Invest Greenville celebrated Economic Development Week from Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8, 2026, with a series of events highlighting the partnerships, industries, talent, and community connections driving growth across Greenville-Pitt County.
“Economic development touches every part of our community, from infrastructure and talent development to small businesses and quality of life,” said CeCe Wilkerson, communications and events coordinator for Invest Greenville. “Being able to be a part of planning Economic Development Week this year really emphasized the strong partnerships we have across Greenville, Pitt County, and eastern North Carolina. It’s an opportunity to bring people together, celebrate progress, and continue building momentum for the future.”
Created in 2016 by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the initiative aims to raise awareness of local programs and organizations that strengthen communities and support long-term economic growth.
“Economic Development Week gives us the opportunity to showcase the energy, innovation, and collaboration happening across Greenville–Pitt County every day,” said Josh Lewis, president and CEO of Invest Greenville. “From highlighting initiatives such as our business and industry recruitment, the efforts to enhance our airport’s service offerings, as well as our talent and community engagement programming, this week reflects the many ways Greenville–Pitt County continues to grow and create opportunity.”
Event Highlights:
Kickoff Breakfast and Mini Summit- Monday, May 4:
The week began with a kickoff breakfast and mini summit hosted by Invest Greenville, focused on strengthening air service and enhancing the passenger experience at Pitt-Greenville Airport. Community stakeholders, business leaders, and local partners gathered to discuss ongoing efforts to improve connectivity and support continued growth across Greenville–Pitt County.
“Strong air service is essential to the continued growth and competitiveness of Pitt County and eastern North Carolina,” said Dan Mayo, EdD, chairman of the Pitt-Greenville Airport Authority Board. “What made this event especially meaningful was seeing so many community and business leaders come together to think creatively about the future of PGV. In addition to improving connectivity, there were impactful conversations about how we can create a welcoming, memorable experience for every traveler who passes through our airport.
the The program featured two panel discussions, a rapid-fire Q&A, and small group discussions focused on the future of air travel and passenger experience in eastern North Carolina.
“Growing Opportunity: Air Service Strategy Panel” explored ways to strengthen regional air service and support economic growth by improving connectivity.
“From Functional to Memorable: Passenger Experience Panel” focused on enhancing the traveler experience and creating a more welcoming and efficient airport environment.
“Passenger Perspectives: Rapid-Fire Q&A” provided insight into the passenger experience and highlighted the importance of accessible, reliable and customer-focused air travel.
Tray table talks gave attendees the opportunity to share ideas, discuss challenges and collaborate on opportunities related to air service and airport experience improvements.
Eastern NC Energy and Industry Summit- Tuesday, May 5:
Tuesday featured the Eastern NC Energy and Industry Summit, hosted in partnership with Piedmont Natural Gas and Pitt Community College Business and Workforce Solutions.
The summit brought together community leaders and industry professionals for engaging panel discussions focused on the future of energy, talent development, and industrial growth across eastern North Carolina.
The program featured two panel discussions:
“Fueling the Future: Building North Carolina’s Next Generation Energy Workforce” explored strategies to prepare and develop the talent needed to support the state’s growing energy sector.
“Fueling Growth: How Energy Infrastructure Drives Economic Development” highlighted the role reliable energy infrastructure plays in supporting business investment, industry expansion, and long-term economic success.
Conversations throughout the summit emphasized the importance of strong partnerships, innovation, and forward-thinking strategies as Greenville–Pitt County continues to grow.
Creators and Cocktails- Wednesday, May 6:
Economic Development Week continued with Creators and Cocktails, an event designed to connect digital creators from across Greenville–Pitt County. Held at Agave in downtown Greenville, the evening brought together local creatives for networking, collaboration, and meaningful conversation centered around showcasing the community and strengthening Greenville’s growing digital and entrepreneurial landscape.
“Bringing together local content creators who already do such an incredible job showcasing Greenville-Pitt County is a meaningful way for us to show our appreciation for the work they do every day,” said Julia Davis, talent engagement manager for Invest Greenville. “This event gave us the opportunity to connect them with Grow in Greenville resources, encourage new collaborations, and continue building momentum around sharing the community we all know and love with a wider audience.”
The event, hosted by Invest Greenville and Grow in Greenville, emphasized the importance of supporting creative talent, fostering authentic community connections, and creating opportunities for local creators to collaborate in ways that continue elevating Greenville-Pitt County as a vibrant place to live, work, and grow.
Professionals with Littles- Thursday, May 7:
On Thursday, Invest Greenville hosted its third Professionals with Littles event at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at A Time for Science in Greenville. The event brought together working parents for an evening of networking, conversation, and family-friendly activities.
“As a full-time working mom of two young daughters, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to balance professional growth with family responsibilities,” said Maria Satira, vice president of marketing and talent programming. "Professionals with Littles creates a space where parents don’t have to choose between the two. It’s powerful to see working professionals able to build meaningful connections and expand their networks while their children are welcomed, included, and engaged alongside them. Events like this help foster a more supportive, family-friendly professional community.”
While parents connected with fellow professionals, children explored the museum through interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences. The event reflected Greenville–Pitt County’s commitment to supporting quality of life and creating opportunities for meaningful community engagement.
Spring 2026 ECU Commencement Mini Mic Interviews- Friday, May 8:
Economic Development Week concluded with Mini Mic Interviews featuring students from East Carolina University’s Spring class of 2026 who are choosing to build their careers in Greenville-Pitt County after graduation.
The interviews highlighted the talent, energy, and ambition of ECU graduates and showcased why so many young professionals are choosing to grow their futures in eastern North Carolina.
Economic Development Week serves as an annual opportunity to recognize the people, partnerships, and progress shaping Greenville–Pitt County. From talent development and infrastructure to entrepreneurship and community engagement, the week highlighted the shared commitment to building a strong and vibrant future for eastern North Carolina.
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Media Relations Contact:
Maria Satira Vice President, Marketing and Talent Programming Invest Greenville satira@investgreevillenc.com 252-414-2875
