Natalie English

In March 2017, Natalie English took on the role of president and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, moving to the area from Charlotte where she had spent years heading up public policy efforts for the chamber there.
 

In what main areas has the chamber moved ahead on in the past couple of years?

“We’ve implemented some new programming and are attracting new audiences to the work and activity of the chamber. 

We started the African American Business Council and are very excited about the work that group is doing to focus on growth of African American-owned businesses. 

As a result of the impact Hurricane Florence had on the region, we have created a Business Emergency Operations Center. I’m pleased that no businesses needed it when Hurricane Dorian brushed our coast …

The chamber is in the process of creating initiatives to directly affect talent and workforce challenges in our region by working directly with employers to define hard-to-fill positions then work with education institutions and others to develop a pipeline for the future.

We are also creating a regional advocacy group on transportation infrastructure needs. The chamber has grown in revenue and membership for each of the last couple of years.”

Not long after you started, the Choose Cape Fear marketing campaign was a major initiative the chamber led around the Wells Fargo Championship tournament in 2017. It was talked about as a way to get the different organizations and agencies marketing the region to potential new businesses on the same page and working together. Has it lived up to what you envisioned it could do?

“To be fair, the Choose Cape Fear campaign was actually a vision of the chamber leadership before I even arrived. 

I think it certainly lived up to the part of the vision to have a brand for the week of the Wells Fargo Championship. The article that appeared in Site Selection magazine that summer would support my assertion. 

I will say that it has yet to live up to what it could be. This region needs to work together to market itself as a great place to do business.

We have agencies that respond when businesses are interested in expanded or relocating, though there is opportunity in proactively telling the world about this region.

And I believe an agreed-upon campaign is the way to go. I personally like the ring of ‘Choose Cape Fear,’ however, if there is a better, regionally appealing campaign, I would support that as well.

My point is that we will be even stronger if we unify our voices in communicating about the benefits of doing business in the Cape Fear region.”

What are some of those issues you think are most pressing for the Wilmington business community now or in the near future? 

“I believe the most pressing issue today is to address our transportation infrastructure. With the challenges faced by our NCDOT, we must develop a collective regional voice to advocate for investments in infrastructure in our region.

As the fastest-growing region in the state, the investments are needed merely to accommodate the growth. The alternative will significantly limit any economic development opportunities. … We must work together to support the construction of an additional bridge across the Cape Fear River, complete the Hampstead Bypass and continue the improvements to U.S. 74 just to name a few.

Additionally, we must partner with governmental leadership across the region to expedite processes for developing property. 

We must protect the environment while not crippling landowners. We already have a significant affordable housing challenge in the region, and we don’t have enough commercial space for businesses already considering our region.

Both of those issues will be exacerbated by regulatory processes and limitations. Our governmental agencies must be better partners as landowners present projects to house businesses and their employees in what will likely take some creativity in the way projects look as well as how they are funded and financed.

We have employers who voice concerns about attracting and retaining talent. We will work with businesses and education institutions to ensure we are developing quality talent for their needs. And we will work with the city and county to maintain, and improve upon, the attractiveness of the region as a place to live …

We must support our education and health care institutions as they work to accommodate the growth in our region and as technology innovations present themselves. In some cases, that support will include additional funding. In some cases, it may be policies to account for technology improvements.

Finally, we must continue the work to make this an inclusive place to live and work.

As the region experiences exponential growth, we will be joined by people who aren’t from here and who look and think differently. Change can be good, hard yes, but also good.”