Rachel Taylor holds an MPA from Western Carolina University, with a focus on nonprofit management and cross-sector collaboration. Rachel joined NCGrowth as an Analyst in the summer of 2019; during her time as an analyst, she conducted research for Transylvania County on leveraging the French Broad River for economic development, downtown revitalization in Whiteville and mapping outdoor assets in Mitchell County. She transitioned into a Senior Analyst role in May and is now working on multiple client projects including land use planning in the Village of Marvin and a community guide to developing paddle trails, or ‘Blueways.’
Originally from Alabama, she found a second home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she studied Spanish, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Cultural Anthropology. Rachel’s experiences traveling and working in different sectors and countries have inspired her to put down roots and focus on building strong communities.