Town of Mount Gilead
Economic need
In measures of whether municipalities can afford to incur debt, Mount Gilead falls near the bottom. Its ability-to-pay ranks among the lowest in the state for towns with a population of at least 1,000.
The decline of traditional industry has had a serious effect on Mount Gilead, population 1,389, and the rest of Montgomery County. The number of manufacturing firms in the county has dropped from 91 to 73. Only seven of the original 13 textile mills remain in operation. Closings and layoffs have cut the county's annual manufacturing payroll from $139 million to $32 million.
With few opportunities, some people have dropped out of the workforce. The county's labor force has shrunk by 8 percent, and at 6.7 percent, unemployment remains higher than the state average. In Mount Gilead, the poverty rate now measures 18 percent.
History
Mount Gilead was incorporated in 1898 as a commercial center for the surrounding farming region, but by the 1930s, textiles had become the driver of the local economy. Today, it is working to develop a strategy for community prosperity less reliant on textiles and traditional manufacturing. Interest is growing in such issues as downtown revitalization, historic preservation, and planning.
Affordable housing also is attracting attention. Despite the lagging economy, rental rates and sales prices of homes have increased dramatically. According to the 2000 Census, about a quarter of all renters and all homeowners spent more than 30 percent of their income on monthly housing costs. Thirty percent is the standard measure of affordability.
Vision/Goals/Expectations
Mount Gilead's goals for the STEP program are twofold. First, it hopes to build on the region's reputation as a craft and pottery center to position the town as a turn-of-the-century arts-and-crafts village. At the heart of this vision lies a downtown artisan center with street level space for production, teaching and sales and upper-level space for housing. Other new shops, restaurants and bed-and-breakfast establishments would help draw tourists.
Housing is the second major focus. The town hopes to develop more affordable housing for low- to moderate- income renters and homeowners. One possible solution being investigated is the renovation of the former Highland School for low-income housing.
Contact
Earl Poplin, Mayor
P.O. Box 325
Mount Gilead, NC 27036
Phone: 910-439-5111
Fax: 910-4390-1336
