What is a "Green Business Center"?
A Green Business Center has companies that fit into the general concept of environmentally friendly products or technologies. These businesses will also be able to create safe, healthy, family wage jobs; have a minimal environmental impact; and nurture the surrounding community. This might be one main business like a solar manufacturing company, or it might be a series of smaller businesses doing manufacturing, distribution, and/or service work related to green products and businesses.
Growth in Green Business and Green Collar Jobs
According to Kevin Doyle, president of Green Economy, a Boston-based firm that promotes an environmentally healthy workforce, the green industry in the United States in 2005 was about $265 billion employing 1.6 million people in an estimated 118,000 jobs. This information was adapted from the Environmental Business Journal, he says, and does not include the organic industry.
Green businesses have also been growing at a rate of about 5% annually during the last three years, Doyle says. Growth within construction and services associated with ''green buildings'' that meet industry standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council today are worth $12 billion; 10 years ago, it was unquantifiable.
The importance of thinking "Green"
With a Green Business Center the local area will prosper in terms of economic development and job creation, but at the same time we will improve the overall environment through less waste, less pollution and cleaner industries being recruited. This will also have the effect of a more secure future less dependent on imports and non-renewable resources.
Value of a Central North Carolina Location
The Ramseur community and surrounding region is a very supportive area for business. There are numerous green builders, developers and businesses growing in the area. The site is well located regionally within central North Carolina. There are good transportation connections to the major metropolitan areas, neighboring states, and the entire mid-atlantic and southern U.S. region. These include:
Building in Ramseur is just off highway 64/49 (20,000 vehicles pass this spot per day on Highway 64).
Highway 64/49 runs east/west making connections to Raleigh/Research Triangle/Durham to the east and Winston Salem/Highpoint to the west.
Greensboro is accessible by Highway 49, or 220, or 421. Highway 220/Interstate 73/74 running North/South is 10 miles to the west of site. Highway 421 running North/South is 10 miles to the east of site.
Charlotte is 1.5 hours away on Highway 49. I-40/85 is 30 minutes away.
Building and Location
Good access, easy to find, and good parking for trucks/trailers. Easily subdivided inot smaller spaces. Various Green Businesses can provide benefits to each other. High ceilings, loading docks, and thick concrete floors. A central location, available work force, and available support networks such as Community Colleges for job training, etc.
Types of Businesses that might be part of our Green Business Center
The following are some examples of Green Business Center Businesses:
Energy Related: Alternative energy manufacturer and/or distributor (wind, solar, bio-mass, clean fuel manufacturer) green-hybrid car parts manufacturer/repair shop or even a bicycle manufacturer.
Green Products: Natural clothing manufacturer, green printing processes and green cleaning product manufacturer/distributor.
Building and Home: Green builder, natural landscaping company, water-saver related products such as rainwater catchment systems, and organic farm product distributor.
Your Business: Please contact us and let us know what your "green" business needs are.