The North Carolina Economic Development Association and Creative Economic Development Consulting surveyed local economic development agencies across North Carolina to gauge the usage and terms for incentives for economic development. The findings were compared to a 2011 study to see how incentive policy has changed in the state. The results of this study can be …
One of an economic developer’s roles is to educate local officials on economic development principles, best practices, and trends. We have had some discussions lately on how to help local officials understand the different wage metrics that can be used for incentive and grant programs. The terms average wage, manufacturing wage, poverty wage, and living …
Wage Measures 201 –Educating Community Stakeholders on this Important Metric Read More »
In the late twentieth century when economic development was becoming professionalized, a community might have one sheet of paper describing its ‘workforce’ which would be shared with prospects and clients. Key indicators like Total Labor Force, Unemployment Rate, and % of Workforce with a High School Diploma would be featured. It might also include a …
Check out the guest blog Crystal Morphis and Penny Whiteheart authored for our strategic partner Convergent Nonprofit Solutions. It’s a good read!
The Noquisiyi Initiative was the 2021 Creative Give Back winner. The Initiative and partners are establishing a Cultural District around the Noquisiyi Mound in Franklin, NC. This new district will honor the heritage of the Cherokee people and help to build universal understanding between cultures. The pioneering project proposed includes a learning center, education facilities, and entrepreneurship space. Creative EDC’s role was to help refine the redevelopment …
Developing a Vision for a Cultural Resources District Read More »
We hope you pick up a sweet tidbit or two from the Top 10 Things We Learned This Year. You know we are avid readers. We know you are too, because our most read blog each year is “Summer Reading.” There are many good recommended reading lists, but our favorite is Adam Grant’s. Childcare is …
Top 10 Things We Learned This Year – Holiday Video 2021 Read More »
As the end of the calendar year draws near, many economic developers are thinking about how to spend that big bonus check. Others are wondering how to convince their EDO to create a bonus plan. It is also the time of the year to think about salary raises for you and your staff. We have …
At Creative EDC, our strategic plans have no shelf life. They are meant for action, not gathering dust on a shelf. We believe in the value of planning your work and working your plan. The Economic Development Authority of Amherst County, VA is a great example of working a strategic plan. The EDA methodically worked …
Downtown Wake Forest, NC is historic and charming featuring many shops and restaurants. One thing it does not yet have is a major employer. When Jason Cannon, President of Wake Forest’s Business and Industry Partnership (BIP), learned that a local operator of co-working spaces had plans to convert a downtown warehouse into co-working and event …
One of the more interesting projects Creative EDC worked on this year was an update to the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) strategic plan. Interesting, in part, because of the timing. Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of the economic recovery effort. During …
It’s not just a tagline – “SBTDC: Your Business. Better.” Read More »
If you are one of the 52% of workers who are considering a job change this year or the 44% (Fast Company) who have plans in place, then you need a plan for your first 30 days on the new job. The first days of a new job are a whirlwind of meet and greet, …
Top 10 Things to Do in Your First 30-Days on the Job Read More »
Now more than ever before, communities are looking for growth in economic activity to “get back to normal’. Opportunities for new investment and jobs often means developing a clear communications strategy to brief local and state government partners on the potential for the project, or even to advocate for public investments or actions to support …
It is hard to imagine in our lifetimes a summer more anticipated and full of promise than the summer of 2021. Opportunity and possibility are everywhere we look, especially when compared to last year when the world seemed so closed and unpredictable. Books may be a part of your plans for a sweet summer or …
We like to see data. Reading data just doesn’t paint the same picture as data visualization. With a keen focus on the unemployment rate over the last 15 months, we wanted to see what was happening across our primary market (NC, SC, and VA). Like you, over the past 15 months we read about soaring …
What is the key to staying in the same position, in the same community for a long time and continuing to be successful? In a profession of musical chairs, what’s the secret sauce to longevity? We asked six economic developers who have been in the same position in the same community for more than 20 …
The Secret Sauce to a Long Career in Economic Development – Advice from the Best Read More »
