News

Eastern counties learn extent of groundwater depletion, face withdrawal restrictions starting August 1
A new report that documents groundwater conditions in the Central Coastal Plain is shedding light on the severity of water resource problems facing 15 eastern counties. Sixty-six percent of water used in the region comes from underground aquifers that are being depleted by as much as eight feet per year, according to the water resources study conducted by Golder Associates, Inc. of Richmond, Va. In an effort to protect future groundwater reserves in the region, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources created a rule slated to go into effect August 1 that will limit water withdrawals in 36 water systems by 13 million gallons per day within six years. Developing alternate water sources in the Central Coastal Plain could cost the region $216 million. The Rural Center commissioned the study through a steering committee and released the findings at a June 6 public hearing in Greenville. The Rural Center's executive summary of the study is available on the center's web site at www.ncruralcenter.org and is available in print version for a $5 fee. To receive a copy of the executive summary report, contact Megan Miller, communications office, at 919-250-4314.

2000 Census finds poverty rates in rural North Carolina somewhat better, but still high in many counties
As the 2000 Census is released, each set of facts and figures offers a glimpse of life in rural North Carolina. The most recent release finds that the rural poverty rate declined slightly from 15.3 percent in 1990 to 14.1 percent in 2000, yet the number of North Carolinians living in poverty rose as the population increased. There are currently 50,000 more rural people living in poverty than a decade ago. Rural people made strides in education as well, but the Census shows they aren't keeping up with their urban counterparts. In 1990 there were more than 803,000 rural people, or 36 percent of the population 25 or older, who had less than a high school education. The number dropped to 715,000 or 26 percent in 2000, still considerably higher than urban areas that had only 17 percent of the population over 25 with less than a high school education. The Rural Center will release a detailed findings report on this data in the new few weeks. A comprehensive Rural Profile offering in-depth Census information on all 85 rural counties will be released in 2003.

N.C. Economic Development Board supports overhaul of state business incentives, says plan key to job growth
The N.C. Economic Development Board, a panel of influential state and business leaders charged with crafting economic development policy for the state, met June 27 to continue work on a strategic economic development plan that is to be released in late September. As part of the overall plan, the board has announced its support for a state House bill that would change the way North Carolina uses incentives to draw new business and keep existing businesses from moving to competing southeastern states. House Bill 1734, also known as the N.C. Economic Recovery and Competitiveness Act, is key to boosting the stagnant economy, the board says. The plan hinges on creation of a grant program that would kick in only in cases where the incentives were needed to keep a business from locating to another state, offering the company a portion of each new employee's withholding taxes. The bill also creates a permanent funding source for One North Carolina Fund, a tax incentive program supported by Gov. Easley, and renews a high-tech investment tax credit that expired in January. To read the board's draft recommendations go to www.nccommerce.com/publicaffairs/newsletters/june2002.pdf.

Workforce development plan highlights collaboration, transition to high-skilled jobs
The Commission on Workforce Development is set to release its own strategic plan later this month. The commission adopts a new plan on workforce training and development every two years, aimed at complementing work being done by other state groups such as the N.C. Economic Development Board. The commission's state programs and evaluation committee met last month and prepared a series of recommendations that included training workers to make the transition into higher skilled jobs, building collaborations between economic development partnerships and workforce development boards and ensuring that existing training programs are accountable. The commission's strategic plan will be posted later this month at www.nccommerce.com/workforce/plans.

Help for textiles holds up fast track bill on Capitol Hill
A conference committee is finally ready to get to work on a compromise version of the so-called fast track bill after disagreement over help for textiles companies became a major stumbling point. The bill would give President Bush more negotiating authority in brokering trade agreements with other nations. Though approved by both the House and Senate, the two versions of the bill differ on help for the ailing U.S. textile industry. U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, whose district in the Concord area is flush with textiles and traditional manufacturing, joined a group of lawmakers unhappy with a provision requiring knit and woven fabrics be dyed and finished in the United States in order to qualify for duty free treatment under the Andrean and Caribbean trade agreements. The bill eventually passed a necessary procedural vote 216-215, allowing the conference committee to begin work on the bill this week.

July 8 is deadline to apply for $8 million in incentive grants to boost Internet use across rural North Carolina
The Rural Internet Access Authority is accepting applications this week for incentive grants to help bring rural people and communities new and expanded Internet access. The grants will be made available through the authority's Connectivity Incentive Grants Program and will be awarded to nonprofit and for-profit companies, educational institutions and others who can demonstrate their project will either build supply or increase demand of Internet access. The grants will not only help bring Internet technology to North Carolinians living in rural areas, they will improve the Internet service already available. There is no maximum award amount, but the authority will give weight to projects in which the grant is not the sole source of funding. To apply for the grant, go to www.e-nc.org/RFPquestions.shtml, or call 1-866-NCRURAL and request a copy.

top of page

Meetings and Events

National Association of Counties holds annual conference
The National Association of Counties will hold its annual conference July 12-14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The conference will feature presentations from U.S. Senator George Mitchell and newspaper columnist Dave Berry. The conference offers several workshops on topics including the farm bill, welfare reform, homeland security, e-government, health care and waste management. To find out more go to www.naco.org.

Starting a Small Business Workshop
Sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the workshop covers basic business planning, SBA financing, exporting and credit issues. Speakers are Dan Holt and Casandra Smith-Gatlin. The workshop will be held July 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Women's Center of Fayetteville. For more information contact Judi Superak at (910) 323-3377 or jsuperak@wcof.org.

