The “Carolina Core,” for those who don’t know, is a regional effort to create one “brand” for a 120-mile stretch of central North Carolina along US. Highway 421 that runs from I-95 to I-77.
Carolina Core is the effort to jointly present to the world all of the benefits this “Core” has to offer in the way of available megasites, labor forces, universities, worker training opportunities, airports and other transportation systems. The initiative, along with many real estate companies, will hold its first-ever real estate summit on Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m.at Wicker Civic and Conference Center in Sanford.
One reason for this real estate summit is to get everyone on the same page when it comes to attracting new business. North Carolina has been on fire in that regard in recent years and these players want that trend to continue in this central stretch of the state in the future.
A dozen North Carolina, Triad, and Triangle real estate groups will take part in the major get together meant to help advance the cause of economic development in this focus area that runs through the center of the state.
According to Zan Monroe, the CEO of Longleaf Pine REALTORS, Inc., everyone is welcome to attend.
“This meeting is open to everyone who is interested in learning more about the Carolina Core,” Monroe said. “We invite commercial and residential REALTORS, business leaders, economic developers, government officials, builders, investors and the media to join us.”
The keynote speaker will be Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina CEO Christopher Chung, who works at the state level to help promote the success of economic development projects and initiatives across North Carolina. At the big get together on Sept. 13, Chung will speak on “The importance of regionalism, what it takes for the Carolina Core (or any region) to work well in economic development.”
Regionalism has been a key buzzword for economic development over the last decade in the state. Just one example of that – one that’s seen some major successes – is the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance (GCEDA), through which Guilford County, Greensboro and High Point work together – rather than disparately – to attract new business to the area and to promote economic growth.
GCEDA worked with many others, for instance, to help advance the Greensboro-Randolph megasite, which will be home to a large Toyota battery factory.
In addition to Chung, other presenters at the Carolina Core event will also speak on the importance of regional approaches to economic development. Speakers include the chairman of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, former Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins, economic developers, representatives of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, and the president of the North Carolina Association of REALTORS.