To our 1,300+ members and investors: thank you for helping make 2025 a year of real progress for Greensboro. Because of your support, our city continues to grow, creating jobs, sparking new ideas, and attracting Fortune 500-level companies to take root right here in our own backyard.
Together, we’re building more than a strong economy. We’re building a community where ideas become action, entrepreneurs feel supported, and success is shared throughout Greensboro.
In 2025, we saw that come to life. From major job announcements and new investments to local businesses expanding and startups taking off, Greensboro continued to prove what’s possible when we work together. Every business, every leader, and every resident plays a part in that progress.
When we talk about opportunity, we mean more than job creation. It’s about making sure every person and every business has the chance to grow and succeed. That commitment is shaping a stronger, more connected Greensboro.
We see a community where startups and global companies grow side by side, and where the next Fortune 500 success story can take root right here at home. That vision is becoming reality because of your dedication and support.
As we look to 2026 and beyond, we know the momentum is real and we are ready for this moment.
GROW DASHBOARD
As we closed out the third year of our five-year 2023–27 GROW Campaign, the momentum we achieved was clear. We had set bold goals at the start, knowing that meaningful growth requires ambition, and our region delivered. With transformational projects like Boom and JetZero, along with other major announcements, we had already exceeded many of our original strategic targets.
Thanks to the collective efforts of our partners, we delivered significant wins in capital investment, job creation, and national visibility. Reflecting this extraordinary momentum, our GROW Oversight Committee approved a readjustment of our goals:
• Quality Jobs: from 10,000 to 22,000
• Capital Investment: from $12 billion to $17.5 billion
• Storytelling Impact: local stories from 240 to 750 and state/national stories from 60 to 100
These new benchmarks acknowledge the results we’ve already achieved and the even greater impact we aim to achieve for Greensboro by the end of our five-year campaign.
St arting & Growing Our Ow n CREATE QUALITY JOB S
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
ADVOCATING FOR GREENSBORO AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
In partnership with Jon Hardister of TREBIC, the Chamber continued its advocacy work in Raleigh by meeting with key members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Our delegation held productive conversations with Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, Senator Gladys Robinson, and Representatives Alan Branson, Tracey Clark, Pricey Harrison, and Amos Quick to share priorities outlined in the 2025 Legislative Agenda and discuss how these initiatives support growth across the region.
This year’s agenda focused on three main areas: regional water and wastewater capacity, workforce development and childcare access, and housing development.
WATER
Regional Water & Wastewater Capacity: The Chamber advocated for $1 million to the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority to complete an engineering study that will explore the cost and feasibility of creating a sustainable regional water system to meet the demand for more housing, industrial growth, and quality of life.
WORKFORCE
Workforce Development and Child Care Access: The Chamber worked to secure funding that strengthens the region’s talent pipeline and supports working families. This includes $1.8 million in non-recurring funds for Phase 2 of the GTCC Aviation Center, $1.7 million in non-recurring funds to launch the Battery Research Innovation and Green Energy Harvesting Institute (BRIGHT) at UNC Greensboro, and $1 million in recurring funds for regional workforce institutions to expand the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) program. An additional $500,000 in non-recurring funds was requested to establish a Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program that helps employers and families share the cost of childcare.
Housing Development: The Chamber also focused on supporting policies and funding that address housing affordability and stability, promote transit-oriented and high-density development, and ensure communities have the infrastructure needed to grow. The Chamber worked with industry partners to promote greater consistency in zoning and plan approvals across local governments, reducing barriers to new housing investments.
Beyond these priority areas, the Chamber also supported funding for several key community initiatives, including the NC A&T State University Agriculture Research and Extension Program, Gate City Boulevard improvements, and an increase in the childcare subsidy rate. Through these combined efforts, the Chamber continued to strengthen Greensboro’s voice in Raleigh, advocating for policies and investments that drive growth, support employers, and help build a stronger future for the entire Triad.
HOUSING
JOBS UPDATE
Contec Industrial Automation Solutions
Contec Industrial Automation Solutions, an international engineering firm that designs and automates industrial systems, has opened a new sales and engineering office in Greensboro. The company serves industries like food and beverage, petrochemicals, tank terminals, and consumer goods. The $250,000 investment will create 24 new jobs, adding more depth to Greensboro’s growing advanced manufacturing and automation sector.
Indo Count Global
Indo Count Global Inc., one of the world’s leading home bedding manufacturers, has opened its first North American production facility at 1625 Piedmont Commerce Center Drive in Greensboro. The $15 million investment has created 232 new jobs. Indo Count makes well-known home textile brands such as Pure Earth, Boutique Living, and Linen Closet, and this expansion marks a major step in strengthening its U.S. presence.
JetZero
JetZero, an aerospace company developing a revolutionary allwing aircraft, announced a $4.7 billion investment to build its first U.S. factory at Piedmont Triad International Airport. The project is expected to create 14,500 jobs and make Greensboro a key player in next-generation aircraft manufacturing. The plant will produce JetZero’s Z4 aircraft, known for its fuel efficiency and advanced design, and will open the door for partnerships with local colleges and workforce programs.
Integrated Power Services (IPS)
Integrated Power Services, a provider of electrical, mechanical, and power management systems, is opening a new business development center at 1050 Revolution Mill Road, Suite 4, in Greensboro. The company will add 60 new positions over three years, with an average starting salary of about $60,000 plus commission. Five GuilfordWorks On-the-Job Training Grants will help support hiring and training for these new roles.
Lenovo
Lenovo, a global leader in personal computing and IT infrastructure, will invest more than $77 million to expand its local operation and add 420 new jobs. With U.S. headquarters in Morrisville, Lenovo continues to build on its long history in North Carolina and its commitment to growing high-tech careers in the Triad.
Allegacy Federal Credit Union
Allegacy Federal Credit Union is opening a new Member Care facility in Greensboro, adding 50 new jobs. The project reflects Allegacy’s long-term commitment to serving its members and investing in the Triad’s workforce.
Barrier1 Systems
Barrier1 Systems, a national leader in vehicle barrier and security solutions, is expanding in Guilford County after considering locations across the Southeast. The company provides protection systems for clients like the U.S. Department of Defense and
major municipalities. CEO James Parsons said the decision to stay in Greensboro was “a reaffirmation of who we are and where we want to build our future.”
Ahold Delhaize USA
Ahold Delhaize USA, parent company of Food Lion, will invest more than $860 million to build a new one-million-square-foot distribution center in eastern Guilford County, near Highway 61. The facility will create 505 full-time jobs and strengthen the company’s logistics network across the state. The campus will feature advanced automation and sustainability technology to move products faster and use less energy. Construction and hiring will roll out in phases, with full completion expected by 2033. RFIS BY INDUSTRY
Hoffman & Hoffman
Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc. is expanding its operations in Greensboro with a $13.5 million investment at its new location on Triad Center Drive. The project will create 131 new jobs and retain 335 existing positions, with average salaries of about $77,000.
