Earlier this month, DFI examined how local governments in North Carolina have stepped in to make new affordable housing construction economically viable after a historic increase in construction costs and elevated interest rates. In 2023, local governments contributed nearly $30 million in soft loan … Read more

The challenges facing real estate development today are well-known. Construction costs remain 40% higher than pre-COVID levels and increased interest rates have slowed the pace of new projects. A June 2024 survey of the nation’s largest developers found that two-thirds of multifamily projects in the … Read more

It is not unusual for North Carolina CED professionals to constantly assess elements critical for local economic growth and community enrichment: public-private partnerships, social capital relationships, placemaking, infrastructure needs and available affordable housing are just a few. This week, a … Read more

This blog post is part of a regular series on recent trends in private real estate financing. These posts are meant to inform local governments about current conditions facing private developers and real estate development projects in their communities. Lending for real estate development projects T … Read more

Four years after the pandemic began in March 2020, much of daily life has returned to normal; mask mandates have been lifted, people gather in large numbers for concerts and conferences, and the unemployment rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Yet, one legacy of COVID-19 – the shift towards re … Read more

The following are articles and reports on the web that the Community and Economic Development Program at the UNC School of Government shared through social media over the past month. Follow us on twitter or facebook to receive regular updates. Items of interest related to CED in North Carolina: N.C. … Read more

Housing Choice Vouchers are a critical source of funding for North Carolina’s lowest income renters to access affordable housing. As of 2023, about 72,000 North Carolina renters use vouchers to subsidize the cost of rent and utilities. Of those renters, 73% are extremely low-income, earning less tha … Read more

The following are articles and reports on the web that the Community and Economic Development Program at the UNC School of Government shared through social media over the past month. Follow us on twitter or facebook to receive regular updates. DFI in the news: Report on upcoming Transylvania housing … Read more

The following are articles and reports on the web that the Community and Economic Development Program at the UNC School of Government shared through social media over the past month. Follow us on twitter or facebook to receive regular updates. Items of interest related to CED in North Carolina: NC H … Read more

What is the NC Tier system? Almost 40 years ago, the North Carolina Commission on Jobs and Economic Growth formally identified a pattern in the state’s economic growth.  There were clearly haves and have-nots — a divide between prospering urban areas and economically stagnating rural areas. Analyst … Read more