Newcomers to North Carolina are drawn to our moderate climate — not too cold, not too hot. What is hot is the state’s economy, driven, in part, by our low corporate tax rate and competitive costs of doing business. Our vibrant cities are magnets for millennials, technology startups and other businesses. In rural N.C., infrastructure that once sustained textile mills and furniture factories now powers data centers for some of the world’s largest tech companies and advanced-manufacturing plants for life-sciences, aerospace, automotive and other industries.
China’s Triangle Tyre is making a record investment in rural N.C., building a $580 million plant in the heart of the state’s former tobacco belt. Austria’s EGGER Group is looking to revitalize one of the state’s legacy trades with a new high-tech furniture plant near Lexington. Global technology consultant Infosys picked Raleigh over cities in more than a half-dozen states for a new innovation hub. These and other companies are attracted to the state’s major research universities and acclaimed community-college training programs. The UNC System, known for its competitive tuition rates, provides a pipeline of talent and is a relocation magnet for families with college-age children. Dozens of private colleges and universities offer additional education opportunities.
Visitors to our beaches, mountains, golf courses, historic sites and cities spent nearly $24 billion in the state in 2017. “Quality of life” is a phrase we hear often — it’s just another part of what makes this place special. Come take a closer look.
— Cathy Martin, project editor