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BUNCOMBE COUNTYSTRATEGIC PLAN |
Vibrant Economy
Creating a robust economic landscape
Goal and Definition
Status Indicators for Most Recently Reported Results: On Target | Caution | Below Plan | No Information
Land use strategies guide the future actions of a community. These strategies help to support a vision for the future by identifying long-range goals and objectives for all activities that affect the community. These strategies account for changes in Buncombe County’s growth patterns, development scenarios, land use demands, and demographic composition. Robust land use strategies will help to identify the “best use” of our scarce developable land resources and encourage development that meets the community needs for affordability and accessibility.
Actual |
Target |
Results for |
| 99% | 75% | Q4 FY24 |
What we’re watching
Percent of affordable housing within 0.75 miles of dedicated transit or designated employment centers
Stable, affordable housing provides benefits to both people with low incomes and local economies overall. For individuals, it reduces homelessness, lifts people out of poverty, and improves health outcomes.
Buncombe County has a thriving economy that demonstrates job growth, low unemployment and thriving industry clusters. Annual median household income ($59,699) lags just behind 2022 North Carolina state benchmark ($60,516) while costs of living increase.
Actual |
Target |
Results for |
| 100% | 75% | Q4 FY24 |
What we’re watching
Percentage of Buncombe County population that's below the poverty line
Poverty rates are related to the overall health of the economy. As the economy grows, so do opportunities for employment and income growth. Stronger labor markets and higher income levels tend to help those families living in poverty move above the poverty threshold.
This is not a Buncombe County Strategic Plan Goal, but watching this metric informs how county goals are pursued.
Buncombe County is home to several industries that were born here and grew up here. These industries give us a competitive advantage – from attracting new business to developing our workforce. Continued growth in our strong sectors will promote opportunities in high wage sectors for job seekers with a variety of skill and education level.
Actual |
Target |
Results for |
| 61% | 75% | Q4 FY24 |
What we’re watching
Increase the number of new jobs in specific industries
Economic success is not measured purely by the number of jobs generated. The targeted industries approach to economic development focuses on overall growth, productivity, and efficiency gains among related industries. The role of government is to establish the necessary infrastructures to encourage firm growth and retention.
This is not a Buncombe County Strategic Plan Goal, but watching this metric informs how county goals are pursued.
