Pitt County Moves to Tier Two Designation, Indicating Less Economic Distress

Published:
12/1/2020
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GREENVILLE, North Carolina – As ranked by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Pitt County has moved to a Tier Two Development Designation for 2021 which signifies less economic distress.

The state’s 100 counties are ranked annually based on economic well-being. Each county is then assigned a Tier designation. The Development Tier Designation statute (§143B-437.08) assigns each county to a designation of Tier One (most distressed), Tier Two, or Tier Three (least distressed). Tiers are calculated using four factors:

  • Average unemployment rate
  • Median household income
  • Percentage growth in population
  • Adjusted property tax base per capita

Pitt County is shifting from Tier One to Tier Two because the economic distress rank is 44 for 2021 compared to 33 in 2020 and 42 in 2019. Pitt joins 10 other counties moving to a less distressed tier including Beaufort, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Jones, Macon, Onslow, Perquimans, Polk, and Transylvania.

“I think a change from a Tier One to a Tier Two for Pitt County, as well as its neighboring counties, reinforces that even in these difficult times our region is experiencing economic growth and new job creation,” said Steve Weathers, president and CEO of the Greenville – ENC Alliance. “A number of recent studies have shown that businesses are moving out of larger metropolitan areas to more mid-size communities, like Greenville, which may also be playing a part in the economic growth in our region.”

While Pitt County’s population growth rank, unemployment rate rank, and adjusted property tax base per capita improved, the county’s median household income rank declined. Click here to read the full rankings report.

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Media Relations Contact: Maria Satira
Director of Marketing and Communications
Greenville - Eastern North Carolina Alliance
satira@encalliance.com
252-414-2875