We're in the business of people.
A public-private partnership working shoulder to shoulder with Onslow's employers, leaders, and residents — building alignment, reducing fragmentation, and advocating for a stronger, more diversified coastal economy.
A public-private partnership, rooted in Onslow.
Onslow Coastal Alliance (OCA) is the lead economic development organization for Onslow County — serving Jacksonville, Surf City, Swansboro, Holly Ridge, Richlands, North Topsail Beach, and the surrounding area. We are a 501(c)(6) nonprofit public-private partnership, powered by investors — businesses, individuals, and government partners — working together to strengthen, grow and diversify our economy and build long-term competitiveness for Onslow County.
Founded in 1970 and long known as Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development with its Committee of 100 investor group, our team has helped companies find sites, connect with talent, and grow with confidence on the Carolina coast — offering a concierge-style front door that builds trust, keeps our community informed and involved, and connects people so the whole county grows stronger together.
In September 2026, we stepped forward as Onslow Coastal Alliance — a stronger organization with a renewed focus, new board leadership, stronger partners, and a strategic plan aligned with measurable goals for success and healthy growth.
- Attracting new investment and jobs
- Helping existing businesses expand and stay
- Supporting entrepreneurship
- Developing industrial and business parks
- Site selection and data assistance
- Coordinating public-private partnerships
We become the standard on how success looks in economic development.
Through leadership, relationships, standards, communication, and trust — we aim to show what economic development can be when it is done with discipline, care, and follow-through.
Setting the direction and doing the work — not just talking about it.
Building trust across business, government, and community before a project needs it.
Holding every site, stat, and conversation to a high, honest bar.
Clear, fast, and direct — no marketing filler, no runaround.
Confidentiality, follow-through, and consistency that earn long-term partners.
What drives our work.
A diverse and resilient economy for Onslow County.
Where businesses and communities prosper and thrive.
Supporting the community's economic development vision.
Onslow Coastal Alliance (OCA) supports it through recruitment, product development, business retention, and entrepreneurship; strengthening assets; and fostering strategic collaborations between the public and private sectors.
The mission of Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development and the Committee of 100 is to stimulate, encourage and promote economic development in Onslow County and its municipalities. We strive to accomplish this through the recruitment of new business and investment, the creation of new jobs and assisting in the retention and expansion of our existing business and industry.
Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development, Inc. now does business as Onslow Coastal Alliance (OCA) — the same commitment, carried forward under a new name as of September 2026.
Our roadmap
for a resilient economy.
A diverse and resilient economy for Onslow County where businesses and communities prosper and thrive — advanced through recruitment, product development, business retention, entrepreneurship, and strong public-private collaboration.
Download the Strategic Plan (PDF)Includes metrics, implementation plan, cluster and workforce analysis, and business and community survey results.
- 01
Attract, retain, and support businesses that diversify the economy and provide well-paying jobs
Proactive business retention and expansion, target-cluster recruitment, and a long-range product development strategy for sites, parks, and buildings.
- 02
Leverage the talent pipeline
Align education and workforce training with target clusters and convene workforce partners around shared employer needs.
- 03
Develop and deploy a brand identity that attracts business, investment, and people
Curate Onslow County's story — coastal lifestyle, defense strength, and advanced industry — into one competitive market identity.
- 04
Connect the county, municipalities, and the private sector
Serve as convener on infrastructure, housing, placemaking, and market research that advance community and economic development together.
- 05
Invest in the organization and plan implementation
Competitive funding, investor relations, and staff and board development so the community's economic goals are actually realized.
Services that move projects forward.
From first inquiry to opening day, we help companies navigate Onslow with clarity and speed.
Consultation
Guidance on local incentives, grants, workforce development, and product readiness.
Data-Driven Decisions
Client-specific demographic and community research to support your business case.
Location Assistance
Confidential site selection and relocation support across Onslow's industrial parks.
Community Introduction
A comprehensive look at Onslow's business, industry, and civic landscape.
Industry Support
Ongoing assistance for existing employers, including community business loan programs.
Established Network
Direct access to local, state, and civic leaders shaping economic growth.
The municipalities of Onslow County.
Onslow County is home to six municipalities and a network of established unincorporated communities — each an important thread of the county, with its own character, assets, and story. Every one is worth seeing and experiencing.
