Local governments collect, create, manage, and visualize data to make decisions that increase the quality of life for citizens. One way this data is often underused is to identify community development opportunities such as identifying sites suitable for affordable housing or deciding which blocks to prioritize when revitalizing commercial space downtown. In this session, staff from UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative will discuss how local governments can combine their public data sources through maps, dashboards, and other tools to make community development decisions. They’ll demonstrate challenges and opportunities local governments face when identifying community development projects using case studies from Kinston, Wilson, and other communities across North Carolina.



A Carolina Engagement Week Event
Carolina Engagement Week is your chance to explore the impact of community-driven partnerships powered by state and local community leaders and Carolina researchers. By attending one or more sessions, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the methods and collaborative approaches that are working effectively throughout different parts of North Carolina. You can also identify new opportunities to engage in community initiatives around the state designed to create social and economic impact.