Tara L. Fikes joined the School of Government as an adjunct instructor in 2017. In 2014, she retired after 30 years serving as the housing, human rights, and community development director for Orange County, NC. In that role, she administered federal and state housing and community development programs and was instrumental in the county’s initial development of many affordable housing plans and initiatives. Fikes is an active member of various professional and community-based organizations, particularly in her local community of Durham, where she serves on the board of trustees for Durham Technical Community College. She earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University, an MPA from North Carolina State University, and a doctorate in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Tyler Mulligan joined the School of Government in 2007, where he counsels state and local government officials and their partner organizations regarding community economic development, affordable housing, public-private partnerships for development, and revitalization efforts. Mulligan launched the School’s Development Finance Initiative, which assists local governments with attracting private investment for transformative development projects, and has served as its director since 2017. Prior to joining the School of Government, he practiced law in Raleigh with Womble Carlyle in the capital markets group. Prior to private practice, Mulligan served as a Navy diver and JAG Corps officer. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar. He earned a BA in public policy studies, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University and a JD from Yale Law School.

Selected Publications

“The Power of Local Government to Address Problem-Property Issues” (Chapter 1) in Vacant and Problem Properties: A Guide to Legal Strategies and Remedies (Mallach, Bacher, & Williams, eds., American Bar Association, 2019). Fully annotated chapter available here.

Economic Development Incentives Must Be “Necessary”: A Framework for Evaluating the Constitutionality of Public Aid for Private Development Projects,” Harvard Law & Policy Review, Vol. 11 (2017).

“Financing and Public-Private Partnerships for Community Economic Development” in Introduction to Local Government Finance (Kara A. Millonzi, ed., 4th ed., Chapel Hill: School of Government, 2018)

Economic Development Incentives and North Carolina Local Governments: A Framework for Analysis,” North Carolina Law Review , Vol 91, No. 6 (2013)

Housing Codes for Repair and Maintenance: Using the General Police Power and Minimum Housing Statutes to Prevent Dwelling Deterioration, with Jennifer L. Ma (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2011)

Inclusionary Zoning: A Guide to Ordinances and the Law, with James L. Joyce (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010)

Toward a Comprehensive Program for Regulating Vacant or Abandoned Dwellings in North Carolina: The General Police Power, Minimum Housing Standards, and Vacant Property Registration,” Campbell Law Review, Vol. 32, No. 1 (2009)

 

Additional Publications

Chapters

Community Development and Affordable Housing in County And Municipal Government In North Carolina, 2d. ed. (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2015).

Local Government Community Development Finance in Introduction to Local Government Finance (Kara A. Millonzi, ed., UNC School of Government, 2013).

Local Government Economic Development Finance in Introduction to Local Government Finance (Kara A. Millonzi, ed., UNC School of Government, 2013) (with Jonathan Morgan)

Economic and Community Development in N.C. Legislation 2008 (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008).

Law Review and Journal Articles

New Periodic Inspections Law Brings New Requirements and Legal Risks, in The Public Servant, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Feb. 2012).

Local Innovation in Community and Economic Development: Stories from Asheville, Edenton, Kannapolis, Wilson and Winston-Salem, 34 Carolina Planning Journal 16 (2009) (with Will Lambe).

Monographs and Reports

Residential Rental Property Inspections, Permits, and Registration: Questions and Answers, Community and Economic Development Bulletin No. 8 (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2011).

Asset-Building Strategies for Low-income Families (N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, February 2011) (with Yolanda Burwell, Jason Gray, Elaine Matthews, and Lisa Stifler).

Building Assets for the Rural Future: A Guide to Promising Asset-Building Programs for Communities and Individuals on the Economic Margin, (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010) (with Lisa Stifler)

2008 Legislative Action in Community and Economic Development, Community and Economic Development Bulletin No. 6 (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008).

Commerce in Governor-elect Transition Advisory Group Sessions. (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008) (with Will Lambe).

Military in Governor-elect Transition Advisory Group Sessions. (School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008) (with Robert P. Joyce).

