The North Carolina Global TransPark, county commissioners from three counties, civic leaders and business leaders met at Lenoir Community College Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Center Tuesday to announce a partnership to include Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne counties. The partnership is designed to create a regional approach to economic development in the hopes to attract and retain businesses in eastern North Carolina.

“We’re fortunate that all the county commissioners group and the county managers have all come together, linked their arms, and said let's put this thing together and make it work,” said Norris Tolson, Chairman, GTP Board.

The Global TransPark Economic Development Region will pool available resources from the partnering counties to create strategic market plans that attract high-quality economic investors.

“When I came to the Global TransPark over two years ago, we made the decision to look toward regionalizing our efforts,” said John W. Rouse, Jr., President/CEO, NCGTP.  “We aren’t competing as one sole county, we’re competing as a region.”

The Global TransPark is a preferred site for aviation enterprises, logistics companies, and military contractors.

“This partnership is a very needed partnership for our region,” said Kyle DeHaven, Greene County Manager. “By partnering Greene, Wayne, and Lenoir counties with the GTP we can offer the best of both worlds for potential suitors.”

The NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region will aggressively market the region to promote the resources in the area.

“We’re definitely excited about what this partnership represents and the significance for this community and this part of the state,” said Michael James, Lenoir County Manager.

The NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region team will create an annual market plan with specifics of the work and a timeline for accountability. 

“I am excited about joining John Rouse and the NC Department of Transportation to continue efforts to bring jobs and opportunity to eastern North Carolina,” said Mark Pope, Senior Vice President.