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November Newsletter
Note from the Director
Roads: D. Schools: C-. Airports: D+. These are just some of the subpar grades North Carolina's infrastructure received in the most recent Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. There will be a new report card released in 2009. Given that infrastructure investment has failed to keep pace with North Carolina’s recent growth, no one expects high marks.
Update On Programs
Building the Good Growth State?
Over the last couple of months, IEI staff members have been traveling across the state to convene Focus Groups in an effort to learn about the unique needs of communities with regards to their built infrastructure.
We traveled to Jackson, Union/Anson, Brunswick, Granville/Vance/Warren and Pasquotank Counties to meet with local leaders and residents. We set out to discover how growth is affecting these communities and their ability to build and maintain their roads, schools and water and sewer lines. We also wanted to learn what residents saw as their vision for the way they will build in the future as well as the assets in each community that will help them achieve that vision.
Online Conversations - Emerging Issues Debate
As part of our continuing debate on wind energy in North Carolina, IEI Faculty Fellow Leah Greden Mathews (UNC- Asheville) provides insight into how generating more wind power in the state this could effect communities both positively and negatively.
Organizations in Action - Virginia Performs
On October 24, IEI hosted a lecture by David Paylor, director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Paylor discussed the work of Virginia Performs, a signature initiative of the Council on Virginia's Future. Originated by Governor Mark Warner and implemented by Governor Tim Kaine, the program is a performance leadership and accountability system that aligns the activities of state agencies around clearly defined long-term goals. IEI hopes a similar program could be established in North Carolina.
Did You Know?
An update: Cabarrus County and Concord Agree to Limit Growth in Central Area
In an effort to understand some of the growth and infrastructure challenges facing different parts of the state, IEI’s Growing Pains series took a close look at North Carolina’s transportation, water, sewer and school systems. Cabarrus County was featured as a case study in its report on K-12 school construction.
Since the report was published, Cabarrus County, together with the city of Concord, has established a growth boundary to protect and preserve a significant portion of the county for 15 years.