June 28, 2011
Greenville, N.C. – The North Carolina Department of Commerce (Commerce) and East Carolina University (ECU) have expanded their existing Talent Enhancement Demonstration Grant program for an additional 15-month period with Commerce making $700,000 available for capacity building grants to units of local government or partnering non-profit organizations. The grants will assist up to fourteen (14) rural communities.
The newly titled Talent Enhancement Capacity Building Grant program seeks to leverage the resources and expertise of both Commerce and ECU in support of comprehensive economic development activities and to help stimulate economic transformation in communities across the State.
The Talent Enhancement partnership proactively targets distressed, low wealth and limited capacity communities with economic development products, technical assistance and financial resources that help increase competitiveness and build stronger, more vibrant and more capable communities.
Commerce will provide grants of up to $50,000 to 14 selected counties, municipalities or non-profits (with a local government applicant) for capacity building and economic development related technical assistance in partnership with ECU. East Carolina, through a consortium of faculty, staff and students, will offer targeted training through an “on campus” curriculum that includes:
Since August 2009, seven communities have engaged with ECU through the Talent Enhancement partnership with Commerce for similar instruction, training and a broad menu of economic development products and services. Kenny Flowers, Director of Community and Regional Development at ECU stated, “The Commerce investment has added real value for the participating communities and allowed the University to build stronger partnerships across the region. We are ecstatic that our collaboration will continue.”
For more information about the Talent Enhancement Capacity Building Grant program, please contact Kenny Flowers, Director of Community and Regional Development at 252-737-1342 or email flowersk@ecu.edu .
ECU’s Office of Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development actively aligns, supports and celebrates ECU faculty, staff and student engagement with industry, government and communities to address pressing regional needs. This engagement not only makes ECU a go-to partner in enhancing the region’s economic vitality and quality of life but also improves education, research and innovation, and scholarship across the campus. For more information about the Office of Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development, call 252-737-1380 or visit http://www.ecu.edu/oeied.