Southeastern North Carolina has a large number of building product manufacturers and distributors. The
region is an ideal location for these companies due to overall population and business growth in the region. The
Fayetteville and Wilmington areas are two of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina. Wood products have
always been a strong industry sector in the region, and there are over 75 wood products companies located
here, making products such as wallboard, trusses, doors, cabinets, lumber, and panels. The Port of Wilmington
allows for excellent access for importing and exporting of wood and other raw materials.

BUILDING PRODUCTS ASSETS

Southeastern NC is growing much faster than most

parts of the US. That growth—fueled by baby boomers

who want to retire at the coast, the “half-backers” who

are leaving the high costs of Florida, the major

increases in defense-related personnel at Ft. Bragg (the

largest army facility in the US), and the region’s low

construction costs—makes for a significant market for

building products.

And not only do we have the market, but we also have

the raw material resources to support that growth —

significant timber resources and numerous

manufacturers of building products supporting both the

regional NC and regional US market.

POPULATION GROWTH

The counties in NC’s Southeast Region are expected to

collectively grow to a 2010 population of over 1.1

million people (+18% from 2000 to 2010). These same

counties are predicted to grow another 23% from

2010 to 2029, up to almost 1.4 million people.

Brunswick, one of the two coastal counties, is predicted

to grow more than 50% from 2000 to 2010, making it

the 14th fastest growing county in the nation. (NC State

Data Center)

WOOD RAW MATERIAL RESOURCES

The Region produces 145 million cf of roundwood

timber products (2007 US Forest Service) via 40

logging companies, including the famous“Swamp

Loggers” as seen on TV’s Discovery Channel.

NC State University—premier university in the US for wood products studies and research
NCSU’s Department of Wood and Paper Science (www.cnr.ncsu.edu/wps) has evolved since 1929 and

has an international reputation across the areas

of wood products, paper science and engineering and

forest biomaterials.

• The Hodges Wood Products Laboratory and the Wood

   Extension Service provides technical services

   involving various aspects of wood chemistry and

   wood utilization.

• Extensive and groundbreaking research across

   disciplines in the specific areas of: forest

   biomaterials, wood chemistry, physics and materials

   science for multiphase materials, biotechnology and

   enzymes for new genetic strains and applications,

   nonwood fiber processing, alternative building

   materials and methodologies, sustainable wood

   materials, wood machining and tooling, and value

   added wood products.

The Department of Wood and Paper Science (WPS) has

a long and successful history of partnerships with

manufacturing companies, private investors, and

government research and economic development organizations.