Special Guest John Skvarla joins panelists Jonathan Kappler, Director of State Government Relations for the UNC System and Bill Mahoney, CEO, SCRA to discuss trends, opportunities and threats to the regions economic development.
Posts Tagged ‘Economic Development’
Tim Arnold, President and CEO, Colonial Life
Terry Keating, Accord Financial and Bryan Toney, Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Corporate Engagement at UNCG join the dialogue as panelists. Topics include fallout from the ACA, Transportation, Economic Development.
Minor Shaw, Micco LLC
Mebane Rash, EdNC and Carl Blackstone, Columbia Chamber of Commerce are the panelists. Topics include education, economic development, unionization
Insurance for the Unemployed
Tasked with overhauling North Carolina’s unemployment insurance system, Assistant Secretary Dale Folwell of the Division of Employment Security at the North Carolina Department of Commerce believes the state’s decision to become the first in the nation to end extended benefits for the long-term unemployed will lead to healthier companies and more economic development, thereby creating more jobs. On this program, Folwell explains how benefits paid during the recession led to billions in debt, which falls to employers to pay. He gives an update on the efforts to pay down the debt, enhance customer service for the unemployed seeking benefits and investigations into fraud and abuse. Kathy Almond of the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce and York Technical College President Dr. Greg Rutherford join the dialogue.
Electrifying Transportation
Traffic congestion in Carolina cities often spurs debate on the best solutions move people across our region. While buses are arguably one of the most efficient methods, the growth of this type of public transportation may be held back by public perceptions and stigma. Proterra, Inc. President & CEO Ryan Popple leads a company working to disrupt how people perceive public transit while also selling an alternative to diesel buses. On this program, we examine the development of battery-powered vehicles and why varying energy policies and fuel costs could be an driver in the business of alternative energy products. Bill Kirkland of the Office of Economic Engagement at the University of South Carolina and Joe Milazzo of Raleigh’s Regional Transportation Alliance join the conversation.
Job Growth and Workforce Retraining
The Carolinas continue to reap the benefits of the re-shoring of manufacturing and the rapid expansion of the aviation and automotive sectors in the region. With this growth comes the challenge of supplying well-trained workers who are up to the task of operating in advanced manufacturing facilities. On this program, Bob Morgan of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Sonny White of Midlands Technical College discuss the collaborative efforts of businesses and educators to address the skills gap in North and South Carolina, as well as the work of changing false perceptions around careers in manufacturing.
Flexibility in Recruiting
The newly-formed Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is designed to cut bureaucracy for companies in the state while adding speed and flexibility to the job of luring new business to the region, according to John Lassiter, chairman of the group’s Board of Directors. On this program, Lassiter explains the other goals of the nonprofit spun from the N.C. Department of Commerce, as well as his ideas for adding new incentives for innovative research at the state’s universities. Doug Copeland with the Triad Business Journal and Dr. Frank Hefner of the College of Charleston join the conversation.
Blurred Lines in Health Care
The national conversation surrounding health care has been amplified by the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Even as the law goes into effect, health care providers and insurers are filtering facts from partisan rhetoric while deciphering the actual legislation. On this program, Mike Riordan, CEO of Greenville Health System, provides analysis of the changing dynamics of health care, where some hospitals are becoming insurers and some insurers are opening medical practices. Brad Dean of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Mark Hall of Wake Forest University join the dialogue.
Economy Year in Review
Significant improvements in the Carolinas’ economic health were noted in most cities in 2013. Still, not all communities in our region are feeling the impact of the recovery. In general, unemployment remains higher in many rural communities than in urban areas where companies have hired more workers and new businesses are setting up shop. On our annual year in review program, economists John Connaughton of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Frank Hefner of the College of Charleston, Dr. John Silvia of Wells Fargo and Dr. Doug Woodward of the University of South Carolina recap 2013 and discuss the trends of the recovery, as well as the stumbles along the way.
Political Civility
While much has been written about the contentious policies adopted this year under the Republican-led legislature in North Carolina, Lt. Governor Dan Forest points to meaningful bills which passed with little fanfare and bipartisan support. On this program, the Lt. Governor discusses the state of civility in politics and his views on priorities at the General Assembly in 2014. Kathy Almond of the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce and Andy Brack of the Statehouse Report join the dialogue.
CBR's
Upcoming Topics
April 13
Pat Rodgers, Rodgers Builders
April 20
Ward Nye, Martin Marietta
April 27
Jonathan Halkyard, Extended Stay America
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We proudly partner with the following regional Public Broadcasting organizations to produce a weekly, 30-minute dialogue that can been seen on 22 PBS affiliates throughout North and South Carolina:
