Boasting a diverse and thriving economy the Raleigh-Metro area consistently ranks among the nation’s best for business opportunity, research and careers. Located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, the warm climate and accessible location provide an ideal research environment which, along with the superior educational institutions, promotes business growth. The area’s continual fiscal health is fostered by its diverse economy. The variety of industry within the Raleigh area makes the market less susceptible to economic downturns. With low unemployment and per capita income remaining high, Raleigh consistently ranks among the nation’s best economies annually.
• Raleigh is ranked first on the 2008 Forbes list of “Best Cities for Business and Careers.”
• MSNBC named Raleigh in June 2008 as “America’s Best City.”
• Forbes ranked Raleigh as the number one “Recession-Proof Local Economy” in a May 2008 list.
• With a two-year job-growth forecast at 5.8 percent and one of the most highly educated workforces in the country, Raleigh ranked third nationally among CNNmoney.com’s “2008 Best Jobs in the Hottest Markets” list.
• Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in the Raleigh-Metro Area include Progress Energy, R.H. Donnelley, Martin Marietta Materials, and Alliance One International.
Major Foreign Firms in the Raleigh-Metro Area: Asea Brown Boveri, bioMérieux, BOC Gases, Brenntag Southeast Inc., Cormetech Inc., Cynex Software, Cyprotex North America, Eisai Inc., EMD Pharmaceuticals, Flextronics International, Freudenberg Tufts Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Gretag Macbeth LLC, Lenovo, LITESPEC Optical Fiber L.L.C, Nortel Networks, Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, RBC Centura Bank, Reichhold, Inc., Schwarz Biosciences, Inc., Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Spuntech, Syngenta.
Major Colleges and Universities in the Raleigh-Metro Area: Campbell University, Central Carolina Community College, Duke University, Durham Technical Community College, Meredith College, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, Peace College, Piedmont Community College, Shaw University, St. Augustine's College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vance-Granville Community College, Wake Technical Community College.
Major Raleigh Employers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.C., Cisco Systems, Duke University, First Citizens Bank, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Lenovo, Martin Marietta Materials, Nortel Networks, North Carolina State Government (including the University of North Carolina system), Progress Energy, RBC Bank, Red Hat, Research Triangle Institute, Rex Healthcare, SAS, Verizon.
Major Non-profits: Agricultural Resources Center & Pesticide Education, American Red Cross, Audubon North Carolina, The Coalition for Academic Scientific Co., MCNC, NC Greenpower, NCHICA, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Passage Home, Rural Advancement Foundation International, Sustainable North Carolina, Triangle Family Services.
Professional and Trade Associations: Council for Entrepreneurial Development, Information Systems Security Association, International American Council of Engineering Companies (NC), Media Communications Association, North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Community Development Initiative, North Carolina Economic Developers Association Inc., North Carolina Farmworker Health Alliance, North Carolina Restaurant Association, North Carolina Technology Association, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Southern Pines Business Association, Triangle Small Business Connection, Triangle Community Coalition.
