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Overview
The idea of a multi-sector leadership group in the Triangle Region first sprang from the Triangle’s 1992 World-Class Region Conference. The conference, moderated by Neil Pierce of The Citistates Group, assembled the region’s top business, academic, government and civic leaders to discuss regional growth. Out of that discussion came this message: "We need a way to set strategic directions, coordinate and share resources, and work together across the public and private sectors and across jurisdictions. Wise leadership can promote the win-win techniques that share the benefits and burdens of developing our region and preserving our quality of life." As a direct result of that conference, The Greater Triangle Regional Council (GTRC), a permanent leadership group, formed in 1993. In March 2005, GTRC was renamed Triangle Tomorrow, to more clearly express the organization's vision and focus. Why is Regional Leadership Important?The Triangle is changing fast. A generation ago, the region was very different than it is today. There was no Jordan Lake or Falls Lake. The Research Triangle Park had 16 companies and 8,000 workers, compared to over 40,000 workers today. There was no Crabtree Valley Mall, no Streets at Southpoint, or Triangle Town Center. The population of Cary was 7,400. And the airport had one small terminal and one main runway. Over the last few decades our population has exploded. Today the population of the Triangle metro area is over 1 million. It is expected to grow by another 600,000 over the next generation. This forecasted growth would make the Triangle region bigger than present-day metro areas like Charlotte, Orlando and San Antonio. Just imagine the scale and scope of the changes to come. Smart regional growth takes strong leadership and clear vision. Triangle Tomorrow is working to build both. How is the "Triangle Region" defined?The Triangle Region evokes different images for different people. Many people think of the Triangle as three core counties that host the region's universities and largest cities: Durham, Orange, and Wake. Triangle Tomorrow's work and focus extends beyond the three core counties. We work closely with business and community leaders to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the 13 counties in our region, which include:
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