CLT Global Vision: The economic vision for the Charlotte region is to become a global hub of international trade—the premier (east coast) inland port city leveraging its strength in finance, energy, health care, education, entrepreneurship, manufacturing and logistics to earn world prominence. The result will be a vibrant future with greater regional prosperity and more jobs.

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The Charlotte region is already engaged in its next economic growth cycle. Formerly known as the second largest banking city and with the ambition of becoming an energy capital, Charlotte is repositioning itself as a global hub for international trade. The convergence of several important factors offers a critical opportunity to become a manufacturing, distribution and agricultural center substantially engaged in global trade.

Charlotte’s very existence is because of its intersection of historic trading paths; today its prominence as a national and international intersection for the corridors of commerce is no less prominent. Charlotte is located at a pivotal global intersection: equidistant to Canada and Mexico, equidistant to the East and Midwest, and, with the Panama Canal expansion, equidistant as an inland port for distribution of goods from the rest of the world.

Factors

  1. Charlotte’s Location at the center of East Coast/Midwest/Canada/Mexico trade

  2. Intersection of Major Highways and Railways/Pipelines

  3. Continuing Expansion of Charlotte Douglas Airport

  4. Merger of American Airlines/US Airways- convenience of travel–domestic and international

  5. Construction and Completion of NEW Intermodal Center at Charlotte Douglas Airport

  6. Construction and Completion of Panama Canal Expansion in 2015/2016

  7. Norfolk Southern “Crescent Corridor Initiative”

  8. Significant Workforce Availability

  9. Significant Workforce Training Capacity

  10. International Business Location

  11. Cost of Electricity

  12. Cost of Natural Gas

  13. Access to Clean Water

  14. Availability/Cost of Land

  15. Quality of Life

  16. Arts/Culture

  17. Access to Capital

  18. Access to Higher Education

  19. Quality Public & Private Educational Systems

  20. Business Regulation–State/Local

  21. Business Taxes/Fees/ Personal Taxes/Fees

  22. Advanced Technology

 

Implementation Strategies

To achieve our global vision, regional, private and public leaders must collaborate and seize the opportunities to broaden our economic base and take our place on the international stage. To do this, we must:

  • “Create things” better than our competitors by adopting entrepreneurialism and innovation as prominent and core values of the region and provide support for innovation and new business creators.

  • “Make things” better than our competitors by growing our advanced manufacturing base and providing these businesses with world-class employees through exemplary education and training success.

  • “Move things” better than our competitors through the new intermodal center at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

 

We will move people and goods faster, cheaper and more efficiently through the consolidation of train, truck, air and ship transportation. In the process, we will become a natural leader in logistics and supply-chain management.

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