Bob Pike, President & CEO, Carolinas Gateway Partnership

Invest: spoke with Bob Pike, president and CEO of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership, about the region’s industrial momentum, the long-term potential of Kingsboro Business Park, and the need to align economic growth with community priorities. “Economic development is not simply about recruiting projects — it is about ensuring those projects align with community values and long-term goals,” Pike said.

What have been the most important developments in the Carolinas Gateway region over the past year, and how have they shaped your priorities?

Carolinas Gateway Partnership is a public-private economic development organization serving Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, and the town of Tarboro, with a primary focus on industrial development. Over the past year, the region has seen tremendous momentum, driven largely by the emergence of Kingsboro Business Park as one of the premier megasites in North Carolina. Given North Carolina’s reputation as the nation’s top state for business, we believe Kingsboro has the potential to become one of the leading megasites in the country. That recognition has generated significant interest from companies seeking large-scale industrial locations. 

At the same time, existing industries continue to reinvest in the region, which is one of the strongest indicators of a healthy economic ecosystem. Cummins has announced nearly $750 million in investments in Rocky Mount, ABB is expanding in Pinetops, LS Cable continues to invest in Tarboro, and Amazon recently established operations in Tarboro. Alongside these major announcements, the region is also seeing a steady flow of smaller projects, including companies relocating into existing industrial buildings. Together, these investments are creating sustained momentum and reinforcing confidence in the market. 

To support that growth, we recently established a local industry workforce development director position focused on strengthening workforce pipelines and supporting employers throughout the region. Workforce readiness remains one of our top priorities as interest in advanced manufacturing and industrial projects continues to grow. 

The Carolinas Gateway region offers many of the critical assets companies are looking for today. We have developed and shovel-ready industrial land, robust power infrastructure supported by Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, and local electric providers, along with major transmission capacity. Natural gas infrastructure is also extensive throughout the region. In addition, Rocky Mount’s water treatment system, originally built to support the textile industry, provides substantial capacity for industrial users requiring high volumes of high-quality water. The region also benefits from strong fiber and broadband infrastructure, which has attracted interest from data center projects. Transportation and logistics remain another major advantage, with Rocky Mount’s deep railroad history and CSX’s nearby intermodal facility functioning as an inland port for the region. 

How are those strengths translating into momentum for the region?

Equally important is the region’s workforce and educational infrastructure. Nash and Edgecombe community colleges, along with a cooperative network of 10 community colleges across the area, provide customized workforce training and advanced manufacturing programs tailored to industry needs. Combined with the region’s strong agricultural heritage and rich historical identity in communities like Tarboro, Rocky Mount, and Princeville, these assets create a unique quality of place that supports long-term growth. 

The region is also benefiting from its proximity to the Raleigh-Durham market, located roughly 50 miles away. As growth continues to expand eastward, communities like Edgecombe County are seeing increased interest from companies looking for opportunity, affordability, and room for expansion. 

While large-scale projects generate attention, we also recognize the importance of what we call the “singles, doubles, and triples” of economic development. Smaller projects and local business 

expansions form the backbone of a resilient economy and help create the foundation for future transformational projects.

How are you thinking about growth as more interest comes into the area?

As growth accelerates, our focus is increasingly centered on responsible rural industrial development. Economic development is not simply about recruiting projects — it is about ensuring those projects align with community values and long-term goals. That means conducting due diligence, planning thoughtfully, and building trust with residents, even when confidentiality limits what can be shared during the early stages of projects. 

Edgecombe County’s countywide zoning framework provides an important tool for managing growth strategically. As new jobs are created and population growth follows, we must also plan for housing, infrastructure, transportation, and quality-of-life investments. That includes balancing industrial growth with the preservation of agricultural land, historical communities, and the character of rural eastern North Carolina. 

What are your top priorities for the region over the next three to five years?

Looking ahead over the next three to five years, our priorities remain focused on attracting transformative projects while ensuring growth remains balanced and sustainable. We want to capitalize on the ongoing reindustrialization of the American economy by bringing the right projects to Kingsboro and the broader region, while remaining mindful of the needs and expectations of current and future residents. 

We also recognize that future growth will require attracting talent from outside the region, which means continued investment in transportation and regional connectivity. The area already benefits from a regional transit system and direct Amtrak access through Rocky Mount, both of which strengthen regional mobility. 

Finally, we see significant opportunities in tourism and quality-of-place development. Tarboro’s historic character, Rocky Mount’s downtown redevelopment efforts, its train station, and opportunities along the I-95 corridor all position the region for expanded destination development and broader economic diversification. 

The interest from companies is real, and the opportunities are significant. Our goal is to position the Carolinas Gateway region to capitalize on that momentum in a way that creates lasting benefits for businesses, residents, and future generations alike.