas Gateway Partnership www.econdev.org Coastal Carolina Community College www.coastalcarolina.edu Coastal Carolina Regional Airport www.newbernairport.com Craven Community College www.cravencc.edu

Greenville-Pitt County Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitgreenvillenc.com

Pitt County – City of Greenville Airport Authority www.pitt-greenvilleairport.com

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites www.holidayinnexpress.com/kinstonnc

Pitt County Development Commission www.locateincarolina.com

Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development www.onslowedc.com

Southtech Decorative Laminations www.southtechdl.com

James Sprunt Community College www.jamessprunt.edu

SuddenLink Communications www.suddenlink.com

Jones County Economic Development Commission www.co.jones.nc.us

Technical Control Consultants LLC www.tc2.us Vidant Health www.vidanthealth.com

Crystal Coast Tourism Authority www.crystalcoastnc.org

Lenoir Community College www.lenoircc.edu

East Carolina University www.ecu.edu

Lenoir Memorial Hospital www.lenoirmemorial.org

Edgecombe Community College www.edgecombe.edu

NES Rentals www.nesrentals.com

Wayne County Development Alliance Inc. www.waynealliance.org

Electricities of North Carolina Inc. www.electricities.com

North Carolina Global TransPark www.ncgtp.com

Wayne Memorial Hospital www.waynehealth.org

Greenville North Carolina – Economic Development www.greenvillenc.gov/economicdevelopment

North Carolina’s Eastern Region www.nceast.org

Wilson Community College www.wilsoncc.edu

Greenville Utilities www.guc.com

Pitt Community College www.pittcc.edu

Wilson Visitors Center www.wilson-nc.com

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Wayne Community College www.waynecc.edu

economic profile Business snapshot

Population (2010) North Carolina’s Eastern Region: 1,035,502 Carteret County, 66,469 Craven County, 103,505 Duplin County, 58,505 Edgecombe County, 56,552 Greene County, 21,362 Jones County, 10,153 Lenoir County, 59,495 Nash County, 95,840 Onslow County, 177,772 Pamlico County, 13,144 Pitt County, 168,848 Wayne County, 122,623 Wilson County, 81,234 Change in regional population from 2000: 13% Median Age: 35

Major Population Centers (2010) Greenville, 84,554 Jacksonville, 70,145 Rocky Mount 57,477 Wilson, 49,167

The 13-county Eastern Region of North Carolina is an economically diverse area, with key clusters that include advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, value-added agriculture, life sciences, tourism, health care and higher education. The region offers a highly skilled workforce, a favorable labor environment, low cost of living, ample developable land and building sites, world-class transportation assets, a central East Coast location, and a robust network of colleges and universities.

Major Employers (Nongovernment, 1,000 or more employees) BB&T, Wilson County Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, Wilson County Carolina Turkeys, Duplin County Carteret County General Hospital, Carteret County Consolidated Diesel, Nash County DSM, Pitt County Craven Regional Medical Center, Craven County East Carolina University, Pitt County Hospira Inc., Nash County House Of Raeford Inc., Duplin County Lenoir Memorial Hospital Inc., Lenoir County Nash Hospitals Inc., Nash County Onslow Memorial Hospital, Onslow County

What’s Online For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on North Carolina’s Eastern Region, go to businessclimate.com/nc-eastern and click on Facts & Stats.

PNC, Nash County Smithfield Foods Inc., Duplin County Vidant Medical Center, Pitt County Wal-Mart Associates Inc., Wayne County Wayne Memorial Hospital Inc., Wayne County Wilson Medical Center, Wilson County

Major Industry Sectors (By % of total workforce) Services, 39.2% Education and Health, 12.5% Goods Producing, 10.9% Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 9.7% Manufacturing, 6.5% Leisure and Hospitality, 4.9% Professional and Business, 4.6% Public Administration, 3.8% Construction, 3.0% Financial Activities, 1.6% Natural Resources & Mining, 1.3% Other Services, 2.0%

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Ad Index

55 Albert J. Ellis Airport

9 Carolinas Gateway Partnership

9 Coastal Carolina Community College

Convention & Visitors Bureau

20 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

10 Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development 39 James Sprunt Community College

28 Coastal Carolina Regional Airport

48 Craven Community College

C2 Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

1 Jones County Economic Development Commission

C4 East Carolina University

61 Lenoir Community College

8 Edgecombe Community College

58 Lenoir Memorial Hospital

79 NES Rentals

2 Electricities of North Carolina Inc.

14 North Carolina Global TransPark

35 Greenville North Carolina â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Economic Development

29 Greenville Utilities

28 Greenville-Pitt County

6 North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eastern Region 65 Pitt Community College

Ad Index (cont.)

52 Pitt County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; City of Greenville Airport Authority

71 Pitt County Development Commission

4 Southtech Decorative Laminations

48 SuddenLink Communications 4 Technical Control Consultants LLC

C3 Vidant Health

28 Wayne Community College

19 Wayne County Development Alliance Inc.

78 Wayne Memorial Hospital

78 Wilson Community College

78 Wilson Visitors Center

Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced North Carolina’s Eastern Region through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit photoblog.jnlcom.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: North Carolina’s Eastern Region Photography is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. One day you’re shooting pictures of kids working on experiments in their classroom, and the next, you’re taking pictures of Air Force Two – the vice president’s plane – practicing touch-and-goes at an airport in Kinston. The former was planned; the latter was a coincidence. I just happened to be at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston taking pictures for North Carolina’s Eastern Region Economic Development Review when AF2 suddenly appeared out of nowhere. According to my escort, it was not unusual for the crews to make unannounced visits to the airport. The plane made several passes and was still making them as I left. This was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me. But for those around me, it was just another day at the office. Or should I say the airport. Posted by Todd Bennett

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More Online

See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at photoblog.jnlcom.com.