Topics Related to Community

Governor Stein Welcomes Leicester Resident Back Home After Helene

Today Governor Josh Stein handed Dennis Fultz, a Leicester homeowner, the keys to his brand-new home – a homecoming that was made possible through Renew NC’s Single-Family Housing Program. After losing his house of 10 years to Hurricane Helene, Mr. Fultz now has a safe place to call home.

N.C. Commerce Drives Housing Recovery and Economic Opportunity in Western North Carolina

In the two years since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has helped families, businesses, and communities with the support needed to rebuild stronger than ever. Commerce is administering $1.4 billion in federal recovery funds supporting housing, infrastructure, and community development, welcomed nearly $7.7 billion of tourism to the mountains, announced economic development projects bringing 4,105 new jobs to the region, and dispersed more than $96 million in disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits to people in need. These

North Carolina Reports $500 Million in New Investments, 300 New Businesses, and Nearly 2,500 New Jobs through Main Street Program

The North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center reported today that since the inception of the Main Street program in North Carolina in 1980, designated Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities have leveraged more than $6.6 billion in public and private investment in their downtown districts.

Commerce Secretary Lilley Delivers More Than 1,500 School Supplies to Lenoir County Students

North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley on Monday delivered more than 1,500 school supplies collected by Commerce employees to Northwest Elementary School in Kinston as part of the Governor’s School Supply Drive.

Governor Stein Announces $53 Million Funding Opportunity for Western North Carolina Workforce Housing

Today the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that makes $53.38 million in federal funding available to develop workforce housing units for homeownership across western North Carolina.

Governor Stein Announces More than $1 Billion of Private Investment and 342 New Jobs for Rural North Carolina

Governor Josh Stein today announced that North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 11 grant requests for local governments totaling $4,933,520. The grants include commitments to create a total of 673 jobs, 331 of which were previously announced. As a result of these grants, the additional private investment in these projects is expected to reach more than $1 billion.

North Carolina Welcomes Race Fans to North Wilkesboro for NASCAR Race Weekend

Governor Josh Stein and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley are welcoming race fans to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway (NWS) ahead of the Window World 450 NASCAR Cup Series race weekend from July 16 to 19.

Governor Stein Announces $126 Million of Investment and 96 New Jobs for Rural North Carolina

Today Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved eight grant requests for local governments totaling $4,085,208. The grants include commitments to create a total of 396 jobs, 300 of which were previously announced. As a result of these grants, the additional investment in these projects, from private and public sources, is expected to reach more than $126.2 million. 

North Carolina Main Street Communities Achieve National Accreditation for 2026

Forty-nine North Carolina communities have received Main Street America™ Accreditation status for 2026, the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced today. Each year, Main Street America and its state coordinating partner, the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, announce the list of programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

N.C. Commerce Extends Public Comment Period to Help Identify New Opportunity Zones in North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Commerce today announced an extension of the public comment period for the state’s Opportunity Zone nomination process, providing local governments, economic development organizations, and members of the public additional time to submit feedback and recommendations on eligible census tracts for consideration as North Carolina’s new Opportunity Zones.

The extended deadline to submit nominations is now 11:59 pm on Sunday, June 21, 2026, providing local leaders and the public an additional two weeks to provide feedback.