Water and Sewer Grant Application Workshops
The Rural Center will host two workshops to provide assistance with applications for the center's water and sewer grant programs. All potential applicants are encouraged to attend. Applications for the 2002-2003 grant cycle will be available. Workshops are scheduled for July 23 from 8 a.m. to noon and July 24 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Spaces are limited to 100 per session. Please contact Cindy Boykin at (919) 250-4314 or cboykin@ncruralcenter.org to register.

North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Annual Meeting
The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners will hold its annual conference August 22-25 in Winston-Salem at the M.C. Benton Convention Center. An exhibit show will be held on Thursday, Aug. 22, and Friday, Aug. 23. To find out more about the conference, go to www.ncacc.org.

National Association of Development Organizations Annual Conference
The National Association of Development Organizations will hold its annual conference September 28, 2002 at the Reno Hilton in Reno, Nevada. Participants can chose from four tracks: innovating infrastructure; building wealth in rural communities; enhancing regional organizations; or perfecting communication skills. Registration is open through August 22. For more information, go to www.nado.org.

Rural Center gears up for 2002 Rural Partners Forum
The Rural Center will host its annual meeting of state and local leadership in Raleigh on October 30-31. The theme for the forum is the Rural-Urban Connection: Shared Prosperity for the 21st Century. Details about the forum will be distributed in this newsletter as well as on the center's website, www.ncruralcenter.org, as they become available.

top of page

Reports and Research

Welfare reform less successful for single moms, families living in central cities and remote rural areas, study finds
A study released this month by the Brookings Institution and the Rural Policy Research Institute finds where people on welfare live has a lot to do with how successful their transition to the workforce will be. The study compared single parents and families living in central cities, suburbs, metro-adjacent rural areas and remote rural areas. The study finds that single mothers in cities and remote rural areas were more likely to receive public assistance, had higher poverty rates, and had lower earnings than their counterparts in suburban and metro-adjacent rural areas in the 1990s, even as their work effort increased. The authors offer several policy recommendations for federal welfare reauthorization that would help states meet the added challenge of helping low-income individuals from both cities and remote rural areas to succeed in the workforce, including: continued state flexibility in implementation, dedicated funding for transitional jobs programs, and better transportation options for workers isolated from job opportunities. To read the full report go to www.brookings.edu/urban.

Study finds future of rural areas hangs on economic opportunities
A group of 26 U.S. congressmen from across the United States were interviewed recently by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their perspectives on rural America. Nearly all said that job loss and the overall lack of economic opportunities posed the biggest threat to the future of rural America. The congressmen noted that rural America's challenges go beyond agriculture and include the prevalence of low-paying jobs, young people leaving rural areas for higher education and job opportunities and lack of access to health care and other services. Most of the elected leaders said expanding telecommunications access in rural areas and protecting the rural environment were paramount to improving day-to-day life in rural America. "Perceptions of Rural America," which was published by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, can be accessed at www.wkkf.org/pubs/FoodRur/Pub3699.pdf.

top of page

Funding Sources

Meeting of N.C. Network of Grantmakers
Representatives of more than 40 North Carolina Foundations and corporations met in Greensboro June 5 to discuss how best to use their resources to help the state's nonprofit organizations meet increasing demand in the current economic recession. Recommendations included greater flexibility with regard to foundation support for nonprofits, more collaborative efforts in which foundations share resources, and an increased emphasis on bringing people from government, business and the philanthropic sector together to find ways to ensure North Carolina's future well-being. To read more about the grantmakers' meeting and recommendations, go to www.philanthropyjournal.org/more.asp?ID=2230.

Duke Endowment announces grantees in $10 million Rural Carolinas Program
Twenty-three communities in North and South Carolina have been chosen to participate in the Rural Carolinas Program, a program designed to strengthen rural communities by providing them with direct financial assistance coupled with professional coaching and other technical assistance. MDC Inc, a private nonprofit institution focusing on economic, workforce and community development, is partnering with the Duke Endowment in the $10 million initiative. For more information, go to www.dukeendowment.com.

top of page

From the N.C. Press

From the Asheboro Courier-Tribune
The 10 counties in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District are going to become very familiar very quickly with a study known as a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS. A CEDS is an analysis of economic and community development problems, a set of goals and objectives to solve the problem, a plan of action and an evaluation. The study is expected to cost $400,000 and will partially be financed by a grant from the Economic Development Authority (EDA). High unemployment due to the loss of textile jobs makes the situation in the district critical. William McNeil, director of the Division of Community Assistance at the N.C. Dept. of Commerce, said the EDA grant is likely to be $320,000 and the 10 counties will have to match that with $80,000, which could be a problem. "The EDA recognizes that towns and counties don't have the money this year," McNeill said. He recommended seeking grants from private and public foundations such as Progress Energy and the Golden Leaf Foundation.

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
Pitt County water suppliers must find millions of dollars in the next several years to bring their systems in compliance with coming regulations to limit withdrawals from key aquifers. That revelation comes in a study made by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center of a rule scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. The rule ultimately calls for a reduction of 75 percent in withdrawals from the Black Creek and Upper Cape Fear aquifers. The underground reservoirs of relatively clean water serve a 15-county area containing 122 water systems affected by the state rules. According to scientists, those aquifers are being depleted faster than they can be naturally replenished. Results of the study put Farmville's cost of meeting the requirement at $5.5 million to $7 million.

top of page

Copyright by N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. 2002. We encourage you to share this UPDATE with interested individuals, organizations, or agencies. Material may be reproduced in electronic or print form. We ask that you please cite the Rural Center as the source.

Your subscription to this electronic newsletter is for Rural Center use only. We will not distribute or share your email identification with others. To be removed from this mailing list, please send an email to ruralpartners@ncruralcenter.org with unsubscribe in the subject line.

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