Community and Economic Development
Applied Research
Best Practices
The School of Government’s CED program conducts ongoing research into effective best practices in economic and community development in North Carolina. We are especially concerned with practices and strategies that significantly involve local government. The purpose of this research is to inform local officials about what development practices are working in North Carolina and to highlight the principles that are applicable across communities.
In partnership with the NC Rural Economic Development Center, the Community and Economic Development program has completed two sets of case studies. One discusses innovative small town economic development. Search our database of 50 case studies included in Small Towns, Big Ideas: Case Studies in Small Town Economic Development. Another discusses asset-building development approaches used in distressed rural communities. Browse more than 80 asset-building approaches based on your community's assets included in the guide Building Assets for the Rural Future.
Additional best practices will be profiled on this web site as the research is completed. We welcome your recommendations for possible best practices to consider. Please submit any recommendations to faculty members Jonathan Morgan at morgan@sog.unc.edu or Tyler Mulligan at mulligan@sog.unc.edu.
Building Assets for the Rural Future: A Guide to Promising Asset-Building Programs for Communities and Individuals on the Economic MarginSmall Towns, Big Ideas: Case Studies in Small Town Community Economic Development
Consulting/Advising
Development Finance Initiative
Fayetteville-Cumberland: Pathways to Possibilities Project