bertie presentation 20140818
DESCRIPTION
Economic development is intended to make a place better for the people and businesses that are there and more attractive to those that might come. It can represent a wide variety of activities ranging from targeted industrial recruitment to K-12 education reform. However, many of the old approaches to economic development leave the community without any real sense of control, agency, or power. This plan for Bertie county, N.C. is different. The plan’s long term vision, findings, goals, and recommendations are all designed by and created for community members and leaders.TRANSCRIPT
Blueprint for Bertie A Community Economic Development Plan
Center for North Carolina Strategic Economic Growthwww.NCGrowth.unc.edu
WHO WE ARETHE KENAN INSTITUTE OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, finds ways to connect people and organizations, create opportunities and resources, and accelerate the achievements of its partners in and around the community. The Institute has built bridges with other educational institutions and members in the community in the ways of research, economic development, and concierge services.
The Center for NC Strategic Economic Growth (aka “NC Growth”) at the Kenan Institute identifies and leverages resources that promotes sustainable economic growth and revitalizes economically distressed communities in NC. NC Growth also conducts economic development research and supports small businesses through our Entrepreneur Technical Assistance Program (ETAP).
The Bertie County Commissioners and the Economic Development
Office asked NC Growth to develop an Economic
Development Plan for the County.
Broad community engagement was central
to the creation of this “Community” Economic
Development Plan.
….…
PROCESS -
Presentation to MidEast
Commission
Presentation to Bertie County
Commissioners
Contract Established
Preliminary Assessment of Bertie County
Presentation to Windsor-Bertie
Chamber of Commerce
Presentation to Mayor-Commissioners
Meeting
County-wide Community Meetings *
Meetings with Industry, Community, and Political Leaders
February 2013
April 2013
June 2013
September 2013
Overview
Ongoing Data Analysis*
Plan Outline Completed Stakeholders’
Meeting *
Continued conversations with
Community Leaders
Presentation to Bertie-Hertford Community
Foundation
Draft Plan Completed
Co-hosted Faith-Workforce Summit *
Presentation to Mayor-Commissioners Meeting
May 2014March2014October 2013
February 2014
PROCESS -
Overview (cont.)
June2014Final drafting and editing of
plan
July2014
PROCESSPlan Sustainability Strategy
We engage different people and perspectives in
order to gather their thoughts, ideas, and
opinions. We hope to create sustainability and longevity by identifying and connecting existing
ideas, talent, and resources.
• Four Community Meetings/Events – Windsor – Aulander– Colerain– Windsor (Ages 14-25)
GOAL: To begin a dialog with community members about their vision for themselves, their families, and the county. Information gathered helped set the vision for the plan.
PROCESSCOMMUNITY MEETINGS
POPULATION LABOR FORCE EMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED
2010 21,282 8,912 7,820 1,092
2012 20,653 8,498 7,470 1,028
Under 15
15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 over 650
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
men women
Age
Num
ber o
f Res
iden
ts
White Black
American Indiana and Alaska Native Asian
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander Other
Two or more race
PROCESSDATA ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS:Quiet Lifestyle
Cheap LandRail Freight
Natural ResourcesIntracoastal Waterway
Rich History Available Workforce
OPPORTUNITIES:Creation of Disaster Resistant Jobs
TourismTimber & Agriculture
Open Areas for Development
WEAKNESSES:Frequent Natural DisastersPoor Access to Highways
Lower Educational Achievement NumbersWeak Tax Base
Need to Train and Retrain WorkforceCrumbling Infrastructure THREATS:
Declining and Aging PopulationCrumbling Infrastructure
Neighboring Counties Development
PROCESSDATA ANALYSIS
PROCESSSTAKEHOLDER MEETING
Representatives included: CADA
Community Colleges Cooperative Extension
Local Non-Profits Governmental Entities
Church Affiliates Region Q
EDC Board Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation
Education Representatives
Engaged community leaders and others to leverage existing resources
& build partnerships
GOAL: Identify programs that could be facilitated at their churches. CADA,
MidEast Commission, and community colleges were represented.
PROCESSFAITH-WORKFORCE SUMMIT
Local pastors were convened to discuss three main topics:
INCREASING1. Access to Job Skills2. Employment Opportunities3. Financial Empowerment
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Bertie County Economic Development Commission
Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation (FDIC)
Conservation Fund, Resourceful Communities Program
Self Help Credit Union
NC Commerce
North Carolina’s Eastern Region
North Carolina Institute for Public Health
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
Region Q Workforce Development Board
Manpower Development Cooperation (MDC)
Faculty, Department of City and Regional Planning, UNC
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Choanoke Area Development Authority (CADA
The Hive House
Bertie County PeanutsNC Cooperative Extension Office, Bertie County
Martin Community College
Bertie County Smart Start
Windsor-Bertie Chamber of Commerce
AVOCA
Roanoke Chowan Community College
Current and Former Mayors and Town Council Members,
Bertie County
Current and Form Bertie County Commissioners
Place of Possibilities
Reach Out and Read
Office of Congressman Butterfield
Office of Senator Kay Hagan
Office of Senator Richard Burr
NC Back to Work Program
Heritage Collegiate Leadership Academy
Oxley Hill Baptist Church
North Carolina Partnership for Children
Bertie NC Works Center, CADA
Small Business Entrepreneurs
Bertie Public Schools
Martin Community College
Duke Endowment
North Carolina Medical Society Foundation
Golden LEAF Foundation
United Way of Wayne County
UNC Institute for the Environment
NC Industrial Extension
Fundraising Consultant
Bertie –Hertford Community Foundation
South by North Strategies
NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development
School of Government, UNC
North Carolina Community Foundation
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
PLAN - FOCUS AREAS
1. Workforce Development
2. Business Attraction and Industry Participation
3. Coordination and Marketing
4. Community Capacity Building
• A lack of job readiness among county residents and low accessibility of employment and training because of distance and transportation costs
• Persistent gap between retail demand and retail options within the county, lack of land availability, and the difficulty in engaging industry in employment training
• Poor county wide coordination and inadequate marketing of county resources
• Lack of financial services• Low capacity of existing community
organizations
PLANKEY FINDINGS
PLAN• Create community economic
development task force• Make training and education
opportunities more accessible
• Career Readiness Certificate testing for all high schoolers
• Move toward a WorkReady Community Model
• Invest in improving marketing and branding of county
PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS