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North Carolina’s Equine Industry: Findings and Recommendations (2009) This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of a study authorized by the N.C. General Assembly to determine the equine industry's economic impact and to identify opportunities for growth. Among the findings: the industry contributes nearly $2 billion to the state’s economy annually. 18 pages.Download PDF (4.6MB). Free.
North Carolina Agriculture: Regional Perspectives (2009) The report examines farming in each of North Carolina's seven economic development regions. It provides basic facts about agriculture in each region, opinions about the state of farming from farmers and extension agents, and recommendations for strengthening agriculture in each region. 22 pages.The Impact of Economic and Political Developments on North Carolina’s Tobacco Farm Workers (2008) This report examines the repercussions of the 1998 tobacco settlement and end of the quota system on livelihoods of tobacco farm workers. It examines the issues against the recent history of tobacco farm workers; explores who makes up the tobacco farm work force; identifies further challenges and opportunities facing North Carolina farm workers; and suggests areas for public policy consideration. 122 pages.
Fertile Ground: North Carolina leaders speak out on the future of agriculture (2006) Twenty farm leaders from throughout the state discuss their own history in agriculture, the current agricultural climate and future prospects for the industry. 90 pages.Return to the top of the page.
Waste Not, Want Not, Profit More (2011) This guidebook is designed to help small business owners begin to think about practical, low-cost steps to waste not, want not and profit more. Download PDF. Free.
Fueling Your Business in North Carolina: A Guide to Financing for Small Businesses (updated 2011) This guide explains: • What you need to do before looking for money • What kinds of financing exist • How to obtain a loan • What any lender/investor wants to see from you • What those financing terms mean This guide is designed to put you in the “driver’s seat” to create a plan that will help you find money to start or expand a business. Download PDF. Free.
North Carolina Business Resource Directory (2007) The Business Resource Directory is designed to help North Carolina's small business owners, business and economic development professionals, community leaders and citizens locate the help they need to support business start-ups and expansions. 170 pages. Download PDF (2.0MB). Free.
Creating Entrepreneurial Communities series
Small Business 101: Why financial literacy is critical to small business success (2005) After examining four years worth of loan applications, decisions and outcomes from the N.C. Microenterprise Loan Program, Rural Center staff concluded that a lack of financial literacy is a major stumbling block to securing a loan and to operating a successful business. This brief report also includes a survey of financial education programs available in North Carolina. 8 pages. Download PDF (140KB). Free.
Understanding the Environment for Entrepreneurship in Rural North Carolina (2004) As more and more manufacturing plants closed or cut back operations during and after the 2001 recession, the Rural Center commissioned research to learn what it would take to stimulate the development and growth of entrepreneurial businesses in rural North Carolina. The work, documented in this report, led to the establishment of the Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship. Saying "Yes" to Small Business (2001) This report summarizes the Community Education for Enterprise Development project. The project tracked the progress of five North Carolina communities as they explored how small business development can play a stronger role in their business growth strategies. Manufacturing Layoffs (2002) This brief report looks at how manufacturing is changing in North Carolina and examines the life-altering impact those changes are having on North Carolina’s workers and the economies of small towns and rural communities. Return to the top of the page.
North Carolina Youth Engagement Resource Guide (2011) This book includes information that can lead to grant, scholarship, volunteer and networking opportunities. The guide concentrates on nonprofit and governmental resources to engage youth in a meaningful way. Add to your shopping cart. $20
North Carolina Rural Resource Guide (2010) The guide profiles nearly 200 agencies and organizations that offer financial and technical assistance to rural North Carolina communities. It contains detailed information on available grants and loans, information resources, and training and educational programs. Sources include federal and state agencies, nonprofits, foundations, businesses, colleges and universities, and local organizations. An online, searchable version of the guide is available here. 340 pages. Add to your shopping cart. $25.00
Funding Our Rural Future: Creating vibrant communities through homegrown philanthropy (2010) This four-part report examines the potential for homegrown philanthropy to become a significant tool for community and economic development. It includes: 1) an overview rural philanthropy and community foundations, 2) an examination, county by county, of the likely intergenerational transfer of wealth in rural counties and prospects for capturing some of that wealth for community use, 3) profiles of successful rural philanthropy initiatives and 4) a directory of rural philanthropy resources. 53 pages. Download PDF (472KB). Free. Add to your shopping cart. $10.00 Return to the top of the page.
Health Insurance in North Carolina: Growing crisis puts small businesses, rural workers at risk (2004) The Rural Center investigated the impact of the growing health insurance crisis on rural businesses and workers. The report provides an overview of the situation and challenges ahead. Five pages.
