Improving Business in the Wilmington Region

Holly Shelter Road Property Dubbed Certified Site

Leveraging close collaboration with partners and allies, New Hanover County’s investment in approximately 300 acres off Holly Shelter Road is already yielding encouraging results. After extensive assessments of the land, Duke Energy and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) have stated that it is well on the way to shovel-ready status, leading towards a full-throated marketing effort by local and state business recruiters, utility representatives and allied site-selection entities as infrastructure builds towards the site.

It was WBD’s prior success in building out Pender Commerce Park that piqued Duke Energy’s interest in the Holly Shelter Road property. Pender Commerce Park underwent certification under Duke’s Site Readiness program early in its development, according to Courtney Bird, Senior Economic Development Manager at Duke Energy. “WBD has proven that it can take a piece of raw land through concept to conclusion, with sited projects that are now paying significant taxes and employing thousands of people,” Bird says. “That’s a key thing for our company.”

Duke, a Fortune 150 utility, launched its Site Readiness program in 2005. Since then, it has evaluated more than 392 sites across its five-state service area. Those assessments have supported the recruitment of over 163 companies — generating $57 billion in capital investment and creating 52,800 jobs. The company collaborates with experienced site selection consultants and civil engineering professionals in evaluating industrial properties.

“We’ve touched this site from a variety of different angles,” says Dewey Evans, Dallas-based Vice President of Site Selection Group. “It can accommodate major manufacturing and distribution investment.” He especially likes the site’s soon to be ready infrastructure and proximity to I-40. “It will be able to accommodate almost anything from an infrastructure perspective.” He notes the property is attractive for a large single industry or could be subdivided among multiple tenants. “They have the flexibility to go either way,” Evans says.

Improvements are underway to extend an access road to the property and connect the site to industry-scale water and wastewater services. Both are expected to be compete in late 2026. “It’s nearly competitive in its current state,” says Evans, who works with global companies on relocation and expansion planning.

The Holly Shelter Road site has also been recognized under the state’s SelectSite Readiness Program. The North Carolina General Assembly created that effort in 2023 to support the development of smaller sites – less than 1,000 acres – for manufacturing or other industrial projects. EDPNC, which manages the SelectSite program, received 64 applications for the designation before working with site consultants and engineers to arrive at 15 sites.

In addition to the added marketing caché, both readiness distinctions give clients and consultants confidence that technical factors like zoning, soil quality, wetlands delineation and utility access are reliable, thus reducing construction timeframes and minimizing the possibility that unforeseen delays will impede development plans.

New Hanover County joined WBD in working with Cameron Management in early 2023 to transact the initial 50 acres at Holly Shelter Road. County Commissioners also approved over $6 million for infrastructure and can option an adjacent 200 acres off Holly Shelter Road.

“We’re excited that planning and development work continues in preparation for the future industrial site on Holly Shelter Road,” says Bill Rivenbark, Chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. “This space will be another transformative project that will expand economic growth and employment opportunities within our community and region. We look forward to working with Wilmington Business Development and other community partners to bring this vision to life.”