Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt recognizes that universities do not exist in isolation, but rather they have far-reaching economic impacts.
To that end, collaborating with mayors of other university towns around the state to get that message to the legislature is an important effort in the short term.
Unfortunately, the foreseeable future looks significantly frugal for the University. In the longer term, the town needs to continue to leverage recent development efforts to ensure continued economic vitality.
The disadvantage that the University and town face is that many of UNC’s economic benefits are indirect and extend well-beyond hiring local labor and paying taxes.
The value of the research and intellectual capital that UNC and other universities draw also impacts communities locally and the state broadly.
Kleinschmidt acknowledges the unique need to get mayors both near and far from universities to get this message to legislators. After all, the legislature saw a historic turnover after last November’s elections and is now far more fiscally conservative.
Getting mayors around the state on the same page could have a meaningful marginal impact.
Fortunately, the town adopted a strategic vision for economic development in the summer of 2008. A lot has happened since then, but Kleinschmidt believes this strategy will keep the town up to the task of attracting fresh economic development.
In the longer-term, it seems like the town will need to do just that in the face of the University’s diminished economic presence. The economy may be improving, but no one should count on UNC becoming flush with funds anytime soon.
