Economic Development Board
The Economic Development Board, comprised of some of the state's premier leaders from the business, education, tourism and workforce communities around the state, serves as the state's top economic development policy advisory body and is responsible for recommending economic development policy to the Governor. Appointments to the Board are made by the Governor (who appoints 23 of the 37 members), by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
According to General Statute 143B-434, the Board's membership must also include:
- The Secretary of Commerce, who serves as the Board's
secretary
- The Lieutenant Governor
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Revenue
- The President of the University of North Carolina
- The President of the NC Community College System
In November 2001, Governor Easley charged the Board with developing a comprehensive strategic economic development plan for the state that will take innovative and strategic approaches to such issues as incentives, recruitment and retention strategies, workforce development, development of future technologies, coordination of state agencies, rural development and marketing. The Board unveiled the plan in October 2002 and will continue to play a key role in its implementation through advocacy and ongoing accountability reviews with the state's economic development agencies.
To formulate this plan, the Board's seven committees examined issues in their designated policy focus areas and made recommendations to the full Board for final action. The Board has organized the committees to focus on seven major areas of economic development in North Carolina, including:
- Community Readiness and Urban Development
- Infrastructure, Transportation and the Environment
- Recruitment and Retention
- Rural Development Issues
- Science, Technology and University Outreach
- Tourism, Film, Sports, Arts and Cultural Resources
- Workforce Development and Education
Each committee is aided by staff of a corresponding Department of Commerce division and by advisors from other state agencies, private companies and non-profit organizations.
For information about the Economic Development Board and North Carolina's state strategic plan for economic development, contact the Department of Commerce Policy, Research and Strategic Planning Division at 919 715-5995.
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