Founded in 1947, Hoffman & Hoffman provides HVAC solutions and building automation services for commercial, industrial, and institutional clients.
FOR 2025
of RFIs
of RFIs
THREE CITIES. ONE VISION.
In September, the Chambers from Greensboro, High Point, and WinstonSalem came together for our annual Intercity Visit, a two-day trip to share ideas and talk about how we can keep our region moving forward. The group met with business and community leaders to discuss everything from workforce and housing to transportation, downtown development, and the future of the Triad economy.
It gave everyone time to connect, compare notes, and talk about what’s next for our region. The message was clear: when our communities work together, we all move forward.
Regional collaboration isn’t just talk. It’s how we attract jobs, grow talent, and strengthen the entire Triad.
GTCC AVIATION CENTER
GROUNDBREAKING
GTCC broke ground on its new Aviation Center at the Cameron Campus this year, marking a big step for our region’s growing aerospace industry. The new facility will train students in aviation maintenance, avionics, composites, and manufacturing. It will help prepare more workers for high-demand jobs right here in North Carolina. This project shows how education, business, and community partners are working together to build a stronger workforce and keep Greensboro at the center of aerospace innovation.
ECONOMIC UPDATE FORUM DELIVERS POWERFUL INSIGHTS ON THE FUTURE
The Economic Update Luncheon in February brought together business leaders, elected officials, and community partners to talk about what’s driving Greensboro’s growth. The sold-out event featured Jeseo Park, U.S. Economist and Associate with Bank of America, along with Brent Christensen, Chamber President and CEO.
Together, they shared updates on recent Chamber projects, new investments, and what’s ahead for 2025. Park also touched on national trends like inflation, housing, and the broader economy, and what those mean for Greensboro’s future.
Attendees left with a clearer picture of where our economy stands and how we can keep building on this momentum. It was an informative, down-to-earth conversation about how Greensboro continues to grow and compete.
FEATURE STORY
FIRST IN FLIGHT, FUTURE IN FLIGHT
The story of flight began on a stretch of windswept sand in North Carolina. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright coaxed their fragile machine into the air for 12 seconds and 120 feet, a feat that changed the course of history. That brief flight gave humanity wings and gave North Carolina its enduring identity as First in Flight.
That identity is more than a motto on license plates. It reflects a spirit that has carried through generations—the willingness to try, to prepare, and to imagine a future others can’t yet see. The same wind that lifted the Wright Flyer over Kitty Hawk now powers a new chapter in the state’s aviation story.
The latest milestone in that story came when JetZero announced it would build its blended-wing-body aircraft in Greensboro. For North Carolina, the decision signals the region’s arrival as a serious player in the global aerospace industry.
JetZero, a Californiabased company developing aircraft that can reduce fuel consumption by up to 50 percent, represents the leading edge of sustainable aviation. Its
“JetZero’s decision to come to Greensboro is a powerful endorsement of our workforce. We have the talent to support advanced manufacturing right now, and we have the systems to train even more.” - Marvin Price
blended wing body design departs from the traditional tube-and-wing look of modern jets, aiming for greater efficiency, lower emissions, and quieter flight. To bring that vision to life, the company needed more than a factory site. It needed a region with the space to build, the infrastructure to support testing, the workforce to staff advanced manufacturing, and the long-term commitment to grow with them.
The Piedmont
Triad International Airport megasite checked every box. Years of preparation made the site ready for a company like JetZero, and the broader region offered what aerospace firms look for: a pipeline of engineers, technicians, and skilled trades, plus a community aligned behind the industry’s future.
Marvin Price, Executive Vice President for Economic Development at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, said, “JetZero’s decision to come to Greensboro is a powerful endorsement of our workforce. We have the talent to support advanced manufacturing right now, and we have the systems to train even more. The ripple effect of this investment will uplift families and energize communities across the region.”
For residents, the implications are profound. JetZero’s presence is expected to create thousands of jobs across engineering, manufacturing, and operations. Suppliers and service providers will follow, multiplying the impact. Local colleges and universities are already adapting programs so that high school students, career-changers, and advanced researchers alike can find their place in the aerospace economy.
JetZero’s announcement is the result of years of strategy and partnership, a moment that validates the region’s vision and points clearly toward its future.
JetZero’s decision didn’t happen in isolation. It was made possible by years, decades, really, of
AEROSPACE MILESTONES:
Initial planning and development of PTI megasite concept
Infrastructure investments and site preparation
HondaJet Elite II production expansion
Boom Supersonic announces manufacturing facility
Additional infrastructure enhancements completed
JetZero selects PTI for blended wing body aircraft development
Multiple aerospace projects in various phases of development
This timeline illustrates the patient, long-term vision that enabled recent aerospace wins. Rather than reactive economic development, the region’s leaders invested in building the foundation for success decades before the current aerospace boom materialized. The infrastructure investments, regulatory preparation, and workforce development initiatives created the conditions necessary to attract and support world-class aerospace operations.
preparation at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Long before headlines announced new aerospace arrivals, local leaders were laying the groundwork for them.
The vision in the early 2000s was clear: build a site designed specifically for aerospace companies, one that could compete not just nationally but globally.
In the early 2000s, the idea of an aerospace megasite began to take shape. Civic leaders, airport officials, and economic development organizations worked together to assemble more than 2,000 acres of land adjacent to PTI. Their vision was clear: build a site designed specifically for aerospace companies, one that could compete not just nationally but globally.
That vision guided every step of development. Utilities were extended with future capacity in mind. Road access was improved to connect easily to interstate highways. Multiple runway
access points were planned so that companies could test and deliver aircraft directly from their facilities. Even details like heavyduty power supply and industrial water capacity were designed with aerospace’s complex demands in mind.
The result is one of the most significant purpose-built aerospace sites on the East Coast. Unlike retrofitted industrial parks or scattered
parcels, the PTI megasite is cohesive, integrated, and ready for large-scale growth. Its proximity to flight training centers, maintenance facilities, and a growing research community only adds to its strength.
Each company announcement, HondaJet in the early 2000s, Boom Supersonic in 2020, and now JetZero, represents a
payoff of that foresight. The site demonstrates that economic development doesn’t have to be reactive. With patience and persistence, a community can build the conditions for opportunity long before opportunity arrives.
The aerospace sector’s growth in Greensboro is also the story of a region that chose to work together. Through the Carolina Core initiative, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and neighboring communities built a framework for collaboration that transcends municipal lines and creates scale no single city could achieve on its own.
