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3 <br />N®rtl-~ Carolina Tomcarr®vv <br />A Collaborative for Sustainable Economic Growth <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />The North Carolina Association of Regional Councils through a collaborative partnership with the <br />US Department of Economic Development, North Carolina Department of Commerce- Community <br />Development Division and the SAS Institute of Cary, NC to create a Statewide Comprehensive <br />Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). <br />The -Statewide CEDS can serve as a "blueprint" for growth and development based on common- <br />sense,sustainable best practices and "one version of the truth" provided by data collection and <br />analysis from the SAS Institute. The SAS Institute is developing software specifically for the <br />initiative, North Carolina Regional Economic Prosperity Strategy (REPS). REPS will be a "tool" <br />for use byplanning professionals, economic development professionals, elected officials and <br />private industry developers. REPS will be housed at the SAS Institute in Cary at their World <br />Headquarters in the Institute for State and Local Government that was established in zoio. <br />EDA has provided funding to assistthe Association in developing a Statewide CEDS. The NC <br />Division of Community Assistance has funded the initiative through the NC Catalyst Program of the <br />CDBG funds. They are providing planning grants. to asmany as i7non-entitlement local <br />governments serving as the lead regional coordinator within each ofthe i7 Council of Governments <br />(COGS) regions. In exchange for the grant, the rnon-entitlement local unit of government must <br />foster regional multi jurisdictional participation around the program goals and develop the regional <br />NC Tomorrow Sustainable StrategicPlan that will build the foundation forthe Statewide <br />Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. <br />The Regional Councils will lead the effort to devE~lop the Statewide CEDS that will center on the six <br />livability principles established by the federal Pairtnership for Sustainable Communities and the six <br />Investment Principles set forth by the US Department of Economic Development. In addition, the <br />Association will follow the National Association of Regional Development Organization's (NADO) <br />Standards of Excellence for CEDS development:. The planning process will include all sectors of <br />the economic development community including local, regional and state economic developers, <br />planners, private industry, educational institutions, elected officials and many other community <br />organizations that work on the ground to make fJorth Carolina a great place to live, work and play. <br />The Association and its partners aspire to develop a strong foundation for common sense <br />development and growth that will create jobs for• our citizens while conserving the natural <br />resources that make North Carolina the special place it has always been...a place where companies <br />can thrive and grow their business and where families want to live. <br />