The Chamber serves over 940 member businesses in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro region, most of which have 20 or fewer employees. It works to advance the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the community. The region is home to over 50,000 employees and has a small town feel despite big city amenities, due to its proximity to major universities and research centers like UNC-Chapel Hill. While the public sector dominates the local economy, commercial and mixed-use development is growing to address issues like a lack of available jobs and affordable housing for residents.

1. It’s smart business.

2. About the Chamber
• Our Mission: to serve and advance the business interests of
our members and to support the mission of the Chamber’s
Foundation for a Sustainable Community.
• The Foundation invests business and community
resources to promote and advance the triple bottom
line of community sustainability: environmental
stewardship, social equity and economic prosperity.

3. Who We Are and Serve
• 940 Members:
• 80% have 20 or fewer employees
• Collectively they employ 50,000 people
• 35 Board Members
• 6 Chamber employees, with four additional Foundation
employees
$1,400,000
Foundation
$1,200,000
Chamber
$1,000,000
$800,000
$600,000
$400,000
$200,000
$0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (budget)

4. Chapel Hill – Carrboro Region
• We are ‘nestled ‘in the rolling, wooded Piedmont of North
Carolina. Our towns are located three hours from the
Atlantic coast and three hours from the Blue Ridge
Mountains, half way between Atlanta and Washington DC.
• Population:
• Chapel Hill: 51,485 | Carrboro: 17,585
• Orange Co: 120,881
• Research Triangle Region : 1.5 million

5. What Sets Us Apart
Big City Amenities with a Small Town Feel
$678m #1
in sponsored research Top state business
funding at UNC-Chapel climate
Hill Office of Sponsored Research Site Selection, 2007
#10 highest
Large metro for business Average SAT Score of all NC
attraction School Districts
Expansion Management, 2007
11
#1 Colleges and universities
Best public school value: in a 20 mile radius
UNC-Chapel Hill
100%
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. 2008
Classrooms connected to
the internet

6. Our Economic Position
• The University of North Carolina at its partner health care
system are the top employers ($1.2 billion+ in annual wages).
• 8 of the top ten largest employers are public or nonprofit
organizations.
• Housing is relatively expensive with the average single family
house price exceeding $425,000.
• Unemployment is historically low (2-3%), but growing (5%)
• 40% of workers commute into the county for work, 40% of
residents commute out of the county for.
• There are only 86 jobs for every 100 workers.
• $650 million in new commercial and mixed use development is
approved or in the pipeline.

7. Regional Assets
• The Research Triangle Region has more
PhDs per capita than anywhere in the US
• Chapel Hill and Carrboro have more
restaurants per capita than anywhere in
the US (1:200)
• The state of NC pays 50% of all wages
earned in Orange County
• 28,200 undergraduate, graduate and
professional student at UNC Chapel Hill

8. Regional Assets
• Exceptional Performing Arts Venues
• Quality College Athletics
• Well Educated Population
• Extensive, Fare-Free Public Transportation
• Substantial Parks, Greenways and Bike
Paths
• Well-Protected Natural Environment