That decision changed the trajectory of economic development in the Triad. Instead of competing for the same opportunities, communities aligned around a shared strategy: prepare sites, connect infrastructure, and build a workforce pipeline that spans the entire corridor. Together, the Carolina Core covers 120 miles and nearly 2 million people—enough scale to rival
larger metropolitan areas while keeping the advantages of regional diversity.
The results are visible in the aerospace sector. Workforce programs at local community colleges now complement rather than duplicate each other. Universities from A&T to Wake Forest offer research capacity and talent that companies can tap into without leaving the region. Transportation projects link airports, highways, and rail in ways that support the movement of people and products. And civic organizations, like the Greensboro Chamber and Action Greensboro, play a vital role in keeping these efforts coordinated and forwardlooking.
This alignment is one reason JetZero chose Greensboro. The company wasn’t just evaluating a site; it was evaluating a region. The Carolina Core offered the combination of talent, infrastructure, and civic leadership that gives aerospace firms confidence they can scale and thrive here.
JetZero’s decision adds to a roster
of aerospace companies that have steadily turned the Piedmont Triad into a recognized hub.
Boom Supersonic made headlines in 2020 when it chose PTI for the production of its Overture aircraft. Designed to cut long-haul travel times in half, the Overture represents the kind of bold, disruptive technology that signals to the world: this region isn’t just participating in aerospace, it’s shaping the future of it. Boom’s choice confirmed that PTI had the land, infrastructure, and talent to
support cutting-edge aviation.
HondaJet, by contrast, represents staying power. Since the early 2000s, Honda Aircraft Company has anchored its global operations in Greensboro, manufacturing the HondaJet Elite and, most recently, the Elite II, recognized as the “Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina.” Over two decades, HondaJet has not only employed thousands but also fostered an ecosystem of suppliers, service providers, and engineers that strengthens the region’s entire
possible, but inevitable.
Infrastructure builds the stage, but people make the story. The Carolina Core’s aerospace growth is possible because the region has built a workforce system designed to meet industry needs at every level.
North Carolina’s community colleges are on the front line of that effort. At Guilford Technical Community College, for example, students can train in aviation maintenance, composites, and advanced manufacturing in programs built hand-in-hand with
aerospace employers. Graduates leave with industry certifications that put them to work right away. Apprenticeships add another pathway, letting students earn while they learn, easing financial barriers, and creating a direct line from classroom to career.
Four-year universities add another layer. North Carolina A&T State University, the nation’s largest historically Black university, brings unmatched strength in engineering and materials science.
UNC Greensboro contributes expertise in research, business, and
workforce development. Together, these institutions not only supply graduates but also partner with aerospace firms on research that pushes innovation forward.
Importantly, the workforce system isn’t just about new graduates. Retraining programs give midcareer workers a chance to pivot into aerospace, while continuing education pathways allow entrylevel employees to move into more specialized, higher-paying roles. That means aerospace growth benefits not only new students but also families already rooted in
the community.
For residents, the message is clear: aerospace isn’t an industry happening around them, it’s an industry they can step into, grow with, and help define.
JetZero’s decision, alongside Boom Supersonic’s bold ambitions and HondaJet’s steady presence, positions the Piedmont Triad for growth that will extend decades into the future. Industry analysts forecast a global race for more efficient, sustainable aircraft, and regions that can deliver on infrastructure, talent,
and innovation will lead it. The Carolina Core is already proving it has all three.
With every new announcement, the cluster strengthens. More companies bring more suppliers; more suppliers attract more talent; more talent fuels more innovation. It’s a cycle of growth that no longer depends on a single win but builds on the collective strength of an entire region.
Innovation will be the next defining edge. University partnerships, advanced research in materials and design, and the
ECONOMIC IMPACT DAY
concentration of engineering talent here give North Carolina the chance to lead not just in manufacturing planes, but in shaping what the next generation of flight looks like.
More than a century after Kitty Hawk, the state’s role in aviation is again shifting from proving what’s possible to defining what comes next. From the dunes of the Outer Banks to the runways of PTI, the story continues, North Carolina isn’t only the birthplace of flight. It’s where the future of aerospace is being built.
In partnership with East Greensboro NOW, we hosted Economic Impact Day at NC A&T’s Alumni Foundation Event Center. The event brought together small business owners, community leaders, and local partners to talk about how funding, certifications, and new rules are shaping small business growth in Greensboro.
From the Leaders in Diversity panel to group discussions about opportunity and access, every session gave people a chance to learn, share ideas, and meet new people. It was a day focused on helping small businesses find the tools and support they need to grow and succeed.
OUR CONNECTED WORKFORCE
In Greensboro, progress starts with connection. It’s how things get done. Schools, colleges, employers, and community partners all play a part in building a system where opportunity moves easily from one stage to the next. That level of collaboration doesn’t happen by accident.
It grows from years of intentional coordination led by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, which helps align the city’s many workforce partners around a shared purpose.
“We see workforce development as a shared responsibility,” says Melissa Slade Smith, Director of Workforce Development Solutions at the Chamber. “Each partner brings unique strengths, and together we build something that no single organization could do alone.”
The Chamber doesn’t try to own the work. It focuses on connecting the right people, clarifying goals, and building trust across the network. The result is a workforce system designed for real life; one that meets people where they are and helps them move forward with confidence.
Alignment in Action
Through the Workforce GSO Collective, the Chamber convenes a broad network of partners: Guilford County Schools, Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), and dozens of employers and nonprofits. What began as a conversation has evolved into a coordinated system for action.
Inside that network, partners identify shared goals and move toward them together. Employers, educators, and nonprofits now sit at the same table, comparing data, aligning curriculum, and
eliminating duplicate efforts that once slowed progress.
“Our job is to minimize friction,” says Smith. “We listen first, assess what employers really need, and then bring the right mix of partners to the table. That’s where alignment turns into action.”
The approach has already reshaped how employers engage with education partners. Instead of navigating a maze of disconnected programs, they find a single, coordinated point of contact. And instead of working in silos, educators and community organizations design programs together, using shared data and outcomes to measure progress.
A Pipeline with Purpose
Greensboro’s workforce system follows a clear rhythm of growth: exposure, exploration, experience, and employment. Each stage builds
on the one before it, creating a path that feels less like a leap and more like a natural next step.
“The goal is to make every stage feel connected, so people see where they’re headed and know they’re supported along the way,” says Smith.
It begins with exposure. Events such as STEMFest, co-hosted by the Chamber, Guilford County Schools, and the Greensboro Swarm, give students and families a chance to see what’s possible. They meet employers, test equipment, and glimpse careers in fields like aviation, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare.
From there, students move into exploration. Through dualenrollment and short-term credential programs at GTCC, they can earn college credit while building practical skills. Local universities, including NC A&T and UNCG, extend those opportunities
with degree pathways designed to meet industry demand. Outside the classroom, partners like The Forge Makerspace and Reading Connections provide hands-on learning that helps participants turn curiosity into direction.
