News

Congress extends unemployment benefits, 28,000 rural North Carolinians affected
Some 28,000 out-of-work rural North Carolinians will see no disruption in their unemployment benefits this week, due to quick action by congressional lawmakers who made the issue their top priority. An estimated 52,000 unemployed North Carolinians nearly lost their benefits when a temporary measure to extend federal assistance expired on Dec. 28. The Rural Center, along with the state Employment Security Commission, contacted North Carolina’s congressional delegation on Dec. 20 to call attention to the plight of rural workers who had exhausted the usual 26 weeks of state-funded unemployment compensation benefits. Click here to view the press release and letter to the delegation sent by Rural Center President Billy Ray Hall and Board Chairman Kelly King: http://www.ncruralcenter.org/news/news.asp President Bush signed the new measure into law Jan. 9, making jobless workers eligible for an additional 13 weeks of federal unemployment assistance. For more information on the measure signed by the president, click on the link below. http://www.seattlepi.nesource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?

New figures show unemployment again on the rise in rural North Carolina
New statistics from the state Employment Security Commission show unemployment rose a half-percent in rural North Carolina from September to November of last year, while urban areas saw no change in their jobless rates. Statewide, nearly 39,000 layoffs were reported in 2002, 15,500 in rural counties and 23,500 in urban counties. Declines in urban high-tech jobs coupled with manufacturing losses in rural areas have dropped North Carolina’s employment ranking from 12th in 1999 to 41st as of November 2002. And while the economic outlook for 2003 suggests unemployment in rural and urban areas will only decrease slightly if at all this year, some fiscal analysts see a recovery on the horizon. The Center for Economic Studies at Wake Forest University is projecting a 1.7 percent increase in Gross Domestic Product and 1.1 percent growth in employment in the U.S. during 2003. Economists from Wachovia Bank are estimating that the North Carolina’s Gross State Product will increase by 4.6 percent. To find out more about unemployment figures in specific counties, visit the center’s Rural Data Bank at http://www.ncruralcenter.org/databank/index.html.

Center awards $3.2 million to nine drought-stricken rural communities
Nine communities in Cleveland, Iredell, Lincoln and Moore counties dealing with the most severe drought conditions in the state have received a total of $3.2 million in grant awards to develop new water resources. The grants, approved by the Rural Center’s board of directors Dec. 10, will leverage $7.8 million in communities that the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources has deemed most vulnerable to running out of water in the near future, especially if dry conditions persist this summer. In addition, the projects will retain 6,500 jobs in rural North Carolina at a time when rural unemployment figures remain disproportionately high. The center joined with Governor Mike Easley’s office, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance to initiate the grant funding and water resource management assistance. For more information on the grant awards, visit the center’s website at www.ncruralcenter.org/news/pr.asp?ReleaseID=66.

Reports and Research

Resource guide offers best-practices advice, tools for community development
MDC, Inc., a Chapel Hill-based public policy think tank specializing in community and leadership development, has released for purchase a 350-page guide to community development strategies the organization itself has employed with success over the last 15 years. The guidebook, according to the organization’s website, “details our current thinking about a set of approaches that we have found to work. It is organized around those approaches, and with each, we share the methods that have worked for us and for our partner organizations...with more than 350 pages of tools, references, and examples, the guidebook is a rich resource for community change practitioners and leaders.” The guidebook is $100 for non-profit organizations and $250 for businesses and for-profit organizations. To see a sample, click here www.mdcinc.org/online_pubs.htm For more information regarding content or use of the guide, contact Julie Thomasson at jthomasson@mdcinc.org or (919) 968-4531.

MDC releases report on the value of community colleges, calls for more funding
Policy and research experts at MDC, Inc. have long wondered why community colleges – so valuable for their workforce development and training programs – do not receive much attention or funding from foundations and government agencies. Thus, MDC is getting the word out about the successful demonstration phase of the Rural Community Colleges Initiative (RCCI), a project funded by the Ford Foundation that found community colleges can, and often do, influence and lead positive community development efforts. In its report on the demonstration, “Strategies for Funders: Community Colleges and Rural Development", MDC writes that community colleges show exceptional potential to increase educational access, economic development, and civic capacity building. The report is available in PDF format on MDC’s website at www.mdcinc.org. Printed copies may be ordered for $10 by calling (919) 968-4531.

Report looks at Hispanics’ growing role in the social, financial fabric of the South
The Southern Rural Development Center recently explored the growing role of Hispanic immigrants in the South in a report entitled “Social Capital of Mexican Communities in the South.” The report focused on immigrants in Dalton, Georgia, a town that saw its Hispanic population rise from 6 percent in 1990 to 40 percent in 2000. Researchers were especially interested to find that, though most of the Dalton immigrants had moved there from another state, they did not sever ties to people they met in their previous home, but rather used those ties to successfully settle in Dalton. Many of the successful entrepreneurs in Dalton, for example, used skills learned in places like Chicago and Houston. Access the article and related research on Hispanic immigration in the South at www.srdc.msstate.edu/publications/fallsp02.pdf.

