Topics Related to Community

The Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved eight grant requests to local governments totaling $1,650,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 297 jobs, 56 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $234 million in public and private investment.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 20 grant requests to local governments totaling $8,680,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 802 jobs, 408 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $474 million in public and private investment.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street and Rural Planning Center (the Center) is offering training to downtown small business owners and managers who have businesses in any of the 72 designated N.C. Main Street communities. The Center will host regional workshops, entitled “Making Your Community & Business a Destination.” One workshop will be held in each of the eight prosperity zones in the state. The first two workshops will be held in the Western region in Hendersonville on June 24, and the Northwestern region in Morganton on June 25.

Fifty-one North Carolina communities have received Main Street America™ Accreditation status for 2024, the N.C. Department of Commerce announced today. The National Main Street America Center and its state coordinating partner, the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

Nineteen rural communities from across the state have been selected to participate in the Commerce Department’s program to increase their capacity to plan, implement, and manage economic development programs and opportunities. The Rural Community Capacity (RC2) program, an initiative from the Commerce Department, also involves Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business and East Carolina University’s Master of Public Administration program.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 31 grant requests to local governments totaling $10,982,835, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 565 jobs, 135 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $211 million in public and private investment.

Forty Main Street Champions will be honored for their contributions to downtown revitalization and community building in 2023 during a recognition ceremony today in Goldsboro. With the addition of this year’s honorees, 415 Main Street Champions have now been recognized by the N.C. Department of Commerce since 2000.

Twelve communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization during the annual North Carolina Main Street Awards Ceremony held in Goldsboro this evening. N.C. Department of Commerce Chief Deputy Secretary Jordan Whichard, Assistant Secretary of Rural Development Kenny Flowers, and Director of the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center Liz Parham will present awards in design, organization, promotion, and economic vitality.

Applications are again being accepted by the Department of Commerce for its professional development and education program for rural leaders in North Carolina.  New participants in the Rural Community Capacity (RC2) program will be able to select an eastern location for the campus-based educational program as East Carolina University joins Appalachian State University in the RC2 program, an initiative of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division.

The 2024 North Carolina Main Street Conference is bringing community and economic development leaders together March 12-14 in downtown Goldsboro. The three-day annual conference, which is organized by the North Carolina Department of Commerce and its N.C.