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The North Carolina Benchmarking Project allows municipalities to compare their service and performance trends with other participating units.

About

Established in 1995, the North Carolina Benchmarking Project allows municipalities to compare their service and performance trends with other participating units. Relaunched in 2022, Benchmarking 2.0 streamlines data collection and offers opportunities for robust analysis, peer conversations, and best-practice development.

Current Partners

  • Apex
  • Asheville
  • Chapel Hill
  • Charlotte
  • Concord
  • Gastonia
  • Goldsboro
  • Greensboro
  • Hickory
  • Holly Springs
  • Raleigh
  • Rocky Mount
  • Salisbury
  • Wake Forest
  • Wilson
  • Winston-Salem

Annual Benchmarking Reports

A report is published annually based on the information and ideas exchanged during the prior November Performance Strategy Sessions. Reports highlight key innovations and describe strategies for overcoming challenges.

How Does It Work

Data Collection

Each year, partnering municipalities send us performance data for the respective services through the Benchmarking 2.0 Data Collection Tool. Each service for each municipality and year requires its own submission. The School of Government receives all data by October.

Performance Strategy

In November, the School brings service department officials from all participating municipalities together (one service at a time) to discuss data trends, strategies, challenges, and best practices. Each half-day session is limited to a single service. In these sessions, we analyze the data, identify and address current challenges, and share best practices and innovations. These sessions help participating departments to:

  • Develop solutions and best practices for dealing with wicked problems
  • Improve performance through the evidence-informed decision making
  • Celebrate and communicate success to stakeholders
  • Gain a better understanding of their own organizational performance
  • Engage in peer-to-peer learning and networking

Video Interviews

Visit the School of Government YouTube channel to view interviews.

Contact Us

Is your municipality interested in participating in the North Carolina Benchmarking Project? For more information, contact Obed Pasha, the Project Director, at pasha@unc.edu.