Election 2002 reveals marked difference in rural, urban voters
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation recently released a report on the elections of 2002, the results of which show a rural constituency that is overall more concerned about cultural and moral issues than their urban counterparts. The report, “Election 2002: Rural Voters and Rural Issues,” also shows a dramatic difference in the gender gap between rural and urban voters. Almost as many women in rural areas vote as men, the report indicates, which is not the case in urban areas. The report also shows rural voters becoming increasingly more conservative in their political views, on the whole, than their urban counterparts. To see a press release detailing the report, and for information on ordering the full report, visit the website at www.wkkf.org.

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Funding Sources

North Carolinians gave generously to charity in 2001-2002
The annual Charitable Solicitation Licensing Report from the Secretary of State’s office shows a huge increase in giving for the year. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall credits that to the outpouring of generosity that followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The complete report is available on line at www.sosnc.com.

Non-profits face declining revenues in 2003
A survey conducted by Guidestar, a national database of non-profit organizations, shows 48 percent of respondents reported a decrease in donations from January to October 2002 compared to the same period in 2001. Guidestar cited several reasons for the decline, including reduced support from grant makers, loss of corporate gifts, government cuts and a reduction in donations by individuals.

Meetings and Events

N.C. Aquaculture Development Conference to be held Jan. 23-25
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will hold its annual N.C. Aquaculture Development Conference Jan. 23-25 at the Sheraton in Atlantic Beach. The conference begins with farm tours on Thursday, a full day of presentations on Friday, and morning workshops on Saturday. To register online, visit the website at www.ncaquaculture.org. For further details contact Tom Ellis at the Department of Agriculture at (919) 513-0452.

N.C. State’s annual Emerging Issues Forum to be held Feb. 10-11
The 19th annual Emerging Issues Forum at N.C. State University will be held Feb. 10-11. The forum will examine traditional means of economic development and analyze new strategies for developing high-growth entrepreneurial firms at the state and regional level. This year's focus will be on how scientific advances, new technology and entrepreneurship have dramatically changed national and international economies. Speakers at the event include Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney, Assistant U.S. Secrectary of Commerce for Economic Development David Sampson and IBM Board Chairman Lou Gerstner. For questions or more information, call (919) 515-7741 or visit the website at www.ncsu.edu/iei.

Rural education issues focus of national conference
The Southern Rural Development Center, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service and the Rural School and Community Trust will hold a three-day national research conference on rural education issues February 12-14 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the downtown Sheraton. For more information on the conference and for background information on rural education, visit the Southern Rural Development Center’s website atwww.srdc.msstate.edu/ruraled/index.html.

National Workforce Development Conference March 2-3
The Southern Rural Development Center is the lead host for a national workforce development conference entitled, "Strengthening and Building Partnerships for Workforce Development," to be held March 2-5, 2003, in Orlando, Florida. Conference organizers are currently accepting conference presentations. Cost is $200 per person if registering prior to Feb. 10; $250 after that date. Conference participants will have an opportunity to apply for mini-grants of $5,000 to further the workforce training and development models utilized at the conference. For more information, visit the website at www.srdc.msstate.edu/workforce/index.html.

Sustainable community development the focus of national conference March 27-28
The Federal Reserve System’s third annual research conference will be held March 27-28, 2003, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. This year’s conference, titled “Seeds of Growth – Sustainable Community Development: What works, What doesn’t and Why” will feature a speech by Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve System. The two-day event will focus on home ownership programs, the importance of partnerships in community development and international and cultural approaches to community development. The cost is $425 if registering prior to Feb. 28; $475 afterward. For more information on the conference, click here www.federalreserve.gov/communityaffairs/national/CA_Conf_SusCommDev/default.htm.

Southern Growth Polices Board to host annual conference June 1-3
Southern Growth Policies Board will present its 31st Annual Conference at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. The Southern Leadership Summit will feature the foremost thinkers on leadership from government, the non-profit sector and business to explore ways to strengthen leadership in the South, and to harness it to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity of every Southern citizen. To find out more, visit the Southern Growth Policies Board website at www.southern.org/conf.asp.

