Having your headquarters in Durham and loving it!

Community, partnerships, people, technology and ideas.  There's no question that these factors are critical in driving companies toward world-class achievement and, more importantly, results. For proof, consider Durham, North Carolina.  During the past 50 years, and especially during the last decade, Durham has experienced an evolution in its economic base ignited by individuals who formed dynamic partnerships and harnessed cutting-edge technology to give life to new ideas. From the tobacco and textile boom of the early 1900's to the high-tech/biotechnology emergence of the 21st century, Durham completely evolved from its tobacco/textile history to move to the forefront of technological innovation because of the commitment of individuals and government to helping transform ideas into reality.  With a dynamic environment that balances a steady focus on product innovation with customer satisfaction, Durham has a long-standing record of distinguished technological results and a surprising history of corporate presence.  We see our city as the ideal home for your company precisely because of this stimulating environment.  Durham has what it takes to cultivate, for your company, a future of success.

View a listing of companies with corporate headquarters in Durham.

Community

One of the foremost reasons that businesses cite in locating a facility in this community is Durham's outstanding quality of life.  This factor allows companies to attract an educated and skilled labor force both nationally and internationally.  In addition, the Durham area enjoys a positive and stable business environment.  Since 2000, the local workforce has increased by nearly 120,000 workers to meet the needs of a growing economy.  Without a doubt, the quality of Durham and the region's labor force has been instrumental in allowing the community to sustain its development momentum.  The accolades the Research Triangle region has received clearly enhances the ability of companies to recruit employees for a broad spectrum of jobs.

While Durham's economy has a strong research and development component, corporate administration also plays a significant role.  The ability of the area to support the growth and diversification of Durham's economy is largely due to the partnerships that have been formed and that continue to perform each day. Durham possesses a combination of a well-trained workforce, a high quality of life, a positive business environment, an enviable cost of doing business, and a strategic location.  Durham is proud of its constantly evolving economic base.  As a result, Durham is a logical location for a corporate headquarters.

Durham and the other cities in the Triangle have made major investments in their physical infrastructure as well as in their arts and cultural scene in order to create a high quality social environment for the employees of area corporations.  Durham and the Triangle have invested tens of millions of dollars in new performing arts facilities, professional ballparks, arenas, museums, and parks.  As a result, more and more people are discovering Durham's cultural offerings and leisure activities.  If you are a fan of one of the outstanding college and professional sports teams based in the Triangle area, or if you would rather take advantage of one of the hundreds of quality golf courses located within hours of the Triangle, the options for a quality life outside work are endless.

For example, Durham is preparing to invest $44 million to build a new 2,800 seat performing arts center in order to expand Durham's cultural and performing arts venues and attractions.  This is a prime example of how Durham is working to make it more attractive and conducive for corporate headquarters.

If a true life of leisure outside work suits you better, consider this scenario.  After attending an off-Broadway play or a concert, one can enjoy a memorable meal at one of Durham's many fine restaurants.  Several of Durham's restaurants are nationally recognized for quality of their cuisine. However, what is equally impressive is the wide range of cuisines to choose from -Thai, Indian, Mexican, or good old southern barbeque - no matter what you are in the mood for, you will be able to find it in Durham.

Many of these athletic, cultural or outdoor activities are the result of a unique collaboration among universities, companies, and local government.  Overall, the citizens and companies in Durham and the Triangle region continue to be supportive of undertaking improvements that improve the quality of life for Durham and the Triangle's residents.

In terms of education, a family can expect to receive excellent educational opportunities for their children. The Triangle boasts four high schools recognized by Newsweek magazine as being ranked among America's top 100 public high schools.  There are several outstanding private and religious schools in the Triangle as well.  The State of North Carolina also has the School of Science and Math located in Durham.  The best and brightest junior and senior year high school students in the sciences from all over the state attend this residential high school.

For a company, world class medical treatment is generally not a consideration until a family member falls ill or is seriously injured. Durham is blessed to be home to one America's finest hospitals and teaching hospitals - Duke University Medical Center.  Located approximately 10 miles to the west is another nationally recognized teaching hospital, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hospital. Having health facilities such as these provides the community a true feeling of confidence that family members and company employees will receive world class medical attention.

Durham County enjoys forging relationships with its business community and using partnerships to enhance the area's economic prosperity and future.  This positive business environment allows companies to build the facilities they need as well as attract the quality workforce required in today's ever increasingly competitive marketplace.  While Durham County has been rated as having the best economy in the State for the past two years, we recognize fame and fortune is fleeting and we will continue to work hard to build a better support system for the area's business community.

