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Young Professionals in a Metropolitan East a report to North Carolina’s Eastern Region. February 17, 2010. A New NC. Two questions. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Young Professionals in a Metropolitan East
a report to North Carolina’s Eastern Region
February 17, 2010
A New NC
Two questions
1) What would we learn by looking at economic development opportunities in Eastern North Carolina through a “metropolitan’’ lens as distinct from the traditional “rural’’ lens?
2) What steps should the region take to attract and retain young professionals?
Scope of N.C. East Project
• Data analysis
• Interviews: face to face conversations with 70 young professionals working in the region + 15 who have left the region.
• Poll: surveyed 1,874 residents of all ages in 9 counties.
• Case studies: similarly situated regions and sub-regions.
Economic Development Regions
Clustering of metro amenities
• 960,000 people across 13 counties.
• 10% of people; 13% of land; 18% of municipalities.
• Pitt & Onslow growing faster than state average.
State of the Region
• 63/30/7 white/black/other
• 35% of residents 20-44 yrs. old (NC=39%)
• 18% of residents 25+ have BA (NC=26%)
State of the Region
1) Multi-level disconnectedness
2) Equal feelings of hope and concern about progress in the region.
3) Amenities and cultural/natural resources are vital to young professionals.
3 General Observations
“The towns in the east don’t work together and try too hard to compete with one another.” – Single black male, age 24.
Little sense of regionalism
“All the professional firms…are segregated. There are black professionals and white professionals that don’t interact.” – Single white female, age 30.
Racial disconnectedness
Disconnected Generations
“City leaders are old and traditional. They aren’t willing to try new things or change the status quo.” – Married white male, age 28.
“Unless you are ‘Old Rocky Mount,’ there is not a lot of opportunity professionally or in civic life.” – Married white male, age 34.
New East v. Old East
60% of residents and 66% of residents 18-44 think the region is on the wrong track.
YET, 71% of residents and 64% of 18-44 year olds think the region is “good” or “excellent” place to live.
Where there’s contradiction, there’s
hope
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
22% 22%
27%29%
32%
42%
35%37%
45% 44%42%
39%
25%
28%
22%20% 19%
16%14% 13%
6% 5% 5%
2%
Excellent Good Fair Poor
How would you rate Eastern N.C. as a place to live?
86% of young adults said that career opportunities for their generation were fair to poor.
YET, more than 70% of young adults planned to stay in the region.
Where there’s contradiction, there’s
hope
“Single people can’t stand living here, while it is a great place for married couples.” – Married white male, age 25.
“It’s extremely difficult to find a husband or wife…everything is geared toward college students or older people.” – Single white female, age 31.
Where there’s contradiction, there’s
hope
“Everyone…is either very well-off or poor. The middle-class is the one that moves.” Married white male, age 34.
“Great place to raise a family.”“Laid back way of life.”“Friendly people.” - common refrain in
interviews
Where there’s contradiction, there’s
hope
• The lack of amenities and social/cultural opportunities for young adults was a common criticism in interviews.
• Poll: 40% of young adults under 35 were dissatisfied with their community’s cultural resource offerings. Only 21% were satisfied or very satisfied.
Making way for amenities
Which of these entities should take the lead in improving the
quality of life?
Local
Gover
nmen
t
State G
over
nmen
t
Local
Partne
rships
Feder
al Gov
ernm
ent
Region
al Par
tnersh
ips
None o
f the
se
Don't K
now
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%32%
28%
11%9% 8%
4%
8%
• Local governments in the East spend the least of any region on recreational and cultural activities.
• The East has the least amount of state and locally funded recreational area of any region—nearly 20,000 acres less than next lowest region.
Making way for amenities
• Local governments in the East spend the least of any region on school capital and are tied spending the least on school operations per capita.*
• 87% of young adults polled said education was a problem. 59% said it was a big problem.
* SOURCE: N.C. Department of Treasurer, pulled from the Annual Financial Information Report forms under “intergovernmental expenditures: public school capital outlay” and “public school current expenditures.”
School—the ultimate amenity
Resource opportunities
Neuse river water access Neuse river land access
Source: N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Office of Environmental Education
• Invest in local and regional mechanisms to engage young adults in the future of the region.
• Greenville is a primary hub; Jacksonville poised to follow.
• Small business opportunities based on amenities and regional products.
• Land and water provide opportunities for resource development and regional branding.
Findings
For More Information
Program on Public LifeUNC-Chapel Hill
CB# 3365Chapel Hill, NC 27599Phone: (919) 962-5936
Email: [email protected]
Ferrel Guillory, Director ([email protected])Andrew Holton, Associate DirectorJennifer Weaver, Assistant Director