Episode Details

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Evans, County Manager of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, for a conversation about what it takes to lead a rural county through rapid economic transitions.

We dig into Edgecombe's current budget priorities and the fiscal realities of governing a community balancing growth with preservation. Eric walks us through their innovative "Get Off the List" initiative — a proactive strategy tackling blight, economic development, and systemic barriers that hold rural communities back.

A major focus is Edgecombe's refreshingly inclusive approach to development policy. Rather than letting consultants and commissioners operate behind closed doors, Eric describes how they've convened citizen-led and expert-driven sessions to shape data center zoning through their Unified Development Ordinance updates — giving all citizens a real seat at the table when billion-dollar facilities are deciding where to land.

Finally, we cast a wider net on economic development in Edgecombe County: what's working, what's on the horizon, and how small towns can compete in an era when rural America is suddenly the center of the renewable energy and data infrastructure boom.Whether you're a county commissioner, a local government professional, or just someone who believes rural communities deserve to shape their own future — we hope you will tune in to our conversation with Eric Evans.