Facts That Matter Blog
Facts That Matter Blog
North Carolina’s Circular Economy
Increasingly, once is not enough. The goal of a circular economy is to move from linear flows to circular flows of raw materials and finished products, extending the productive life of finished goods, reusing and recycling their components, and reducing or eliminating waste. Examples of this concept, like curbside recycling, are already part of daily life for many North Carolinians.[1] But opportunities abound for improving these systems, since only about a third of recyclable materials are currently being recovered from municipal solid waste in the state, and less than 20% of construction and demolition debris is currently being recycled.[2] Entrepreneurs in the state are also developing new ways to save resources and money by implementing zero-waste solutions.
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Blockchain and Cryptocurrency in North Carolina
A blockchain is a digital, internet-based ledger for recording transactions. Each record or “block” adds to the cumulative list of transactions or “chain.” Because it is shared, decentralized, and cryptographically protected, a blockchain is broadly accessible, independently verifiable, and resistant to tampering. These features have enabled it to support digital cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether that don’t require centralized intermediaries like banks. Some cryptocurrencies require complex verification, and individuals or firms compete to provide this service using computers in return for digital coins (cryptocurrency “mining”).
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Smart Communities in North Carolina
Smart community technologies can help local governments and communities in North Carolina do more with less, broaden community engagement, and improve service delivery.
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New Transportation Technology in North Carolina
Led by NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division, North Carolina is promoting the use of new transportation technology to achieve three goals: increase access, enhance quality of life, and ensure safety. The overall vision is for North Carolinians to have equal opportunity to get anywhere in the state, with or without a car.
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Digital Access and Equity
The Internet can connect us to the world from the comfort of our homes, but only if we have digital access. This requires not only a connection to broadband, but also an affordable internet subscription, a suitable device, and the skills to use it. Supporting this system is a digital infrastructure of sensors, hardware, and software called information and communication technologies (ICT) to collect, process, analyze, and store data, and route it among users. Together, digital technologies can help us expand our knowledge, improve service delivery, and facilitate new capabilities like e-commerce, remote work, computer visualization, and artificial intelligence. As a result, a growing number of communities are drafting digital equity and inclusion plans and working with internet service providers (ISPs) and the state and federal government to help make sure everyone has affordable access to broadband.
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AI Uses in North Carolina
AI has the potential to help communities large and small across North Carolina. Communities have the chance to pilot and use AI technologies to increase productivity and save money. Examples include traffic signal management, property appraisal, and gunshot detection.
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North Carolina’s Housing Shortage
Affordable rental housing is by far North Carolina’s largest housing need, one that is especially severe for low-income households. The most expensive areas are Asheville, Raleigh, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, Currituck County, and Durham-Chapel Hill. In many rural and urban counties, more than 50% of renters are cost-burdened (i.e., they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs).
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Carolina Engagement Week Events Celebrate Collaboration
Collaboration is at the heart of Carolina Engagement Week, bringing together campus and community leaders to celebrate the impacts of their partnerships across North Carolina. ncIMPACT and Carolina Across 100 were proud to partner once again on this third annual week of events, held from February 26 – March 1. Thirty-four events were held in 2024, including several events hosted at the UNC School of Government.
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State of NC Health
North Carolina ranked as the 30th healthiest state in the nation in 2022. It ranked 38th in health behaviors, 30th in health outcomes, 22nd in socioeconomic factors, and 9th in physical environment (air and water quality, housing, transit).
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North Carolina’s Aging Population
North Carolina ranks in the top 10 states in the U.S. for the number of people 65 and older. Aging population issues include increasing healthcare costs, inadequate mental healthcare, social isolation, ageism, elder abuse, inequitable access to resources, the need for affordable and accessible housing and transportation, burdens on family caregivers, and caregiving workforce needs.
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