The year 2025 was a transformative one for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. With a new CEO, a new COO, and several new economic development team members, the CLT Alliance strengthened its capabilities and continued elevating the Charlotte Region as a top business destination.
Working in concert with the region’s 14 counties, the CLT Alliance executed an ambitious marketing and business development strategy that renewed economic development partnerships and sharpened the vision for business recruitment across the Charlotte Region.
Getting in front of the nation’s top site selectors
As the primary marketing organization for the Charlotte Region’s business community, the CLT Alliance conducted a series of visits to key markets across the country with national site consultants to elevate the region’s visibility. Alongside economic development partners from our counties, the CLT Alliance showcased the region as a dynamic market that punches above its weight. Growing at a pace of 157 people per day, the region is bolstered by foundational assets like robust infrastructure, acclaimed colleges and universities, and a rich, diverse talent pool.
Marketing trips to Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Greenville proactively exposed the Charlotte Region to over 25 site consultant firms such as Atlas Insights, Hickey & Associates, Site Solution Group, Global Location Strategies, and McGuireWoods, among others. Most importantly, these visits allowed the team to highlight key office and industrial activity and properties across the region.
The CLT Alliance captured valuable feedback from the consultant network. The Charlotte Region receives high praise for its skilled and affordable workforce, and economic development teams in each county are regarded as knowledgeable and easy to work with.
A key opportunity for the region lies in further expanding its industrial real estate portfolio to align with current manufacturer needs. Multiple consultants emphasized the importance of speed to market, noting that speculative buildings and existing utility infrastructure are advantageous.
Where site selection meets the Charlotte advantage
This year, a major focus area for the CLT Alliance was highlighting the Charlotte Region through in-market events. When consultants experience everything the community offers in person, they develop a far deeper and richer appreciation of the Charlotte Region.
The team leveraged the PGA Championship, which cast a global spotlight on Charlotte, welcoming a group of seasoned site consultants for a familiarization (“fam”) tour. The tour provided an immersive experience of the region’s sports economy and demonstrated the region’s capacity to deliver world-class events, all while connecting with local business executives and economic development partners.
August marked the inaugural launch of Connecting Economic Development (ConnectED), a CLT Alliance signature event designed to strengthen regional collaboration. The event convened the region’s economic development organizations and electric providers, alongside locally-based site selection consultants. ConnectED provided a unique platform for both consultants and practitioners to provide insights on economic development in the Charlotte Region. ConnectED’s early success is already driving plans to expand the program’s reach in 2026.
In total, the CLT Alliance met with more than 65 national consultants and company executives, all of whom are now even better equipped to advocate for the Charlotte Region when advising clients on their most critical location decisions.
Building global connections in Europe’s innovation hubs
Foreign direct investment is a crucial element of the CLT Alliance’s marketing strategy, with international firms historically generating 40% of the project pipeline. To get in front of international companies directly, the CLT Alliance hosted Chester County, Lincoln County, Stanly County, and the City of Charlotte on a week-long trip to meet with business prospects and industry associations in Barcelona, Spain and Milan, Italy.
An economic development mission trip to Barcelona, Spain in September 2025. The CLT Alliance Economic Development Team was joined by reps from Chester County, the City of Charlotte, Lincoln County, and Stanly County.
Both Barcelona and Milan anchor some of Europe’s most dynamic manufacturing ecosystems, with strengths spanning advanced machinery, automotive components, fashion and textiles, pharmaceuticals, and precision engineering. The alignment with the Charlotte Region’s industry strengths provided a wide scope to identify companies that are ready for U.S. market entry.
The team met with 16 companies and associations, several of whom have since expressed interest in locating in the Charlotte Region.
Eyeing a robust 2026
This year was a prolific year for the Charlotte Region, with announcements from Scout Motors, Jabil, Inc., PPG Industries, and Citigroup showcasing the region’s market strength and economic diversity. The new initiatives launched this year illustrate a clear trajectory: deeper relationships, stronger collaboration, and a more strategic approach to building the Charlotte Region’s global competitiveness. The CLT Alliance is excited to carry that momentum into next year.
“The Charlotte Region continues to compete and win on a national and global stage,” said Tracy Dodson, head of economic development at the CLT Alliance. “We saw significant momentum in 2025, driven by strong collaboration and partnerships. That teamwork continues to be the reason companies choose to invest and grow here. This year’s activity reflects long-term confidence in our talent, infrastructure, and business environment.”
The CLT Alliance Economic Development Team’s activity this year has laid the foundation for the next wave of opportunity. In 2025, the team supported investors, expanded regional partnerships, and strengthened Charlotte’s position in an increasingly competitive landscape. With a comprehensive schedule to promote the Charlotte Region, 2026 offers a positive outlook to keep the market top of mind for companies and site selectors.
