Please enter a search term to begin your search.
With a partner like North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives, businesses have a portfolio of advantageous services at their fingertips. We have an infrastructure already in place to help you successfully expand or open a business in North Carolina. Here, you can hit the ground running. From helping you apply for zero interest loans to site selection assistance, North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives put you in a position of power. And when you become a member of a cooperative, you also become an owner.
Our pro-business environment is matched with many natural advantages you’ll also appreciate. North Carolina boasts a motivated workforce, prestigious centers for higher education and a good quality of life. And, whether you enjoy hiking in the mountains or playing in the Atlantic surf, we offer beautiful backdrops for both.
With a strong statewide presence, North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives deliver reliable power to more than 2.4 million members in 93 of the state’s 100 counties. As private, independent entities, the 27 cooperatives provide energy at cost to businesses and homes from the mountains to the coast. The North Carolina electric cooperatives are collectively among the top 20 businesses in the state. With the flexibility and independence to quickly meet local customer needs, the cooperatives can also use their collective resources to their advantage.
The cooperatives pool their resources to offer a reliable, affordable power supply. We own and operate four peak generation plants on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, in Anson and Richmond counties, and we own 681 megawatts at Catawba Nuclear Station in York County, South Carolina. Our stake in these plants helps to reduce the overall cost of electricity and ensure that your power is dependable. The rest of our power needs are purchased under long-term contracts. The cooperatives’ power supplier is one of the largest long-term power purchasers in the U.S.
With mountains to the west and beaches to the east, North Carolina offers a veritable playground for its citizens and a mild climate to support it. We are an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. From hiking and sunning to golfing and fishing, residents have no shortage of outdoor recreation.
Sports lovers can find themselves cheering along die-hard NASCAR® fans or in the stands of our professional football and championship hockey teams. And, college basketball is king in this part of the country.
In addition to our fun-loving side, North Carolina has a low cost of living for its residents. Quality health care and top schools round out a long list of reasons why North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the country.
For more information please click here:
www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/development
When you become a member of a North Carolina Touchstone Energy cooperative, you also become an owner. A local board, elected by the members, makes policy decisions for each cooperative.
In a member-owned cooperative, excess cooperative revenue is allocated to the members. Through their bylaws, members agree that excess revenue is used to provide cash reserves that then can be returned to members in the form of cash payments or credit toward utility bills. In 2004, total payments amounted to $22.5 million — a definite shot in the arm to local economies.
Because each cooperative is locally autonomous, it also has the flexibility to select the best ways to serve its members. Unlike centrally managed private utilities, each one can create customized programs and services to meet specific consumer objectives.
Member control means:
Our services extend well beyond delivering safe, reliable energy to homes. North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives bring the same tenacity for excellence to our economic development initiatives. With a supportive infrastructure already in place and a team devoted to relocation and expansion service, we give companies a powerful edge before and after they open their doors for business.
Because we operate in almost every county in the state, we know the territory. This means you can rely on us for energy as well as crucial area information. Whether you need labor market data or information on environmental permitting, we can help you find the best location for success.
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives also work closely with a number of resourceful organizations. These associations include the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, USDARural Development and regional development partnerships, to name a few.
The cooperatives also maintain a partnership with SmallBizU. This free online academy was created exclusively for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It features one of the largest collections of entrepreneurial training resources available online.
For more information please click here:
www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/development
Whatever you need to help your business succeed, your local cooperatives are here to help. Our members even have direct access to their local cooperative’s CEO. We don’t believe in red tape and bureaucracy. We believe in creating an environment that lends itself to success.
In addition to the business-friendly environment the cooperatives create, North Carolina has a pro-business history. It is one of the fastest growing states in the booming Southeast area. Our state has recruited hundreds of businesses to the area with tax incentives, low operating costs, our Right-to-Work legal status and more.
Industry also benefits from our thriving transportation system and market access along the eastern seaboard. Along with offering innovative overseas transport options for global commerce, our state is located within 700 miles of:
So, it’s no surprise that many industries choose North Carolina. Our state is second only to New York City as a financial industry headquarters. And as home to four of the nation’s largest financial institutions, North Carolina is also a location where businesses can get the financing and capital they need.
In North Carolina, employers have access to a highly skilled, motivated labor pool. According to the NC Department of Commerce, the state has more than 4 million people in the civilian labor force. More than 80% have at least a high school education.
And, opportunities for higher learning abound:
Companies capitalize on R&D opportunities at two of the 10 largest university-related research parks in North America, including Research Triangle Park. Known worldwide for its work, it is also home to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the North Carolina Supercomputing Center.
Our workers are skilled and our environment is business - friendly. Thanks to North Carolina’s Right-to-Work Law, each employee has the right to decide, without coercion, whether to join a union. This promotes a pro-business environment and productive labor-management relations.
Worker productivity is at one of the highest levels in the nation, while number of workdays lost to injury ranks among the lowest. North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives share this type of work ethic. Safety is a #1 priority at all of our cooperatives; in fact, 26 cooperatives have achieved national safety accreditation. We also take pride in a job well done, which benefits our members.
North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives also highly value education. The cooperatives provide ongoing employee and management training to enhance our ability to meet your needs. Plus, we have an interest in educating bright, young minds. That’s why we established the Bright Ideas program. Since the program began in 1994, it has awarded more than $5.3 million in grant money to North Carolina’s public school teachers to sponsor nearly 5,000 grant projects benefiting more than 800,000 students.
Air, rail, road or sea. In North Carolina, companies gain strength with an exhaustive transportation network that can take products to nearly every corner of the world.
We offer:
The North Carolina State Ports system operates deep-water facilities in Wilmington and Morehead City with in-state terminals in Charlotte and Greensboro. Our ports, as well as the Research Triangle Park and Charlotte, are Foreign Trade Zones for less expensive, quicker shipping.
For more information please click here:
www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/development
Touchstone Energy® is a national alliance of local, member-owned electric cooperatives. We place a high value on integrity, accountability, innovation, and a commitment to the communities we serve. In North Carolina, there are 26 Touchstone Energy cooperatives.
Eddie Miller
Director of Community Development & Resources
North Carolina Electric Cooperatives
3400 Sumner Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27616
Phone: 919 875-3049
Toll Free: 800 662-8835 ext. 3049
Fax: 919 645-3437
email: eddie.miller@ncemcs.com
For more information please click here:
www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/development
