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The Institute for Emerging Issues

Connecting North Carolina to ideas and North Carolinians to each other.

IEI Welcomes New Policy and Program Manager Samantha Graham

Get to know IEI’s new Policy and Program Manager Samantha Graham in this brief Q&A!

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Institute for Emerging Issues Receives $250,000 to Continue Digital Inclusion Efforts in Rural NC Communities

IEI has received a $250,000 grant from the John M. Belk Endowment to support the institute’s BAND-NC program, which works with communities across the state to bridge North Carolina’s digital divide.

A map of North Carolina with counties highlighted that are included in the Talent First Economics community cohort

Talent First Economics Community Cohort Announced

IEI announces the five regional teams that will make up the Talent First Economics community cohort. The cohort will serve as a peer learning network for the 2023 Emerging Issues Forum to increase collaboration among workforce, economic and community development leaders to ensure their regions are better equipped to grow their workforce, with a focus on underrepresented workers.

IEI at Farm Aid 2022

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Save the Date

2023 Emerging Issues Forum
“Talent First Economics”
February 13, 2023

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Bringing North Carolina together

Through our programming and issue focused initiatives, we connect people to resources and resources to the people who need them.

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Community Spotlight: Isothermal Community College improves lives in Rutherford and Polk counties

Isothermal Community College (ICC) doesn’t stop at providing nearly free higher education for students in western North Carolina. Its mission is to improve lives through learning.

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Community Spotlight: Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County connects the dots for student success

Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County understands that to increase postsecondary educational attainment, you have to start working with students as early as elementary school.

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Community Spotlight: Wilson Education Partnership builds bridges between students, teachers, and community

Wilson Education Partnership looks for programs and initiatives that will most benefit the students, teachers, and business community in Wilson, NC.

Giving to IEI

With your investment, we will continue to connect, think and do to ensure the economic prosperity of North Carolina.

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First in Future: Conversation with Governor Cooper

In this episode, we talk with North Carolina’s Governor Cooper on his look back at 2021 and forward to 2022.

First in Future: Can Kitty Hawk Take Flight?

In this episode, we focus on a college solution for 1.5 million NC adults.

Connected: Upper Coastal Plain Digital Inclusion Plan

In this episode of the “Connected” podcast series, host Maggie Woods speaks to Robert Hiett; Executive Director and Ben Farmer; Economic Development Planner for the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments.