NC Economic Development Board Wraps Up Strategic Plan Recommendations


The N.C. Economic Development Board convened on Dec. 11 to wrap up its six months of work on developing a 10-year Strategic Plan for economic development in the state. In addition to the research and planning of the board committees, N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker presented information gathered in a statewide survey during her listening tour across the state. Survey results were included in the draft strategic plan that Ted Abernathy, an economic development strategic planning consultant, presented. Detailed recommended strategies that were put forth by the board committees include:

  • Identify and target industries for job creation
  • Develop a brand strategy for the state
  • Maximize global growth opportunities
  • Continue improvement of tax, regulatory and legal climates
  • Enhance the state’s economic development incentive programs
  • Convert university innovation into jobs
  • Amend and extend the Qualified Business Venture Credit
  • Re-fund the One NC Small Business Fund
  • Streamline entrepreneurial resources
  • Establish North Carolina as a destination for creative talent
  • Build a platform for retiree attraction and business creation
  • Set standard for attracting and retaining military retirees
  • Further develop and enhance Career and Technical Education offerings
  • Enhance, integrate and market education and workforce development programs to maximize economic development
  • Invest in the state’s educational workforce
  • Support policies that foster development and learning of young children
  • Improve infrastructure to rural communities
  • Realign efforts of the N.C. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture for rural job growth
  • Target rural-appropriate manufacturing for attraction
  • Support travel and tourism for rural communities
  • Create more capacity to assist rural community development

NCEDB Chairman John Lassiter notified the board that it will meet again in January to finalize the Strategic Plan and discuss how it will be activated by the new Economic Development Partnership of N.C.