The Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County and the state collectively create an attractive ecosystem for business. In 2018, Chapel Hill’s Town Council adopted economic incentives specifically designed to encourage growth and improve quality of life.
Four incentive types are available for businesses and developers:
- Building new spaces
- New capital investment
- Job creation
- Location, retention, or expansion of targeted businesses
Whether you’re just getting started or scaling up, Orange County’s Small Business Grant Program provides real financial backing for local entrepreneurs, with $170,000 available annually to help small businesses grow and thrive in the community. The program has three cycles per year, with the following deadlines:
- February 28
- June 30
- October 30
State-level incentives from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina round out the available incentives, with workforce training support, tax exemptions, and C-PACE financing options for clean energy upgrades to existing buildings. C-PACE financing can be used for energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy installations, and resiliency upgrades such as:
- Central HVAC replacements or enhancements
- Parking lot solar canopies
- LED lighting upgrades
- Flood resiliency measures
- ENERGY STAR – rated windows
- Elevator modernization
- Building envelope improvements
- Rooftop solar installations
- Weatherization projects
