3. INDUSTRY CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT
“Our mission is to provide
strong economic
development leadership in
southeastern North Carolina
through innovative marketing
and collaborative regional
initiatives that will create new
jobs, generate capital
investment, and secure new
business locations.”
Since 1996…
•8,637 industry jobs created
•$908M private investment
•105 industry locations
4. NCSE KEY REGIONAL ASSETS
•NC Port at Wilmington
•Fort Bragg & military presence
•Transportation/distribution access
•Agricultural base
•Diversified manufacturing/industry base
•3 State Universities & 2 private colleges
•8 Community Colleges
•I-40, I-95, and I-74
•2 International Airports
•3 Municipal Airports with uncontrolled airspace
9. ADVANCED TEXTILES COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGES
• Natural Fibers: Cotton production in NC’s • Textiles Off-Campus – program which
Southeast Region is among the highest in allows professionals to continue their
the state, which ranks sixth in national education in this rapidly changing industry,
production. regardless of their location. A graduate
• Synthetic Fibers: The Region is home to a certificate in Nonwoven Science and
growing number of firms that specialize in Technology is available.
the production of synthetic fibers, including • TexEd – leading provider of extension
DAK Americas, Quantum Acrylics, Omni education and engagement for textiles and
Systems/Hygiene Systems, and Kordsa allied businesses and services.
USA. • NC Textile Connect – a website designed
• Military / Protective Market: Fort Bragg, in to connect NC textile companies with
the Region, and Camp Lejeune, adjacent to resources, product and marketing
the Region, are two of the nation’s largest information and events within the University
military installations and provide access to and NC State government.
leading consumers of “protective” and NC State University Nanotechnology
“intelligent” textiles. Institute – a university research consortium
• Medical / Hygiene Market: This market will focusing on applied technologies such as
be experiencing rapid growth over the next nano-textile research.
decade in this region more than others due
to increasing retirement and military
populations.
11. AGRI-INDUSTRY & FOOD PROCESSING
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
• NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Regional Facilities
• Border Belt Tobacco Research Station
– 102 acres research farm focused on genetic studies on corn, soybeans,
tobacco, and peanuts.
• Horticultural Crops Research Stations
– 66 acres and 349 acres respectively, the Castle Hayne research station is a
world leader in blueberry breeding programs.
• NC Cooperative Extension – NC State University and NC A&T State University
support agricultural extension services in every county of the Region.
• NC State University - has 19 different departments in its College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences.
• Employment and Training - All five of the 4-year universities in the Region include
agricultural principles in their biology, chemistry and biotechnology courses. And
six of the Region’s community colleges offer programs that support the food
processing sector.
14. AVIATION & AEROSPACE COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGES
• Strategically located within a 200 mile radius of Boeing 787 Dreamliner
facility, GE Aircraft Engines, Spirit AeroSystems, HondaJet, and General
Dynamics.
• Largest military presence on the east coast: Seymour Johnson Airforce
Base, Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, Marine Corp Air Station New River,
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, US Coast Guard Sector NC, US
Army Fort Bragg, and Pope Army Airfield.
• 4 Airports with adjacent industrial parks, 3 of which have uncontrolled
airspace.
• Mid-Atlantic Location gives access to 170 Million US and Canadian
residence in a one-day drive time.
• 10,000+ exiting military personnel annually with skill sets that can easily
be applied to the Aviation and Aerospace industry.
15. BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGES
• North Carolina ranks first in the nation for • Marine Biotechnology Center of Innovation—will
Contract Research Organizations, second in serve as an economic development engine and
agricultural biotechnology research, third in bio- the focal point for marine biotechnology in North
manufacturing and fourth in pharmaceutical Carolina.
manufacturing. • Fayetteville State University – offers a BS in
• NC Biotechnology Center Regional Office – The Biotechnology.
Center offers grant and loan programs to promote • Over 75 biotech-related companies located in the
education and innovative research in region, representing all aspects of the
biotechnology. biotechnology community.
• NOAA Underwater Research Center –promotes • Over 20 Testing Laboratories with 200+
basic and applied research in the fields of employees.
oceanography, coastal and wetland studies, • UNC Pembroke’s Biotechnology Business and
marine biomedical and environmental physiology, Training Center — works to establish relations
and marine biotechnology and aquaculture. between UNC Pembroke and academic, business
• UNC Wilmington Center for Marine Science – and local government to develop innovative
– Graduate programs include Masters in Science for training and research opportunities.
Marine Science or Marine Biology, Ph.D. In Marine
Biotechnology.
• BioNetwork – a statewide initiative that connects
– Post-Doctoral Program in Business of Biotechnology
community colleges across North Carolina,
providing specialized training, curricula and
– Clinical Research Program
equipment for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical
– Technology Transfer Office – for commercialization
and life sciences industries.
of university research.
• NC Bioscience Organization - trade association
• MARBIONC—international leaders in marine
for the NC Bioscience industry.
biotechnology research.
