Western NC

Oct 31, 2023

Director’s Log | October 2023

Earlier in October, I had the honor of attending the Dogwood Health Trust’s Western NC Broadband Spotlight event with our BAND-NC team in Asheville. The event celebrated the finalization of… 

Dec 14, 2021

Dogwood Health Trust pledges $2 million to support the Institute for Emerging Issues’ effort to increase digital literacy and access across North Carolina.

The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at NC State University today announced it has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Dogwood Health Trust in support of the Building a New Digital Economy in NC (BAND-NC) program. 

Jan 26, 2021

First in Future: Mark Burrows

The percentage of people showing “empathy” has nosedived over the past 40 years – down 48%. Four years ago, a group in Transylvania County decided to do something about it. Project Empathy has led to tough conversations about guns, racial equity, rural urban divides and other topics. Two years ago, IEI lifted up the program as one of five state examples of how to “connect rural and urban.” Project manager Mark Burrows talks with us about what he has learned, and is learning, about the power of empathy. 

Nov 17, 2020

First in Future: The Ties That Bind Us (part 3) – Zachary Barricklow

This is part three of a three episode series of First in Future, where we focus on community, specifically what people and places in North Carolina are doing to make the places we live special. In the final part of our special focus on what transforms a place we live into a true community, we talk with Zach Barricklow of Wilkes Community College about the regional approach Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties are taking to build off of their collective assets (especially high speed internet) to hold on to young people, retrain adults and attract new residents to the area. 

Nov 3, 2020

First in Future: The Ties That Bind Us (part 1) – Caroline Parker

This is part of a three episode series of First in Future, where we want to focus on community, specifically what people and places in North Carolina are doing to make the places we live special. This episode starts with the story of Hayesville, NC, in the far western corner of the state, and we talk with Caroline Parker of Education NC about her new series, "Anchored in Hayesville," about how the people in that community are working together to maintain their uniqueness and strength in a town that is "two hours from everywhere." 

Apr 7, 2020

First in Future: The Impact on Small Business and The Response

Summary: Leslie Boney, Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues, hosts a series of virtual conversations discussing the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) and some of the ways our state is… 

Feb 4, 2020

One Initiative Seeks to Solve Two Connectivity Issues in Western NC

For the upcoming ReCONNECT to Technological Opportunity forum on Feb. 10 in Raleigh, the Institute for Emerging Issues has chosen five community initiatives from throughout North Carolina that will share… 

Jan 27, 2020

IEI Receives ARC Grant to “ReCONNECT Western NC”

RALEIGH, NC —The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at North Carolina State University is excited to announce a $150,000 grant from The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to help advance community economic… 

Jan 23, 2020

Expanding Telework Economy is at the Heart of Northwest NC Initiative

For the upcoming ReCONNECT to Technological Opportunity forum on Feb. 10 in Raleigh, the Institute for Emerging Issues has chosen five community initiatives from throughout North Carolina that will share… 

Oct 29, 2018

Five Communities: Asheville City Schools Foundation

For the upcoming ReCONNECT to Community forum, Nov. 27 in Asheville, the Institute for Emerging Issues has chosen five community initiatives from throughout North Carolina that will share with our…