Center for Municipal Management and Innovation

The ECU Center for Municipal Management and Innovation (Municipal Center) leverages the resources and expertise of East Carolina University's faculty, staff and students on behalf of small, low wealth, limited resource and limited capacity municipalities in eastern North Carolina. Acknowledging that many eastern municipalities lack adequate staff and administrative capacity to effectively respond to the basic fiscal, policy and programmatic needs of their citizens; we conclude that effective day to day management and delivery of public services have become extremely difficult for these units of local government. By proactively targeting these communities with direct technical assistance that helps provide capacity in administrative management, policy analysis, strategic planning and program development, the University assists in building communities that are more fiscally responsible, more economically viable, and more capable of effectively delivering public services. The Municipal Center is a model outreach effort that engages faculty, staff and students from all relevant colleges, schools and administrative units at ECU. Our commitment to collaboration includes input and guidance from external partners that include funding agencies, state and local government organizations, other universities and the participating municipalities.

Community Enhancement and Economic Transformation Initiative (CEETI)

The North Carolina Department of Commerce (Commerce) and East Carolina University (ECU) have established a partnership that leverages the resources and expertise of both organizations in support of comprehensive economic development in eastern North Carolina communities.

CEETI proactively targets distressed, low wealth and limited capacity communities with economic development products, technical assistance and financial resources that will help increase competitiveness and build stronger, more vibrant and more capable communities. It is an innovative pilot program that maximizes collaboration between Commerce and ECU on behalf of targeted communities in eastern North Carolina to increase economic competitiveness and enhance the potential for sustainable economic growth and development.

CEETI will include:

Community Enhancement Grants from the Department of Commerce that targets economically distressed 21st Century Communities with grants of up to $75,000 for capacity building activities that will subsequently lead to broader economic development projects that address a prioritized local need.
Economic Transformation Assistance which leverages the economic development personnel, products and expertise of East Carolina University on behalf of eastern North Carolina communities to help remove traditional barriers to the access of economic development resources and impediments to successful project implementation. ECU will partner directly with communities that are funded by Commerce and provide a comprehensive package of technical assistance an economic development services.
Focused Community Guidance for the targeted communities that engages the Department of Commerce, ECU, the communities and relevant economic development entities in a long-term partnership that continually assesses ways of building local capacity, ensures the successful implementation of projects, and stimulates the transformation of the local and regional economies.
Continuous Collaboration between Commerce, ECU and the communities that helps to foster sustainable economic development and creates a pervasive spirit of commitment and inclusion. CEETI will engage the full scope of academic and intellectual capacities of the University and the professional expertise of the Commerce staff to continuously engage the communities and regional partners to design and implement innovative strategies that help build vibrant and competitive communities and subsequently help transform the regional economy.

The Community Enhancement and Economic Transformation Initiative is a comprehensive approach to addressing issues that impact economic well being and quality of life issues in distressed communities across eastern North Carolina, and is consistent with the focus of Commerce's new Memorandum of Understanding with the University of North Carolina.

For more information about the Regional Development Institute, please contact Kenny Flowers, the director of Community and Regional Development at 252-737-1340 or email flowersk@ecu.edu or contact Ruthann Cage, the director of Industry and Economic Development at 252-737-1343 or email cager@ecu.edu.

The ECU Outreach Network

The ECU Outreach Network, a division of the Office of Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development, is a team of faculty, staff, and graduate students who work collaboratively with community organizations and municipalities in order to find obtainable grant resources for programs that strengthens communities, promote sustainable growth and development in eastern North Carolina, while providing a meaningful education and work experience for ECU graduate students from various disciplines.

To find out if the ECU Outreach Network can assist your organization or municipality with a grant seeking endeavor please contact:

For more information please contact:
Director Janice Tovey, Associate Professor of English
ECU Outreach Network
Office of Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development
300 W First Street, Willis Building 104
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
OutreachNet@ecu.edu
Office: (252) 737-1357
Fax: (252) 737-1381