Eric Evans - Edgecombe County Manager

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.