What Wilmington Business Development does

Wilmington Business Development (WBD) is a private, nonprofit, membership-based economic development organization founded in 1956 and headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina. It serves the Greater Wilmington region — primarily New Hanover and Pender counties — by recruiting companies to relocate or expand into the area and by supporting existing regional industry. WBD's core offering is not a product but a coordinated set of services: site selection assistance (using a curated database of industrial buildings of 10,000+ sq. ft. and industrial sites of 10+ acres), introductions to its network of utility partners (Duke Energy Progress, Piedmont Natural Gas, Four County EMC), water/wastewater authorities (Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, Lower Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, Pender County Utilities), government partners (New Hanover County, Pender County, City of Wilmington), and educational partners (Cape Fear Community College, University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC Division of Workforce Solutions, NC Department of Commerce). WBD's flagship economic-development assets under promotion include Pender Commerce Park (450 acres), Blue Clay Business Park (120 acres), the new Wilmington Industrial Park, and Wilmington Trade Center.

WBD generates revenue through two streams: recurring invitation-only membership dues from regional companies, and event proceeds from annual fundraising events including the WBD Invitational golf tournament and a November annual meeting. Services to prospective and existing industry are provided free of charge. Its marketing reach is regional but the organization distributes member-branded apparel statewide, nationally, and abroad, and recently refreshed its brand identity with a new Blue Heron secondary logo. WBD is led by CEO R. Scott Satterfield with a four-to-five-person professional staff (Director of Business Development, Office Manager, Executive Assistant), and governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Tim Milam, CEO of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage.

The organization's reported outcomes are framed in terms of capital investment and jobs facilitated rather than direct revenue: Amazon's 3 million sq. ft. robotics-driven fulfillment center and 142,000 sq. ft. delivery station at Pender Commerce Park (Project Whale and Project Tuna), Kesseböehmer's $29 million consolidated U.S. headquarters, Polyhose's $8 million expansion, and Coastal Millwork/Risley Padula's $10+ million Blue Clay facility are cited as marquee wins. WBD does not develop or own the industrial parks itself; it acts as the coordinating broker, promoter, and connector between prospect companies and the regional utility, government, workforce, and education ecosystem.

Name

Wilmington Business Development

Legal name

Wilmington Business Development

Website

https://wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wilmington Business Development is a nonprofit, membership-based economic development organization that recruits companies to relocate or expand in the Greater Wilmington region of southeastern North Carolina, coordinating site selection, workforce training, and introductions to utility, government, and education partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Business relocation support
• Workforce development programs
• Regional business recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: WBD is funded through membership fees from supporting companies. Membership is invitation-only, with companies paying fees to support economic development efforts in the Greater Wilmington region.
2. Event Proceeds: Annual events such as the WBD Invitational golf tournament generate proceeds that support regional marketing and recruitment programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wilmington Business Development (WBD) is a nonprofit economic development organization that recruits and retains business and industry in the Greater Wilmington region of southeastern North Carolina. It provides site selection assistance, workforce development connections, and serves as a bridge between companies seeking to relocate or expand and regional government, utility, and educational partners. Core services are offered free of charge to prospective businesses, with the organization funded through invitation-only membership fees and event proceeds.

Product overview

Wilmington Business Development (WBD) is an economic development organization that serves the Greater Wilmington region of North Carolina. Rather than offering a software product, WBD provides business development services including site selection assistance, workforce training programs, business recruitment and retention, and connection to regional resources such as available buildings and industrial sites. The organization acts as a bridge between companies seeking to establish or expand operations in the Wilmington area and the local government, educational, and business communities. WBD maintains a directory of member companies across various categories including real estate services, construction, engineering, logistics, and professional services to support economic growth in New Hanover and Pender counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site Selection Assistance

