WDI: Downtown growth is better than ever

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — In downtown Wilmington the numbers are in, and they’re good.

Business professionals, property owners and local leaders met on Thursday at a luncheon to hear about the growth.

Ed Wolverton with Wilmington Downtown Inc. said in the 2016 – 2017 year, downtown Wilmington saw a 16% growth with 46 new businesses bringing 304 jobs.

There was also a total investment of more than $67 million worth of projects.

He said things are progressing downtown and he’s noticed it when looking at bigger cities across the country.

“We are dealing with issues of cleanliness and safety and so we can look at these larger cities,” Wolverton said. “They may have more resources but yet they’re facing the same kinds of issues and they can provide a great urban lab for us to be able to emulate those things that have worked well and in many cases find some low cost solutions that we can implement here.”

A guest speaker from the Chicago Loop Alliance also noted Wilmington’s rapid development.