Strategic Plan 2023-2025

2023 - 2025

Initiative for Community Growth + Development

Strategic Plan

OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER PUBLIC DIALOGUE ABOUT COMMUNITY GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT WHILE FORMING INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS AND FULFILLING NC STATE'S LAND GRANT MISSION OF SERVICE TO ALL OF NORTH CAROLINA'S COMMUNITIES. THE INITIATIVE WILL UNITE GLOBALLY RENOWNED SCHOLARSHIP AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH TO SUPPORT A VIBRANT, PROSPEROUS, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS THE STATE.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

CHUCK

FLINK, FASLA

NC State university has completed our first year of The Initiative for Community Growth and Development. As we embark on a new year of programs and activities, I am pleased to share this Strategic Plan that outlines our mission, goals and objectives for FY 2023-2024.

One of the primary focuses for The Initiative in 2023-2024 will be to more closely examine and emphasize outreach, engagement and research on community growth challenges and opportunities within small to mid-size rural communities of North Carolina. As a land grant university, it is in our DNA to be of service to the communities in all 100 counties across the state. We understand the disparities of modern day North Carolina and are committed to completing work that will address these inequities and offer practical solutions to some of the most vexing challenges.

First, a note of gratitude for the institutional support that has made The Initiative successful this year. Thank you Chancellor Woodson, Provost Arden, and College of Design Dean Hoversten for providing the leadership and support required to launch The Initiative. Thank you to the AJ Fletcher Foundation for the generous financial gift; the seed money that enabled us to begin work. Thank you to our sponsored research partners FujiFilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, PBSNC and the City of Raleigh. Thank you to the Triangle area real estate development community and Triangle Chapter of the Urban Land Institute for your support of our new curriculum in real estate development education. Finally, thank you to NC State faculty and students, and the administrative staff at the College of Design that have supported and participated in The Initiative programs and activities.

NC State university has a long and distinguished history of providing practical, applied education, research, and community assistance to North Carolina communities. In fulfilling our educational and land grant mission, NC State has for decades used its extraordinary resources to complete innovative and powerful outreach, engagement and community service work. One goal of The Initiative is to apply design-thinking to a broad range of North Carolina’s land use imperatives and challenges.

The work of The Initiative is accomplished by fostering a new public dialogue about quality community growth and development, and by recommending carefully considered and yet realistic solutions for resolving challenging growth and development issues of today and tomorrow. The Initiative is harnessing the resources, experience and expertise of NC State's faculty, students and alumni to tackle the grand challenges that North Carolina communities face today and in the coming years.

The Initiative is accomplishing its work through three focus areas: engagement, academics, and research. The goal of The Initiative is to research and test various community growth and development strategies, particularly in areas that intersect with economic, social and environmental impact and benefit.

The Initiative is a pedagogical undertaking that balances globally renowned scholarship and academic research with community-based application. The work of The Initiative is grounded in NC State university’s land grant mission, which is “dedicated to excellent teaching, the creation and application of knowledge, and engagement with public and private partners . . . uniting our strength in science and technology with a commitment to excellence (to promote) an integrated approach to problem solving that transforms lives and provides leadership for social, economic, and technological development across North Carolina and around the world.”

In the year ahead, The Initiative will continue to partner with academic, public and private sector interests to:

1. Conduct engagement and education, workshops, symposia, and mentoring that inform elected officials, public agency staff, NGO’s, real estate industry, design and planning professions about emerging trends and data.

2. Initiate and apply academic research to resolve growth and development challenges using appropriate design solutions. Provide research and technical assistance to specific partner nominated design development problems, challenges and opportunities.

3. Provide a forum for analysis, research, and public dialogue about community growth and development patterns and the associated transportation, socio-economic, affordable housing, green infrastructure, and other issues impacting the quality of life in North Carolina.

4. Equip the next generation of real estate thought-leaders and doers with the skills and experiences needed to address the future challenges of quality growth and development.

Most importantly, The Initiative will explore ways in which NC State continues to contribute to a vibrant, prosperous, equitable and inclusive quality of life in North Carolina.

CHUCK FLINK, FASLA INITIATIVE DIRECTOR

CORE AREAS

ACADEMICS

Establish ACADEMICS focused on the technical aspects of real estate development eliminate the silos of education in real estate, design, engineering, and natural resource management.