New River waterfront, JacksonvilleJacksonville
CityOnslow's county seat and largest city — home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, regional retail, healthcare, and higher education.
Community profile
Downtown SwansboroSwansboro
TownHistoric waterfront town on the White Oak River known as the 'Friendly City by the Sea' — a growing hub for tourism, dining, and small business.
Community profile
Richlands at sunsetRichlands
TownAgricultural community in western Onslow with a strong small-town business core and quick access to Jacksonville.
Community profile
Coastline near Holly RidgeHolly Ridge
TownFast-growing town along US Highway 17 between Jacksonville and Wilmington, benefiting from residential and commercial expansion.
Community profile
Bridge to Topsail IslandNorth Topsail Beach
TownCoastal community on Topsail Island — a key driver of Onslow's visitor economy and vacation-rental market.
Community profile
Surf City pier at sunriseSurf City
Town (partial)Beach town spanning Onslow and Pender counties, anchoring tourism and hospitality along the southern coast.
Community profileSneads Ferry · Hubert · Piney Green · Half Moon · Verona · Dixon · Folkstone · Silverdale
Small team. Deep bench.
Day to day, our team does the work behind the plan: recruiting target-cluster companies, standing beside existing employers as they expand, opening up sites and buildings, and connecting talent, municipalities, and the private sector. With decades of economic development experience and a network that spans the county, region, and state, we bring the relationships and know-how that turn conversations into projects. Whether you're scouting a location, hiring, launching something new, or simply curious about where Onslow is headed — reach out. Ask a question, request the numbers, or just say hello. Growth here happens through relationships, and we'd like to start one with you.
Start with a hello.
Governed by the
community
we serve.
Economic development doesn't happen by accident. It takes everyone's ideas, hard work, open minds, and passion — the willingness to communicate, collaborate, and carry a shared vision across the finish line. That's how a community builds an economy so strong and a quality of life so magnetic that other places around the world look at Onslow County and want to be us.
Our board brings that work together. Business leaders, elected officials, and community partners from Onslow County, Jacksonville, and the region's key industries serve side by side — setting strategic priorities, challenging assumptions, and stewarding the public-private partnership that turns ambition into action.
- Adrianne ElderDuke Energy
- Bob MillsMighty Parts of Coastal Carolina
- Brock GossColdwell Banker
- Ed FutrellFirst Citizens Bank
- Heather ReynoldsTown Manager, Holly Ridge
- Jason NelsonAtlantic Construction
- Jeb BrownBrown Properties
- Nicholas P. W. Lanier, PECreek Development Group, Inc.
- Ricky MareadyJOEMC
- Laurette LeagonPresident, Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce
- Eddie MooreManager / Local Director, NCWorks Career Center (NCDOC)
- Brig. Gen. Andre M. IngramCommanding General, MCI East – MCB Camp Lejeune
- Col. Thomas C. Farrington IICommanding Officer, MCAS New River
- Dr. Christopher BarnesSuperintendent, Onslow County Schools
- Dr. Penney Burlingame DealCEO, Onslow Memorial Hospital
- Franky HowardCEO, Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA)
- David HeatherlyPresident, Coastal Carolina Community College
- Mitch SprungerDirector, Albert J. Ellis Airport
- Scott SmithExecutive Director, Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission
- Ricky MareadyCEO, Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corporation (JOEMC)
- Lauren WargoDistrict Manager, Duke Energy (Government & Community Relations)
- Pete ParnianMayor, Town of Holly Ridge
- Sammy PhillipsMayor, City of Jacksonville
- Rick GrantMayor, Town of North Topsail Beach
- McKinley SmithMayor, Town of Richlands
- Teresa BattsMayor, Town of Surf City
- William (Bill) JusticeMayor, Town of Swansboro
Ready to help shape Onslow's next chapter?
Our board is built on people who care about what's next — business leaders, officials, and community partners willing to turn ideas into action. If you're interested in serving, let's start a conversation.
Work where growth meets the coast.
We periodically hire for economic development, marketing, and project management roles. No current openings? We're always open to meeting talented people who share our mission.
Relationships first, always.
Whether you're evaluating a site, growing a local business, or exploring investment — we'd like to hear from you.