Boomtowns: As it works to attract new businesses, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina celebrates 10 years [Video]

NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) — On a personal level, Lisa Bamford was excited when Sciencix chose to relocate its headquarters from Minnesota to the Triangle in 2019.

“I’m Raleigh born and bred,” said Bamford, the company’s Director of Global Marketing and Business Development.

Initially, the area was attractive to accessibility to RDU, the nearby port system in Wilmington, and the existing hub of laboratories and biotech companies in the Triangle. However, it’s what they did not anticipate which has played a key role in its rapid growth.

“I felt like I had tapped into the best secret in North Carolina,” said Bamford, referring to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

The EDPNC is a public-private economic development nonprofit, which plays a role in both supporting existing businesses and enticing outside enterprises to open in the state.

“We were able to tap into markets and double our business in some cases there when we could …