RESEARCH

Impart design-thinking and expertise to community projects through RESEARCH that generates state of the art and practical solutions to the grand challenges of today and tomorrow.

ENGAGEMENT

Facilitate meaningful ENGAGEMENT that identifies challenges and solutions to quality growth and development; foster a shared vision for among developers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, investors, corporations, and governments.

VISION STATEMENT

NC State's Initiative for Community Growth and Development strives to research and test various community growth and development strategies, particularly in areas that intersect with economic, social and environmental impact and benefit. The Initiative unites globally renowned scholarship, academic research, and community-based application.

ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK

2023-2025

Dean

The Dean provides oversight and guidance to the work of The Initiative and works closely with the Director to craft the annual work program. The Dean assesses the performance of the work and leads specific events and programs of The Initiative.

Director

The Director coordinates the day-to-day activities, management and operations of The Initiative and works closely with administrative staff, faculty, students, adjunct faculty and program advisers on community engagement programs and events. The Director works with university faculty and students, as well as experts and thoughtleaders from across the State of North Carolina who care about cities, creative communities, economic growth, diversity and inclusion, and community development. This work combines the knowledge of designers, business leaders, economic development practitioners, and other experts. The Director leads strategic planning, grant management, and fundraising initiatives and is responsible for all administrative and operational activities for The Initiative.

Associate Director

The Associate Director of The Initiative is responsible for assisting the Director and the College of Design Dean with implementing the objectives of The Initiative. The Associate Director works closely with administrative staff, faculty, students, adjunct faculty and program advisers on community engagement programs and events. The Associate Director works with NC State university faculty and students, as well as experts and thought leaders across the Triangle Region and State of North Carolina. This work combines the knowledge of designers, business leaders, economic development practitioners, and other experts. The Associate Director assists the Director and College of Design Dean with grant management and fundraising initiatives and is responsible for certain administrative and operational activities for The Initiative.

Administrative Staff

The Director is supported by administrative staff housed at the College of Design. Administrative staff assist as needed and as determined by program activities and funding.

Program Faculty

The Director and Associate Director work with faculty from the Colleges of Design, Engineering, Poole College of Management and Natural Resources to implement programs and activities. The Initiative anticipates employing new faculty to complement course work, programs and activities of The Initiative.

The Director and Associate Director will work with specific adjunct faculty to implement elements of The Initiative. Specifically, the Director will identify professionals who specialize in real estate and community design development who also have an interest in assisting with the work of The Initiative.

Students

The Initiative will employ graduate students from the Colleges of Design, Engineering, Poole College of Management and Natural Resources, as appropriate, to implement programs and activities of The Initiative. The Director will work with faculty in all applicable colleges to identify eligible students who can assist with program implementation.

Dean's Council

The Dean’s Council will be comprised (initially) of the Deans from the Colleges of Design, Engineering, Poole College of Management, and Natural Resources. The purpose of the Dean’s Council is to assist in guiding the work program of The Initiative, coordinating that work within each respective college and supporting faculty and students who participate in the community engagement programs, Initiative academic research and curriculum, and Initiative events.

The Dean's Council will meet twice a year to receive a progress report from The Initiative and make suggestions on how the program can be more effective in accomplishing its mission.

Industry Council

NC State university will create an Advisory Board for The Initiative that is comprised of industry professionals from the fields of real estate development, banking and finance, construction, architecture, landscape architecture, and other related disciplines. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to work with the Dean and Director to guide and shape the work of The Initiative.

THE INITIATIVE IS HOUSED AT THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN, LED BY THE DEAN AND MANAGED BY A FULL-TIME DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR. THE DIRECTORS WORK WITH FACULTY AND STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN

DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

DEAN'S COUNCIL

An interdisciplinary council to advise and champion for the cirriculum.

TEACHING FACULTY TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Faculty from NC State and beyond are brought in to teach our six core courses.

TA's offer financial support and leadership oppurtuniuties to adavanced NC State students.

INDUSTRY COUNCIL

An interdisciplinary council to advise and champion for the cirriculum.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Faculty from NC State and beyond are brought in to teach our six core courses.

TA's offer financial support and leadership oppurtuniuties to adavanced NC State students.

