CEO Guide to the States

North Carolina

A TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS

The Tar Heel State is continually ranked by many organizations and publications as one of the top states for business and landed at No. 5 in Chief Executive’s Best & World States for Business ranking. In 2023, state economic development officials closed 111 corporate relocations and expansions, adding nearly 11,000 jobs and almost $5 billion in capital investments. Twenty-six of these projects were foreign direct investment and entail more than 4,500 jobs and nearly $2 billion in capital. In 2024, several companies announced projects in excess of $1 billion with more than a thousand jobs. In recent years, the state has also seen an increase in announcements from clean energy and electric vehicle companies.

“We will go further when we go together—not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as Independents, but as North Carolinians.”
Josh Stein
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2020 and 2023

KEY INCENTIVES

Job Development Investment Grant: A performance-based discretionary incentive program that offers cash grants to new and expanding companies, based on a percentage of personal income tax with- holdings associated with new jobs created.

One North Carolina Fund: A discretionary cash grant program that enables the governor to quickly respond to job-creating competitive projects considering locations outside of North Carolina.

The High-Yield Project: Offers a JDIG grant worth up to 90 percent of personal income withholdings for up to 20 years for a company that creates 1,750 jobs and invests at least $500 million in a project.

The Transformative Project: Offers up to 90 percent of personal income withholdings for up to 30 years for a company that creates 3,000 jobs and invests at least $1 billion.

EDCs

Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
edpnc.com

North Carolina Department of Commerce
nccommerce.com

Raleigh Office of Economic Development
raleighnc.gov/business

Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
charlotteregion.com

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s Go Global Road Show serves as a catalyst for North Carolina companies seeking to expand their reach in global markets. The annual event offers one-on-one consultations with international trade managers and foreign office directors and helps companies identify specific opportunities in Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Middle East.

BIG DEALS

  • Vietnamese company Boviet Solar announced in April 2024 it will locate its first U.S.-based solar panel manufacturing facility in Pitt County. The $294 million project will create 908 jobs.
  • Leading global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced in June 2024 a $4.1 billion manufacturing facility and 1,000 new jobs in Clayton.
  • American Titanium Metal announced in July 2024 an $867 million investment and 304 new jobs in Fayetteville.
  • Nipro Medical Corporation announced in July 2024 a $397 million investment and 232 new jobs in Greenville.
  • Natron Energy announced in August 2024 that it will invest $1.4 billion in a sodium-ion battery giga-factory in Edgecombe County. The project will create more than 1,000 jobs.
  • Reckitt announced in September 2024 a $145 million manufacturing facility and 289 new jobs in Wilson County.
  • Johnson & Johnson announced in October 2024 a $2 billion investment and 420 new jobs at a pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Wilson County

BIG COMPANIES

Twelve Fortune 500 headquarters in the state, including:

  • Bank of America
  • Duke Energy
  • First Citizens BancShares
  • Honeywell International
  • IQVIA Holdings
  • Laboratory Corp. of America
  • Lowe’s
  • Nucor
  • Sonic Automotive
  • Truist Financia
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.