Experience follows. Programs such as Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) and ApprenticeshipNC bridge education and employment, giving students paid opportunities to apply what they’ve learned. Veterans and transitioning service members take a similar journey through Heroes MAKE America and Veterans Bridge Home, where training and wraparound support help them transition smoothly into high-demand fields such as aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
Employment is the final step. But it’s also a beginning. Employers coordinate hiring events and credential completions so learners
can move directly into full-time roles. Chamber partners stay involved, offering navigation and support that help those placements grow into lasting careers.
Stories of Connection
The strength of Greensboro’s workforce system shows most clearly in the people it touches. Behind every partnership and program is a story of someone who found their next step through connection.
A local high school student attended STEMFest out of curiosity. There, she met representatives from GTCC and a manufacturing company that encouraged her to explore engineering. That spark led her to enroll in a signature academy, earn dual-enrollment credits, complete a paid internship, and eventually
accept a full-time role at a regional manufacturing firm. Her story reflects the system’s design: when exploration meets opportunity, a career takes shape.
For veterans, Greensboro’s network offers both structure and support. One transitioning service member visited GTCC’s aviation lab during a Chamberorganized site tour. Within weeks, he completed a composites training module, interviewed with HAECO, and joined the company in a production role.
“What makes it work,” says Smith, “is that we don’t stop at the training or the job offer. Partners like Veterans Bridge Home and Heroes MAKE America stay involved, providing the navigation and support that make transitions sustainable.”
Triad Goodwill’s Careers on the Outside program adds another
EXPOSURE
dimension. It connects individuals reentering the workforce after incarceration with employers ready to hire. One graduate met his current employer during a Chamber-supported graduation ceremony that included local businesses committed to secondchance hiring. Today, he’s not only employed full-time but also mentors new participants in the program.
“When employers see those stories firsthand,” Smith says, “they understand the power of second-chance hiring. It changes perspectives.”
Together, these stories show what happens when opportunity and preparation meet in the right place. A connected workforce isn’t an idea in Greensboro; it’s a lived experience. And for the Chamber, they’re a reminder that connection, not coordination alone, is what turns strategy into progress.
Employers as Partners
Greensboro’s workforce network works because employers are part of the design. They don’t just benefit from the system; they help build it. Across industries like aerospace, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, companies collaborate with educators to shape curriculum, host internships, and align training with the skills they need most.
“When industry helps design the pipeline, they hire with confidence,” says Smith. “It shortens time to hire, improves candidate fit, and builds trust on
both sides.”
The Chamber’s integrated service delivery model turns that collaboration into practice. The team starts by listening, assessing employer needs, and curating the right mix of education and community partners to respond. The result is a custom approach that removes friction and produces solutions that make sense for both workers and businesses.
It’s also made workforce development more accessible for smaller employers that don’t have in-house training or recruitment staff.
“Employers tell us they feel relief knowing they don’t have to navigate the ecosystem alone,” Smith says. “We simplify the process so they can focus on growing their business.”
Mobility Across Sectors
Career mobility here doesn’t stop at industry borders. Workers can
build on their experience and move fluidly between fields, an advantage that keeps talent close to home and helps employers meet shifting demands.
A production worker in advanced manufacturing might upskill into aerospace maintenance or logistics through modular programs at GTCC. Healthcare professionals can pivot into medical device manufacturing or quality assurance by adding short technical credentials to their clinical training. Veterans often move between both worlds, bringing leadership and precision to new civilian careers.
That same spirit of movement shapes justice-to-jobs pathways as well. Collaborations among Triad Goodwill, StepUp Greensboro, and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction help justice-involved individuals earn certifications, gain hands-on experience, and connect directly with employers ready to hire. Employers who participate in Reentry Simulations
often describe the experience as transformative, giving them a deeper understanding of both the barriers returning citizens face and the potential they bring when given a fair chance.
These bridges, between industries, between people, and between potential and opportunity, make the city’s workforce system adaptable and resilient.
The Human Element of Retention
Workforce development doesn’t end when someone starts a job. It continues through the supports that help them stay and thrive.
Across the city, a network of wraparound partners plays that role. Organizations such as Veterans Bridge Home, Reading Connections, Triad Goodwill, StepUp Greensboro, and NCWorks provide transportation assistance, financial coaching, literacy support, and mentoring that turn short-term hires into long-term teammates.
“Wraparound partners turn a hire into a relationship,” says Smith. “They make sure people don’t just get a job; they keep it, grow in it, and see a future in it.”
That focus on stability pays off for employers as well. Retention improves, turnover costs drop, and the local economy benefits from a stronger, more consistent workforce. It’s a model that values people not as placements, but as the foundation of growth.
That same mindset of connection, coordination, and care is shaping
what comes next.
Looking Forward: Building the Next Platform
The next phase of Greensboro’s workforce story moves online. Building on years of collaboration, the Chamber and its partners are creating the Workforce GSO Resource Guide, an interactive digital platform that will map education programs, career pathways, employer needs, and support services in one place.
The tool is designed to make the entire system easier to navigate. Students will be able to explore career options. Adults looking to reskill can find training programs that fit their lives. Employers can connect directly with qualified talent, and educators can align coursework with real-time demand.
“It’s the natural extension of what we already do,” says Smith. “We’ve built strong human networks. Now we’re building the technology that helps those networks work even better.”
By combining data, analytics, and human insight, the platform will offer a living picture of Greensboro’s workforce in motion, one that grows and adapts alongside the community it serves.
Collaboration as a Competitive Advantage
Greensboro’s workforce network is more than a strategy. It reflects how the city grows: through collaboration, shared purpose, and a belief that progress belongs to everyone.
Every partnership, from early
exposure in schools to the development of new digital tools, builds on that foundation. Together, they create a system that opens doors for learners, supports employers, and strengthens the community.
The Chamber’s role is to keep those connections strong by listening, aligning, and maintaining momentum.
“Our work always comes back to people,” says Smith. “When partners move in the same direction, progress follows.”
Greensboro’s connected workforce shows what happens when collaboration becomes the norm. It prepares people for today’s jobs and shapes the workforce of tomorrow, one partnership at a time.
GREENSBORO NAMED NORTH CAROLINA’S FIRST FAMILY FORWARD COMMUNITY
In 2023, Action Greensboro partnered with the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation to help local employers earn Family Forward North Carolina® Certification. Because of this work, 82 Greensboro employers are now certified, supporting more than 46,000 employees and their families. The campaign’s impact has even reached beyond our city, improving workplace policies for thousands more employees across the state.
In April, Action Greensboro accepted the official recognition at a special event at the Greensboro Children’s Museum and celebrated with the community the next evening at LeBauer Park.