Corporate Presence

Durham has been attracting corporate headquarters for the past two decades.  While not typically known as a "company headquarters" town, Durham and the Triangle have been able to successfully support headquarters operations.  With three major doctoral research universities in the region and eight other colleges and universities with a total enrollment of 92,000 students, Durham and Triangle area serve as an excellent source of a highly trained and educated workforce.  Moreover, the region has been attracting quality corporate talent seeking a more family friendly and work friendly environment.

As a result of these excellent resources, companies have continued to thrive in our area. Durham has contributed to the growth of GlaxoSmithKline into a 5,000 employee company.  Now Durham is one of two headquarter communities for GSK. IBM's Durham County campus comprises the largest US facility for IBM housing several divisions for the company. In 1990, Reichhold Chemicals consolidated its operations in Durham from five other locations.  Since that time, Reichhold has made several more acquisitions that have also been consolidated into its Durham headquarters. Reichhold constructed a 320,000 square foot combination headquarters and R&D center at its Durham campus.  Last year The American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA) elected to move their headquarters to Durham due to the outstanding operating cost advantages and the ability to recruit a diverse and well educated workforce.

Bayer Crop Science located its US headquarters to Durham County in order to take advantage of the operating cost advantages as well as access to the bountiful technically trained workforce and the location of the three nationally recognized doctoral research universities located within 10 miles of it location.

France's bioMeriuex purchased an Organon Teknika division headquarters facility in Durham and has made Durham its North American headquarters.  From Durham, bioMerieux can serve the entire US market.

Durham is somewhat unique in that several locally grown and financed companies have maintained their headquarters in Durham.   Cree and Parata Systems are local homegrown companies that are prospering, even in today's tumultuous business times.  Cree employs more than 1000 employees locally and close to 1300s nationally while Parata employs close to 200 locally and will increase its employment to 400 in the next few years.

Durham is proud to say that it has added a number of corporate headquarters in the past two decades because of the positive business environment and blend of quality of life and working life that the residents of Durham will experience.

Results

At the dedication ceremony of Schwarz Biosciences, a subsidiary of Schwarz Pharma, in Research Triangle Park; Patrick Schwarz Schutte, Chairman of Schwarz Pharma of Germany, discussed the reasons that his company selected its location in the Durham County portion of Research Triangle Park for the location of its North American headquarters.  Mr. Schwarz mentioned the following reasons for selecting Durham over other communities such as Boston, Seattle, Austin, Philadelphia, San Diego, and San Francisco:

  • Advantageous Cost of Living: of the areas considered by Schwarz, the Triangle had the lowest cost of living of the major urban centers with a base of biotechnology companies.
  • Superb Quality of Life: the Triangle, in Mr. Schwarz's estimation, offered the best overall quality of living in that this area combines an excellent business environment with a superior quality of life.  The weather is good, the homes affordable, the communities are resident friendly and respectful of new residents of different nationalities and cultures, and there is a good selection of arts and cultural events.  Simply stated, the employees and their families enjoy living here.
  • Excellent Technical Workforce: Mr. Schwarz discovered the pool of workers in the area to be excellent and it is neither difficult nor expensive to attract world class talent to live in the Triangle.
  • Supportive Business Environment: the area's business environment is very strong. Schwarz has found the technical resources that it needs in terms of complementary skill areas in finance, law, IT and other business support services.
  • Strong Local and State Government Support: government understands and supports technology oriented companies and works to promote their growth and prosperity. Government is business friendly and seeks to cooperate with business.
  • State of the Art Physical Infrastructure: the business community is served by an excellent system of telecommunications, power and natural gas with the proven capability to support a technology company.  This system has developed as a result of working with business clients who demand and require reliable and cost effective utility services.
  • Positive Influence of the Local Universities: collaboration with the local doctoral research universities is excellent, and supportive of a company's research and development activities.
  • Advantageous Access to Nationally Recognized Medical Centers : having two top medical schools and hospitals, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in the region provides excellent opportunity for collaboration in the medical field.  Both are very strong in research as well as patient care.

Mr. Schwarz also complimented the area on the ability to complete the facility planning and development phase quickly.  There is extensive architectural, engineering and construction expertise and talent in the region due the level of experience that has been gained as a result of design and construction of state of the art biotechnology and pharmaceutical projects in the region for more than four decades.