16. DEFENSE SECTOR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
• Center for Defense and Homeland Security at Fayetteville State University.
• All American Defense Corridor– A national security zone stretching from the
Atlantic Ocean to the Research Triangle Region resulting in one of the largest
defense installations in the western hemisphere.
• NC Military Business Center – assists NC companies in locating and bidding on
defense contracts.
• NC Military Foundation– works to coordinate state and regional efforts to grow
NC’s military and defense sectors.
• North Carolina Defense Business Association– provides networking
opportunities, informational services and introductions to potential contract
partners.
• NC Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI) -- supports emerging companies
with new technology development.
• Advanced Visualization and Interactive Design Center at Fayetteville Technical
Community College – offers simulation-based learning for distance education and
knowledge transfer.
18. DISTRIBUTION & LOGISTICS
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
• Highway Infrastructure: • Air Transport:
– East/west interstate I-40 (from Wilmington, NC to • Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
Barstow, CA) and interstate I-74 (from Wilmington, – Current providers are US Airways, Delta, American
NC to Cincinnati, OH and west to Davenport, IA). Airlines and Allegiant Air.
– North/south interstate I-95 (from Miami, FL to – ILM maintains a separate International Terminal for
Portland, ME). US Customs and Border Protection,
– 98 trucking companies located in the Region. • Fayetteville International Airport (FAY)
• Port Access: – Serviced by two main airlines: USAirways Express,
– The Port of Wilmington has facilities to serve with daily service to its Charlotte, NC hub and Delta
containerized, bulk and break-bulk cargoes. with daily service to its Atlanta hub.
– Designated Foreign Trade Zone at the Port of – Direct service to Dallas, TX by American Eagle
Wilmington. Airline.
– The Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point, the • Cargo service is also available at the Laurinburg-
largest ammunition port in the western hemisphere, Maxton (MEB) airport.
and the Army's primary east coast deep-water port.
– The region is within 200 miles (approximately 322
• 41 companies in the Region that provide support
Kilometers) to the ports of Morehead City, NC, for the transportation and warehousing sector.
Norfolk, VA and Charleston, SC. • NC has no tax on wholesale and retail inventories.
• Railroad Infrastructure: • N.C. Community College System - two-year
– CSX has a major rail yard in Hamlet and a global logistics curriculum and free customized
TRANSFLO bulk transfer terminal in Wilmington. training.
– Norfolk Southern also connects to CSX at
Fayetteville.
– 3 shortlines – Carolina Southern, Aberdeen &
Rockfish and Red Springs & Northern
20. ENERGY SECTOR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
• The NC Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard • NC Green Economy Resources Directory – local,
(REPS) requires that NC utilities have 12.5% of regional, state and national organizations that
their retail sales come from renewable energy provide support, guidance, funding, incentives
sources by 2021. and education for NC’s green economy
• UNCW Marine Biology Department is researching • NC Renewable Energy Tax Credits – 35% state
marine algae as a feedstock for biodiesel income tax credit on qualifying project capital
production costs.
• Brunswick Community College has a focus on • Green Business Fund – NC Board of Science and
biofuel production through its aquaculture and Technology $1million fund to help companies
horticulture programs develop cutting edge green and alternative energy
• Southeastern Community College has curriculum technologies for the marketplace.
in agricultural biotechnology with a biofuels focus • Property tax abatements for solar generation
and renewable energy technology systems – exempts 80% of appraised value.
• NC Biofuels Center – an organization created by • Property tax exemption for active solar heating
the NC Legislature to support and encourage the and cooling systems.
development of a biofuels industry in NC. • Energy improvement Loan Program – Max
• NC Solar Center – an organization within NC $500,000 low interest loan from the State Energy
State University to advance the use of all Office for energy efficiency and renewable energy
renewable energy resources. projects.
22. METALWORKING SECTOR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
• Metalworking companies in the region employ more than 3,200
individuals. More than 100 metalworking companies have facilities in the
region, a 15% increase since 2005.
• NC ranks #1 in the US for National Metalworking Skills credentials.
• 3 Community Colleges in the Region (Cape Fear, Fayetteville Technical,
and Richmond Community Colleges) offer Machining Technology
Programs.
• 7 Community Colleges in the Region (Bladen, Brunswick, Cape Fear,
Fayetteville Technical, Richmond, Sampson, and Southeastern
Community Colleges) offer Welding Technology Programs.
• The Community College system also offers the general Manufacturing
Certification Program with a level 2 & 3 focus on the metalworking
industry.
23. CONTACT INFORMATION
North Carolina’s Southeast
707 West Broad Street
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
www.ncse.org
(800) 787-1333 / (910) 862-8511
Steve Yost - President
stevey@ncse.org
Joe Melvin - Director of Business Development
joem@ncse.org
Bart Richardson- Marketing Research Developer
bartr@ncse.org