TAKING ACTION, TOGETHER
Every city needs a place where vision turns into momentum. For Greensboro, that’s Action Greensboro. With a focus on civic innovation, quality of life, and long-term prosperity, the organization works to connect ideas, people, and data in ways that move the entire community forward.
In 2025, Action Greensboro leaned into this role by publishing three major reports: the Community Vitals Report, the Pre-K to 12 Education Report, and the Talent & Workplace Survey. Each offers a different lens on Greensboro’s progress, but together they tell a larger story: we are a community on the move, with challenges to address and opportunities to embrace.
Rather than sitting on a shelf, these reports are fueling conversations and action across the community. Wage disparity, lack of childcare and educational gaps impede workforce and economic mobility. The reports bring focus to both our progress and our challenges, giving Greensboro a way to see itself more honestly and act more confidently on what comes next.
Talent & Workplace Survey
Every year, Action Greensboro asks local employers what they see on the ground. The 2025 Talent & Workplace Survey revealed a community in transition. Employers are leaning on local colleges and universities to fill jobs, adopting new tools like AI to work smarter, and searching for hardto-find skills like critical thinking and leadership. By putting local insights side-by-side with national benchmarks, the survey helps us see where Greensboro is keeping pace, where we’re falling behind, and where we can lead.
The report identified an overall skills gap related to the implementation of AI in the workforce. SynerG Young Professionals stepped in to provide low-cost training to address the issue.
» 95% of local employers provide training or skill development opportunities, reflecting a strong investment in their people
Pre-K to 12 Education Report
Strong schools are at the heart of a strong city. The Pre-K to 12 Education Report shines a light on both the hurdles and the hope within Guilford County Schools. Teacher attrition, enrollment decline, reduction in funding for support services and limited childcare access are real pressures.
The data show that the “cost of childcare amounts to more than 20% of median household income,” which can be a barrier to access. Made in Greensboro and Boomerang Greensboro work to attract and retain local talent in support of the findings in our reports.
The Pre-K to 12 Education Report makes the case that investing in education isn’t only about today’s students; it’s about tomorrow’s workforce and the long-term health of our city.
» 91.6% four-year graduation rate for Guilford County Schools, showing steady gains even as challenges remain
Community Vitals Report
Think of the Community Vitals Report as Greensboro’s check-up. It captures everything from population growth and economic conditions to civic engagement. One key finding: while our community is becoming more diverse and connected, too few of us are voting in local elections. That’s a challenge. But it’s also a call to action. The report identifies basic needs to be addressed, such as connectivity, transit, broadband, green spaces and uninhibited access to voting, which lead to a quality of life that promotes economic growth.
» Guilford County per capita income has increased 47% over the past decade
» Greensboro’s ESRI Diversity Index score is 71.4
Together, these reports demonstrate Action Greensboro’s conviction that progress begins with paying attention, enabling both business leaders and community stakeholders to stay informed, get involved, engage, learn about issues, and ultimately shape local decision-making through their votes. When we know where we stand, we can dream bigger about where we’re headed and take steps to get there.
The full reports are available at ActionGreensboro.org, where you can explore the data, stories, and recommendations in more detail.
Downtown Greenway Project Manager Dabney Sanders received the 2025 Persistence Award at the Piedmont Legacy Trails Summit for her hard work and long-term commitment to the Downtown Greenway project.
STAFF AWARDS
Tracy Myers, EVP of Member and Investor Engagement, earned the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, one of the industry’s highest honors. In 2025, she also completed the Institute for Organization Management (IOM), further strengthening her leadership credentials
Kate Phillips was one of 14 honorees in the Triad Business Journal’s 2025 Leaders in Diversity Awards, which highlight people and organizations making diversity and inclusion a priority in their workplaces and communities. Honorees were recognized on June 12.
Our leadership team was also recognized statewide. Brent Christensen, President & CEO, and Marvin J. Price, Executive Vice President of Economic Development, were both named to Business North Carolina’s 2025 Power List for their work driving economic growth and business success across the region.
Taylor Hutchins, Director of Business Recruitment, was named a 2025 Economic Development 40 Under 40 award winner, recognizing rising leaders in the field. She accepted the award in February during the IEDC Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, hosted by DCI and Jorgenson Consulting.
Marvin J. Price, Executive Vice President of Economic Development, and Mary-Helen Kolousek, Student Engagement Manager with Action Greensboro, were named to the Triad Business Journal’s 2025 40 Under 40 list. Marvin was honored for his leadership in recruiting new companies, supporting local expansions, and helping bring major aerospace and advanced manufacturing projects to Greensboro. Mary-Helen was recognized for leading the Campus Greensboro Fellows Program and connecting students with paid internships, mentors, and real career opportunities in Guilford County.
The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce received the 2025 Cornerstone Award from Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina for outstanding support of its mission, vision, and programs. This year’s award recognized the work of Laura Lorenz, Sarah McGuire, and Melissa Smith.
Katrina Ross, Membership Manager, was selected for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ 2025 40 Under 40. This award recognizes her leadership, industry impact, and dedication to strengthening the Greensboro community.
In July, Marvin J. Price was also honored by the National Urban League at its annual conference in Cleveland, recognizing young professionals making a difference through civic engagement, innovation, and service.
SPARKING CURIOSITY, BUILDING FUTURES
On May 3, 2025, thousands of families, students, and educators filled Novant Health Fieldhouse for Greensboro’s first annual STEM Fest, a full day of discovery and hands-on learning presented by Honda Aircraft Company and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Guilford County Schools and the Greensboro Swarm.
More than 5,000 attendees explored exhibits from over 80 community partners, from colleges and employers to nonprofits and civic organizations. Together, they shared a goal: to spark curiosity and show how science, technology, engineering, and math open doors to Greensboro’s fastest-growing careers.
Across the fieldhouse, students turned curiosity into action. They built circuits, piloted drones, experimented with robotics, and spoke with engineers, scientists, and technicians who do this work every day. Colleges showcased programs in aviation, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, while employers demonstrated how those skills translate to real careers in Greensboro.
The event followed the Chamber’s Exposure, Exploration, Experience, Employment framework, the same model guiding Greensboro’s broader workforce strategy. At STEM Fest, “exposure” takes
center stage, giving K–12 students and their families a first look at the people, tools, and technologies shaping the region’s economy.
Honda Aircraft Company anchored the event, inviting students to see how aircraft take shape from design to assembly. Engineers and technicians led live demonstrations in composites, avionics, and aerodynamics, proving how STEM skills translate directly to aviation careers.
Nearby, GTCC, NC A&T, UNCG, and Qorvo expanded the experience with exhibits on sustainable energy, 3D printing, and biomedical innovation. GuilfordWorks and ApprenticeshipNC guided students and parents toward training programs that turn those interests into real opportunities.
