The Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce is committed to creating and promoting a vibrant and strong economic climate for our business members and community. The Chamber works in partnership with the Lenoir County Economic Development Department to attract investment, increase the tax base and add more jobs. The Pride of Kinston is also a major part of Kinston's economy working to revitalize downtown using the Main Street approach. The Lenoir County Manufacturer's Association works to help those in their field grow and develop professionally within our community.
We Want Your Business
Located in eastern North Carolina and halfway between Raleigh and Morehead City, Kinston and Lenoir County, NC are the perfect mix of agriculture and manufacturing. Part of NC's Eastern Regional Partnership, the 58,000 residents of Lenoir County are represented by 13 counties and over 982,000 people. In addition to a large civilian labor force, there are also four military institutions in the region.
If your company centers around transportation to get goods to and from, Kinston and Lenoir County, NC is the perfect new home for your business. Wilmington, NC and Morehead City, NC provide two deepwater ports in the area with intracoastal waterways and inlets. On land, railways run north, south, east and west and one-day trucking services are available along the East coast. Two-day services are available to areas farther away and major roadways such as US 70, I-95 and I-40 are less than an hour from the city. The Kinston Regional Jetport provides private and charter services, and only 90 minutes west is the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
In 2009, the top three largest industries in the county were Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Retail Trade. The total workforce employed 25,682 people in 21 categories with three companies employing over 1,000 individuals a piece. To see the full list of industries and number in the workforce, visit the Lenoir County EDC website here.
Another great feature that sets Lenoir County apart from others when considering relocating or starting a business here is the Lenoir Committee of 100. This non-profit organization is designed to fund economic development projects in Lenoir County and bridge the gap between private business needs and public organizations' abilities to meet those needs. A list of companies the Committee of 100 has helped bring to the area can be found here.
As if all of the above isn't enough, there are also incentives and assistance programs to entice you to bring your business here. The Lenoir County Economic Development Department evaluates local performance based incentives. State job and investment tax credits and training programs are also available through the state of North Carolina.
For all of this information and more, visit the Lenoir County Economic Development Department's website.
