Washington is ripe for economic development, which is why it’s been acknowledged in an industry trade publication.

Named as a contributing factor to North Carolina’s ranking in Site Selection magazine’s top “micropolitans” list this month, the area fulfills many requirements that attract business: community commitment to growth; abundant supply of permitted land; diversified economy; multiple transportation opportunities, including regional airports; geographic location; low cost of doing business; abundant workforce; and incentives. With 12 micropolitan areas and 53 projects going on within them, North Carolina ranked No. 3 behind Ohio and Georgia.

Micropolitan statistical areas are defined by the White House Office of Management and Budget as “one or more of adjacent counties that have at least an urban core area of at least 10,000 population, but less than 50,000, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties.”

While Beaufort County contributed two projects centered on the boating industry —Hysucat Boats in Bath and a warehouse expansion at Iconic Marine in Chocowinity, the company that took over Fountain Powerboats and Baja — Beaufort County Economic Development Director Martyn Johnson believes the area has much more to offer based on the list of qualities above.

 

Community commitment

What stands out to Johnson is the various organizations working to bring more business to the area: the Committee of 100, the county’s Economic Development Department, Beaufort County Schools’ and Beaufort County Community College’s efforts in workforce training, Washington Tourism Development Authority, Washington Harbor District Alliance and more.

“They’re making investments in areas in the community that will attract people and support companies,” Johnson said.

Part of that is the city’s continuing investment in the Washington-Warren Airport, which is a large draw for executives with multiple businesses covering a large geographic area.

“It’s important because a number of the larger companies have their own private jets,” Johnson said. “If somebody’s looking at a number of states, trying to look for a location, consultants will come in to look (based on convenience).”

 

Abundant permitted land

With two industrial parks already established — Washington-Beaufort County and the county-owned one in Chocowinity — there’s already been an extensive collection of data from various industries, so the officials are quick to respond to requests for information, Johnson said. In addition to the land already set aside for industry, Johnson said there also is plenty of privately owned land zoned for commercial and industrial use.

 

Diversified economy

The county has a variety of industry, centered on plastics, metalworking, boat building, mining and woodworking, along with large base of agriculture.

“I think with the types of industries that we have here — we have 16 percent of our workforce still in manufacturing and that’s across a number of different industries,” Johnson said. “Between all those industries it’s a pretty diverse economy.”

In the second quarter of 2016, topping the list of employers for a workforce of 16,439 was government at 20 percent; manufacturing, 16 percent; retail trade, 14 percent; service industry, 11 percent; health care and social assistance, 9 percent; accommodation and food services, 8 percent; administrative and waste services, 8 percent; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, at 4 percent; wholesale trade, also 4 percent; construction, 3 percent; and transportation and warehousing, 3 percent.

 

Multiple transportation opportunities

That the area has immediate access to U.S. Highway 264, and is within 30 minutes to U.S. Highway 64 and U.S. Route 70, all of which are slated to become part of an interstate in future years, means it’s in a good place for industry’s transportation needs. Access to rail and airports, with the regional Greenville airport nearby and Raleigh-Durham International Airport less than two hours away, also benefit the county, in addition to access by barge on the water, Johnson said.

 

Geographic location

The area’s central location on the East Coast puts it in reasonable proximity to markets to the north, south and west, Johnson said.

 

Low cost of doing business

“Generally, the cost of doing business and cost of living are relatively lower than a major metropolitan community,” Johnson said.

He said that leads him to market the area as an industry site to places, like northern states, where the cost to operate is much higher.

“You market what you have to the markets where what you have is competitive,” Johnson said.

 

Abundant workforce

Washington, and Beaufort County, is part of a statistical area that includes Greenville and surrounding counties. Drawing from those other communities, the combined workforce is 110,000 strong. In Beaufort County, approximately 3,000 people work in manufacturing.

 

 

Incentives

The ability for the area to offer incentives is an important factor, Johnson said.

“We’re a Tier 1 county, so that opens up a lot. Because we’re Tier 1, and we’re a less economically developed county, the incentives that are available, be it federal, state or regional, we not only get the maximum amount, but we’re looked upon preferentially,” Johnson said.

 

Johnson said he is hoping for gradual growth for the county, even as industry in the state has grown quite rapidly.

“The costs are quite reasonable, so I think we’ve got opportunity to attract industry, retirees and tourism,” he said. “Progress, but with sustainable growth, is what we want.”