Charlotte Economic Development Releases FY 2026 Annual Report

Published on September 21, 2026

A graphic banner promoting the Charlotte Economic Report

Charlotte Economic Development is celebrating a milestone year in its work to create jobs, foster business growth, increase the tax base and enhance the quality of life for Charlotte residents.

The numbers, outlined in the department’s recently published FY 2026 Annual Report, illustrate this success, including:

  • Leading 12 business recruitment project announcements, the most in at least a decade, representing 5,842 proposed jobs and a $574.7 million in capital investment. This includes SMBC Group, the largest office-related jobs announcement in North Carolina history. 
  • Supporting the launch of Skilled to Build, a citywide initiative to prepare small businesses and workforce for mobility and infrastructure opportunities emerging from the sales tax that was approved by Mecklenburg County voters in November 2025.
  • Reaching more than 800 Charlotte small businesses through events and training programs. This includes record attendance and national recognition for two signature small business events: Charlotte Small Business Month in May and Global Entrepreneurship Week in November.
  • Providing planning support to help complete and activate the Do Greater Sparkhouse Uptown, an innovation hub for emerging entrepreneurs that opened in June.
  • Leveraging public-private partnerships to shape transformative real estate projects that benefit the entire community and support development in the city’s Corridors of Opportunity. This includes key milestones for Eastland Yards; the opening of the River District; and new life for Excelsior, a Beatties Ford Road landmark.
  • Building on the opening of The Pearl, Charlotte’s first innovation district, to launch gBETA Charlotte Health, the region’s first health innovation pre-accelerator program.
  • Helping to attract more than a dozen headquarters or regional hubs to the Queen City, including SMBC Group, Scout Motors, Pike Electric, Maersk and PSA Airlines.

“We are pleased to share our FY 2026 Annual Report.” said Charlotte Economic Development Director Shahid Rana, who completed his first full year in this key leadership role in June. “It has been a privilege to lead such a dedicated team as we worked collaboratively to meet the evolving needs of our community while supporting the city’s continued growth, resilience and long-term success.”

Read the full annual report

Tagged as:
Back to top