The State of North Carolina operates eight administrative regions known as Prosperity Zones. Each Zone features a one-stop, physical location, providing citizens and businesses the ability to interact with representatives from multiple state agencies, as well as to encourage better collaboration between the agencies themselves.
The state deploys subject matter experts in each Zone, from transportation and environmental topics to workforce development, community planning and liaisons to existing businesses in the Zones.
Find the people in each region you can speak with about your issue or concern. Just click on the county or region you're interested in, and the list of contacts for that region will appear.
For answers on starting or growing a business in any North Carolina region: blnc.gov | 1-800-228-8443 toll-free
Western Region Contacts
One-Stop Location
253 Webster Road
Sylva, NC 28779
Housed at the NC DOT Division 14 Office
Existing Businesses
Josh Carpenter
Regional Industry Manager
828 772-9128
josh.carpenter@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Ann Bass
ARC Community Economic Development Planner
828 508-0107
ann.bass@nccommerce.com
Workforce Development
Tim Mathis
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
828 245-9841
tim.mathis@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Betty Silver
828 766-1367
silverb@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Transportation and Environmental Issues
Brian Burch
828-586-2141
brianburch@ncdot.gov
Alison Davidson
828-296-4500
alison.davidson@ncdenr.gov
Western County Profiles
Northwest Region Contacts
One Stop Locations
468 New Market Blvd
Boone, NC 28607
Housed at the High Country Council of Governments
1880 2nd Ave NW
Hickory, NC 28601
Housed at the Western Piedmont Council of Governments
Existing Businesses
Bill Slagle
Regional Industry Manager
828 592-1029
bill.slagle@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Wesley Barker
ARC Community Economic Development Planner
336 907-0284
wesley.barker@nccommerce.com
Workforce Development
Felicia Setzer
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
828 466-5535
felicia.setzer@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Betty Silver
828 766-1367
silverb@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Transportation & Environmental Issues
Dean Ledbetter
336 903-9129
dledbetter@ncdot.gov
Alison Davidson
828 296-4500
alison.davidson@ncdenr.gov
Northwestern Region County Profiles
Southwest Region Contacts
Existing Businesses
Melanie Underwood
Regional Industry Manager
980 256-0497
melanie.underwood@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Jeff Emory
Community Economic Development Planner
704 984-3666
jeff.emory@nccommerce.com
Workforce Development
Ronne Grantham
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
704 578-3953
veronica.grantham@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Donald Huneycutt
704 216-3526
huneycuttd@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Southwestern Region County Profiles
Piedmont-Triad (Central) Region Contacts
One Stop Location
119 W Center Steet, Suite 200
Lexington, NC 27292
Housed at the Davidson County Economic Development Office
Existing Businesses
Tracy Dellinger
Regional Industry Manager
336 214-7283
tracy.dellinger@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Darren Rhodes, CPM
Community Economic Development Planner
336 618-5117
drhodes@nccommerce.com
Workforce Development
Caroline Brigmon
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
336 932-0393
caroline.brigmon@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Cathy Beeson
336 625-6034
beesonc@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Transportation and Environmental Issues
Pat Wilson (Transportation)
336 487-0000
pwilson@ncdot.gov
Paul Williams (Environment)
336 776-9800
paul.e.williams@ncdenr.gov
Piedmont-Triad (Central) Region County Profiles
North Central Region Contacts
Existing Businesses
Harry Swendsen
Regional Industry Manager
919 703-5369
harry.swendsen@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Bruce Naegelen
Community Economic Development Planner
984 365-0279
bruce.naegelen@nccommerce.com
Workforce Development
Michelle Muir
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
919 817-5002
michelle.muir@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Sara Lloyd
252-738-3452
lloyds@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Transportation and Environmental Issues
Jimmy Eatmon (Transportation)
252 237-6164
jeatmon@ncdot.gov
David Lee (Environmental)
919 791-4200
david.lee@ncdenr.gov
North Central Region County Profiles
Sandhills (South Central) Region Contacts
One Stop Location
558 Gillespie Street
Fayetteville, NC
Housed at the NC DOT Division 6 Office
Existing Businesses
Phillip Shumaker
Regional Industry Manager
910-986-9310
phillip.shumaker@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Grace Lawrence
Community Economic Development Planner
910-391-1298
grace.lawrence@nccommerce.com
Workforce Development
John Lowery
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
910 997-9181
john.lowery@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Brian Haney
910 678-8430
haneyb@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Transportation & Environmental Issues
Steven D. Kendall, PE (Transportation)
910 364-0603
sdkendall@ncdot.gov
David Lee (Environmental)
919 791-4200
david.lee@ncdenr.gov
Sandhills (South Central) Region County Profiles
Northeast Region Contacts
One-Stop Location
1502 North Market Street, Suite A
Washington, North Carolina 27889
Existing Businesses
Sarah Bernart
Regional Industry Manager
252 343-2653
sarah.bernart@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Lee Padrick
Community Economic Development Planner
252 565-2060
lpadrick@nccommerce.com
Workforce Development
Larry Donley
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
252 355-9067
larry.donley@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Lauren Dudley
252 940-6311
dudleyl@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Transporation & Environmental Issues
Jeff Cabaniss (Transportation)
252 439-2800
jcabaniss@ncdot.gov
Lyn Hardison (Environment)
252 946-6481
lyn.hardison@ncdenr.gov
Northeast Region County Profiles
Southeast Region
One Stop Location
1099 Gum Branch Road
Jacksonville, NC
Housed at the Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development Office
Existing Businesses
James Wolfe
Regional Industry Manager
910 620-7981
james.wolfe@edpnc.com
Community Planning Services
Amy Suggs
Community Economic Development Planner
amy.suggs@nccommerce.com
910-530-0278
Workforce Development
Karl Zurl
NCWorks Regional Operations Director
910-777-3923
karl.zurl@nccommerce.com
Customized Workforce Training
Lynn Creech
252-527-6223 Ext. 618
creechl@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Transportation & Environmental Issues
Patrick Riddle (Transportation)
910-341-2000
priddle@ncdot.gov
Cameron Weaver (Environmental)
910-796-7215
cameron.weaver@ncdenr.gov