- A collaboration of state and federal programs launches the Family Farm Innovation Fund to help farmers with projects related to energy, value-added production and new, sources of income. It will result in 1,500 grants to farmers and training in energy efficiency techniques for 2,400.
- The Rural Center is designated to administer the state’s $46.1 million allocation under the federal Small Business Jobs Act. With it, the center establishes the N.C. Small Business Credit Initiative to stimulate small business lending statewide. North Carolina will issue the first loan in the nation through that federal legislation.
- The report “Funding Our Rural Future: Creating Vibrant Communities Through Homegrown Philanthropy” provides an overview of rural philanthropy and examines the likely inter-generational transfer of wealth in rural N.C. counties, along with the prospects for capturing some of chat wealth for community use.
