Elizabeth Basnight has been named the new Manager of the Entrepreneur Technical Assistance Program (E-TAP). An Economic Development Analyst for NC Growth since April 2013, in her new role, she will manage relationships with company and regional partners, work to develop and guide projects for student interns, and continue to build the program to serve more companies in rural North Carolina.
Elizabeth received her bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. As a student, she studied in Paris, navigated a solo Spanish-learning trip through Central America, and received a grant from the NC Fellows Program to run a surf camp for girls in Nicaragua. She has worked on a risk-reduction program for drug users in Cambodia and for Planned Parenthood in Chapel Hill. Her desire to engage students and her drive to support entrepreneurship education led her back to UNC where she served as internship director for the Minor in Entrepreneurship. She spent the two years prior to joining the Kenan Institute, learning about sustainable and local food systems on area farms. With roots in Eastern North Carolina and a passion for innovation, job creation and civic engagement, she’s excited to be working with entrepreneurs in rural NC!