Beaufort County Economy

Location

Greenville-Washington Combined Statistical Area Map (PNG) Opens in new windowBeaufort County, North Carolina is situated only 1.5 hours east of Raleigh, NC and 30 minutes from Greenville and is a part of the Greenville-Washington Combined Statistical Area (GWCSA). As part of Foreign Trade Zone #214 (FTZ #214 SENC), Beaufort County offers individuals and businesses the opportunity to import foreign goods into a duty-free zone.   People move to Beaufort County from all around the country for the waterfront living, agreeable climate, lack of bumper-to-bumper traffic, a diverse economy, good schools, and our southern hospitality!

Workforce & Industries

Combined as the GWSCA, Beaufort and Pitt Counties have a population of over 220,000 and a workforce of over 107,000. The GWSCA workforce is talented, available, trainable, and growing with a pipeline of labor coming from the GWSCA's high schools, community colleges, university, and retrained workers. Over 150 manufacturing establishments call the GWCSA home, employing over 8,500 people. These manufacturers produce a multitude of products such as air filters, boats, electric motors, lift trucks, pharmaceuticals, plastic parts, metal fabrications, retail store fixtures, and truck bodies.

Business Climate

North Carolina is Number 2 on Forbes' list of best states for business and careers. Beaufort County is home to a wide variety of companies, such as:

  • AAF Flanders
  • Carver Machine Works
  • Iconic Marine Group
  • idX Impressions
  • InterMarket Technology
  • ITW Medical Inc.
  • National Spinning Co.
  • Nutrien
  • Oakridge Industries
  • Pamlico Yachtworks
  • PAS USA Inc.
  • Sesame Technologies
  • VT Hackney

There are a number of reasons why a wide variety of companies have located their business in Beaufort County including:

  • Competitive tax rates
  • Solid business climate
  • Highly capable workforce (17% of the private workforce is engaged in manufacturing)
  • Three airports located between 30 to 120 minutes from Beaufort County providing daily flights via major air carriers
  • Major deep-water ports within 90 minutes of Beaufort County
  • Access to rail and the new Carolina Connector Intermodal Rail Terminal
  • Positioned in FTZ #214