Creative Blog

Offshore Wind: A New Source for Economic Growth in VA, NC, and SC 

Leave a Comment / May 9, 2022

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% …

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Developing the Ag Cluster in Southwest Virginia

Leave a Comment / April 20, 2022

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 …

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NCEDA 2022 Local Incentives Survey

Leave a Comment / April 12, 2022

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 …

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Shifting Metrics Describe Your Talent Pipeline

Leave a Comment / February 23, 2022

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 …

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Developing a Vision for a Cultural Resources District

Leave a Comment / January 4, 2022

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 …

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Labor Force Participation Pre-and Post-COVID

Leave a Comment / October 13, 2021

There is no topic more discussed these days than the current difficulties companies have filling jobs. This labor shortage is usually associated with the pandemic and is being analyzed in small businesses and corporate boardrooms, and especially at economic development organizations! We wanted to dig deeper into this topic, so we invited Dr. Laura Ullrich, …

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Paint a Redevelopment Picture with Numbers: A new co-working space anchors a small downtown

Leave a Comment / August 27, 2021

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 …

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It’s not just a tagline – “SBTDC: Your Business. Better.”

Leave a Comment / August 5, 2021

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 …

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A Career in Economic Development is One Way to Positively Impact Your Community – an MPA Student explores a career path in economic development

Leave a Comment / August 11, 2020

Creative EDC Intern Rylee Govoreau explores economic development with three professionals at different stages in their careers. Pass this along to a young person you know who may be interested in a career in economic development. As with every other industry, economic development is facing the silver tsunami. We should all be proactive in recruiting bright young people to our field. ~ …

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Why Child Care Should Be Part of Your COVID-19 Recovery Strategy

Leave a Comment / July 22, 2020

By Lisa Finaldi Lisa is the Community Engagement Leader at the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. The COVID-19 crisis has made crystal clear the vital role that child care and other parent supports play in getting our economy back on track. Even before the pandemic, 99 of 100 counties in NC were already child care deserts …

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A Small, Rural County Making a Big Difference in Workforce Development

Leave a Comment / June 24, 2020

A Case Study of Abbeville County’s College Promise Scholarship Program Abbeville County not only has big ideas, they make them happen. The rural county of approximately 25,000 people raised funds that allow every high school graduate to earn a degree at Piedmont Technical College. This has impacted education, workforce development, business development, and opened many …

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BRE Amidst COVID-19: Business Impact & How to Reshape Your BRE Program

Leave a Comment / June 11, 2020

With nearly 100% of companies reporting being impacted by COVID-19, EDOs are reshaping the BRE program to meet unprecedented needs. Virtual BRE visits, increased information sharing, financing programs, and revisiting incentive compliance are just a few changes being made to BRE programs. By examining business impact, precautions being taken, and assistance needed, EDOs can gain …

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Incentive Agreement Compliance During COVID: Q&A with Azad Khan, Consultant, Parker Poe Consulting

Leave a Comment / May 26, 2020

Due to the economic cliff most businesses fell off of in March, some will not meet the performance milestones set out in incentive agreements negotiated years before. Are communities being flexible on incentive compliance, and if so, how? We asked Azad Khan with Parker Poe Consulting this burning question and others related to incentive compliance. …

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Top 10 Skills Economic Developers Should be Honing Right Now

Leave a Comment / May 26, 2020

“What skills should I be learning right now?” is a question we have been asked by several economic developers. We have all been thrown into a new work environment that requires a new set of skills. We believe virtual meetings, collaboration, and site visits are here to stay to some degree. Companies and organizations have …

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