Skip to main content
Community Spotlight: Isothermal Community College improves lives in Rutherford and Polk counties

Kirsten Chang

A woman speaking at the front of a room full of people sitting at tables

Jan 25, 2023

Regional Meeting Series Furthers NC Educational Attainment Goal

IEI and myFutureNC convened a series of local leadership meetings during the summer and fall of 2022 to create future opportunities for collaboration among local leaders to increase educational attainment in their communities. 

Dec 15, 2022

IEI Welcomes John Parker as Faith and Community Initiative Leader

Get to know Faith and Community Initiative Leader John Parker in this Q&A! 

Jun 23, 2022

IEI Welcomes New Communications Director Jennifer Heiss

Get to know IEI's new Communications Director Jennifer Heiss in this brief Q&A! 
Two men stand together, smiling

Jun 9, 2022

Gift from Tony McLean Brown family establishes IEI’s first endowment

IEI is pleased to announce its first endowment, a gift from the Tony McLean Brown family in honor of the IEI National Advisory Board. 
duke endowment logo

May 25, 2022

Institute for Emerging Issues receives $2M grant from The Duke Endowment for rural faith communities program

IEI has received a $2M grant from The Duke Endowment to continue its successful Faith and Community Initiative for another five years. 
Philip Cooper headshot

May 25, 2022

Welcome to Practitioner-in-Residence Philip Cooper

Get to know Change Agent Philip Cooper through this Q&A! 
Groups of people sit around tables in the community room of a public library

May 25, 2022

Southwestern Commission leads WNC in digital inclusion planning process

The Southwestern Commission held two events May 16-17 to kick off the digital inclusion planning process for seven Western North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 

May 24, 2022

Institute for Emerging Issues receives grant from the Economic Development Administration to support project on workforce and economic development

IEI has received a grant to analyze and assess current workforce challenges and opportunities and how these can be leveraged to support equitable economic development across North Carolina's 100 counties. 

May 13, 2022

Foothills Regional Commission launches digital inclusion planning process

The Foothills Regional Commission held a virtual event on April 28 to mark the start of its process to create digital inclusion plans for four Western NC counties: Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford. 
Four adult students in a culinary arts class watch the instructor at the head of the class.

May 10, 2022

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.