News & Updates
Broadband Innovation: Country Cablevision
"It’s a huge game changer here. We have a gig sitting pretty much wherever you want it. We have faster speeds than Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, wherever." —Dean Russell, project manager, Country Cablevision On his first night in Yancey County, eight...
Broadband Innovation: Person County
We’re an aging population. It begged us to ask, ‘If children aren’t able to have access to do homework and connect to schools and libraries, is this part of the problem in keeping young people engaged and attracted to our community?’ —Heidi York, Person...
Broadband Innovation: PANGAEA Internet
“I can’t stress enough the value of public-private partnerships. That has made this whole thing work.” — Ron Walters, executive director, PANGAEA Internet Ron Walters likes to use a diagram when he speaks to groups, a picture that illustrates the...
Broadband Innovation: Eastern Carolina Broadband
"In the rural areas, the government is not coming to help you. The big companies are not coming to help you. You have to help yourself." —Susan Myers, co-founder, Eastern Carolina Broadband From the metal tower built above the sandy soil of Deep Run, North Carolina,...
Broadband Innovation: Wilkes Communications
"There’s this concept of universal service, where everyone should have access to phone service. There has been a shift in the industry, everyone should have access to broadband. Affordable broadband." — Eric Cramer, president and CEO, Wilkes Communications...
Impact Stories: Dr. Karen Torres
"It really didn’t seem real. I didn’t think any of this was possible, for me to be in this beautiful space. I can do the dentistry I want to do and offer the type of services and atmosphere that our patients deserve." Dr. Karen Torres knew it was time to make a...
Rural Road Trip Update
Last spring, Patrick Woodie and John Coggin set out on a quest: visit each of the 80 counties served by the Rural Center and meet with community leaders - elected officials, business leaders, health care workers, educators, and civic champions - to hear what was going...
Dispatches From DC
2018 Farm Bill Reauthorization April 20 The current Farm Bill (Public Law 113-79) expires September 30, 2018. The measure authorizes various commodity, trade, rural development, agricultural research, and food and nutrition programs. Some programs are assured...
Rural Counts Spring Webinar: The Master Plan for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
If you live in rural North Carolina, you know that maintaining and improving our water and wastewater systems are critical needs for our communities. That's why the Rural Center's 10 Rural Counts strategies for economic development identifies accelerating...
Impact Stories: Kerns Trucking
"We have constantly taken the opportunity to invest money back into the company. This loan was very important to us to be able to do so." The trucks have been at it all day, hauling rock and sand and who knows what else, across the piedmont of North...