Raleigh, N.C. – The NC Pandemic Recovery Office launched the inaugural NC Community Engagement Survey in partnership with the NC Rural Center, NC Association of County Commissioners, and NC League of Municipalities. The survey, which will be conducted by researchers from East Carolina University, will solicit timely insights into the state of community conditions recovering from the pandemic and preparing for the future. The approach will monitor, measure, and evaluate the impact of economic and social interruptions found across the state. The survey results will help measure the progress toward full pandemic recovery and should help strengthen regional economic resilience.
“The impacts of the pandemic have been felt deeply and unevenly across our state and this survey will help us to more clearly see the problems so we can tackle them,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This effort is an important step to give state and local leaders actionable data to make evidence-based decisions about how to use our recovery resources and plan for the future.”
The design is inspired by the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey, which provides statewide data on several topics related to COVID-19. The NC Community Engagement Survey seeks participation from community leaders in each county to share their perspectives on regional and local trends related to housing, broadband, food access, education, and more. The survey will be a shared resource among project partners seeking to generate and analyze local data.
The NC Community Engagement Survey is funded through a grant to the Governor’s Office from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The grant will support additional, related research efforts over the next two years.
The NC Community Engagement Survey will strive to ensure that every county in North Carolina is included in the process. It will provide important data for statewide growth to proceed in a more equitable fashion, with a goal of healthy and resilient communities. By assessing the impacts of the pandemic and future disruptions in a coordinated and sharable fashion, the state, local governments, and partners will be better equipped to make smarter and more effective decisions.
The Survey will complement a parallel NC Business Pulse Survey led by the NC Department of Commerce to generate timely insights from business owners across the state. To learn more about that effort, visit https://www.nccommerce.com/data-tools-reports/economic-development-reports/business-pulse-survey.
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