Skip to content

Building Vibrant Communities

At the NC Rural Center, we envision a North Carolina where every rural voice matters and every rural community thrives, and we've made it our mission to invest in rural people, communities, and potential to make that happen.

News & Stories

Learn more about what we're doing at the NC Rural Center. Catch up on our latest news, client profiles, impact stories, research and press releases. 

View more news & stories

Jernigan’s Steps in to Serve Communities of Competitors Leaving Furniture Business

The Jernigan family has been selling furniture in North Carolina for over a century. As more and more family-owned independent furniture companies around the state decide to close, Jernigan Furniture is stepping in, saving jobs, and ensuring service to more rural citizens in the process. Jernigan Furniture CEO Andrew Jernigan explains how they uncovered an […] Loan Participation Program

Prime Numbers

43.3 percent of rural 25-44-year-olds have a postsecondary degree or credential
23.2 percent of rural residents 25 years or older have a bachelor's degree or higher education
Over 51 thousand rural residents were enrolled in the UNC System for the Fall 2024 semester
Nearly 164 thousand rural residents were enrolled in the North Carolina Community College System for the Fall 2024 Semester
There were over 467 thousand rural public K-12 students in the 2023 to 2024 school year

Stay Connected

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*

Meet Our Team