Helping Communities Shine

Whether researching and implementing ways to shape a community's economic development plan or partnering to create ways to put people to work, CREC connects researchers and policymakers with:

• Data training
• Custom portfolios that aid regional competitiveness

Project Profile

North Carolina Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Government
Start Date: Oct 2016 — End Date: Apr 2017

CREC assisted Ridgetop Associates in updating North Carolina’s Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) as part of the North Carolina Tomorrow Initiative. CREC conducted economic research into building upon the recent successes on the 16 regional councils including: exploring opportunities for leveraging the marketplace; establishing and maintaining regional infrastructure; creating and revitalizing healthy and vibrant communities; and cultivating talent and innovative attitudes within each region. In addition, CREC and Ridgetop conducted a survey of each regional council, collecting feedback on best practices and challenges. The project updates the 2014 statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and will guide North Carolina’s future economic development efforts

About the Client

North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Government

Regional councils in North Carolina are the result of 1969 legislation that charged the NC Department of Administration with developing “…a system of multi-county regional planning districts to cover the entire state” after congress passed the intergovernmental cooperation act in 1968 calling for closer cooperation between federal programs and state and local governments.