Charlotte-based R.J. Leeper Construction has signed a three-year lease for more than 1,300 square feet of space located at 890 South Kerr Ave., Suite 250 in Wilmington, said James Mitchell, president of the company.
R.J. Leeper Construction, a minority-lead contractor, was founded in 1993 by former Charlotte City Councilman Ron Leeper, according to a Wilmington Chamber of Commerce news release. The business has completed over 450 projects as a general contractor and construction manager for a total dollar volume of more than $700 million.
In Wilmington, R.J. Leeper plans to have a total of seven employees by March 2022, including a local manager to run the office, project managers, engineers and superintendents.
The company also plans to offer internships and work with local educational institutions, such as the University of North Carolina Wilmington, he said.
“Particularly, I’m looking to collaborate with UNCW. I want to keep three spots open for three interns who need the experience, who could bring that creativity to our office,” Mitchell said.
The commercial construction firm aims to dive into local market projects, specifically with area hospitals and health care businesses, the airport and local higher educational institutions, he said.
“R.J. Leeper has done about six projects with Novant in Charlotte … so we have proven ourselves with Novant. We know their system and we think we will be a good fit here to chase some of the health care work,” Mitchell said.
The firm has also worked on 11 campuses of the UNC-System, including offices and educational buildings, gymnasiums and renovations, he said.
“When I look at our resume, those two markets stand out as why Wilmington was such a good fit for us,” Mitchell said. “And the airport. Currently, we’re doing a $500 million project at the airport in Charlotte. And we see Wilmington’s growth at its airport… growing tremendously.”
The company also plans to aim for work on sports complexes and other education buildings in the Port City, he said.
"We are the program agent for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools system; that means we oversee all the schools, the bonding program that Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has, and we think we can provide that same service here as Wilmington continues to grow their K-12 school system," Mitchell said.
On top of its internships, the company also plans to bring its workforce development program and a mentor-protege program to its local office.
"We take the underemployed or the unemployed, and we send them to construction training, and then we find them the jobs. We've been so successful in Charlotte we have hired about 117 people (through company contractors), with an average salary of $17.10," he said of the company's workforce program.
The company has not yet hired local employees, but employs about 23 people at its base in Charlotte, he said. R.J. Leeper hopes to land their first project for its Wilmington office by the fall.
Mitchell said, "It is my goal, when we win our first project, we will start hiring."
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