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The World Within Reach
Winston-Salem is located at the intersection of technology and tradition.
Historically, Winston-Salem stood as one of America’s true manufacturing centers. But this community has undergone a transformation that has attracted a rich and diverse variety of companies, including BB&T, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Hanesbrands, Deere Hitachi, Reynolds American, FedEx Ground, Liberty Hardware and Dell.
With a strong presence in health care, financial services, technology and manufacturing, Winston-Salem has become a hotspot for business and start-ups. But, even with the growth of research and technology in this area, the community has remained an outstanding location for manufacturing operations.
Going places
Winston-Salem offers auto industry companies some significant advantages. Located at the hear of the Piedmont Triad region, which encompasses a 12-county area with a population of more than 1.5 million, the city is within a two-day drive of more than 60 percent of the nation’s industrial and consumer base. The Triad is halfway between Washington, DC and Atlanta, and has the country’s largest state-maintained highway system.
This area is recognized as being so easily accessible that FedEx decided to open a new hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2009. Businesses who provide time-sensitive products see this as a great addition to any already outstanding situation.
Forsyth County has more than 45.4 million square feet of industrial space, ranging from small buildings to large industrial complexes. The cost of land in the Winston-Salem area is generally lower than comparable sites in many other cities, and construction costs are significantly below national averages.
But lower costs does not equate to less value. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County have excellent utility and large-capacity water and sewer services, as well as abundant natural gas and electricity levels that meet the needs of industry.
Ready for action
Winston-Salem also has a workforce that is able to get the job done. Whether research, manufacturing, customer service or logistics, the people here are skilled, trained and ready to work.
North Carolina is a right to work state with very good management-labor relations. The Piedmont Triad has a unionization rate of less than three percent, and lower employment costs than many other regions of the country.
In addition, there is an outstanding level of employee training available. Employers can work with the state’s industrial training and program and area community colleges to develop customized training programs at little or no cost. There are also six main colleges and universities located in Winston-Salem, including internationally-renowned research institution Wake Forest University.
Auto industry companies will find Winston-Salem an excellent choice for its accessibility, affordability and rich manufacturing tradition.
For more information, contact Bob Leak, Jr., president of Winston-Salem Business Inc. at 336.761.1069 or rleak@wsbusinessinc.com. Or visit www.wsbusinessinc.com.
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