R.J. Leeper Construction brings in $173.5M, staying one of Charlotte’s largest Black-owned businesses

R.J. Leeper Construction remains a notable force in Charlotte’s construction sector, bringing in $173.5 million in revenue in 2025 and landing at No. 3 among the region’s largest Black-owned companies, according to the Charlotte Business Journal’s most recent ranking.

The company’s new position marks a change from its previous No. 1 spot. Even so, its revenue and standing among the area’s top Black-owned businesses reflect its continued strength in a highly competitive regional market.

The Charlotte Business Journal’s 2026 list includes 52 locally based Black-owned companies, which together employ more than 600 people. Mills Automotive Group took the top spot with estimated 2025 revenue of more than $500 million, while McFarland Construction placed second with $285.3 million in revenue. R.J.

Leeper reported 60 full-time local employees and operates in construction management, general contracting, and industrial and commercial electrical contracting. The company’s growth has been closely linked to its 2021 acquisition by Bright Hope Capital. In a LinkedIn post celebrating an earlier No.

1 ranking, R.J. Leeper described the deal as a turning point in its business trajectory, noting that it had been named Charlotte’s largest Black-owned company twice, in 2023 and in the year of that announcement. “Every ranking has a story behind it.

Ours is rooted in the people who build this city every day,” the company said in the post. It also pointed to a commitment to “workforce development and real career pathways,” along with quality, transparency, and long-term investment in Charlotte’s built environment. In addition to its project portfolio, R.J.

Leeper says workforce development and industry partnerships are central to its strategy. The company has highlighted relationships with trade partners, joint venture partners, and community organizations that help broaden opportunity through their combined workforces. Founded in Charlotte in 1994, R.J.

Leeper has steadily expanded its reach and capabilities over the past three decades. Its work spans healthcare, higher education, K-12 education, infrastructure, industrial construction, and mixed-use development. Although the latest ranking puts R.J.

Leeper behind two other Charlotte businesses, its $173.5 million in revenue keeps the company firmly part of the broader conversation about the economic impact of Black-owned businesses in the region. RELATED CONTENT: Better Black Business Initiative Launches Career Program For Justice-Impacted Youth