News & Updates
Shopping local: the gift that keeps giving
“When you prioritize local purchase decisions, you are putting meals on the tables of your neighbors and helping the businesses that sponsor your child’s sports team,” said David Jackson, president of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “You are making community in...
NC Rural Center commends State Budget; thanks Legislators and Governor for rural wins and highlights continued, critical needs for the future
The NC Rural Center reacted favorably to the State Budget signed into law Thursday, November 18, citing numerous wins for the 78 rural counties in our state. The Center particularly highlights the allocations that will expand rural broadband availability, incentivize...
A message from Patrick about…the 2020 Census
With the recent release of the 2020 Census Data, we find that the number of rural counties in North Carolina has shifted from 80 to 78 since 2010. There continues to be a trend in population gains in metro/regional areas in our state, directly leading to the flip of...
Rural Counts Webinar Series: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
As you know, in March, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law, allocating $1.9 trillion dollars to help America recover and build back from the COVID-19 pandemic. North Carolina received nearly $18 billion for local governments, fiscal recovery,...
NC Rural Center Joins NCIOM Task Force on the Future of Local Public Health in NC
Bronwyn Lucas, senior director of leadership and engagement for the NC Rural Center, has been invited to serve on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s Task Force on the Future of Local Public Health in North Carolina. The goal of this work, supported by the Kate...
NC Rural Center’s Small Business Coalition Now Recruiting Members Statewide; Advocating for Vital NC-based Policies and Resources to Support Small Business Owners
The organization is seeking entrepreneurs and small business owners to join its Small Business Coalition initiative–already 272 members have signed on to advocate for more robust policies and programs to support the state’s small business communities. Key Facts The...
Legislative Tracker
The North Carolina Rural Center’s advocacy platform, Rural Counts: 10 Strategies for Rural North Carolina’s Future, presents a framework for creating a stronger rural economy in the context of a rapidly changing state. Within these strategies, the Rural Center will...
Issue-Specific Factsheets
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Rural North Carolina At a Glance
NC Rural Center Announces New Board Chair and Four New Members From Across North Carolina
NC Rural Center Announces New Board Chair and Four New Members From Across North Carolina Raleigh - The NC Rural Center's Board of Directors has announced the addition of four new members, as of January 2021. Joining the board are Jose Alvarez (Charlotte), Sara...