PIEDMONT PROMISE
About Piedmont Promise
Our Mission
Piedmont Promise advances bipartisan policies that protect natural resources, promote sustainable growth, and preserve quality of life for the people of North Carolina’s Piedmont region.
Our Vision
We envision a Piedmont where thriving economies, vibrant communities, clean air and water, and resilient natural landscapes, together, promise a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.
Our Story
Piedmont Promise was launched in 2025 with a simple but powerful idea: the people, communities, and shared resources of North Carolina’s Piedmont are worth protecting.
As development across the region accelerates, Piedmont Promise brings together an alliance of conservation-minded organizations to serve as a voice for bipartisan policies that support local economies while preserving the Piedmont’s unique natural beauty and character. From local initiatives to statewide legislation, we advance policy solutions that safeguard our environment and enhance quality of life for all. Together, we’re advocating for the promise of a brighter future for the people who call North Carolina’s Piedmont home.
Piedmont Promise operates as a “Doing Business As” under Catawba Riverkeeper, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves as the lead organization and fiscal agent. While the alliance is new, our partners bring decades of experience in environmental advocacy, sustainable development, and community engagement throughout the Piedmont.
Our Approach
Our work is grounded in research, focused on policy change, and strengthened by community engagement. Together, these elements shape how we advocate for conservation at the local, regional, and state level.
Research
We collaborate with partners, universities, and community groups to analyze regional data, identify conservation challenges, and develop policy solutions.
Policy Campaigns
We work with partners and policymakers to draft legislation and advocate for policies that address conservation priorities in the Piedmont region.
Community Engagement
We connect with communities to listen to their concerns and inspire action through local events, conservation education, and advocacy tools focused on key campaigns.
Meet Our Team
Ryan Carter
DIRECTOR
ryan@piedmontpromisenc.org
Ellie Riggs
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
ellie@piedmontpromisenc.org
Ben Pluska
TRIADÂ REGIONAL ORGANIZER
ben@piedmontpromisenc.org
Meet Our Partners
Catawba Riverkeeper
Catawba Riverkeeper preserves, protects, and restores the water of the Catawba-Wateree River basin for all through education, advocacy, and engagement.
CleanAIRE NC
CleanAIRE NC advocates for the health of all North Carolinians by pursuing equitable and collaborative solutions that address climate change and air pollution.
Daniel Stowe Conservancy
Daniel Stowe Conservancy inspires a love of nature and its beauty through unforgettable outdoor experiences on its 380 acre conservation property and beyond, helping all find their path to nature.
Haw River Assembly
Haw River Assembly restores and protects the Haw River and Jordan Lake and builds a watershed community that shares this vision.
New Normal X
New Normal X is a student led organization dedicated to helping the environment one challenge at a time and guiding students in reconnecting with the environment through eco-conscious endeavors.
Piedmont Environmental Alliance
Piedmont Environmental Alliance educates and empowers, builds community, and inspires action to create a more just, resilient, and environmentally sustainable Piedmont Triad.
Sustain Charlotte
Sustain Charlotte advocates for smart growth and transportation solutions to address Charlotte's growing sustainability challenges.
Wake Forest Environmental Law & Policy Clinic
The Environmental Law and Policy Clinic creates opportunities for students to help advance the goals and defend the interests of local, state, national, and international clients.
Wild Ones
Wild Ones Charlotte Piedmont and Central North Carolina promote native landscapes through education, advocacy, and collaborative action.
Yadkin Riverkeeper
Yadkin Riverkeeper protects and enhances the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin through education, advocacy, and action.
North Carolina's Piedmont
Geography
The Piedmont region of North Carolina lies in the heart of the state, between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Coastal Plain to the east. These central 49 counties encompass many of NC’s largest cities and are home to over 8 million people, making up approximately 75% of the state’s population.
Landscape
The name “Piedmont” comes from the Italian word for “foot of the mountain,” reflecting the region’s geography and topography. Known for its rolling landscape, clay soils, and warm climate, the Piedmont supports oak and hickory forests, a wide diversity of wildlife, prosperous farmland, and interconnected waterways.
History
The Piedmont has long been home to Indigenous tribes, including the Catawba, Saponi, and Eno. European settlers arrived in the 18th century, and the region later became the site of major Revolutionary and Civil War battles. By the late 1800s, the Piedmont had developed into a major center for the state’s textile, furniture, and agriculture industries.
Conservation Challenges
Today, the Piedmont is one of the fastest-growing regions in the Southeast. While this rapid development drives economic opportunity, it also creates significant environmental and community challenges in the area, including urban sprawl, air and water pollution, and loss of natural habitat.