Economic Development

For the past 65 years, St. Andrews University has been a major economic engine for the small town in Scotland County. That all changed on May 5, when the university shut down for good after years of financial challenges. County leaders have been working to draw industry and development to multiple sites, and they hope the St. Andrew’s campus can be one of them.

Economic development officials have focused on certain sectors, with job announcements paced by the largest in North Carolina's history.

The $918 million factory is projected create 1,000 jobs. Company officials and politicians say it is vital for national security.

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority has selected real estate firm Pacific Elm Properties to work on a plan to redevelop a 136-acre tract of land adjacent to Lake Crabtree County Park.

Japanese medical device company Nipro plans to build its new American headquarters and manufacturing plant in Greenville.

The $6 million Harnett Regional Jetport Terminal opens with the goal of bringing more business to the county.

The Carolina Hurricanes said the governing body for PNC Arena has approved a development agreement to create a long-discussed mixed-use district around the arena. The project includes entertainment, retail and office space, as well as a music venue, apartments and a hotel.

Mayor Billy Hammond and other town leaders came up with a dramatic plan to address repeat flooding: build a whole new downtown-style commercial district a few blocks up the street on higher ground.

East of Raleigh, the once sleepy suburb of Wendell ranked as the fastest-growing town in North Carolina between 2020 and 2021, with a population that increased by 16% in a single year.

While North Carolina’s urban areas are seeing rapid growth, more than 20 of the state’s 100 counties have seen their population decrease in recent years as residents move away for better opportunities elsewhere. Those population declines are sharpest in northeastern North Carolina.