|
<br />0,' . "., ",' '>" 7, ,--
<br />
<br />
<br />Centralina Reaional CEDS Com~v Asse~smen~
<br />
<br />& AngelouEconomics
<br />Executive Summary
<br />
<br />The Centralina Council of Governments (COG) hired Angelou Economics (AE) to collaborate with them and a 51-member Regional CEDS
<br />Committee to develop a Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the nine-county region of Centralina. The
<br />Economic Development Administr;:ltion (EDA), the Centralina COG, Rowan and Mecklenburg counties funded this report, and all nine counties
<br />have provided their input throughout this initial assessment. '
<br />
<br />A CEDS is normally a prerequisite to be eligible to receive funds from the EDA, a division of the U.S: Department of Commerce. A CEDS is a plan
<br />that emerges from a broad-based continuous planning process that addresses a region's economic opportunities and constraints. The guidelines
<br />for developing a CEDS include effective general planning practices that can be used by any community to direct its economic growth.
<br />
<br />Seven of the nine counties have already participated in a CEDS project, but Rowan and Mecklenburg counties have not. AE has spent the past
<br />several months reviewing the documents that were produced through the three other CEDS projects - Gaston-Cleveland CEDS; alii District CEDS;
<br />and Future Forward CEDS - as well as assessing Mecklenburg and Rowan counties in order to develop a common bas~line of information for the
<br />entire region.
<br />
<br />~
<br />(
<br />~
<br />
<br />The Community Assessment is the first of two reports that comprises a CEDS, providing an overview of the region's strengths, challenges and
<br />opportunities for improving its economy. The second report, Centralina CEDS Action Plan, will be provided to the Advisory Committee in August
<br />2004 and will include regional economic development recommendations.
<br />
<br />Major findinQs that are discussed further in this report include:
<br />../' Improving workforce skills and basic education should be a top priority for the region.
<br />../' Regional economic development approach is strong.
<br />../' Location and transportation network are tremendous assets.
<br />../' Entrepreneurial efforts are fledgling yet expanding. '
<br />../' The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) is an undeNalued asset.
<br />../' Significant recreation and tourism assets exist throughout the region.
<br />../' Air quality is a serious challenge, but it unifies the region around this issue.
<br />../' The motor sports industry is strong and tied to workforce, education and economic development.
<br />
<br />The Centralina Council of Governments, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Workforce Development Boards, North Carolina Department of
<br />Commerce, and the City of Charlotte provided a significant amount of resources to develop this assessment. The consulting team wishes to
<br />thank these groups as well as the other organizations and individuals who have provided us with resources and perspectives during this project.
<br />
<br />.." --' ".', ' , " ' " ' ,,' ,
<br />,,--"'" "-..~, -'-.. ",.",- "~ --..,,'.'-' ",'---" '---' .._-~,.'" """---",'--"'" ......,-....._,..'""" "',' ,', '-'. - "-'-'-- ",----=-=.=,~,~~-', - ',,',""-"'--- ,--==."",.",-"~,,,~,,~,~'~.~,,',','.-,_.,'-",,",.'~:'"',"
<br />
<br />..¡:,:.~..'~;
<br />
|