GREENVILLE, NC (April 7, 2025) – The Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Greenville-ENC Alliance, Pitt County Economic Development, and Pitt County Schools, is set to launch Grow Local Week, scheduled for April 7-11, 2025.  Grow Local is a no-cost business/educator initiative designed to introduce, involve, inspire, and invest in the future of our community and workforce.

Grow Local is a program designed to create and unveil career interests, grow the talent pipeline, and connect local businesses to future employees.  This year, the program matched 2,620 Pitt County middle and high school students to participate in an on- or off-campus experience, giving them the opportunity to learn more about all career opportunities available within their host business.  These experiences are made possible by the 75 local businesses participating, along with partnerships from Pitt County Schools and the Pitt County Educational Foundation. 

From tours of local businesses, conversations with business leaders, and hands-on activities, students experience the work in a field relevant to class curricula.  Since its inception in 2018, Grow Local has matched over 17,000 middle and high school students with a career experience.

“Through Grow Local, we are equipping students with opportunities they need to succeed while helping businesses find the talent necessary for growth,” said Trent McGee, president and chief executive officer of the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce.  “This initiative is not just about filling jobs–it’s about building a resilient, competitive economy for the future.”

The Chamber is excited to welcome Be Pro Be Proud North Carolina back for the third consecutive year on Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9 in the Pitt Community College G. Henry Leslie Building parking lot.  Using two custom-built exhibition trailers equipped with virtual reality technology, Be Pro Be Proud delivers a ground-breaking set of tools and resources designed to help students explore, plan, and launch careers in today's technical skilled professions that are in high demand.  If you are interested in visiting the exhibition trailers, email Kimber Stone at kimber@remove-thisgreenvillenc.org for more information.

Additional sponsors for Grow Local include: Catalent, Greenville Utilities Commission, Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Jaggers, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

To find out more about Grow Local, please visit greenvillenc.org/growlocal.

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Media Contact:
Trent McGee, President & CEO
Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce
(252) 752-4101 ext. 2225
trent@remove-thisgreenvillenc.org