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Access interactive data, reports, and visual insights that help tell the story of Chapel Hill’s growth, economy, and community trends. This space is designed to support dynamic content and future reporting tools that provide deeper context around the opportunities shaping Chapel Hill today.

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Chapel Hill, N.C., is where small-town heart meets world-class innovation. We’re an inclusive, sustainable community for thriving talent and businesses. Join our legacy of firsts and trailblaze your business’s future here.

Where Innovation Meets Collaboration

UNC-Chapel Hill provides unparalleled access to cutting-edge research, world-renowned faculty, and collaborative opportunities that transform ideas into market-ready solutions. We’re a top town for tech innovation, powered by over a billion dollars in R&D expenditures annually from the university. And with hundreds of startups choosing Orange County to do business, we’ve become a recognized hub for companies that wish to make a global impact.

A Talent Pipeline for Every Business Need

Ranked as the No. 2 most educated town in the U.S., Chapel Hill delivers the out-of-the-box thinkers businesses need to thrive in a competitive global marketplace. UNC-Chapel Hill produces thousands of bioscience and applied science graduates annually — creating a deep pool of talent for research-driven industries. Durham Tech is regarded for its robust health and technology programs, including biomedical equipment technology and the only clinical trials research program in the state’s community college system. But above all, we’re a town of people learning, serving, and working together to build a community where everyone thrives.

Where Innovation Meets Collaboration

UNC-Chapel Hill provides unparalleled access to cutting-edge research, world-renowned faculty, and collaborative opportunities that transform ideas into market-ready solutions. We’re a top town for tech innovation, powered by over a billion dollars in R&D expenditures annually from the university. And with hundreds of startups choosing Orange County to do business, we’ve become a recognized hub for companies that wish to make a global impact.

Chapel Hill Businesses

Businesses That Call Chapel Hill Home

From innovative startups to nationally recognized organizations, Chapel Hill is home to businesses and institutions that value collaboration, talent, and long-term growth. These organizations contribute to the community’s culture of innovation while helping strengthen the local economy and quality of life.

World-class Research with Local Heart

Chapel Hill offers something rare: a genuine business community backed by world-class research infrastructure. Whether you’re relocating or starting out, your business will find the resources, talent, and support to truly grow here.

Tap into UNC, a top-tier R1 research university, and our diverse, highly educated workforce. Centered in the Research Triangle, we offer unmatched regional connectivity alongside the best public school district in the state, premier healthcare, a vibrant culture, and, of course, the Division I Tar Heels basketball team. With an unbeatable quality of life, this is where world-class talent wants to stay and work for great employers just like you.

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June 30, 2026

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Our Team

At Your Service

Connect with the Chapel Hill team for guidance, resources, and local insight. Whether you’re exploring business opportunities, planning a move, or looking for the right contact, we’re here to help you take the next step.

David Putnam

Economic Development Director

Sarah Potter

Business Vitality Manager

Connect To More

Next to it All for
Business

A small town hub with connected communities and seamless access to global business destinations. That’s Chapel Hill. See why hundreds of expanding companies choose our town for its central location, top-ranked highway infrastructure, and airport proximity.

North Carolina’s infrastructure is some of the best in the nation, ranked No. 4 in 2026 for its high-performing, cost-effective highways. Pair that with Chapel Hill’s strategic, centralized location, and it means businesses are never far from where they need to be. Interstate 40, a major east-west transcontinental highway, serves as the primary driver of interstate travel with direct connections to Charlotte, NC, Nashville, TN, and as far as the West Coast.

Meanwhile, local roadways keep traffic flowing smoothly throughout the Chapel Hill region and to nearby communities and towns like Carrboro and Hillsborough:

  • NC Highway 54 connects Chapel Hill to Carrboro in the west and Durham/Raleigh to the east.
  • NC 86 runs directly through town center and the UNC campus to Hillsborough, the county seat.
  • US 15-501 gets you to Duke University in Durham in about 20 minutes.

North Carolina’s infrastructure is some of the best in the nation, ranked No. 4 in 2026 for its high-performing, cost-effective highways. Pair that with Chapel Hill’s strategic, centralized location, and it means businesses are never far from where they need to be. Interstate 40, a major east-west transcontinental highway, serves as the primary driver of interstate travel with direct connections to Charlotte, NC, Nashville, TN, and as far as the West Coast.

Meanwhile, local roadways keep traffic flowing smoothly throughout the Chapel Hill region and to nearby communities and towns like Carrboro and Hillsborough:

  • NC Highway 54 connects Chapel Hill to Carrboro in the west and Durham/Raleigh to the east.
  • NC 86 runs directly through town center and the UNC campus to Hillsborough, the county seat.
  • US 15-501 gets you to Duke University in Durham in about 20 minutes.

Helpful Resources

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Located just under 30 minutes from Chapel Hill, RDU offers close to 400 daily flights and non-stop service to 80+ domestic and international destinations.

Visit RDU International Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Get around town easier with fare-free transportation that makes it easy to access nearby communities and hubs like Carrboro and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Visit Chapel Hill Transit

Rooted in Community. Driven by Possibility.

From its vibrant downtown and renowned university culture to its thriving business and innovation scene, Chapel Hill offers a unique blend of energy, opportunity, and connection. It’s a place where tradition and progress come together to create a community people are proud to call home.

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Sites & Incentives

From class-A office space to job creation incentives, Chapel Hill is your partner for a thriving business in North Carolina.

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Existing Business Support

Whether your company has been in Chapel Hill for months or decades, we’re dedicated to retaining your business.

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New Businesses

Need help navigating a new opening or accessing financing? Our team connects your business to the right resources.

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Connect with Chapel Hill Economic Development to ask questions, explore opportunities, and learn more about why this community is right for you.