Mark Hoversten, PHD, FASLA

Chuck Flink, FASLA

Adam Walters, PLA, FASLA

GOAL #1

PREPARE A NEW CADRE OF PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE WELL VERSED IN COMMUNITY DESIGN, REAL ESTATE, LAND DEVELOPMENT & QUALITY GROWTH.

Value Proposition: NC State's emerging real estate curriculum will prepare future designers and decision makers with the knowledge and perspective to champion for thoughtful, sustainable, and functional development.

OBJECTIVE 1.1

-

Develop state-of-the art real state curriculum and course offerings

ACTIONS METRICS - DETAILS

1.1.1 Create a real estate curriculum that provides graduates with the skills needed to succeed in public and private sector work.

1.1.2 Establish inter-college collaborations to build a diverse course offering

1.1.3 Establish core course offerings within the Colleges of Design, PCOM, Engineering & CNR

1.1.4 Engage private sector partners in curriculum activities.

OBJECTIVE 1.2 - Create

Solicit curriculum input from private and public sector sources to target areas of need and professional opportunity.

Identify courses, and specific faculty partners. Stand up an interdisciplinary faculty task force

Expand the current real estate curriculum to create additional course offerings in 2023-2024.

Invite partners to serve as guest lectures and to jury student work.

applied and experiential learning opportunities for students

ACTIONS METRICS - DETAILS

1.2.1 Establish opportunities for student involvement in local government working on real estate development activities.

1.2.2 Establish opportunities for students to intern with local real estate development firms.

Place at least one intern with a local, regional or state government agencies.

Place at least one intern with a local real estate development firm.

FUNDING LINES - UNIVERSITY FUNDING, GRANT FUNDING

PARTNERS - PRIVATE SECTOR, CITY OF RALEIGH UPG

GOAL #2

ENGAGE THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SYMPOSIA, AND EVENTS THAT ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT QUALITY GROWTH IN NORTH CAROLINA.

Value Proposition: The Initiative will take on the role of thought-leader and resource for the design and development community to consider the most appropriate and essential planning, design, and construction opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.

STRATEGY 2.1 - Create compelling engagement programs and enable strategic partnerships across industry, government, and academic institutions.

TACTICS TARGETS

2.1.1 Host a biennial Community Growth Conference in partnership with government agencies

2.1.2 Work with partner organizations to host planning charrettes with local governments

2.1.3 Establish an Industry Council that connects The Initiative to design and real estate leaders across NC

2.1.4 Engage with industry partners to identify challenges and solutions to quality growth

2.1.5 Grow outreach and engagement across North Carolina, connecting with all 100 counties

Organize a planning committee, select a theme and find a location for the 2024 conference.

Partner with Triangle Chapter of ULI and connect with other academic and non academic partners to achieve results

Seat an Industry Council in 2023, select a chair and host first council meeting.

Establish a rural communities task force to formulate a program of action

Implement a series of targeted conversations that focus on communities and partners across the state.

FUNDING LINES - SPONSORED RESEARCH, UNIVERSITY FUNDING, PARTNERS - ULI, REAL MATTERS, PRIVATE SECTOR INDUSTRY FUNDING

DESIGN IMPERATIVES CONFERENCE 2022

GOAL #3

OFFER DESIGN IDEATION CAPACITY TO SMALL & VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE

STRATEGY 3.1 - Establish strategic partnerships to advocate for planning + design resources in small town and vulnerable communities

TACTICS TARGETS

3.1.1 Collaborate with existing governmental and non-governmental organizations that provide services to rural communities.

3.1.2 Expand on the functional elements of the NC State Extension to add planning and design services.

Establish working relations with public and private sector organizations (i.e. Rural Center, Main Streets, CDDL) and identify possible projects for collaboration.

Work with Dr. Rich Bonanno and Celen Pasalar to expand services to at least one or two North Carolina communities

STRATEGY 3.2 - Establish strategic partnerships with private sector firms and organizations to offer needed assistance to North Carolina communities

3.2.1 Engage with private sector partners to jointly sponsor community projects.

Build on existing partnerships, such as the Construction Professional Network Institute.

