Community Leadership Visit 2024 - Durham, North Carolina - Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Why Durham?

In 2024, the Chamber is leading our 30th Community Leadership Visit to Durham, North Carolina. These trips provide the opportunity to experience a peer community, learn best practices, engage with industry leaders and experts, build relationships with fellow attendees, and more. Past trips have been successful catalysts for some of the Springfield region's most exciting community and economic development projects, and this year's trip will inspire you to continue thinking bigger.

Durham has many similarities to the Springfield region and continues to capitalize on its assets. CLV attendees can anticipate an exceptional program that delves into the strategies and initiatives propelling the region's economic growth. Highlights include fostering robust public-private partnerships, significant corporate philanthropy, investments in workforce development, effective regionalism, successful community space revitalization, insights into the Research Triangle Park, talent attraction and marketing strategies, and more.

Trip Details

Restaurant Options

During our first evening in Durham, you will have the opportunity to dine at a local restaurant for a small-group dinner. Click on each of the restaurant options below to check out what they have to offer!

Bar Virgile
- Bar Virgile, in downtown Durham, is known for its craft cocktails and ever-changing dinner menu. Sourcing from local purveyors, the dynamic team ensures high-quality service and offerings. With a friendly staff and bustling atmosphere, they've become a landmark destination in the Triangle area.

Counting House
- Counting House, led by Chef Stephanie Klos, features bold local cuisine and seafood amidst contemporary art. Enjoy innovative cocktails, local craft brews, and a historic setting with original terrazzo floors.

JuJu Durham
- Juju Durham offers creatively prepared small plates with bold flavors, balancing tradition and whimsy. Alongside its menu, Juju Durham features a dynamic beverage program with handmade cocktails, Sake, artisan wines, and craft beers.

NanaSteak
- NanaSteak offers high-energy upscale dining. The bar top and tables, inlaid with real tobacco leaves by Artisan Leaf, pay homage to Durham's tobacco history.

Parizade
- Parizade, the flagship of the Giorgios Group, offers Mediterranean fare and has been a Durham staple for over 30 years. Executive Chef Jason Lawless brings precision and passion to the cuisine, ensuring high standards in quality, service, and atmosphere. Parizade is dedicated to using local ingredients and providing excellent service.
Seraphine
- Seraphine is Durham's new Louisiana-inspired restaurant located in the American Tobacco Campus. The menu includes Cajun classics such as gumbo, boudin sausage, crawfish, and beignets.

Vin Rouge
- Vin Rouge pays homage to the French New Wave of the 1950s and 60s, with walls adorned with black and white photos of celebrities and French Art Deco designs. A treasure of French cuisine, Vin Rouge offers classic dishes such as escargots, steak frites, and fruits de mer.

Community Immersion Activities

On the second day of our visit, you will have the opportunity to choose one Community Immersion Activity from the following offerings.

Self-Guided Tour of the American Tobacco Campus
- For decades, the American Tobacco Campus was one of the busiest industrial centers in the country. Today, the campus has been transformed into a vibrant area for recreation and entertainment which attracts millions of guests each year.

Durham City of Medicine Walking Tour
- The Durham City of Medicine Walking Tour explores Durham’s transformation from a tobacco town to a medical innovation hub. Participants will see the American Tobacco Campus and hear stories of medical breakthroughs and the visionaries behind them.

Durham Pub Crawl & Haunted Adventure Tour
- Explore downtown Durham with the Durham Pub Crawl & Haunted Adventure Tour. Hear thrilling ghost stories, learn about paranormal encounters, and delve into the city’s haunted heritage.

Nasher Museum of Art Visit
- Explore the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, featuring groundbreaking contemporary art and innovative exhibitions. Join our guided tour to discover the museum’s treasures.

Self-Guided Tour of Sarah P. Duke Gardens
- Explore the breathtaking Duke Gardens at your own pace with a self-guided visit. With five miles of allées, walks, and pathways, Duke Gardens offers a world-class botanical experience at a world-class university.

Meet with your counterpart
- Use this time to meet with your counterpart! Chamber staff can assist in connecting you to your counterpart, however, you will be responsible for communicating with your counterpart and scheduling this meeting.

Explore on your own
- Explore the wonderful amenities and offerings of the region on your own!

Hotel & Venue Information

This Community Leadership will offer the unique opportunity to visit several venues throughout the city of Durham. Click on the links below for a preview of where we will be spending our three days!

21c Museum Hotel - Located in downtown Durham, 21c Museum Hotel combines a contemporary art museum with a boutique hotel. Featuring over 10,500 square feet of art exhibition space, luxurious guest rooms, and the Counting House restaurant, it offers a unique experience. Open since 2015, it engages visitors with modern art and innovative design by Deborah Berke Partners, blending 21st-century innovation with the historic Hill Building’s Art Deco style.

Duke Athletics Cameron Indoor Stadium - Cameron Indoor Stadium, located on Duke University's campus in Durham, North Carolina, is a 9,314-seat arena that hosts the Duke Blue Devils' men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball games. Opened in January 1940, it was originally named Duke Indoor Stadium and was renamed in 1972 in honor of Eddie Cameron, a former basketball coach, football coach, and athletic director at Duke.

PNC Triangle Club - The PNC Triangle Club at Durham Bulls Athletic Park is ideally situated directly behind home plate, offering full-glass views of the field and easy access to the seating area. Located within the American Tobacco Campus, this area was once part of one of the busiest industrial centers in the country, shipping products worldwide. The decline of the tobacco industry in Durham necessitated a reinvention of the Bull City, which began right here with a blazing start. This transformation was achieved through a collaborative effort between local government and private sector leaders. The redevelopment of the former American Tobacco factory has rejuvenated the city, setting a new standard for live-work-play environments.

Research Triangle Park - Founded in 1959 and strategically positioned at the heart of three Tier-1 research universities, RTP stands as North Carolina's foremost global innovation hub. Spanning 7,000 acres, it is home to hundreds of organizations, including science and technology firms, government agencies, academic institutions, startups, and nonprofits.

The Carolina Theatre of Durham - The Carolina Theatre is a performing arts and cinema complex located in downtown Durham, North Carolina. It is managed by the nonprofit organization, The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc.

The Rickhouse - Originally built in 1938 as RJ Reynolds' Prizery, The Rickhouse overlooks the historic Durham Athletic Park, the original home of the Durham Bulls, in the Central Park district of downtown Durham. Just a short distance from numerous hotels, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and parks.

The Roof at the Durham Hotel - A boutique hotel in downtown Durham, celebrated for its rich history and mid-century modern architecture, was originally built in 1968. In 2015, it was renovated but preserved much of the building's 1960s charm, including the distinct gold-accented facade and original floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel's rooftop lounge, The Roof at The Durham, offers stunning views and has become a community favorite.

Relevant News Articles

Workforce Development/Education

Economic Development

Tourism

Quality of Life & Talent Attraction

Opportunities for Improvement

From WUNC: Durham educators march to call for county to fund school board’s budget request

Community Leadership Visit 2024 – Durham, North Carolina

Why Durham?

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