Issue link: http://businessnc.epubxp.com/i/756318
N O R T H C A R O L I N A E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T G U I D E 63 C H A N G E M A K E R S Business incubators can boost a region's economic growth, create a culture of creativity and even help larger companies advance innovation. North Carolina is home to dozens of projects that assist entrepreneurs, each with diff erent funding and missions. State and local governments and universities are collectively investing millions of dollars to support ventures that promote new businesses, often partnering with the private sector. Here are a few examples. HQ COMMUNITY CHARLOTTE, GREENSBORO, RALEIGH Notable: In 2015, partnered with Wake Technical Community College to bring continuing education and startup training to downtown Raleigh. hqraleigh.com FLYWHEEL WINSTON-SALEM Notable: Set within Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, a 1.5-million- square-foot high-tech, mixed-use business and education district in downtown Winston-Salem. Flywheelcoworking.com AMERICAN UNDERGROUND DURHAM, RALEIGH Notable: One of 10 Google for Entrepreneurs North American tech hubs. The tech giant provides fi nancial support, technical content, events and access to experts. Americanunderground.com TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE CENTER OF EASTERN CAROLINA GREENVILLE Notable: One of the region's largest business incubators, it houses a mix of light manufacturing, offi ce space and labs and off ers connections with East Carolina University and Pitt Community College. Locateincarolina.com NORTH CAROLINA RESEARCH CAMPUS KANNAPOLIS Notable: Founder David Murdock, owner and chairman of Dole Food, established the campus as his legacy and has contributed more than $700 million to the project. Transforming-science.com L A R G E S T C I T I E S RANK CITY POPULATION 1 CHARLOTTE 818,480 2 RALEIGH 440,621 3 GREENSBORO 282,840 4 DURHAM 250,931 5 WINSTON-SALEM 238,899 6 FAYETTEVILLE 208,158 7 CARY 152,627 8 WILMINGTON 115,498 9 HIGH POINT 109,749 10 ASHEVILLE 90,918 11 GREENVILLE 87,960 12 CONCORD 87,130 13 JACKSONVILLE 77,464 14 GASTONIA 73,843 15 CHAPEL HILL 59,569 16 HUNTERSVILLE 55,602 17 ROCKY MOUNT 55,189 18 BURLINGTON 52,240 19 WILSON 49,357 20 KANNAPOLIS 45,599 21 APEX 44,745 22 HICKORY 40,351 23 MOORESVILLE 37,750 24 INDIAN TRAIL 37,449 25 GOLDSBORO 34,945 26 WAKE FOREST 34,463 27 MONROE 34,323 28 SALISBURY 34,278 29 MATTHEWS 30,359 30 HOLLY SPRINGS 30,018 31 NEW BERN 29,823 32 CORNELIUS 29,431 33 SANFORD 28,802 34 GARNER 28,558 35 THOMASVILLE 27,043 36 MINT HILL 26,170 37 ASHEBORO 25,740 38 STATESVILLE 25,363 39 KERNERSVILLE 24,211 40 MORRISVILLE 23,682 41 FUQUAY-VARINA 22,864 42 LUMBERTON 21,550 43 KINSTON 21,025 44 CARRBORO 20,558 45 HAVELOCK 20,328 46 SHELBY 20,089 47 CLEMMONS 19,575 48 CLAYTON 18,734 49 LEXINGTON 18,558 50 BOONE 18,553 Source: N.C. Offi ce of State Budget and Management, 2015