This fall NCGrowth is working on eight projects with growing North Carolina businesses, local governments, and regional economic development organizations. Projects are chosen based on impact to the local economy, demographics, location, potential for job creation and other criteria.
Through the Entrepreneur Technical Assistance Program, NCGrowth is working with Chef & the Farmer and A Chef’s Life. A Chef’s Life is a Peabody-award winning PBS docuseries that follows Vivian Howard, chef and owner of The Chef and the Farmer, a farm-to-table restaurant in Kinston. NCGrowth is creating and administering a survey of viewers and restaurant patrons as well as making recommendations for how to structure a tour based on the show, the restaurant and the cultural and food assets around Kinston. Thomas Frere, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA student and Atieh Ameri, PhD NCSU Design student are working on the project.
Robersonville Meat Packing Company in Martin County is exploring value-added agriculture in their county as a means to grow their business. They need a marketing strategy and business plan to move forward. Ferdinand Rouse, an ECU MBA student is working with Danny Peed, Owner/President and Carlton Gay, Executive Director of Exceed Inc, to conduct market research and write a business plan for the new venture.
Smith Family Foods, founded by Laura Smith, is a commercial baking operation aiming to bring their business back home to North Carolina. They will be manufacturing their products in a new facility, opening a front-of-house retail location, and hiring 8-12 people in 2016. Jessica Parrish is writing their business plan and helping with a financing strategy.
Urethane Innovators in New Bern provides urethane solutions for mass production needs, semi-custom solutions, and proprietary total custom solutions. Corey Purido, an ECU MBA student, is working with Tom Coulson, General Manager, and Cindy Schrieber, QA Manager, to assist the company with a new marketing plan as well as preparation for audit.
World Cat is a manufacturer of offshore fishing and leisure catamarans based in Tarboro. Terrell Wells, an ECU MBA student, is working with President, Andrew Brown and Human Resources Manager, Leo Corbin to assist the company with plant flow and operations management.
NCGrowth, in partnership with Roanoke River Partners, is conduct an Eco-Tourism impact study this fall. This study will measure expenditures based along the Roanoke River. NCCU Masters dual degree MBA/MIS student Kel Harvey will lead this project, with the support of Kendal Robinson and Dr. Tad Hara a Senior Research Fellow at the Dick Pope Institute of Tourism Studies at the University of Central Florida. The team will create and administer surveys of users of the Roanoke River, as well as create a report to illustrate the regional economic impact of these activities.
NCGrowth has partnered with the Downtown Development office of the City of Wilson, as well as the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park to research and identify innovation zones throughout the nation that use art and technology as a catalyst for community and economic development. The City of Wilson is interested in creating Innovation Zones in their downtown area and will be provided analysis of successful innovation zones that can be incorporated in this area. This research will include what types of businesses populate these zones, uses for the physical space, and characteristics that draw in tourist and the community. This project is led by Ph D Design Student Ece Altinbasak of NCSU.
NCGrowth is working with Construction Professionals Network of NC to assist in a development project for the town of Maysville NC. This non-profit focuses on providing small rural towns assistance from construction professionals (this includes contractors, attorneys, architects and more) to help these towns grow and develop. Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Thomas Frere will be assisting with programming and a 2-day workshop in Maysville with government officials and key stake holders to walk through growth strategies for the town.