Economic Impact Analysis Services in North Carolina
Transform Your Economic Development Vision Into Measurable Results
Over 30 years of Industry Experience
Experience
100% On-Time Delivery
On-Time Delivery
Industry-Leading Turnaround Times
Project Turnaround
What an Economic Impact Study Includes
Every Stratford economic impact study reports four measures across all three effect types: employment (jobs supported, stated in full-time equivalents rather than headcount), labor income (wages and proprietor income), output (total value of goods and services produced), and tax revenue (federal, state, and local).
Each study defines its study region explicitly — a county, a metro area, a multi-county region, or a state — because a multiplier that is accurate for North Carolina is wrong for Guilford County. Studies also state their time horizon and separate one-time construction impacts from recurring annual operations, so a reader can tell the difference between a temporary construction phase and the ongoing effect of a facility once it opens.
Deliverables include the written report with executive summary and methodology appendix, the underlying data tables, presentation-ready visualizations, and a working session to review findings before you take them to a board or a public meeting.
What an Economic Impact Study Cannot Tell You
An economic impact study measures gross economic activity. It does not tell you whether a project is a net benefit — that is a cost-benefit analysis, a different exercise with a different answer.
Three limits are worth stating plainly. Impact is not benefit: a study reporting $40 million in output has not established that the public investment was worthwhile. Substitution is rarely free: spending at a new venue often displaces spending elsewhere in the same region, and a study that ignores displacement overstates its result. Multipliers are regional, not universal: applying a national multiplier to a rural county inflates every number downstream.
We build studies independently, which means we report what the model produces rather than the number a project needs. When we review studies commissioned by others, these three failures account for most of what we find.
Industries We Serve
Within the public sector we work directly with planning and zoning departments, local governments, and agencies building grant justification cases for state and federal funding applications.
We help private sector companies assess the economic impact of expansions, relocations, new facilities, and strategic initiatives. Our analyses support business case development, stakeholder presentations, and public-private partnership negotiations by demonstrating job creation, tax generation, and broader economic benefits to communities.
Our government clients rely on our expertise to evaluate economic development policies, infrastructure investments, zoning changes, and major public projects. We provide the analytical foundation for grant applications, policy decisions, and public engagement efforts while ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
We support educational institutions and nonprofit organizations in quantifying the economic contribution of their operations, special events, research activities, and community programs.Our studies help these organizations demonstrate their value to funders, policymakers, and community stakeholders. Universities in particular rely on us for research impact, alumni outcomes, and campus investment analysis.
Our Process
Our Economic Impact Analysis process follows a systematic, four-phase approach designed to deliver comprehensive and reliable results:
Project Scoping and Data Collection
Economic Modeling and Analysis
Stakeholder Review and Validation
Report Development and Presentation
Featured Work
Real results for real clients across diverse industries and project types
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
Most economic impact studies are completed within 6-12 weeks, depending on the project scope, data availability, and complexity of the analysis. We work with clients to establish realistic timelines that meet their decision-making schedules while ensuring thorough and accurate results.
Our analyses capture direct impacts (immediate effects of the project), indirect impacts (effects on supporting industries and suppliers), and induced impacts (effects from increased household spending). We measure changes in employment, wages, output, tax revenue, and other relevant economic indicators specific to your project and region.
We use industry-standard economic modeling tools, peer-reviewed methodologies, and current economic data sources. Our team includes certified economists with extensive experience in impact analysis, and we follow best practices established by organizations like the International Association for Impact Assessment.
Absolutely. We tailor each study to reflect local economic conditions, industry-specific characteristics, and regional economic structures. Our analyses can focus on neighborhoods, cities, counties, states, or multi-state regions, depending on your project’s scope and impact area.
Our comprehensive service includes a detailed written report with executive summary, methodology description, findings presentation, and appendices with supporting data. We also provide data tables, charts and visualizations, presentation materials for stakeholder meetings, and a consultation session to review findings and discuss implications. If you’re new to reading these reports, see our guide on how to read an economic impact study before your results presentation.
We scope the study region and time horizon with your team, then collect project data — capital expenditure, payroll, operating budget, and procurement. That data runs through IMPLAN or RIMS II depending on the region and sector. We validate preliminary results with your stakeholders before producing the final report. Most studies run 6 to 12 weeks from kickoff to delivery.
An economic impact study measures gross economic activity, not net public benefit — that requires a cost-benefit analysis. Results are also sensitive to how the study region is drawn, whether displaced spending is accounted for, and whether the multipliers used reflect local industry structure. We state these assumptions explicitly in every report so findings hold up under scrutiny.
Ready to Measure Your Economic Impact?
Don’t let uncertainty limit your economic development potential. Partner with Stratford Analytics to transform your vision into measurable economic outcomes. Our expert team is ready to provide the analytical insights you need to make informed decisions, attract investment, and build stronger communities.
- 806 Green Valley Road Suite 200, Greensboro, NC, 27408
- 336-740-1786
