Economic Mobility

A study released Thursday shows that Charlotte is making up ground on economic mobility as the region has moved from No. 50 to 38 in the rankings of how likely the lowest-income children are to rise out of poverty.

Harvard economist Raj Chetty had a sobering message for people in Charlotte working to increase economic mobility: Don’t expect quick results. In fact, be prepared to wait, and work, for decades.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council highlighted West Boulevard, Brookshire Boulevard between Interstate 85 and Interstate 485, and Albemarle Road as areas at high risk for food insecurity. These areas all lack full-service grocery stores and require long drives to stores that sell fresh produce — hurting residents' health and economic prospects.

It’s been almost a decade since Harvard economist Raj Chetty released his report that ranked the Charlotte region 50th out of 50 for economic mobility, shocking local leaders used to the image of Charlotte as a New South boomtown brimming with opportunity for all. Next Tuesday, Chetty will visit UNC Charlotte to talk about his latest work, focused on social capital.

The Opportunity Compass attempts to measure whether the community is making progress on its pledge to improve the odds that children born in poverty will make it out.

An organization formed last year to promote regional cooperation on economic mobility in northern Mecklenburg County is rebuilding after the pandemic slowed its work.

An often-cited 2014 study by Harvard University researchers ranked Charlotte last for economic mobility among the 50 largest U.S. metro areas. Some of the same researchers have now taken a deeper look at Charlotte in a new report out this week. And while the numbers remain grim, the analysis also offers a road map to improvement.

Georgia-based Chime Solutions says it will add 250 jobs at its Charlotte operations — jobs that officials say will give employees a shot at improving…

About 200 people from the towns of Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville gathered at Cornelius Town Hall on Thursday night to formally launch a regional…

Stephanie Cooper-Lewter, who was tapped in 2018 to lead Charlotte's quest to shed it's "50th of 50" label for lack of economic opportunity, will leave to…