Learn and Lead 2023 was a huge success! A strong program and widespread support from the economic development community resulted in record attendance. From handling conflict to emerging industry sectors to equitable economic development, the WEDN program offered key takeaways for everyone. The program kicked off with a workshop on Handling Conflict. Led by Mark …
If You Could Live Anywhere by Melody Warnick – A Must Read for Economic Developers If you could live anywhere, where would you live? That question used to fall into the same category as “what would you do if you won the lottery?” or “if you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who …
Almost all U.S. businesses are small businesses (99.9%) and more than half do not have a succession plan. Yikes! Additionally, 40% of small business owners are baby boomers who are retiring at a rate of 10,000 per day. Double Yikes! Succession planning should be part of a comprehensive BRE strategy to retain businesses in your …
Moore County earned the designation of Certified Entrepreneurial Community® in July 2022. The initiative was sparked during a feasibility study to redevelop a building into an entrepreneurship hub. That project uncovered assets and opportunities to grow the small but burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem in Moore County. Entrepreneurship can be a key economic development strategy for Moore …
Moore County Designated a Certified Entrepreneurial Community® Read More »
Elected, local government, and business leaders are critical to advancing economic development policies and projects. However, most of these leaders do not work day-to-day in economic development. It is important for EDOs to inform local leaders of trends, changes in policy, challenges, and opportunities. The recent Alamance Chamber Partners in Progress event is a good …
Alamance Partners in Progress-A Model for Engagement Read More »
When companies take a look at potential sites for expansions or when entrepreneurs explore potential for starting a business, one of the top considerations is the labor market. In today’s current market the available workforce is limited, thanks in part to a strong economy and an historically low unemployment rate of 3.6%. However, there’s a …
Why Childcare Should be an Economic Development Priority Read More »
Creative Economic Development Consulting is celebrating 10 years in business. Over the last 10 years, we have added expert talent, launched innovative services, developed creative strategies, given back to the field, and endeavored to become the “go-to” economic development firm. What has stayed constant is our commitment to serving our clients and the profession. We …
Creative Economic Development Consulting Celebrates 10 Years in Business Read More »
Temperatures are already rising and summer is in sight – time to round up some of our recommendations for summer reading. Whether your book is for relaxing on the beach or for your earbuds during a workout, books can challenge us; comfort us; propel us on journeys to far away and foreign places or on …
An innovative, new and growing industry sector is set to impact North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia in the coming years presenting increased opportunities for new manufacturing establishments, new careers and employment growth and diversification of the economic base with increased scientific and energy activities. The global market for offshore wind has been growing 24% …
Offshore Wind: A New Source for Economic Growth in VA, NC, and SC Read More »
Emory & Henry College engaged Creative EDC to study how their new School of Business can drive growth in the agriculture sector in Southwest Virginia and become a hub of innovation. The college has long been a strategic partner of economic development organizations, local governments, nonprofits, and businesses. They want to leverage Emory & Henry’s …
The theme of this year’s forum was COVID Accelerated Everything – What’s Next? We dove into how COVID has impacted industrial real estate, entrepreneurship, city planning, family friendly workplace policies, and a host of other topics. This year we gave out copies of Adam Grant’s book Think Again. It is apropos given our theme and …
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!