Community and Economic Development in North Carolina and Beyond (UNC School of Government blog, administrator and contributor since 2009). See https://ced.sog.unc.edu/?author=3.

Joy Wilkins joined the School of Government as adjunct faculty in 2015. She is an advisor, speaker, facilitator, instructor, and author on community development, economic development, and leadership development matters. She has served as a senior public service associate with the University of Georgia, as a group manager and project director with Georgia Tech, as a researcher with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and as a private consultant. Wilkins has delivered research, planning, and consultation services for clients in the United States and Canada. A Certified Economic Developer by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), she is also a registered mediator in the state of Georgia. She has an M.A. in city planning from Georgia Tech, a graduate certificate in real estate from Georgia State University, and a B.A. in sociology and political science from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Jonathan Morgan joined the School of Government in 2003, where he teaches, advises public officials, and conducts applied research on economic development.  His research has focused on industry cluster-based development, the role of local government in economic development, business incentives, development impact analysis, and innovative, homegrown approaches to job creation.  His articles have been published in leading journals such as Economic Development Quarterly, Policy Studies Journal, and Community Development.  Morgan directs the Basic Economic Development Course at UNC, which is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).  Prior to joining the School of Government, he worked for Regional Technology Strategies, Inc., an economic and workforce development consulting firm located in Carrboro, NC.  He has also served as Director of Economic Policy and Research for the NC Department of Commerce, and Research and Policy Director for the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development.  He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia, an MPA from Clark Atlanta University, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from North Carolina State University.

Selected Publications

Regional Clusters and Jobs for Inner City Workers: The Case of Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics. 2012.  Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society vol. 43, no. 4: 492-511.

State-of-the-Art Measures in Economic Development (with David Ammons).  Public Management (PM), vol. 93, no. 5, June 2011.

Governance, Policy Innovation, and Local Economic Development in North Carolina. 2010.  Policy Studies Journal vol. 38, no. 4: 679-702.

Analyzing the Benefits and Costs of Economic Development ProjectsCommunity and Economic Development Bulletin, No. 7, April 2010.

Optimizing the Use of Economic Development Incentives, Municipal Lawyer, vol. 51, no. 1, 2010.

Additional Publications

Book Chapters

Community Development and Affordable Housing, Chapter 8 (with Anita Brown-Graham), in Managing Local Government Services, Carl Stenberg, ed., International City/County Management Association, 2006.

Articles, Monographs, and Bulletins

State-of-the-Art Measures in Economic Development (with David Ammons).  Public Management (PM), vol. 93, no. 5, June 2011.

Small Towns, Big Ideas: Local Ingredients for Innovation in Rural Economic Development (with Will Lambe).  Rural Research Report (Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs), vol. 21, no. 3, Winter 2010.

The Role of Local Government in Economic Development: Survey Findings from North Carolina.  Special Report published by the UNC School of Government, 2009.

Find a Way or Make One: Lessons Learned from Case Studies of Small Town Economic Development (with Will Lambe). Economic Development Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, 2009.

Homegrown Responses to Economic Uncertainty in Rural America (with Will Lambe and Allan Freyer). Rural Realities, vol. 3, no. 2, 2009.

Using Economic Development Incentives: For Better or for Worse.  Popular Government, vol. 74, no. 2, 2009, 14 pages.

Questions about Tax Increment Financing in North Carolina (with Joseph Blocher). Community and Economic Development (CED) Bulletin, No. 5, August 2008.

Clusters and Competitive Advantage: Finding a Niche in the New EconomyPopular Government, Spring/Summer 2004, vol. 69, no. 3.

Legislative Action in Community and Economic Development (with Anita Brown-Graham). Community and Economic Development Bulletin, No. 2, 2004.

Refereed Academic Articles

Governance, Policy Innovation, and Local Economic Development in North Carolina. 2010.  Policy Studies Journal vol. 38, no. 4: 679-702.

The Relationship between Industry Clusters and Metropolitan Economic Growth and Equality.  2007.  International Journal of Economic Development 9(4): 307-375.