Carrollton — the heart of one of Isle of Wight County’s targeted growth districts — has seen a surge of small businesses opening over the past two months.

Seven new businesses have opened so far this year in the Newport Development District, said Tom Elder, the county’s director of economic development. The Newport District includes most of U.S. Route 17 through Carrollton, Brewers Neck Boulevard and U.S. Route 10, between Tan Road and the town of Smithfield.

7-Eleven has a store under construction near Eagle Harbor and Rite Aid has filed site plans to build a new store at Smith’s Neck Road and Route 17, Elder said.

Developers are building Carrollton Manor, a subdivision of 43 single-family homes off Route 17, now. Benn’s Grant, a mixed-use development of retail, 240 apartments and 280 single-family homes that has been in the works for years, is finally under construction.

“We have a lot of growth coming this way,” Elder said. “Eagle Harbor is largely completed and new apartments are under construction.

“It’s a busy corridor … with a tremendous traffic count — 24,000 vehicles a day. Residential rooftops drive retail development … so we hope to see more retail and medical offices in the future.”

The new businesses that have opened in Carrollton this year include:

4GameShop, a video game store, located in Carrollton Cove Shoppes, 15042 Carrollton Blvd.

4Healing Hands Home Health Care, an agency catering to the needs of the elderly, mentally and physically challenged, also located in Carrollton Cove Shoppes

4Little Black Dress, located at 5137 Carrollton Blvd., a consignment shop specializing in wedding gowns and prom attire

4A Verizon Wireless Store mobile phone store located at 13440 Carrollton Blvd.

4Stateline Realty, located in the Kantsios Building at 15221 Carrollton Blvd.

4Amanda Rachael Photography, located at 15064 Carrollton Blvd.

4And Baeza’s Auto Sales, located at 22313 Brewer’s Neck Blvd.

Dan Lawson, co-owner of Stateline Realty, which expanded from Chesapeake to Carrollton within the past month, is excited about his firm’s new office.

“I think it’s a good opportunity,” he said. “It’s a growing area, and we can pick up a lot of traffic from Hampton, Newport News and North Suffolk.

“We are starting small and will expand as business grows. We’re just trying to get our name and presence out here now.”

Brenda Benn, owner of Healing Hands, recently moved her business from Newport News to Carrollton.

“Carrollton is a growing area … and so many homes and businesses are being built here right now,” she said. “I feel really good about the potential growth in this area, and I wanted to be part of it.”

Elder hopes the county can attract more retailers to the thriving Carrollton area within the next five years, including an upscale grocer and a sporting good store, along with more medical offices.

“The key to generating that retail growth is going to be attracting more daytime employment opportunities, such as medical offices, to the area,” he added.