The Greenville Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Alliance, a public-private partnership focused on economic development in the Greenville MSA, is working with stakeholders to determine future goals for the organization and its innovative economic development efforts in the community. This new five-year strategic plan effort was launched by the Greenville ENC Alliance and is led by a steering committee made up of business leaders and community stakeholders. The steering committee along with more than 100 business and economic development leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders met Thursday morning to hear an update on the plan and to gather investor and community feedback on the work completed to date.
“Our intent with this planning initiative is to create a collaborative environment that unifies multiple organizations, Pitt County, City of Greenville, and our towns around a central set of priorities. A few years ago, when community leaders were conceptualizing the creation of the Alliance, the goal was to have an organization that rallied both the public and private sectors to support a collective set of priorities and to attract new industry. Today is another step toward realizing those original aspirations. It all begins with establishing a set of facts and measurables. To move the economic needle for the community, it is essential that we have firm stakeholder support for the roadmap,” said Josh Lewis, CEcD, president and CEO of the Greenville ENC Alliance.
Josh Lewis, CEcD, president and CEO of the Greenville ENC Alliance welcomes attendees to the presentation
He added, “we’re continuously engaging professionals in the public and private sectors including government, business, academic, and health fields. Their participation will provide the support and feedback needed to develop a plan that moves Greenville – Pitt County forward and further promotes economic growth.”
Founded in 2019 as a public-private partnership, the organization’s sustaining members are the City of Greenville and Greenville Utilities Commission. Additional funding support comes from the municipalities of Ayden, Bethel, Farmville, Fountain, Grimesland, and Simpson; Pitt County; East Carolina University; ECU Health; and 74 private sector investors. Since its inception, the Greenville ENC Alliance has successfully led or assisted more than a dozen projects resulting in nearly $700 million in new capital investment and 1,847 new jobs.
“While we’ve had some success over the past few years in securing capital investment and new jobs through combined efforts in business recruitment and expansion, our current focus is on defining the next steps which include the development of new sites and buildings and being more successful in the attraction of targeted industries,” shared Lewis. “We are also looking at being much more proficient in retaining and attracting talent. This begins with aligning efforts and being a super collaborator and promoter of the Greenville Pitt County MSA.”
The organization is working with the economic development consulting firm EDai on the creation and implementation of its new five-year strategic plan. EDai is led by Sean Brazier, PhD, a former executive with Virginia Economic Development Partnership Economic Competitiveness team and consultant with McKinsey & Company.
“The Greenville metro area has incredible opportunity for growth. Our team at EDai is using research and data to identify where and how the community and its stakeholders should focus for maximum growth potential,” explained Brazier. “During today’s presentation, the room was full of engaged attendees who are clearly passionate about the future of Pitt County.”
EDai will work with the Greenville ENC Alliance strategic plan steering committee and staff members to review feedback and update the planning document ahead of the third workshop at the end of the month. A final draft of the document is expected in March and will be presented to the organization’s Board of Directors and community partners for approval.
Sean Brazier, PhD, founder and CEO of EDai presents research and data to Greenville ENC Alliance stakeholders
Media Relations Contact:
Maria Satira Director of Marketing and Communications Greenville - Eastern North Carolina Alliance satira@encalliance.com 252-414-2875
