Join the New Generation
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The Rural Center’s New Generation Initiative is up and running. The initiative is a three-year, $3.6 million effort to transform rural communities through youth and young adult engagement. Encompassing four distinct programs, it offers opportunities in entrepreneurship development, on-the-job training, leadership development and community service. Learn how you can become involved.
Upcoming events:
Feb. 2 – New Generation Careers introductory webinar. Register now.
Feb. 15 – New Generation Leaders introductory webinar. Register now.
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Forum draws youth, community leaders
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 More than 650 people gathered in Raleigh for the 2011 Rural Partners Forum, "Reimagine Rural: Transforming North Carolina's rural communities through youth engagement." Learn more about demographic trends, survey results reflecting young people's attitudes about their communities, and other forum news on the forum webpage.
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NC STEP accepting applications
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NC STEP will enroll 10 new towns in 2012. The program (the N.C. Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program) helps struggling towns with fewer than 7,500 people develop and carry out plans for reinvigorating their economies. The application deadline is Feb. 10.
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$9.6 million in grants awarded
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The Rural Center awarded 62 grants totaling $9.6 million on Nov. 16. The grants will create 1,211 jobs and assist projects benefiting 51 counties. Learn more.
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Refresh your data
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The online Rural Data Bank has been updated with the most current statistics available from the 2010 U.S. Census, the American Community Survey, Employment Security Commission of North Carolina and other state and federal sources. Standardized profiles are available for each N.C. county and municipality and for county business data. Custom data searches allow you to create your own report.
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Hone your leadership skills
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 Applications are now being accepting for the spring 2012 Rural Economic Development Institute. Applications are due by Jan. 31. The institute will take place over nine days spread over three months, starting March 21. To learn more, download the application brochure.
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Program for laid-off workers extended
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 An innovative program that helps rural unemployed workers prepare for self-employment is being extended through 2012. It also has been expanded to cover state employees laid off by recent budget cuts. Read more about the program and one participant’s road to becoming a business owner.
The Office of State Personnel offers additional resources for laid-off state workers.
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NC-CAP loans available statewide
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 With the addition of Wells Fargo, the N.C. Capital Access Program now has 64 lenders with over 1,500 branches, putting access to loans within reach of businesses statewide.
The program, fueled by $46.1 million in federal funding, encourages banks and other lenders to consider business loans that fall just outside their traditional underwriting standards.
Sixty-eight loans had been issued by December 5, including one to Off the Square restaurant in Albemarle. Read the story. Find an NC-CAP lender.
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