Eric Evans - Edgecombe County Manager

<p>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.</p><p>We dig into Edgecombe&#39;s current budget priorities and the fiscal realities of governing a community balancing growth with preservation. Eric walks us through their innovative &quot;Get Off the List&quot; initiative — a proactive strategy tackling blight, economic development, and systemic barriers that hold rural communities back.</p><p>A major focus is Edgecombe&#39;s refreshingly inclusive approach to development policy. Rather than letting consultants and commissioners operate behind closed doors, Eric describes how they&#39;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.</p><p>Finally, we cast a wider net on economic development in Edgecombe County: what&#39;s working, what&#39;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&#39;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.</p>