Elizabeth City, N.C. — The future of America’s maritime defense industry brings opportunities for businesses, workers and communities across northeastern North Carolina. Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) hosted the North Carolina Maritime Manufacturing Initiative (NCMMI) Northeast Listening Session Nov. 5, gathering leaders from manufacturing, education, workforce development and government to explore how the region can help meet the nation’s maritime defense needs.
Held at the Kermit E. White Graduate Center, the listening session focused on strengthening North Carolina’s role in the maritime manufacturing industry, while creating pathways to skilled, high-paying careers and expanding opportunities for local manufacturers.
“We are especially pleased to serve as a host for this gathering because the work taking place here today speaks directly to something we believe deeply at Elizabeth City State University: A university’s impact should extend well beyond its campus boundaries. At ECSU, we embrace our identity as a community university,” said ECSU Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove, Sr.
NC State University’s Industry Extension Services (IES) and the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) lead NCMMI’s efforts to work alongside a growing network of statewide partners to build a collaborative North Carolina maritime manufacturing ecosystem.
For northeastern North Carolina, the initiative offers an opportunity to support national defense and turn the region’s existing strengths into lasting economic growth.
Rep. Don Davis, who represents North Carolina’s First Congressional District, discussed the importance of ensuring the region plays a leading role in the initiative. Davis emphasized the region’s proximity to Virginia’s naval operations, and established workforce and growing technological capabilities as key advantages.
“This region is uniquely positioned. Every single day, hundreds of workers travel back and forth across the Virginia border, linking our local workforce with the Hampton Roads maritime hub—the largest naval ecosystem on Earth. Combined with Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, our growing drone and unmanned systems assets at ECSU, and our rich industrial heritage, CD-1 is the natural front door for North Carolina’s defense maritime future.”
Meeting a National Demand, Creating Local Opportunity
The need for additional workers, suppliers and manufacturing capabilities remains significant.
Capt. Jared Harlow, Deputy Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector said, “Maritime manufacturing is vital to the United States economy. It supports commerce, transportation, energy supply chains and thousands of skilled jobs across a broad industrial base. It is equally important to our national defense. A resilient maritime manufacturing sector helps a nation build, maintain, repair and supply the systems that are required to protect American interests at home and abroad.”
For North Carolina manufacturers, this demand presents opportunities to enter or expand in the national defense supply chain, especially for those specializing in machining, fabrication, welding, engineering and advanced technologies.
However, accessing those opportunities also requires businesses to navigate complex contracting requirements, strengthen cybersecurity practices, adopt new technologies and develop the workforce needed to meet production demands.
NCMMI is designed to help address those challenges.
“North Carolina has the manufacturing expertise, technical resources and workforce development capabilities needed to make meaningful contributions to the nation’s maritime industrial base,” said Fiona Baxter, associate executive director of NC State Industry Extension Services. “NCMMI is designed to connect these resources, address barriers to participation, and help North Carolina companies become more capable and competitive suppliers.”
Turning Regional Strengths into Economic Growth
The listening session allowed stakeholders to identify regional manufacturing strengths, discuss participation barriers, and provide input to shape NCMMI’s statewide strategy. The discussion also emphasized making sure smaller manufacturers and rural communities benefit from industry expansion.
Workforce development is a central part of that strategy.
The initiative’s collaborative approach also creates opportunities for institutions like ECSU to contribute through education, research, innovation and workforce partnerships.
“We are working to expand educational pathways that connect students to emerging industries and high-demand careers. Our partnerships with regional school systems, community colleges, universities, and industry leaders are helping us create opportunities for students to explore career pathways, gain practical experience, and envision futures that they may not have previously considered,” said Chancellor Hargrove.
With its growing aviation science program, investments in unmanned systems, and increasing emphasis on technology in education, ECSU is positioned to participate in conversations that connect regional talent and institutional resources with rising defense industry needs.
The listening session was one of two regional discussions planned for eastern North Carolina, with the University of North Carolina Wilmington also hosting. Feedback from these conversations is intended to help shape the initiative’s approach to strengthening the state’s maritime manufacturing capabilities.
As the NCMMI continues the work to sustain the nation’s maritime future, the businesses and partnerships formed will ensure northeastern North Carolina has a place in it.
To learn more about the NCMMI strategic plan, click here.