Employers knew going into the event that they weren’t recruiting. Instead, they showed up to connect. Many ran demonstrations,
offered tours, and invited students to join upcoming “skill day” events. For several, STEM Fest started conversations that will continue through apprenticeships, internships, and full-time jobs.
Families used STEM Fest to find next steps. Representatives from Guilford County Schools, GTCC, and community partners helped parents understand programs, enrollment options, and financial aid. Many left with a clearer sense of how to guide their students toward college and career opportunities.
Parents also saw how early exposure connects to practical pathways like dual-enrollment options, early-college programs, and training that leads directly to local jobs. A single day of exploration gave families the tools to keep that momentum going.
STEM Fest marked the starting
point of Greensboro’s long-term workforce continuum. After the event, the Chamber and its partners connected students to follow-up opportunities like campus visits, mentoring programs, maker labs, and early-college academies.
Those experiences flow naturally into programs like Guilford Apprenticeship Partners, Heroes MAKE America, and other preapprenticeships that give students real experience in their chosen fields. From there, graduates move into paid apprenticeships, internships, and employment with
MANUFACTURING DAY
area employers.
Planning is underway for STEM Fest 2026, with goals to expand exhibits, add aviation and robotics experiences, and reach more middle-school students. The Chamber will also integrate event insights into its forthcoming Workforce GSO Resource Guide, a digital tool mapping programs, career paths, and employer needs in real time.
STEMFest shows what’s possible when a community builds opportunity together, one discovery at a time.
This fall, more than 200 Guilford County students visited HondaJet for Manufacturing Day to see advanced manufacturing up close and learn what kinds of jobs exist right here at home. These students got a firsthand look at how airplanes are made, from design to production, while meeting local industry and education leaders.
Through hands-on STEM activities, tours, and real conversations with professionals, students saw that
high-tech, high-paying careers aren’t somewhere far away, they’re right here in Greensboro. Events like this help connect what
students learn in school to real opportunities in our community and build a stronger pipeline for our future workforce.
FROM SURVIVING TO SCALING
Every business begins with a spark. An idea. A need. A bit of courage.
But sustaining that spark through the long, uneven road of business growth takes more than hard work. It takes strategy, clarity, and the kind of support that helps a business owner see beyond today’s checklist.
That’s what Scale to Excel offers.
Part of the Greensboro Chamber’s Accelerate initiative, the sevenmonth program helps established entrepreneurs step back from daily operations and chart a path for lasting growth. Participants
to Excel are looking for clarity, not shortcuts. Each cohort brings together a mix of business owners, from healthcare and wellness to logistics and retail, who want to strengthen their foundations and lead with purpose.
During the 2025 program, that commitment showed up in every session. Each participant came with a different vision but shared the same drive to build something lasting. Over seven months, they dissected their operations, challenged long-held assumptions, and learned how to make decisions that would hold up over time.
Stories like hers capture what Scale to Excel does best. It gives entrepreneurs the space, structure, and community to turn experience into strategy. And strategy into results that last.
The framework of Scale to Excel gives business owners structure, but the people give it power. Each cohort gathers entrepreneurs who understand what it means to shoulder responsibility, make payroll, and lead through uncertainty. In that shared experience, perspective starts to shift.
The weekly sessions become
build five-year strategic plans, strengthen their leadership skills, and join a network of peers who understand both the challenge and the risk of building something bigger than themselves.
Scale to Excel equips business owners to grow with purpose, turning individual progress into collective strength for Greensboro’s economy.
The entrepreneurs who join Scale
For Sation Konchellah, founder of Grace Counseling and Wellness, that process changed everything. She entered the program with several ideas for expanding her business, but she wasn’t sure which to pursue. Through evaluation tools and peer discussions, she gained the focus and confidence to move forward. Before graduation, she opened a new location and set her team on a path for sustained growth.
more than lessons. They turn into conversations about real challenges and hard-won insight. Small CEO groups trade strategies and test new ideas. Guest experts lend their experience in finance, marketing, and procurement, often continuing to mentor participants well after the program ends.
Those exchanges build something lasting. Graduates leave with sharper business plans, but they
also leave with a circle of peers who have seen their struggles up close and want to see them succeed. Many describe it as the first time they’ve felt part of a community that truly understands the work of building something from the ground up.
And the effects of Scale to Excel stretch far beyond a single cohort. Since the first class launched in 2020, dozens of Greensboro business owners have carried what they learned into the wider economy. Some have doubled their staff. Others have opened new locations, added new service lines, or begun mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Part of a Larger Pipeline
Scale to Excel is one link in Greensboro’s growing network of entrepreneurship. It builds on the foundation created by Launch Greensboro, which helps founders move from concept to company, and connects seamlessly with Accelerate, which supports businesses ready for long-term growth.
and apply.
Each success story feeds into something larger. The program builds confidence at the individual level, but the impact shows up across industries in new jobs, stronger networks, and companies that stay and grow in Greensboro. What starts as a strategic plan often transforms into local investment and community renewal.
For the Chamber, this is what scaling looks like: not a handful of standout businesses, but a ripple effect of owners who think differently about growth and contribute to the city’s momentum in tangible ways. The results are steady, visible, and rooted right here.
Together, these programs form a pipeline that nurtures ideas from their first spark to full-scale operations. Each plays a different role, but all share a common goal: helping people turn ambition into sustainable opportunity.
Greensboro’s economy is strongest when its business owners succeed. Through Scale to Excel, those owners gain the tools, insight, and confidence to grow. In doing so, they strengthen the city that helped them start.
“We are shifting the mindset of entrepreneurs to that of CEO,” said Tracy Myers, EVP Member and Investor Engagement. “Our end goal is to equip business owners to get out of day-to-day chaos of operations and have the freedom to strategize for what comes next.”
WHERE IDEAS TAKE ROOT
Launch Greensboro is where Greensboro’s entrepreneurial spirit takes shape. As the Chamber’s entrepreneurship program, Launch helps founders turn ideas into viable businesses and connects them with the people, programs, and partnerships that help them grow. What began as a startup incubator has become a central part of Greensboro’s innovation economy—a true front door for entrepreneurs at every stage.
Fueling Growth from the Ground Up
Launch focuses on helping entrepreneurs reach their first major milestone: a sustainable business generating its first million in revenue within three years. That’s the point when founders can hire, expand, and build momentum for the long term.
Through hands-on programs like Launch Camp, Launch Growth Accelerator, and Greensboro Startup Week, founders learn how to refine their business models, connect with mentors and investors, and prepare for the next phase of growth. More local entrepreneurs are now securing investment and scaling their companies than ever before.
