President's Report from March 17, 2026

Transportation and infrastructure continue to be central to the Wilmington region’s growth and quality of life, and the Greater Wilmington Chamber remains actively engaged in several important conversations shaping our future.
 
Recently, the Chamber attended the latest ILM Part 150 update as part of the ongoing airport noise compatibility study at Wilmington International Airport. ILM has been one of the fastest growing airports in the country in recent years, with increased passenger traffic driven by business travel, tourism and military operations. As service continues to expand, the study will help evaluate the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding neighborhoods and identify strategies that allow the airport to grow while remaining a good partner to the community.
 
Last week, the Chamber also participated in a regional stakeholder meeting hosted by the N.C. Department of Transportation regarding the development of a new statewide multimodal freight plan. Thanks in large part to strong advocacy from our local Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO), the meeting included robust participation from regional business and logistics leaders. We appreciate WMPO staff for ensuring southeastern North Carolina’s transportation and freight priorities are clearly represented in the state’s long-term planning.
 
Finally, the Wrightsville Beach Bridge Replacement Committee, led by former Greater Wilmington Chamber Board Chair Neal Andrew, met this week to discuss planning efforts for the future replacement of three aging bridges connecting Wrightsville Beach to the mainland. The project remains in the design phase and is currently expected to begin in spring 2028. While NCDOT will lead the project, local leaders and volunteers are working proactively to prepare for the significant infrastructure investment and ensure the community’s needs are represented throughout the process.
 
Our Chamber will continue monitoring these efforts and advocating for transportation investments that support our region’s long-term growth. If any of these issues may impact your business operations, workforce mobility or supply chain, we welcome your feedback. Hearing directly from our members helps ensure the business community’s perspective is represented in these important conversations.