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At the Rural Center

Rural Economic Development Institute gears up for class of 2003
The center’s Rural Economic Development Institute will accept applications for its 2003 leadership program through Feb. 7, 2003. The institute is a valuable resource for helping rural leaders grow their leadership skills in order to meet the economic development challenges in their communities. There are 30 available slots for the next institute, which consists of nine days of classes over a three-month period. Tuition is $495, with a limited number of scholarships available. The meeting dates for the 2003 institute are March 12-14, April 9-11 and April 30-May 2. An application is available online on the center’s website, www.ncruralcenter.org/leadership/institute.htm. Or you can call Tracy Stone-Dino at (919) 250-4314, tstone-dino@ncruralcenter.org.

Agricultural Advancement Consortium to award $118,000 in grants for research projects
The Agricultural Advancement Consortium has set a Jan. 31 application deadline for proposals to its Research Grants Program. The consortium, a 25-member board authorized by the N.C. General Assembly in 2000, and housed in the Rural Center, works to ensure the long-term vitality of farming in North Carolina. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to projects that show real potential in lowering on-farm production costs, providing access to new or existing markets and have the ability to substantially leverage other funding sources. Applications are available on the website at www.ncruralcenter.org/ag. Click herewww.ncruralcetner.org/ag/grant.htm to download the grant program guidelines report for further details, or call consortium director Charles Hall at (919) 250-4314, chall@mncruralcenter.org.

Rural Center awards $955,000 to CDC programs
The Rural Center’s board of directors has approved grant funding for 31 new and emergingCommunity Development Corporations. The grants, which will aid CDCs in a range of activities, including administration,business, housing and job development initiatives, were awarded after review and recommendation of the center’s Minority Economic Development Advisory Committee. For more information on the awards or on the center’s CDC Grants Program, call program director Anthony Powell at (919) 250-4314 or email apowell@ncruralcenter.org .

e-NC awards $1.8 million to implement connectivity in 14 rural communities
The Rural Internet Access Authority’s e-NC initiative recently awarded more than $1.8 million in e-communities implementation grants to rural communities to boost their strategic planning for high-speed Internet access, usage and training. The grants range from $15,000 to $375,000. For a complete list of the grant awards, visit the website at www.e-nc.org.

Rural Internet Access Authority receives national achievement award from NASCIO
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has recognized the Rural Internet Access Authority as part of the organization’s 15th annual Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology. As an organization, NASCIO influences national information technology policy and works to recognize state information technology programs that create and maintain cost-effective and innovative programs for state government operations. George Bakolia, chief information officer of North Carolina and an authority commission member, accepted the award Oct. 29, 2002. To read more about the NASCIO award, visit the authority’s website at www.e-nc.org.

From the N.C. Press

Fayetteville Observer-Times: Some good economic news from Scotland County has government officials hopeful they can start to offset the county’s massive job losses.
MSD Co. Ltd., which will make metal frames for all-terrain vehicles, broke ground Nov. 6 for a manufacturing plant near Laurinburg and will employ 103 people. FCC-North Carolina, which makes clutches for small cars and motorcycles, opened a plan in Laurel Hill last year and announced recently it will expand. “I don’t know that we can put our finger on a single issue,” said David Burns, chairman of the county commissioners, explaining the positive economic news. “We work every day at being able to work together.”

Thomasville Times: Foreign imports pose immediate and long-range threat to North Carolina furniture industry.
Some 200 people turned out to listen to featured speaker, Wallace “Jerry” Epperson, Jr., address insights and trends affecting the furniture industry and have questions answered by panelists, at a luncheon held at Thomasville Furniture Industries Inc. Epperson said the growing number of wood products imported from other countries had been a growing challenge in recent years. About 50 percent of wood products are imported from China and 33 percent are from other parts of Asia, said Epperson. In 2003, the number of imports from China could increase from 50-60 percent. Epperson said the labor pool is another challenge for furniture makers. “We just can’t compete with 47 cents an hour for employees,” Epperson said.

Charlotte Observer: While more and more Hispanics are settling in the outlying, mostly rural, areas around Charlotte, few have the time or the educational background to learn English.
The communication gap between those who do and don’t speak English is greater in Cabarrus and Rowan counties than in any other corner of the Charlotte region. Almost 16,000 people age 5 or older speak a foreign language in those counties, new census figures show. Spanish is the predominant language. More than half of the Spanish-speaking residents speak English poorly or not at all, 58 percent in Rowan and 56 percent in Cabarrus. That’s higher than regional and state rates, and nearly double the national average. Experts cite several factors that contribute to the problem, including lack of education, long work schedules and little time to devote to learning English.

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The mission of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center is to develop, promote, and implement sound economic strategies that improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians, with a special focus on individuals with low to moderate incomes and communities with limited resources.

N.C. Rural Economic Development Center
Michelle Taylor, UPDATE editor
4021 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 250-4314 Fax: (919) 250-4325
www.ncruralcenter.org