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Building an Economy With Opportunities for All to Prosper

 

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Building Local Power: Highlights from the SC Rural Small Business Workshop

KIPE

Mid-June, NCGrowth hosted a powerful and purpose-driven workshop in Walterboro, South Carolina, designed specifically for small rural businesses in the Lowcountry. Local entrepreneurs often share a common challenge: limited access to the tools, guidance, and connections they need to grow and sustain their businesses.This workshop aimed to bridge that gap. Read More

 
 

NCGrowth’s Tier Rankings Report Featured on EdNC.org

KIPE

NCGrowth and ncIMPACT have written a new report is out that evaluates North Carolina’s County Distress Rankings, known as tiers, established in 1987 to promote economic development in less prosperous areas. The report provides background and context, stakeholder insight into the system’s effectiveness, and comparison with alternative models in South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. Read More

 

Helping a Legacy Farm Grow Forward

KIPE

Over the course of three months, NCGrowth had the opportunity to work closely with Keegan-Fillion Farms, a family-run operation known for its high-quality meats and commitment to sustainable farming in South Carolina. Read More

 

Welcome Ryan Bethea to the NCGrowth Team!

KIPE

We are excited to welcome Ryan Bethea to the NCGrowth Team! Ryan is the newest Program Manager for NCGrowth based in Eastern North Carolina. Ryan will manage technical assistance and consulting to business, government and non-profit clients with a focus on rural Southeastern North Carolina communities. Read More

 

Leading Voices: Mark Little Featured in Aspen Institute’s New Report on Community Strategies

KIPE

NCGrowth executive director, Mark Little, is featured in Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group’s new report: Four Principles for Fostering Community Well-Being with Asset-Based Development. It shares how communities, funders, and policymakers can align around shared goals, invest in social determinants of health, and redefine success. Read More

 

Succession Planning: A Critical Step Toward Sustainable Family Enterprise

KIPE

Succession planning is often one of the last things business owners prioritize—but the case can be made for putting it first. Unfortunately, many only begin thinking about it when it’s too late. With this in mind, we pose the question: How well does your family communicate about succession and leadership transition? Read More

 

Mark Little Featured in Rooted

KIPE

Rooted is a feature series that recognizes long-standing members of the UNC-Chapel Hill community who have aided in the advancement of research by staying at Carolina. They are crucial to the research enterprise and experts in their fields. Read More

 

Upcoming Events

 
 

Aug
2025

Contract Ready Cohort: Institutional Vendor Certification Program (NCGrowth)
Dennis Wicker Civic Center | Sandford, NC

 

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SEPT
11

Succession Planning Webinar (NCGrowth – US Bank)
Virtual

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OCT
14

NCGrowth Fall Showcase
Southeastern | NC

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NCGrowth is a national center building an economy with opportunities for all to prosper. We are creating good jobs and new wealth in distressed communities through technical assistance, applied research, innovative policy, cross-sector convenings, workshops, and thought leadership.

 

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