Expanding
What Access to Entrepreneurship Means
Launch’s role has evolved alongside Greensboro’s economy. Its work now centers on three pillars designed to support innovation from every angle:
1. Entrepreneurial Programming: Practical, cohort-based programs that give founders the structure and confidence to grow.
2. Tech Transfer: A new pilot with Minerva Lithium and NCInnovation helps faculty entrepreneurs move university research from the lab to the marketplace.
3. Industry Partnerships: Launch works directly with employers to identify real business challenges and connect entrepreneurs who can solve them, essentially reverse-engineering innovation to meet industry needs.
Together, these pillars create a stronger, more connected pipeline of talent and opportunity. As Joey Cheek, Executive Vice President of Entrepreneurship, puts it: “We’re building the future here.”
Proof in Progress
When David Doherty moved from working as an aerospace engineer to building his own company, he wanted to solve a problem he knew firsthand—how engineers and manufacturers
could manage complex technical data more efficiently. That idea became Povera Loads & Logic, a Kernersville-based startup developing software that streamlines and automates engineering documentation for industries like aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
David’s journey with Launch Greensboro shows how the right support can turn expertise into opportunity. He first connected with Launch during Greensboro
Startup Week, then joined Launch Camp to refine his business model and Launch Growth Accelerator to prepare for funding and expansion. Today, Povera has four full-time employees and continues to grow, serving businesses across North Carolina’s fast-evolving manufacturing and aerospace sectors.
Looking Ahead
Launch Greensboro’s focus is
CAPITAL CONNECTS & START-UP WEEK
Launch Greensboro kicked off and closed Startup Week ’25 with major wins, starting with the 21st annual Capital Connects pitch competition and wrapping with record-breaking attendance, media coverage, and energy throughout the week.
Capital Connects featured seven standout startups, all graduates of LaunchLab Growth, the Chamber’s accelerator for highgrowth entrepreneurs. Founders pitched their ideas to a packed room of investors, community leaders, and fellow innovators. ESTAS Beauty earned top honors with a compelling pitch and strong growth strategy, while Clinavare won over the audience to take home the Fan Favorite award. Now in its third decade, Capital Connects continues to be a launchpad for some of
Greensboro’s most promising ventures.
From there, Startup Week only gained momentum. Over three days, 28 speakers tackled topics like AI, robotics, and venture capital. Highlights included a Lucid Bots product demo that drew statewide media attention, a Tech Transfer Symposium with nearly 40 ecosystem leaders, and an all-
on depth: building stronger connections among entrepreneurs, universities, and industries that see the Triad as a place to grow. Each year, the startup community becomes more connected, more capable, and more rooted in this region. Founders aren’t just starting companies here—they’re choosing to stay, hire, and invest in Greensboro’s future.
founder Capital Connects lineup that drew praise from the angel investment community.
The momentum didn’t stop at the event. A new tech transfer proposal has been submitted to NC Innovation, and more than a dozen new founders joined Launch Camp in May, proof that Greensboro’s startup ecosystem is not just growing, it’s thriving.
BLOCK PARTIES
This year, we doubled down on celebrating our members with two block parties. The first one kicked off in the spring right outside the Chamber on February One Place. The weather was perfect, and everyone just hung out, grabbed lunch, and caught up with friends and fellow members.
In October, we took things to Gillespie Golf Course, combining our fall Member Appreciation Block Party with the Chamber Golf Classic. The morning started with a 9-hole captain’s choice tournament and ended with food trucks, music, and plenty of time to relax and connect at the First Tee facility.
Both events had great turnouts and a fun lineup of vendors, including NC A&T State University, Wet ‘N Wild Emerald Pointe, Truliant Federal Credit Union, Celebration Station, the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Greensboro Swarm, Blue Ridge Bank, DGI, Lovely Day ABA and Autism, Pink’s Window Piedmont Triad, Main Event, Toyota of Greensboro, and more.
SWINGING INTO SUCCESS: 2025 ANNUAL CELEBRATION
The Greensboro Chamber’s 2025 Annual Celebration highlighted the Chamber’s role in bringing together the business community for a night of super networking. Held at Topgolf, the event brought together business leaders, community partners, and Chamber members to catch up, make new connections, and enjoy a night out together.
The highlight of the night was the presentation of the Thomas Z. Osborne Award, the Chamber’s highest honor. This year, it was
awarded posthumously to D.H. Griffin, Sr., founder of D.H. Griffin Companies. Mr. Griffin built one of the nation’s largest demolition and construction firms and left a lasting mark on Greensboro through his leadership, generosity, and vision.
With plenty of networking, celebration, and a few memorable golf swings, the 2025 Annual Celebration was the perfect way to come together and look ahead to another exciting year for Greensboro.
STATE OF OUR COMMUNITY
The 2025 State of Our Community Luncheon brought nearly 1,000 business and community leaders together at the Koury Convention Center to talk about where Greensboro is headed. Tom Barkin, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, shared insights on the national economy, while Dan Da Silva, President and COO of JetZero, talked about Greensboro’s growing place in the aerospace industry and the opportunities ahead.
We also took time to celebrate the people and organizations shaping our city’s future. We handed out awards, celebrated milestones, and took a quiet moment to honor Jim Melvin with a video tribute that brought the room together. We also recognized the Greensboro Swarm’s 10th anniversary season and Brent Christensen’s 10 years of leadership at the Chamber.
The event was a reminder of how much progress Greensboro has made and how much more we can achieve when our business, education, and community leaders work together. The conversations throughout the day made it clear that Greensboro’s momentum is real, and we are ready for this moment.
HIGH SCHOOL
The Stanley Frank Economic and Workforce Development Award: DENNIS QUAINTANCE AND NANCY KING QUAINTANCE
The Kathiann Lester Accelerate Award: THE GREENSBORO SWARM
The Hubert B. Humphrey, Jr. School Improvement Award: EASTERN GUILFORD
RIBBON CUTTINGS
BY THE NUMBERS: MEMBERSHIP
2 15 NEW MEMBERS
1,3 50+ CURRENT MEMBERS AND INVESTORS
6,000+ ATTENDEES PRESENT AT OUR EVENTS
10 % MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
58 RIBBON CUTTINGS
2025 HONOREES
JANUARY: Vista Tech, Inc.
FEBRUARY: InfraPros
MARCH: JD Financial Group
APRIL: MI Box
MAY: New Garden Landscaping
JUNE: Wet ‘N Wild
JULY: The Forge
AUGUST: American Sign Shop
SEPTEMBER: Empanada Grill
OCTOBER: Piedmont Triad Airport Authority
NOVEMBER: The Extra Ingredient
DECEMBER: Happy Tails Veterinary Emergency Clinic
ON THE GO
This year, we took networking out of the boardroom and brought it to you. The On the Go Series is all about connecting our business community in fun, easygoing settings across Greensboro. Each stop gave members a new way to meet people, build friendships, and experience some of the great places that make our city stand out.