FUNDING LINES - PARTNER FUNDING, GRANT FUNDING PARTNERS - RURAL CENTER, MAIN STREETS, NC EXTENSION, NC GROWTH

Value Proposition: Small rural North Carolina towns often lack planning and design know-how and capacity to create good and sustainable growth solutions. The Initiative can serve as a resource for communities in need.

GOAL #4

DEPLOY THE EXPERTISE AND TALENTS OF NC STATE FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO HELP GOVERNMENTS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR SOLVE QUALITY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES

Value Proposition: NC State offers world-renowned expertise and is uniquely positioned to serve the interests of governments and the private sector to find answers to intractable issues of the day.

STRATEGY 4.1 - Respond to the needs of North Carolina governments and private sector organizations to craft creative solutions to complex problems.

TACTICS TARGETS

4.1.1 Execute sponsored research agreements that address and resolve customer identified problems.

Execute two or three new sponsored research agreements during the term of this Strategic Plan.

STRATEGY 4.2 - Identify and support faculty and students across the university by facilitating sponsored research projects that resolve real world issues to advance the Universities research mission.

4.2.1 Identify, enumerate and circulate a list of faculty interested and capable of participating in sponsored research work.

Craft a list of at least ten (10) NC State faculty that are interested and capable of conducting sponsored research work.

STRATEGY 4.3 - Identify existing initiatives and centers at NC State that are capable of being deployed for sponsored research work.

4.3.1 Catalog the names, contact persons, expertise and work history of other initiatives and centers at NC State.

Organize a meeting of other initiatives and centers at NC State to discuss ways in which we can collaborate.

FUNDING LINES - SELF-FUNDED THROUGH SPONSORED RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS PARTNERS - MUNICIPALITIES, COMPANIES, STATE + FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS

FUJIFILM BIOSYNTH SITE SUSTAINABILITY STUDY 2022

GOAL #5

CREATE A PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN REAL WORLD PROJECTS THAT SERVE COMMUNITY SPONSORS LOOKING TO SUPPORT FUTURE DESIGN AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS

Value Proposition: Well crafted, funded coursework creates a win-win scenario where the sponsor has the opportunity to experience the intellectual and creative power of NC State student work, while the students have the unique opportunity to engage in real world projects. Both students and sponsors have the opportunity to foster mutually beneficial relationships.

STRATEGY 5.1 - identify and engage with potential funders outside the university to establish meaningful coursework and course outcomes

TACTICS TARGETS

5.1.1 Seek out potential customers and sponsors for funded coursework

5.1.2 Craft marketing and promotion materials that highlight accomplished work

Secure at least one funded coursework opportunity during the 2023-2024 term.

Work with a student intern to collect and compile a report on most recent work

STRATEGY 5.2 - work with university collaborators (faculty) to develop courses + studios that create win-win scenarios for students and sponsors

5.2.1 Identify partnerships that provide opportunity for funded coursework

Consult with faculty and work with student interns to compile information

FUNDING LINES - PARTNER FUNDING, GRANT FUNDING PARTNERS - NC STATE FACULTY, COURSE SPONSORS

THE INITIATIVE'S PARTNERS

2023-2025

PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS

The Initiative for Community Growth and Development works with a variety of private sector partners to carry out its mission and work program. This strategic plan features some of our key private sector partnerships and the work that we are accomplishing together.

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE

The Initiative partners with the Triangle Chapter of the Urban Land Institute to conduct an annual UrbanPlan seminar, which is part of the university’s real estate development educational offerings. We are currently working with ULI Triangle Chapter to conduct the same seminar in conjunction with local government leaders.

INDUSTRY COUNCIL

During the 2023-2024 term, NC State will establish an Industry Council whose purpose will be to serve as advisors to the Dean and staff of The Initiative. The Council will be comprised of professionals from the design, real estate, and development community. The Council will:

• Advise The Initiative on the real estate curriculum

• Assist with fundraising for the program

• Provide real world case studies for use in the classroom

• Mentor students

• Serve as guest lecturers in the classroom and at industry gatherings

• Participate in student networking and recruitment events

• Share job and internship postings

• Advise student competition teams

Council Membership: Interested individuals, companies and corporations can join The Initiative Industry Council. The term of service for each membership will be for a period of three years.

RURAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

During 2022-2023 term, The Initiative reached out to several North Carolina organizations that specialize in and focus on rural community development, including the North Carolina Rural Center, North Carolina Main Street Program, Construction Professional Network Institute, the Development Finance Institute, and NCGrowth. As these relationships mature, The Initiative is looking for opportunities to develop a specific program of action to affect meaningful change within rural communities across the state.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

The Initiative will continue working with private sector real estate development interests in the 2023-2024 term to keep abreast of current trends and ever-changing market dynamics. This will include inviting real estate professionals to be part of the seminars and hosting to meetings to discuss current and future trends in real estate development.

PLEASE NOTE

"The Initiative for Community Growth and Development operates within the land grant mission of NC State university, which is focused on education, service and outreach to communities across North Carolina. At the heart of everything we do is service, through activities that are directly related to the university educational mission. The Initiative serves the communities of our state, and the land grant mission. Above and beyond our core goals and objectives, our work supports private enterprise by connecting project partners to academic and non-academic resources. The Initiative, through sponsored research, works collaboratively to accomplish projects in partnership with the private sector when and where appropriate.

PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS

The Initiative for Community Growth and Development works with various public sector partners to carry out its mission and work program. This strategic plan features some of the key partnerships and the work that we are accomplishing.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES, CENTERS AND LABS

The Initiative seeks partnership opportunities with existing initiatives, centers and labs housed within various colleges of the university. Our goal is to add value to the work that these other organizations impart by teaming or partnering on specific projects. Potential partner institutions include: NC Seagrant, NC Agriculture Extension, Coastal Dynamics Design Lab, Just Communities Lab, and the Institute for Emerging Issues.

UNC SYSTEM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

The Initiative has engaged in productive conversations with other similar endeavors like the Development Finance Institute and NCGrowth that are within the UNC System. During the term of this strategic plan, our goal is to continue to reach out, engage, and look for opportunities to partner, adding value to the work of these other organizations and in the long-term offering beneficial impact to North Carolina communities.

HBCU COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

In 2022-2023 The Initiative helped coordinate a Spring 2023 Urban Design studio run out of the College of Design and focused on Shaw university. This initial connection with the South's first HBCU is seen as the first of many partnerships with our regional HBCU's.

During the 2023-2024 term, The Initiative will continue reaching out to area HBCU’s (St. Augs, NCCU, NCA&T, and Shaw) to engage with faculty and students who have an interest in real estate development education. A primary goal is to enroll students from area HBCU’s in the real estate seminars at NC State. Another goal is to broaden the dialogue on real estate development, its impacts and benefits for under served communities and neighborhoods.

THE INITIATIVE'S FUNDING

2023-2025

SOURCES OF FUNDING

Since its inception in the summer of 2021, The Initiative has secured more than $500,000 in funding to conduct its work in outreach and engagement, research, and education activities. This funding has come from 3 sources: 1) University allocations, 2) Sponsored research, and 3) External grants, gifts and donations.

UNIVERSITY ALLOCATION

NC State university has committed funding from the Provost and the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration. These unrestricted funds are used to support staffing and administrative operations of the program. The Initiative was also awarded a grant from the NCSU Foundation to undertake community outreach and engagement work.

SPONSORED RESEARCH

Sponsored research serves to fund staff and operations. This restricted funding is tied to the delivery of research reports and other services that the university provides to those that sponsor the research. Sponsored research work has been provided to FujiFilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, PBSNC, and the City of Raleigh. The Initiative is currently pursuing other sponsored research opportunities.

EXTERNAL GRANTS GIFTS AND DONATIONS

External sources of funding from grants, gifts and donations to NC State university are targeted in support of The Initiative for Community Growth and Development. In 2022, The AJ Fletcher Foundation awarded a grant in support of The Initiative. The Conference on Community Growth and Development was supported by grants from eighteen individual donors. Some of The Initiative's coursework is also funded from gifts, grants, and donations.

FUNDING FOR 2023-2024

NC State university is currently pursuing a long-term funding strategy for The Initiative. This includes securing a lead philanthropic gift as a starting point for raising a program endowment. The university is also considering other recurring sources of funds that can provide annual support for staffing and operations.

Our vision for The Initiative is to be self-sustaining, independent from legislative funding lines, and hold a diverse portfolio of funding streams.