The regional population is over 415,000 people – 226,069 in New Hanover County, 128,891 in Brunswick County and 60,408 in Pender County.
Projected additional regional growth in population from 2018-2030 is over 95,000 (New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties).
Workforce of over 200,000 provides a large labor pool for new and expanding industry.
Wilmington is within 700 miles of 70% of the U.S. Industrial Base (and more than 150 million U.S. and Canadian consumers).
North Carolina's per capita state and local tax rates are low, ranking 22nd among the 50 states.
North Carolina Ports directly and indirectly supports 87,700 jobs across the state and is responsible for an economic contribution of $15.4 billion to the state’s economy every year.
In 2019 the Wilmington International Airport served 1,075,963 passengers! This was a 15% increase over the prior year (2018).
A state study found that Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is North Carolina’s 5th largest civilian airport, producing a $1.6 billion annual economic impact.
UNCW had a total enrollment of 17,499 students in Fall of 2019 and touts 56 Majors, 36 Master’s Degrees and 4 Doctoral Degree offerings.
Kiplinger’s recently moved UNCW up 30 places, to 32nd on its list of Best Public College Values 2019.
UNCW has five graduate programs on the new U.S. News & World Report list of 2020 Best Graduate Schools.
In 2019 UNCW ranked 92nd among Top Public National Universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Over 24,000 people attend classes at Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) every year and businesses reported a 95% satisfaction rate on the customized training they received from CFCC. This surpasses the state average of 90%.
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Cape Fear Community College a $1.9 million Title III Grant to increase academic coaching, improve financial literacy, assist with degree planning and increase the number of credentials awarded.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center contributes over $1 billion annually to the economy of New Hanover County alone and is the county’s largest employer with over 7,000 employees, 740 physicians on medical staff and 700 active volunteers.
Wilmington’s mild Sunbelt climate allows year-round outdoor recreation at over 150 regional golf courses, 30 marinas, numerous county and state parks.
The Pender County community of Hampstead is home to three beautiful golf courses –Olde Point, Belvedere Plantation and Castle Bay, as well as Topsail High School, which U.S. News and World Report has called one of the nation’s best high schools.
In New Hanover County, I-40 is known as the “Michael Jordan Highway,” named for the NBA legend, UNC Tarheel and Wilmington native.