Quantifiable outcome

• Amazon's 3 million-sq.-ft. robotics-driven fulfillment center and 142,000-sq.-ft. delivery station bringing jobs to the region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Duke Energy ProgresscoreOthersPrimary electric service provider for Greater Wilmington area serving New Hanover County and southeastern Pender County. Offers economic development riders, time-of-use rates, transformation discounts, incremental power service rates, and real-time pricing options for businesses.
• Four County Electric Membership CorporationsupportingOthersServes northern and western areas of Pender County with diverse economic development programs assisting new business locations or expansions.
• Piedmont Natural GascoreOthersServes entire Greater Wilmington area distributing natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in NC, SC, and TN. Offers energy and site analysis for businesses.
• Lower Cape Fear Public Utility AuthoritycoreOthersManages Lower Cape Fear River as major raw regional public water supply for Greater Wilmington area including New Hanover and Pender counties, ensuring abundant water resources for economic expansion.
• Cape Fear Public Utility AuthoritycoreOthersPrimary water and wastewater treatment and public drinking water service provider for New Hanover County, created in 2008 from merger of county and city operations.
• Pender County UtilitiessupportingOthersProvides water and wastewater services in unincorporated areas of Pender County through water and wastewater districts, serving major industrial development corridors including US 421 and US 117.
• N.C. Division of Workforce SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers statewide workforce programs preparing NC citizens for employment. Manages Workforce Investment Act, Wagner-Peyser Act, and Trade Adjustment Act funding. Partners with Department of Commerce and Community College System.
• N.C. Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnering with workforce development system to bring resources individuals, employers, and workforce professionals need.
• N.C. Community College SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing workforce training through Cape Fear Community College and other institutions, with Focused Industry Training (FIT) programs for customized training.
• Cape Fear Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmong largest of NC's 59 community colleges with 24,000+ annual enrollment. Offers 60 technical programs, college transfer degrees, adult education, and Focused Industry Training (FIT) for existing industry workforce development.
• University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic university offering 56 bachelor's and 40 graduate programs including Ph.D. in marine biology. Ranks among top public master's universities in the South. Source for sales and professional positions.
• McKinley Building CorporationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Kesseböhmer's consolidated U.S. headquarters facility and other industrial projects in the region including Wilmington Trade Center development.
• Becker Morgan GroupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitects at Wilmington office who worked with McKinley Building Company on Polyhose's expanded facility at Pender Commerce Park.
• BlueCoast CommercialsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChase Hall and Steve Hall represent Wilmington Industrial Park, working with prospective tenants and buyers to structure customized leasing, purchase, and build-to-suit solutions.
• Edgewater VenturessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate development firm involved in Wilmington Trade Center, the first-ever speculative Class A industrial development in New Hanover County, with additional 170 acres under development.
• New Hanover CountycoreOthersCounty government (founded 1759) with 2020 population of 236,690. Operating under commission/manager form of government. Developing business parks including Blue Clay Business Park.
• Pender CountycoreOthersCounty government (founded 1875) with 2020 population of 63,949, one of fastest growing counties in NC. Home to Pender Commerce Park with major industrial development.
• City of WilmingtoncoreOthersLargest municipality in New Hanover County with 2020 certified population of 126,000, serving as county seat.
• New Hanover CountysupportingOthersProvides solid waste management facilities and programs for business and industry.
• Pender County UtilitiessupportingOthersProvides solid waste management services in Pender County for business and industry.
• Town of BurgawsupportingOthersCounty seat of Pender County with economic development interest in the region.
• Government PartnerscoreOthersNetwork of government partners supporting companies navigating opportunities and challenges in today's economy.
• Regional Business LeaderscoreOthersNetwork of regional business leaders supporting economic development and corporate outreach in Greater Wilmington.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Savannah Economic Development Authority: Public/private EDO recruiting industry and logistics investment to the Savannah, GA region. Direct peer to WBD in leveraging a port-adjacent, coastal-Southeast value proposition for industrial recruitment.
• Charleston Regional Development Alliance: Public/private regional EDO promoting the Charleston, SC region for business relocation and expansion. Closely mirrors WBD's coastal-Southeast value proposition, site-selection database model, and workforce development partnerships.
• Upstate SC Alliance: Regional economic development organization covering the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area of South Carolina. Direct comparable to WBD in promoting a multi-county Southeast region for industrial and corporate site selection.
• Piedmont Triad Partnership: Multi-county EDO serving the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point region of North Carolina. Direct peer to WBD in model — regional industrial/business recruitment with member-supported funding.
• Charlotte Regional Business Alliance: Regional economic development and chamber organization that recruits and retains business investment in the Charlotte region. Directly comparable to WBD as a multi-county EDO offering site selection, workforce partnerships, and member-driven business recruitment.
• Research Triangle Regional Partnership: Regional EDO covering the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. Comparable to WBD as a North Carolina regional recruitment organization working with utility, government, and education partners to attract industrial and corporate investment.
• Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce: North Carolina-based regional chamber and economic development organization serving the Wake County/Raleigh area. Comparable to WBD as a membership-funded EDO driving business recruitment, retention, and regional marketing in a Southeastern U.S. metro.
• Greensboro Chamber of Commerce: Local chamber and economic development organization serving Greensboro, NC. Comparable to WBD as a membership-based organization supporting business retention, workforce initiatives, and regional economic development.

Regional players

• Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance: Regional EDO covering the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia. Comparable to WBD in using port logistics and intermodal infrastructure to recruit industrial tenants to a Southeast coastal region, though operating in a different state.

Broad incumbents

• Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina: Statewide economic development entity representing all of North Carolina in corporate recruitment and trade. Related to WBD as part of the same NC ecosystem but operates at a broader geographic and functional scope than the regional Wilmington focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilmington-industrial-dev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wilmington Business Development