There's nothing quite like the buzz of a room full of engaged REALTORS® and community leaders, especially when that buzz is fueled by fresh coffee from a local favorite. That was the scene at our recent "Economic Grind: Brewing Business in the Triangle" event, where Pretty Good Coffee Company's mobile cart kept the energy high as we dove deep into what's next for our region.
If you're wondering what the future holds for our growth, imagine having a coffee chat with some of the most influential voices in our community. That's exactly what we created – a morning of candid conversation with an incredible lineup of local leaders who know firsthand what's driving our market.
Economic Panel, left to right: GPIC Chair Jay Sutton, Dan Gerlach, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, Michael Haley, Bill Bullock.
Mayor Janet Cowell shared her priorities for Raleigh as she steps into her new role as Mayor while drawing on her rich experience as State Treasurer and leader of Dix Park Conservancy. Her unique perspective on public-private partnerships and city development had everyone taking notes. Bill Bullock from the NC Biotechnology Center got us excited about the booming life sciences sector (do you know how many biotech companies are eyeing the Triangle?). At the same time, Michael Haley from Wake County Economic Development painted a picture of who's looking to call our region home.
Dan Gerlach brought his wealth of policy expertise to the table, and let me tell you – when someone who's managed the Golden LEAF Foundation talks about economic development, you want to lean in and listen. GPIC Chair Jay Sutton kept the conversation flowing, asking the questions we all wanted answers to.
What really got everyone talking? Housing affordability and how it connects to everything else happening in our region. From Downtown South to North Hills, we're seeing incredible development – but how do we keep it sustainable and accessible? These are the questions our panelists tackled head-on.
Between sips of premium coffee and networking with colleagues, we heard real talk about real challenges and opportunities. It wasn't just about the data points (though we had plenty of those); it was about understanding what these changes mean for our daily work as REALTORS® and for our community's future.
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell talking with Sandy Edwards, GPIC Vice Chair. Photos by Jay Nelson
None of this would have been possible without our amazing sponsors and partners. Ownify, our premier sponsor, is doing incredible things in property management innovation. Sierra Structures continues to shape our landscape with their development expertise. And Pretty Good Coffee Company? Well, they proved that great conversations start with great coffee.
Want to know more about what's coming for the Triangle? Here are the key takeaways that had everyone buzzing:
- Infrastructure and transportation are top of mind
- Innovation is at the forefront of economic development announcements
- Most companies that invest in North Carolina and the Triangle area expand
- Housing is top of mind for businesses and elected officials
- Public-private partnerships are key to development and growth
By the way, if you missed it, you missed something special – but stay tuned. With the energy and engagement we saw, you can bet we'll be brewing up more opportunities for these crucial conversations.
A quick note about our sponsors and partners:
Ownify is revolutionizing how we think about property management. Check them out at ownify.com.
Sierra Structures builds more than structures – they build community. Learn more about their vision at sierrastructures.com.
Pretty Good Coffee Company brings the café to you, making every event a little more special with their mobile coffee service. Check them out at prettygoodcoffeecompany.com
Click the image above to view the entire photo gallery from "The Economic Grind: Brewing Business in the Triangle" event