North Carolina Association of CED

Since its inception, NCACED has been working to strengthen communities and increase economic opportunities. In a historically distressed community experiencing significant economic recovery and transformation, NCACED is focused on a comprehensive strategy that encompasses place-based improvements to racially segregated disinvested neighborhoods and approaches to improve health outcomes for those who experience the greatest health disparities. As the region works to generate positive economic impact, NCACED has structured a community-driven model capable of replication elsewhere to guide one citys transformation in equitable development directions. NCACED supports the notion that those most impacted by the problems confronting our communities must be at the center of change efforts. NCACEDs model provides resident-level education and leadership development services, with the goal of expanding individual capacities and enhancing community

Coronavirus Recovery: Funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) made available to state and local governments provided these entities with the resources needed to respond to the pandemic and its economic effects and to build a stronger, more equitable economy during the recovery. NCACED is aware that the virus resulted in systemic public health and economic challenges that may have contributed to more severe impacts of the pandemic among low-income communities and people of color. Therefore, NCACED has been working with local stakeholders who directly experienced these inequities to ensure that their community-driven priorities are represented in local ARPA-planning and strategy development efforts and to promote an approach to funding allocation that identifies and addresses the systemic factors that create barriers to health and health equity.

Advocacy/Public Policy: Guided by proactive and engaged low-income residents, NCACED is pursuing equitable development strategies through land use management and other policy changes that will increase and protect price-appropriate housing for struggling working families, create safer, more appealing streets and downtowns, enlarge access to healthy foods, enhance public health and environmental stewardship, and improve jobs and transportation services. NNCACED seeks to promote and expand resident participation in meaningful, powerful and representative civic engagement activities. As a result of NCACEDs programmatic efforts, increased low-income resident involvement in key community change activities has been achieved. By recognizing the value added low-wealth residents brought to the table with their informed comments about their neighborhoods, city officials and neighborhood residents began working together in an effective partnership to reach a shared goal.