Why Do Companies Love Greenville-Pitt County?
Location, resources and support from area leaders make this region in eastern North Carolina a prime destination.
Combining North Carolina’s traditional work ethic with a forward-looking approach to business creates a fertile ground for companies in Greenville-Pitt County to invest in the region.
The region’s growing manufacturing sector contributed $1.86 billion to the county’s gross domestic product in 2021, followed by health care at $1.5 billion.
Key Advantages for Companies in Greenville-Pitt County
Whether hiring line workers, engineers, M.D.s or Ph.D.s, quality of life is a benefit that makes living and working in Pitt County so appealing, company executives say.
“We’ve attracted a fair amount of people to Greenville,” says Michael Gregory, vice president of human resources and global HR programs at Hyster-Yale Group, an advanced manufacturing company. “It’s a good location: We’re an hour-and-a-half from Raleigh, a couple hours to the beach and only 4.5 hours to D.C.”
The Hyster-Yale campus employs approximately 1,500 workers who design and make material-handling equipment, specifically electric lift trucks. The entire process takes place at the Greenville site, from design and production to aftermarket servicing.
“There’s a big difference between staffing positions for welders and assembly line workers as opposed to data scientists and controllers,” Gregory says.
While many drive in from several counties to apply for work at the Greenville plant, those with special skills, at times, must be recruited or trained. Pitt Community College is a resource for welders and other skilled pursuits, while nearby North Carolina State University is a conduit for engineers, Gregory says.
Other businesses engaged in advanced manufacturing in the county include Coastal AgroBusiness, Fuji Silysia Chemical USA Ltd., Avient, Anderson Truss Company, and Grady-White Boats.
Education, Careers & Opportunity
Why I Built My Business in Greenville-Pitt County
Learn from a local resident how he turned a childhood passion into a fun venture.
Health Care and Pharma
The pharmaceutical sector – from drugs and devices to supplies – is also strong. It includes companies like CMP Pharma, Catalent, Thermo Fisher Scientific, D-R Burton Healthcare, H&A Scientific and Xtant Medical.
ECU Health operates a more than 1,100-bed medical center in Greenville and employs more than 14,000 in the entire health system.
Typically, salaries in Pitt County average around $56,000 annually, but the pharmaceutical segment aims to be a bit higher, says Tommy Schornak, vice president and general manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
“Our payroll includes everyone from entry-level operators to Ph.D.s,” says Schornak, who oversees a plant spread out among several buildings, totaling 1.7 million square feet.
Located just north of Greenville, Thermo Fisher employs approximately 2,200, according to the Greenville ENC Alliance. The permitting and approval process has been manageable as the company expands. “We get support from both the city and the state,” Schornak says.
Medical laboratories and drug developers contract with Thermo Fisher to help them convert research findings into scalable products for clinical trials and other uses.
‘A Really Good Place’
A native of Chicago, Schornak says Greenville’s appeal is quite different from more urban locations.
“The advantages include a good climate, it’s super safe and there’s quick access to the ocean and to Raleigh,” Schornak says. “Plus, it is a really good place to raise a family.”
Company execs frequently mention the region’s cost of living as a draw. The cost of living is roughly 12% below the national average.
Other top business segments in the region include education. Greenville is home to East Carolina University, which employs more than 5,800 people, while Pitt Community College employs more than 700.
Meanwhile smaller, homegrown businesses are thriving, and the technology sector is growing.
The tech sector is represented by a variety of companies, including MrBeast in digital content creation, LBA Group in telecommunications technology, and Grover Gaming, which makes electronic pull tabs and video lottery terminals.
Grady-White Boats, a flagship company founded in Greenville in 1959, continues to expand, producing some of the country’s most coveted handmade vessels.
“We have high expectations at Grady-White, and we have been able to find people with skills here, along with people willing to be trained,” says Shelley Tubaugh, vice president of marketing at Grady-White, who has been with the company for 35 years.
“We have many long-term employees who are just exceptional. They come to work on time and always give their best,” Tubaugh says.
Get to Know Greenville-Pitt County
Want to learn more about living and working in Greenville, NC? Check out the latest edition of Livability Greenville-Pitt County, North Carolina.
