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<br />Centralina Reaional CEDS CommuniJY AssessmenLReport- <br /> <br />Location and transportation network are tremendous assets. <br />The Charlotte region is one of the premier distribution hubs in the Southeast. The region is served by four major interstate highways and is <br />within a 24-hour drive of more than 56 percent of the nation's population. The Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is one of the busiest <br />passenger airports in the world, and the rail network is also one of the best in the U.S. There are needed improvements in the <br />transportation network that are being addressed, including increased investment in public transportation, but this infrastructure is oneof the <br />region's best assets. There are tremendous opportunities to elevate the significant distribution/warehousing cluster to a more <br />value-added product into Advanced Logistics. Secondly, there is an opportunity to enhance this network through improvements <br />at the airport and in the intermodal system that would only enhance the region's competitiveness in distribution and logistics. <br /> <br />.~ <br />\ <br />P <br /> <br />Entrepreneurial efforts are fledalina yet expandina. . <br />Many counties within the region are considering developing their own business incubators. However,. resources devoted to these initiatives <br />could .be better utilized if directed towards entrepreneurship initiatives such as educating the region on the importance of small business <br />development, developing Junior Achievement programs in all. school districts, and funding business plan competitions. Angel Investment <br />groups are few and far between. Many entrepreneurs have mentioned during the course of this project that they have had to go outside the <br />region for investment. The Business, Innovation and Growth (BIG) Council and the numerous "Committees of 1 00" that exist in several <br />counties provide some of these services within their respective counties, but a more holistic regional collaboration focused on entrepreneur <br />development is very much needed. The region cannot afford to be deficient in its entrepreneurial efforts. A separate and focused <br />entrepreneurial strategy should be developed for the region. . <br /> <br />The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) is an undervalued asset. <br />UNCC is perhaps the most undervalued asset in the region. UNCC's research capabilities and links with the business community are <br />significant. UNCC will have a larger impact on economic development as the Institute for Technology Innovation further enhances the. <br />Applied Optics laboratory and the Collaborative Research buildings. UNCC could possibly improve upon their public relations and their <br />engagement with regional workforce providers and economic development organizations. The University also must become more <br />proactive in marketing its assets so the region can leverage these assets into business success. . <br /> <br />Sianificant recreation and tourism assets exist throuahout thereaion. <br />Every county in the region has a tourism asset. From the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Cabarrus County, to the beautiful city of Salisbury in <br />Rowan County, the region has a bounty of assets. Mecklenburg County gains ~he lion share of tourism revenue, with its downtown and <br />sports-related amenities. The newly reorganized Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority intends to extend its reach beyond the borders of <br />Mecklenburg County to promote regional tourism. Although it will be a challenge from a resource perspective, this type of regional tourism <br />will undoubtedly have a larger, positive impact on the region's ability to capture tourism than anyone single county in the region <br />can .achieve alone. <br /> <br />Air Quality is a serious challenQe. but it unifies the reaion around this issue. <br />The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently stated that several counties within the Centralina region are in non-attainment of <br />EPA's air quality standards. The impacts of non-attainment on local businesses are topics that need further discussion in the region, but <br />permitting standards will have an effect on certain types of business development. The efforts of counties within this region on the <br /> <br />ÔbAngelouEconomics <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />~ <br />Centra/ina <br />.~~~:, <br /> <br />