Raleigh City Council Work Session - Tuesday, June 9, 2026

The City of Raleigh held a City Council Work Session on June 9, 2026, focused primarily on economic development initiatives. Kyle Touchstone from Raleigh Economic Development presented an overview of their activities, budget, and future plans. The department is fully funded by the city and works closely with the Raleigh Chamber and Wake County Economic Development to attract and support businesses. Key highlights included ongoing projects representing potential $3 billion in capital investment and 8,600 new jobs within the city, with a strong emphasis on manufacturing and headquarters relocations. The presentation also covered marketing efforts, including a national public relations campaign and digital outreach to targeted industry sectors. Council members discussed topics such as the distribution of industry sectors, downtown development challenges, transit infrastructure, business incentive grants, and workforce considerations. Action items included potential revisions to the business investment grant program to improve accessibility and incorporate salary floors, as well as requests for follow-up data on employer participation in local programs and compliance with hiring commitments.