We’ve been asking economic developers for the last several months how they are using AI. The answers range from not using it at all to using it every day to support a wide range of tasks. Those who say they are not using AI, quickly followed up that they want to learn how to use … How Are You Using AI? Read More » The post How Are You Using AI? first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more

Dr. Marin Burton facilitated an engaging workshop on how to burn bright rather than burning out at the 2024 Women’s Economic Development Network Forum. The content resonated deeply and resulted in a lot of discussion about experiences with burn out and how to avoid it. Dr. Burton led off with an analogy that got everyone’s … Burning Bright Rather Than Burning Out Read More » The post Burning Bright Rather Than Burning Out first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more

Empowering entrepreneurs isn’t just a goal—it’s a strategy for economic transformation. Developing a comprehensive toolkit to scale entrepreneurs was the 2023 Creative Give Back project for the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The toolkit has strategies for resource navigation, incentives and capital access, data, and leadership. The 2024 Creative Give Back application opens in January. Apply … The 2023 Creative Give Back Project: Fueling Wilmington’s Entrepreneurial Growth Read More » The post The 2023 Creative Give Back Project: Fueling Wilmington’s Entrepreneurial Growth first appeared on Cr ..read more

By Evan Day, Intern, Creative Economic Development Consulting, Ashely Cagle, Assistant Executive Director, Wake County Economic Development, and Penny Whiteheart, Senior Consultant, Creative Economic Development Consulting. This article is a collaboration between Creative EDC and the NCEDA Research Committee. As companies re-evaluate their performance measures and bottom line, they have included more qualitative goals, such as … How a Company’s Sustainability Goals Impact Location Decisions Read More » The post How a Company’s Sustainability Goals Impact Location Decisions first appeared ..read more

Rural counties often possess untapped potential for economic growth and development with unique strengths and opportunities waiting to be leveraged. Creative EDC recently facilitated strategic plans in Surry and Vance Counties in North Carolina and Newberry County, South Carolina. They are good examples of rural communities proactively working to promote economic growth and development. All … Strategic Planning in Rural Communities Read More » The post Strategic Planning in Rural Communities first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more

Updated in 2023, the Safety Guide for Economic Development Professionals remains the sole resource of its kind in our profession. Recognizing the need for comprehensive safety guidelines in our field, Creative EDC took the initiative to develop and publish the first Safety Guide exclusively tailored to the economic development profession. It is part of our … Safety Guide for Economic Development Professionals Read More » The post Safety Guide for Economic Development Professionals first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more

Learn and Lead 2023 was a huge success! A strong program and widespread support from the economic development community resulted in record attendance. From handling conflict to emerging industry sectors to equitable economic development, the WEDN program offered key takeaways for everyone. The program kicked off with a workshop on Handling Conflict. Led by Mark … WEDN 2023 Round Up Read More » The post WEDN 2023 Round Up first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more

If You Could Live Anywhere by Melody Warnick – A Must Read for Economic Developers If you could live anywhere, where would you live? That question used to fall into the same category as “what would you do if you won the lottery?” or “if you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who … Thinking Like an Anywhereist Read More » The post Thinking Like an Anywhereist first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more

Almost all U.S. businesses are small businesses (99.9%) and more than half do not have a succession plan. Yikes! Additionally, 40% of small business owners are baby boomers who are retiring at a rate of 10,000 per day. Double Yikes! Succession planning should be part of a comprehensive BRE strategy to retain businesses in your … Employee Ownership as a BRE Strategy Read More » The post Employee Ownership as a BRE Strategy first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more

Moore County earned the designation of Certified Entrepreneurial Community® in July 2022. The initiative was sparked during a feasibility study to redevelop a building into an entrepreneurship hub. That project uncovered assets and opportunities to grow the small but burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem in Moore County. Entrepreneurship can be a key economic development strategy for Moore … Moore County Designated a Certified Entrepreneurial Community® Read More » The post Moore County Designated a Certified Entrepreneurial Community® first appeared on Creative Economic Development Consulting ..read more