EDPNC Ranks as Top Economic Development Organization

Site selection consultants view the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) as the best state-level economic development organization in the country, according to a new survey of U.S. corporate executives and location advisors.

Conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI) every three years, the “Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing” survey was released this week at the International Economic Development Council Annual Conference, being held virtually from Dallas.

DCI surveys corporate executives with site-selection responsibilities and location advisors to determine their perceptions of the most-effective strategies and techniques in economic development marketing. This year’s survey topics ranged from executives’ views of state business climates to how the pandemic is affecting corporate location decisions.

Site selection consultants responding to the survey most frequently ranked the EDPNC as a “best in class” statewide economic development organization. The consultants were asked to list up to three best-in-class state economic development organizations, and 37% identified the EDPNC. Twenty-five different state economic development agencies made their way to the top-ranked list.

In this year’s edition of “Winning Strategies,” consultants also listed 81 regional organizations as best in class — with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance claiming the No. 3 spot in a two-way tie.

“Location advisors work with economic development organizations nationwide and tend to have greater interaction with these groups than corporate executives do, which allows them to compare and contrast the effectiveness of each organization and provide an unbiased assessment of which regional and statewide organizations are ‘best in class,’ “ the survey says.

“The EDPNC is honored to be recognized as the top statewide economic development organization by national site selection consultants,” said Christopher Chung, chief executive officer of the EDPNC. “We strive to offer unmatched customer service to companies considering North Carolina for new facility investment ― first and foremost listening closely to their expansion needs and then working closely with our many partners to deliver optimal location solutions across the state.”

Key findings from DCI’s broader 2020 survey, which had 316 respondents, include:

• North Carolina ranks No. 3 among respondents identifying states with the best business climate.
• Access to skilled talent remains the top location factor in site selection searches.
• Certain locations across the country are at a disadvantage during the pandemic. Nearly 50% of respondents report that “large urban areas (cities with population more than 1 million)” are less attractive as business locations in light of COVID-19.
• Even amidst the pandemic, companies are moving forward with location decisions. Fifty-five percent of respondents reported that their company will make a location decision (such as move, expand or consolidate) during the next 24 months ― 5 percentage points up from 2017.

Visit here to download a free copy of the “Winning Strategies” report.