Living on the Margins series Publications may be ordered individually ($10 each) or as a set ($25 for all three).
Order the series ($25) A Most Extraordinary Year (2009) This 15-minute video examines the effects of the 2008-09 recession on rural communities and steps some are taking to overcome the challenges. DVD. Meet the Innovators (2008) Four short video segments profile innovative projects in North Carolina: Farmers Fresh Market in Rutherford County; building reuse projects in Albemarle (Lillian Mill) and Benson (The Pound Cake Co.); fuel-cell manufacturer Microcell; and Scotland High School, a New Schools Project participant.View individual profiles from the 2008 Rural Partners Forum page. Free.
Add to your shopping cart. DVD $20.00 North Carolina Rural Profile, 3rd edition (2004) Based on 2000 Census data, the profile provides an overview of economic and social trends in rural North Carolina during the high-growth period of the 1990s.Manufacturing Layoffs (2002) This six-page report looks closely at how manufacturing is changing in North Carolina and examines the life-altering impact those changes are having on our state's workers and the economies of small towns and rural communities.Tracking Change in Rural North Carolina (2002) This six-page report offers a glimpse of how life in North Carolina was reshaped in the 1990s.Return to the top of the page.
Small Towns Action Agenda: Priority Recommendations from the Small Towns Action Council (2009) This 17-point plan recommends steps to help small towns bolster their fiscal capacity and build their economies. The recommendations stem from more than three years of work by the Small Towns Action Council, whose members include public officials and representatives of nonprofits and educational institutions. 30 pages.
Small Towns, Big Ideas: Case Studies in Small Town Community Economic Development (2009) Small Towns, Big Ideas documents the stories of 45 small towns that are surviving – and in some cases thriving – as hubs of civic and economic activity. It tells how these towns planned and implemented economic development strategies, describes the challenges they’ve had to overcome and explains why their strategies are working. 244 pages.Download PDF (21MB). Free. 
NC STEP Communities Notebook: Getting Started (2007) The notebook documents the beginnings of the Rural Center’s North Carolina Small Towns Economic Prosperity Demonstration Project. It includes profiles of the 20 sites participating in the initial demonstration and a description of the overall problem. 74 pages. Small Town, NC: Embracing Change, Taking Charge (2005) This 40-minute video travels around the state to explore the history, culture and economy of North Carolina’s small communities. Some promising economic turnaround stories are featured. Available in VHS or DVD.
More than its name implies, the Small Towns Fact Book chronicles the history of small towns in North Carolina and the challenges they face in the early 21st century, based on statistical profiles and focus group discussions. Tables show 12 data points (from population to fiscal capacity) for 478 towns with populations of fewer than 10,000. 38 pages.
Water 2030 series (2006)
Water Woes in Eastern North Carolina (2002) In response to decreasing levels of groundwater the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued the Capacity Use Area Rule in December 1998 to regulate withdrawals in a 15-county region of eastern North Carolina. This report provides a summary of alternative supplies and the cost associated with developing those sources and gives recommendations for action at the state, regional and local levels. 20 pages.Return to the top of the page.
Help for dislocated workers: Local nonprofits team with workforce agencies to help laid-off workers survive, find new jobs (2009) From 2004 through 2007, the Rural Center conducted a multi-site demonstration project testing ways local communities can fill the gaps left by traditional workforce programs. This Findings Report describes the project and its outcomes. 6 pages.Download PDF (536KB). Free.
The Impact of Economic and Political Developments on North Carolina’s Tobacco Farm Workers (2008) This report examines the repercussions of the 1998 tobacco settlement and end of the quota system on livelihoods of tobacco farm workers. It places the issues against the recent history of tobacco farm workers; explores who makes up the tobacco farm work force; identifies further challenges and opportunities facing North Carolina farm workers; and suggests areas for public policy consideration. 122 pages.
Back on Track: 16 Promising Practices to Help Dislocated Workers, Businesses and Communities (2006) Some of the nation’s more successful programs helping workers find new jobs at decent wages are profiled. The report is based on research by CFED on behalf of the Rural Center. 76 pages.Download PDF (627KB). Free.
Gaining a Foothold: An Action Agenda to Aid North Carolina’s Dislocated Workers (2005) This report describes the characteristics and experiences of rural and urban dislocated workers in North Carolina and examines federal and state policy issues related to services for dislocated workers. It was developed by the Rural Center in collaboration with leaders of about 15 major public and nonprofit organizations involved in workforce development, economic development and human services in North Carolina. 48 pages.Return to the top of the page. |
