Greenville paving the way for a healthy east.

• Author: Edgar, Robin A.
• Position: Regional Focus: SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION - Advertisement

Founded in the mid-1700s on the banks of the Tar River, Greenville has grown from a small agricultural community to the commercial, cultural, educational and medical hub of Eastern North Carolina. The city's population increased by more than 37% to 63,444 from 1990 to 2002.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Technology-based manufacturing and biotech research and development have joined traditional manufacturing and agriculture to diversify and boost the economy. To ensure a trained work force, the business community partners with a progressive school system, a regional university that is a growing player in technology transfer and a hospital that embraces developing technologies such as robotic surgery and telemedicine.

Of course, growth is of little value if it does not serve the community. Just as Raleigh has a responsibility to anchor the Triangle or Asheville the west, the Greenville metro area has a responsibility to lead Eastern North Carolina. In December, education, business, economic-development and health-care leaders met at Atlantic Beach in a forum cosponsored by East Carolina University and University Health Systems, a Greenville-based network of hospitals and physician practices, to discuss improving the quality of life east of Interstate 95. Among the forum's leaders was Lawrence Davenport, who was completing a term as chairman of Golden LEAF, a nonprofit established to distribute half of the state's $4.6 billion share of the national tobacco settlement, primarily to create jobs in tobacco-dependent communities.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

One of Golden LEAF's 2003 grants was $200,000 to the Greenville-based Foundation of Renewal for Eastern North Carolina to create a virtual incubator at the Global TransPark Education Center. The virtual incubator serves as an online tool to promote partnerships, improve competitiveness and foster the growth of small businesses. The technology will help small businesses compete for contracts in homeland security, aviation, life sciences, military procurement, travel and tourism. Davenport encouraged ECU and the health system to be more involved in economic development.

William Shelton, interim ECU chancellor, says the university is working with Greenville and Pitt County to promote economic growth. "It has been a very positive and productive partnership with the Pitt County Development Commission to provide financial and research support for incubator opportunities and the expansion of technology parks."

...