Center for Regional Development. Western Carolina University’s Center for Regional Development (CRD) is a service and technical assistance unit that extends the resources of the university to the region. Through planning, research, data collection and analysis, specialized training, conferences, and workshops, the CRD serves as a catalyst for economic development and community capacity building. University staff, faculty members, and students serve business and industry, educational organizations, local governments, nonprofit agencies, and community-based organizations in Western North Carolina. Components of the CRD include a Federal Economic Development Administration University Center (which offers data research and technical assistance in economic development projects and community capacity building initiatives), Western North Carolina Tomorrow (a citizenship, leadership, and education organization which addresses issues affecting the future of the mountain region), and the Smoky Mountain Development Corporation (which manages a small business incubator and administers the Small Business Administration’s 504 loan program for ten counties.)

This page is maintained by Nancy Carden in the Office of Academic Affairs.
Last updated: 5/07/2002.
Copyright 2002 by Western Carolina University.