Institute for Emerging Issues

Institute for Emerging Issues
Name	Institute for Emerging Issues
Founded	1986
Type	Public policy think tank
Headquarters	Raleigh, North Carolina
Leader title	Executive Director

Institute for Emerging Issues

The Institute for Emerging Issues is a public policy forum based in Raleigh, North Carolina, linked to North Carolina State University and engaged with regional stakeholders such as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, East Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University, Appalachian State University. It convenes leaders from North Carolina General Assembly, City of Raleigh, Wake County, Charlotte City Council, Greenville, North Carolina and partners including Research Triangle Park, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce to address statewide questions involving infrastructure projects like Interstate 40, U.S. Route 1 (North Carolina), and regional initiatives tied to Port of Wilmington (North Carolina), Charlotte Douglas International Airport and RDU International Airport. The institute has engaged with national entities such as Brookings Institution, Urban Institute, Pew Charitable Trusts, RAND Corporation, Aspen Institute and international groups including OECD, European Commission, World Bank.

History

Founded in 1986 during the tenure of James G. Martin and the governorship patterns of Jim Hunt and Mike Easley, the institute emerged amid debates over responses to shifts flagged by Rust Belt decline, Sun Belt growth, NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement and transitions in sectors exemplified by companies like IBM, RJR Nabisco, GlaxoSmithKline. Early programming intersected with state policy actions from the North Carolina General Assembly and commissions such as the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center and the Golden LEAF Foundation. Over time the institute convened dialogues paralleling national dialogues at Council on Foreign Relations, National Governors Association, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and spoke to issues highlighted by events like Hurricane Floyd, Hurricane Fran, Great Recession (2007–2009), and federal legislation including Affordable Care Act, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act debates as they affected North Carolina. Collaborations and scholarly exchanges involved scholars and practitioners affiliated with Paul Krugman, Thomas Piketty, Amartya Sen, Mariana Mazzucato, Richard Florida and institutions such as Columbia University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University.

Mission and Programs

The institute’s mission aligns with regional competitiveness and inclusive prosperity goals advanced by entities like Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Transportation and philanthropic partners such as Ford Foundation, Kresge Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Programs have addressed workforce issues intersecting with providers like Durham Technical Community College, Wake Technical Community College, Goodwill Industries International, and employers including Cisco Systems, Red Hat, SAS Institute, Biogen, Fidelity Investments, Bank of America. Initiatives also relate to rural revitalization efforts involving Appalachian Regional Commission, Southeastern Power Administration, Rural Electrification Administration histories and urban resilience projects linked to American Cities Climate Challenge, 100 Resilient Cities and local efforts by City of Charlotte, City of Greensboro, City of Durham.

Research and Policy Work

The institute produces research engaging scholars from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government, North Carolina State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, East Carolina University Center for Sustainable Tourism, and think tanks like Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, Urban Institute Justice Policy Center, Pew Research Center. Research topics have included labor market analyses with methods from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau (United States Bureau of the Census), and economic modeling using approaches similar to Input–output model, Computable general equilibrium model applied to sectors such as manufacturing, biotechnology, information technology and transportation corridors including Norfolk Southern Railway routes and CSX Transportation. Policy work has informed state commissions on broadband deployment parallel to efforts by Federal Communications Commission, energy transitions tied to Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, and public health planning connected with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Events and Public Engagement

Public forums include statewide conferences resembling formats used by Ted Conference, Aspen Ideas Festival, and convenings with civic leaders from Rotary International, United Way Worldwide, Chamber of Commerce, National League of Cities affiliates. Signature events have featured speakers and panelists similar to figures from Some of the subjects: mayors, governors, university presidents including leaders from North Carolina A&T State University, UNC System, and corporate executives from Google, Apple, Microsoft discussing topics such as broadband, innovation districts like Research Triangle Park, housing affordability debates present in Seattle and San Francisco case studies, and climate resilience models used in New York City and Miami. The institute’s public engagement has included partnerships with media outlets such as The News & Observer (Raleigh), WRAL-TV, Charlotte Observer and collaborations with civic campaigns like Complete Count Committee for the United States Census, 2020.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Organizationally the institute is administratively connected to North Carolina State University yet engages advisory boards drawing from leaders with affiliations to Duke Energy, Bank of America, Red Hat, Biogen, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, and civic nonprofit executives from Golden LEAF Foundation, Piedmont Triad Partnership, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Leadership has included executive directors and fellows who previously worked with Governors of North Carolina, federal agencies such as U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, and national organizations like National Association of State Budget Officers, Council of State Governments. The institute’s staff collaborate with academic centers including North Carolina Rural Economic Center, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams combine state appropriations channeled via North Carolina General Assembly allocations, grants from federal agencies such as Economic Development Administration, private philanthropy from foundations including Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, corporate sponsorships from firms like Piedmont Natural Gas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and project-specific contracts with local governments like City of Raleigh, Wake County, Mecklenburg County. Strategic partnerships extend to research collaborations with Research Triangle Foundation, regional planning organizations such as Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, and national networks including National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Kauffman Foundation, Milken Institute.

Category:Think tanks based in the United States