UNC Charlotte Opened New Economic Research Center
The Belk School of Business launched a hub to provide civic and business leaders with updated local economic data.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Economic Indicators
Live Poll
Do you feel your household's cost of living is becoming more difficult to manage?
UNC Charlotte has established the N.C. Economic Impact Center to serve as a resource for reliable, current data for local decision-makers. The center operates within the university's Belk School of Business.
Why it matters
The center aims to provide business and civic leaders with the accurate, up-to-date data needed to better inform local financial planning and economic strategy. By centralizing this information, the university hopes to improve data accessibility for the area.
The university's economic forecast series, which began in 2001, featured 4 financial leaders during its most recent panel discussion. Officials continue to monitor long-term trends, such as the projected insolvency of Social Security by 2032.
The players
UNC Charlotte
A public research university providing local economic research and academic degrees.
Belk School of Business
The business division at UNC Charlotte that manages academic programs and the new economic center.
John Connaughton
A long-time faculty member and the designated first director of the new center who passed away in 2026.
The details
Housed within the Belk School of Business, the new N.C. Economic Impact Center will maintain a digital repository of local economic indicators. This hub is designed to offer public access to information that helps leaders track regional conditions. The initiative follows a long-standing history of quarterly economic forecasting events held by the university.
Timeline
John Connaughton joined the UNC Charlotte faculty in 1978.
The quarterly economic forecast event began in 2001.
John Connaughton died in June 2026.
The center's launch was announced on September 23, 2026.
Social Security is projected to reach insolvency by 2032.
Money Landscape
The new center builds upon the analytical foundation established by the university's quarterly economic forecast event series. This move expands the school's long-standing role in providing regional economic insights to local stakeholders.
Residents and local business owners will gain a new public resource for tracking regional economic health. You may want to monitor future data releases from the center to stay informed on local growth projections.
The takeaway
The university's new center will provide a central repository of data for regional leaders. Keep an eye on local economic releases to better understand how regional growth might impact your long-term household financial planning.
Further reading
For more information on regional financial trends, visit the Economic Indicators section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business North Carolina.
Live Poll
Do you feel your household's cost of living is becoming more difficult to manage?
