UNC Center for Competitive Economies (C3E)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Center for Competitive Economies, part of the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, brings the considerable resources of the University to the task of helping communities in North Carolina, the south, the United States and beyond address critical challenges of competitiveness and economic development.
Globalization of world markets and rapid advances in technology offer
unparalleled opportunities for creating jobs and building wealth in communities
across North Carolina and elsewhere. Yet, too often, communities lack
the knowledge, skills and expertise to identify and seize these opportunities
for growth. C3E provides information
and services that shape policies and practices affecting community growth,
helping communities become more prosperous and competitive.
C3E works on problems of economic development, most of them within the state of North Carolina. Its activities include:
- Increasing awareness of the University's economic development resources
 among public officials, business leaders and citizens within North Carolina and elsewhere
- Providing information and services that will lead to policies and practices likely to make North Carolina more competitive and increase jobs and wealth in the state
- Coordinating economic development activities already underway on campus and in the region
- Creating, monitoring and documenting new programs that will assist local, state, regional and national governments, non-governmental organizations and private enterprises to create jobs and wealth
- Working with state, local, regional and national government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private enterprises to identify opportunities for creating jobs and wealth, and helping craft and implement innovative strategies that respond to those opportunities
To create awareness of available resources The C3E:
- Publishes reports and newsletters on issues of economic development
- Conducts analyses and publicizes the results through the media and other channels
- Brings visitors to Chapel Hill to learn about the University's resources and to participate in conferences and symposia
- Develops networks among key stakeholders
- Provides training for UNC personnel
To encourage policies and practices that make North Carolina more competitive and increase jobs and wealth in the state The Center for Competitive Economies:
- Seeks and publicizes opportunities for funded projects that increase the level of research, analysis and programs on economic development
- Meets with public decision makers about needs that can be translated into projects
- Serves as a neutral platform for government, business and university leaders to meet and discuss problems and solutions related to economic development
- Disseminates research and analysis findings to those who will use them
- Provides technical assistance to businesses and governments on economic development matters, through faculty and students
The Center for Competitive Economies (C3E):
- Documents activities and expertise across the University and in other institutions and organizations and makes that information available through an online database
- Serves as a gateway for inquiries and requests for assistance
- Connects requests to the appropriate unit or individual able to provide help
- Helps to create a network of linked resources in response to requests for proposals and assistance
- Uses outreach and publications to keep all members of the economic development community in the region informed of developments, opportunities and activities
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