We gathered at local favorites like Joymongers Brewing and Forgotten Road Ale House, and visited creative spots including Reconsidered Goods, Aji Fusion, GIA, Kickback Jack’s, Arboro Empowered, Carolina Pines, MI-Box, and more. Each stop was unique, but the connections were always there.
If you missed a stop, you definitely missed great conversations and connections. On the Go has quickly become one of our favorite ways
to stay connected and support local businesses, and enjoy Greensboro together.
WE CONNECT
This year, WE Connect brought women together to learn, grow, and lead, while building a true sense of belonging. Created by women, for women, the series sparked real conversations, lasting friendships, and stronger connections across Greensboro’s network of women leaders who continue to support and lift each other up.
WOMEN’S EXECUTIVE CONNECTION
This year, women from across Greensboro came together to learn, connect, and talk openly about leadership and growth. Dr. Cynthia Emory shared a presentation on “Leading in an Academic Learning Health System,” followed by a panel of past ATHENA Award winners who spoke honestly about mentorship, leadership, and the challenges women face in the workplace.
We were proud to recognize Pat Soenksen, former President and CEO of Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, as the 2025 ATHENA Award recipient. Pat has spent her career improving healthcare in Greensboro and helping other women grow as leaders. Many of the women she’s mentored are now making a difference in their own organizations and communities.
New this year, attendees explored a Wellness Lounge featuring women-owned businesses focused on women’s health and well-being. From fitness and nutrition to mental health and medical care, the lounge offered a chance to connect with local professionals and learn more about services that support women at every stage of life.
The 2025 Other Voices class continued to strengthen Greensboro’s commitment to connection and understanding. Through honest conversations, shared experiences, and new perspectives, participants deepened their awareness of the issues that shape our community and learned how to lead with empathy. This year’s group represented a wide range of industries and backgrounds, all united by a common goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable Greensboro.
The 2025 Leadership Greensboro program celebrated its graduates in May, marking another year of learning, connection, and community impact. Over nine months, participants explored the key issues shaping Greensboro, strengthened their leadership skills, and built relationships that will continue to influence their careers and our city’s future. Each graduate leaves ready to lead with purpose and make a lasting difference in Greensboro.
SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
The Well Mind
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Steven D. Bell of Bell Partners
CULTURE CREATOR AWARD
Core Technology
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
New Garden Landscaping & Nursery
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR AWARD
ALT HR
IGNITION AWARD
Carson Creative Solutions
LEAD YOUR CITY
The 2025 Lead Your City Summit, held on September 4 at GTCC’s Conference Center, brought together nearly 200 young professionals from across Greensboro for a day filled with new ideas, great people, and practical takeaways. High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson kicked things off with a message about leadership, community, and the impact young professionals can make when they step up and get involved.
Throughout the day, participants took part in hands-on workshops focused on real-world skills local employers say matter most, like communication, teamwork, and leadership. They also had time to network, get professional headshots, take a behind-thescenes tour of HondaJet, and end the day with an after-party hosted by the Greensboro Jaycees.
If you missed this year’s summit, you missed out. Lead Your City is where Greensboro’s next generation of leaders come together to learn, grow, and make connections that last. Don’t miss it next year.
DOWNTOWN GREENWAY
After 25 years of vision and hard work, the Downtown Greenway is almost complete. The final leg, known as the Western Branch, is expected to wrap up by April 2026. When it’s finished, the four-mile trail will fully circle downtown, connecting surrounding neighborhoods and anchoring Greensboro’s growing trail system.
Even before it’s completed, the Downtown Greenway has already become part of everyday life. In 2025 alone, there were more than 150,000 users counted on the trail. More than 3,800 people took part in 188 events and programs, and 209 volunteers contributed 413 hours of service.
Construction progress over the past year included stream restoration, underground utility work, and major paving. Once the heavy lifting is done, crews will add landscaping, signage, public art, and final site touches to bring the project to life.
The grand opening is planned for May 2026, and it’s not just a ribbon-cutting. It’s going to be a month-long celebration of movement, connection, and community. The Downtown Greenway will change how we move through and experience downtown. It’s been a long time coming, and it’s almost finished.
BOOMERANG GREENSBORO
Action Greensboro’s award-winning Boomerang Greensboro campaign is all about celebrating people who come back home. The campaign shares stories of folks who left for school or work and later decided Greensboro is where they want to be. They bring back new skills, ideas, and energy that strengthen our community.
This year’s Boomerangs include:
• Shelbi Flynn, who returned from New Orleans to help Guilford County Government use data in smarter ways.
• Brian Cockman, who came home after nearly twenty years in Charlotte, Washington, DC, and Miami, with deep experience in communications and community leadership.
• Michaela Kelly and Jacob Warren, who moved back from California. Michaela now teaches voice at UNC Greensboro, and Jacob works in advancement, connecting alumni and donors.
• Qena Jennings, who returned from Greenville, South Carolina, bringing her passion for education and literacy.
• Sam Brannon, who came back with a Ph.D. in music history and now teaches math at New Garden Friends School while leading music at Grace United Methodist Church.
Boomerang Greensboro also earned national recognition in 2025, highlighted at City Nation Place in Ottawa, Canada, the International Economic Development Council Conference in Detroit, Michigan, and Young Smart and Local in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its creative way of sharing Greensboro’s story and drawing talent home stood out on the national stage.
People are coming home because Greensboro feels like the right place to grow, connect, and make a difference.
CAMPUS GREENSBORO
Campus Greensboro helps college students build career experience, connect with local businesses, and envision a future in Guilford County. Through Action Greensboro’s Fellows Program and events held throughout the year, we open doors to internships, mentorship, and long-term career opportunities. It’s about building relationships that turn into jobs and helping employers tap into local talent.
One of the highlights each year is Campus Greensboro Day, a summer celebration that brings together interns, employers, mentors, and community partners. On July 31, we filled Piedmont Hall with students and supporters for an afternoon of celebration. Students met hiring managers face-to-face, and employers shared how their interns added real value.
This year’s event also marked the 10th anniversary of the Campus Greensboro Fellows Program. We’re proud of the past decade and even more focused on what comes next. Campus Greensboro continues to strengthen our talent pipeline and help students see a future right here in our community.
“Campus Greensboro Day celebrates the contributions of paid interns to our local economy. This summer, 163 Fellows gained hands-on experience, built connections, and left more confident in their future in Guilford County. We are proud to celebrate the interns who showed up curious and ready to learn, along with the employer partners whose longstanding commitment continues to open doors for emerging talent,” says Mary-Helen Kolousek, Campus Greensboro Student Engagement Manager.
GROW INVESTORS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023-2027 GROW INVESTORS WHO MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
