See Why Companies Are Investing in Greenville, NC

Boviet Solar

It was a banner year for economic growth in the Greenville-Pitt County region in 2024. 

“We’ve had three announced expansions among some of our existing companies,” says Josh Lewis, president and CEO of the Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance. “We’ve also had two new companies that have decided to call Greenville, North Carolina, home for their next manufacturing operations.”

Those companies investing in Greenville, NC, are Nipro Medical Corp., a medical equipment company based in Osaka, Japan, and Boviet Solar, a Vietnamese solar panel manufacturing and solar energy technology company. 

“Nipro was a $400 million capital investment and a commitment to 232 jobs,” Lewis says. “We feel confident that they will continue to grow their presence beyond that. Boviet was a $300 million capital investment commitment and a 900-job manufacturing operation.”

Site Selection and Pipeline of Talent

Between East Carolina University and Pitt Community College, more than 40,000 students in the area are enrolled in credit and noncredit programs, creating a steady pipeline of talent. 

“The area is home to a growing talent pool, with expertise in manufacturing, engineering and clean energy sectors facilitated by strong local educational institutions,” says Songul Atacan, head of global brand and marketing at Boviet Solar. “We are committed to developing partnerships with local education institutions to create educational and training programs that support the solar industry and enhance local workforce development.”

Boviet Solar also selected Greenville because of its strategic location, strong infrastructure and favorable business climate.

Effective in 2025, North Carolina’s corporate income tax rate will decrease from 2.5% to 2.25% and continue to decrease until it reaches 0% in 2030.

“The region’s location provides easy access to key distribution hubs, making it ideal for efficient manufacturing and delivery,” Atacan says. “Greenville’s government and economic development agencies offer a pro-business environment, including incentives that promote renewable energy initiatives. The community’s focus on clean energy development made it a natural fit for Boviet Solar’s long-term vision.”

Nipro Medical Corp. echoes the community’s business-friendly attributes and benefits from joining the established medical hub of eastern North Carolina.

“Greenville offers an ideal combination of skilled workforce availability, robust infrastructure and a supportive business environment, all essential for a project of this scope,” says Annick Somers, chief marketing officer for Nipro Europe Group Companies N.V. “North Carolina is a recognized hub for medical device manufacturing, making it an ideal location for us to expand our presence in the industry. The welcoming reception from the state and local community underscores that this was the right choice for Nipro to set up a manufacturing facility of this size in North America.”

Nipro

Looking Forward to More Growth

With a high quality of life and low cost of living, Greenville-Pitt County is poised for growth. 

“Greenville provides an excellent quality of life, including affordable housing, access to nature, excellent schools and a vibrant community,” Atacan says. “The area offers a balanced lifestyle that will appeal to employees and their families, making it a great place to live and work.”

The city has experienced a nearly 4.1% population growth since 2010 and is 10.5% below the JobsEQ cost-of-living index.

“Population growth has been trending upward. Job growth has been trending upward. Our median household income has been trending upward. Our GDP has been growing at a much faster clip than most counties in North Carolina,” Lewis says. “Overall, we are a growing economy, and we are located within close proximity to a large MSA, which we feel positions us for growth in the coming years.”

Greenville looks forward to welcoming more companies and growing new partnerships. 

“We’re winning projects based on our community assets, our partnerships, our training programs and our commitment to be there as a partner with those companies from the time they step foot in the community through operation,” Lewis says. “We are willing to help them in various ways, either through local permitting, finding the right contractors, finding the right partners, finding the right suppliers, helping them with utility infrastructure needs – whatever they need. We provide concierge-level service and always find a way to get it done.”