Charlotte NC Economic Profile

Charlotte NC Economic Profile

Charlotte NC Economic Profile

International Growth

Increasingly important to our growing Charlotte NC economic profile is the growth of the number of international companies served here. Over 487 foreign-owned companies are housed in Charlotte facilities, representing over half of all foreign companies in the entire state of North Carolina.

Charlotte is a port of entry for international business needs, with fully staffed U.S. Customs and Immigration and Naturalization offices. The Charlotte Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ #57), an inland port facility is located here just inside the NC/SC border.

Charlotte's Sound Fiscal Management

There are two elected bodies which serve the Charlotte area: the mayor and eleven members of the City Council, plus the nine members of the County Commission. Both use the manager form of government, including a full-time manager for both the commission and the council.

Under the NC state constitution, all levels of state and local governments must operate with balanced operating budgets (i.e., annual expenditures not exceeding revenues). This provides a sound, fiscal management by government officials assuring a high level of public services that is offset with a reasonable tax rate. Per capita state and local taxes for Charlotte residents are the 20th lowest in the United States. City, county and state by both rating services consistently maintain the best municipal bond credit ratings as well. Only one other community in the nation can boast this statement.

Affordable Utilities

Utilities in Charlotte are ranked among the most economical in the U.S. Power to the area, provided by Duke Energy Corporation, a national leader in the utilities industry, is generated from an efficient combination of nuclear, coal-fired and hydroelectric facilities. Charlotte's rates are approximately 15% below the national average. Our natural gas supply is plentiful and is available from Piedmont Natural Gas. Telephone and telecommunications services are provided locally by BellSouth and Windstream. Long distance service is provided by a wide variety of telecommunications firms.

The Queen City's high quality water supply (from the mountain stream-fed Catawba River) is an added gem in the Queen's crown! Charlotte Mecklenburg Utility Department's water system provides service to over 750,000 customers. With only 111 million gallons of average daily use, the system has a solid residual base, as the system has a maximum daily treatment of 242 million gallons. 80 million gallons of wastewater treatment is the average daily use with 118 million gallons of daily capacity. Once again, the Queen City's water and sewer rates are among the lowest in the nation.

Major Transportation Hub

An excellent state and federal highway network serve the Charlotte area, including major north-south and east-west interstate arteries, and a modern, expanded international airport terminal. I-85 & I-77 are immediately accessible with other nearby interstates easily accessible including I-40 & I-20. Major airlines offer direct and nonstop daily flights to a multitude of cities. International travelers appreciate the nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Munich, London, Toronto, Mexico and the Caribbean. As the 12th most active air transportation center in the nation, Charlotte/Douglas International Airport provides transportation for over 15 million passengers each year. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport serves as the primary hub for U.S. Airways.

Lastly, the region is the center of the country's largest consolidated rail system with two major rail systems, Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation, linking 27,000 miles of rail between Charlotte and 22 eastern states. Each rail system offers piggyback facilities, combining with 484 trucking firms located here. Charlotte connects directly to the Ports of Wilmington, Morehead City and Charleston.

For more information on Charlotte's economic profile, contact Debe@DebeMaxwell.com.

For information on Charlotte's LYNX (new light rail system), click here.

About the author:

Debe Maxwell is a Charlotte Residential Real Estate Broker, Certified Neighborhood and Relocation Specialist who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Charlotte, NC or any place in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice. Debe has created a team of professionals throughout the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. The destination service is of no cost to you! Please visit www.TheMaxwellHouseGroup.com for your relocation and/or your local needs.

Debe Maxwell- HELEN ADAMS REALTY - 704.491.3310 - Debe@DebeMaxwell.com

Copyright © 2008 By Debe Maxwell, All Rights Reserved...*Charlotte NC Economic Profile*