Business & Industry Services
The Department of Commerce offers expert assistance at every stage of a company's development. Programs and consulting services are available in the following areas:
- Establishing or locating a new business
- Expanding an existing business
- Relocating an existing business
We maintain several teams of economic development professionals:
- Our B&I Development Team includes a group of Raleigh-based development managers who focus on nationwide and international opportunties, as well as managers based within the state’s seven economic development regions who offer local expertise and resources.
- International Offices help foreign companies locate in North Carolina and also assist North Carolina companies to do business in overseas markets.
- Business counselors in our Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) call center answer questions and guide people through the process of starting a business, obtaining a business license, or finding available business resources within the state.
Available services include:
Research and Analysis
- Labor market analysis
- Wage data and comparisons
- Custom tax analysis
- State-to-state comparisons
- Climatological data
- Legal aspects
- Costs of conducting business analysis
- Customize site location/community research and investigation
- Site Evaluation and Selection
Statewide building and site database
- Recommendation of appropriate building and sites
- Location, site and topographical maps and photographs
- Community/site evaluation based on project needs
- Personalized building/site/community tours
- Logistics/travel assistance
- Statewide network of allies
- Human Resources
Labor market data
- Identification of qualified workforce
- Employee recruiting and screening
- Wage and benefit surveys
- Labor productivity data
- Current employer interviews
- Customized worker training
- Environmental assistance
Permitting assistance
- Site/building evaluation
- Recycling consultation
- Mediation between company and state environmental regulators
- Services of an environmental consultant without regulatory interferences
- Identification of opportunities to reduce costs in handling pollution/waste products
- Financial program guidance
Tax credits for qualified businesses
- Low-interest loans
- Industrial Revenue Bonds
- Energy Improvement Program
- Coordinated state, regional and local incentive programs
- Assistance with infrastructure improvements
- Expediting of permits and applications
- Customized worker training