Development in Kannapolis

About

As the largest
university-based local
government training,
advisory, and research
organization in the United
States, the School of
Government serves more
than 12,000 public officials
each year.

Browse by Role

The School provides
content and resources for a
wide array of local
government and judicial
officials in North Carolina.

Select your role to explore
all related content.

Browse by Topic

The School provides content
and resources on a wide array
of topics in local government
and judicial administration in
North Carolina.

Select a topic to explore all
related content.

Courses

The School of Government
offers up to 200 courses,
workshops, webinars, and
professional conferences
each year.

Publications

The School of Government
publishes essential books,
manuals, reports, articles,
bulletins, and other print and
online content related to state
and local government.

Blogs

Faculty write for a number
of School of Government
blogs providing timely
updates on emerging issues.

Resources

The School of Government
offers information and
services related to a wide
range of topics relevant to
government and judicial
officials—in-person and on a
variety of platforms.

Blog Posts

Timely updates on emerging issues

Centers and Services

Specialized training/research hubs and consulting services

Frequently Asked Questions

Aggregated answers to common questions on a variety of topics

Knapp Library

Print and online materials and research expertise

Legal Summaries

Brief descriptions of legal cases, bills, or legislative activity

Listservs

Information exchanges for peers and faculty experts

Microsites

In-depth or aggregated content for local government and judicial officials

Tools and Apps

Online and mobile tools for employees on-the-go

Master of Public
Administration Program

The UNC MPA program prepares public service leaders. The program is offered in two formats: on-campus and online.

For more information, visit mpa.unc.edu

Giving

The School of Government depends on private and public support for fulfilling its mission. Your gift will make a lasting impact on the quality of government and civic participation in North Carolina.

Knapp Library

The Joseph Palmer Knapp Library houses a large collection of material on state and local government, public administration, and management to support the School's instructional and research programs and the educational mission of the Master of Public Administration program. Reference and research services are available to all residents of North Carolina, and additional assistance is available to state and local government personnel, both elected and appointed.

In 2003, the city of Kannapolis, North Carolina, dealt with the worst permanent lay-off in state history when the textile giant Cannon Mills closed down. Consequently, Kannapolis’s downtown district suffered as many businesses shuttered. By 2015, over half of the downtown was vacant and many of its historic structures were in disrepair. That same year, Kannapolis partnered with the Development Finance Initiative (DFI) to revitalize their downtown.

The City of Kannapolis acquired its entire historic downtown core for $8.75 million. Although the tax assessed value of downtown totaled $24.5 million, it represented less than 1% of the city's total tax base. With the downtown under local government ownership and a ten-year partnership with DFI in place, city leadership regained control over the fate of, arguably, its most unique asset.

DFI worked in partnership with Kannapolis to create a plan for development and help create a dynamic downtown space in partnership with private developers. “Over the past five years, the downtown core of Kannapolis has witnessed an impressive influx of private investment, totaling over $75 million,” said Eric Thomas, assistant director of DFI. “Currently, there are ongoing construction projects valued at an additional $40 million. This substantial private development serves as a remarkable complement to the city's own investment of over $130 million in infrastructure and amenities, all dedicated to supporting the revitalization of downtown.”

As part of the ongoing project with DFI, Kannapolis has transformed its downtown, including the construction of a new baseball field, creating partnerships with private developers who are building on downtown properties, and creating more green space and pedestrian-centered designs in downtown.

“The range of private investments within the downtown core is diverse and exciting,” said Thomas. “It encompasses the restoration of historic theaters that now host movies, concerts, and shows, the creation of ground floor retail spaces for food and beverage establishments, as well as a mix of for-sale and multi-family residential units, all aimed at fostering a walkable urban core.”

Altogether, an estimated $400 million will have been invested in the downtown space upon completion of the final developments in the downtown core.