NC Rural Center

The North Carolina Community College System, its board and its foundation have announced the winners of their 2025 excellence awards, honoring community college students, faculty, staff, and business partners. The Staff Person of the Year Award is sponsored by the NC Rural Center and will be presented by our President and CEO Patrick Woodie to Denise Young of Southeastern Community College - NC at a coming awards banquet. We're honored to support the work of the community colleges. From the award announcement: This award acknowledges non-teaching staff members who exemplify exceptional performance and dedication to the community college mission. Young is the director of apprenticeships at Southeastern Community College. Through her innovative apprenticeship and internship programs, she has transformed opportunities for students in Columbus County, one of North Carolina’s most economically challenged regions. Under her leadership, the College has seen a 53% increase in work-based learning enrollments, connecting students with industry credentials and employment pathways. Her commitment to removing barriers to education includes strategic outreach efforts, partnerships with local businesses, and securing funding to expand access to hands-on training. Young’s mentorship and dedication to student growth extend beyond the classroom, shaping Southeastern as a hub for workforce readiness and economic development. “Denise has a drive that is energetic – a magnet. She knows how to bring people together and takes time to learn and understand people and what their challenges may be. She represents Southeastern Community College with all its glory and I'm so, so thrilled that she's won this award,” said Dr. Chris English, president of Southeastern Community College. #HigherEd #Education #CelebrateRural #InvestInRural

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond will be hosting its 2025 Investing in Rural America Conference May 20-21 at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Va. Rural Center President and CEO Patrick Woodie will be there along with other members of our staff. Join them and other rural stakeholders for two days of learning, networking, idea sharing, and collaboration as they explore how to better leverage community assets and create space for rural residents and communities to thrive. Registration is now open. Secure your spot today: https://ow.ly/uxZ950VlJZm #InvestRuralUSA #InvestInRural #CelebrateRural

The newly released NC Rural Center Rural Road Trip report highlights what Rural Center staff uncovered about rural issues during our recent 15-stop statewide tour and an accompanying poll. We found that: ??Across geography, political affiliation, and gender, the most critical issues at the top of your minds are childcare, affordable housing, and the education of our future workforce ??Disparities exist in infrastructure, health, and economic opportunities, and local champions are working diligently to overcome these challenges ??Our rural citizens are resilient, committed to their communities and regions, and care deeply about the future of their families and fellow citizens The NC Rural Center traveled the state in fall 2024 to hear from rural North Carolinians about issues affecting their communities and regions. Our goal was simple: to listen to citizens’ insights and bring your voices back to Raleigh to share with elected officials and other policymakers. We also conducted an online Rural Issues Poll with over 850 participants to help focus the conversations at each step of the Road Tour. The results of that poll are in the Road Trip report. We hope you'll take some time to review our report, particularly if you are among those joining us for #RuralSummit2025 next week. For a synopsis of the report and a link to the full report: https://ow.ly/RKrG50VlIMS #Health #Jobs #Infrastructure #Housing #SmallBusiness #CelebrateRural #InvestInRural

Carolina Public Press examined state data on every hospital in North Carolina over the past decade for its three-part series on women's health. "CPP found that hospital systems have systematically centralized services in urban areas while cutting them in rural ones, resulting in growing maternal health care deserts in nearly every corner of the state. Some rural hospitals have also cut or reduced certain critical OB/GYN services, leaving women more vulnerable to complications." The articles focus on these data findings and their consequences, look at the systemic issues that contribute to these trends, and discuss possible solutions. To read the series: https://ow.ly/YZ0Y50VkTjs #Health #Healthcare #RuralHealth #InvestInRural #WomensHistoryMonth

The N.C. Department of Information Technology and the Institute for Emerging Issues will host a NC Digital Opportunity Gathering in the James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University on April 28 to bring together practitioners, grantees and others interested in closing the digital divide. This event is free, but registration is required. To register: https://ow.ly/2Wlq50Vknwl #Broadband #DigitalEquity

Thank you to the artists at Starworks NC in Star, N.C., for creating the glass trophies that we will present next week to the winners of our community advocate and legislative advocate awards. Starworks is an artist studio and gallery under the direction of Executive Director Nancy Gottovi, a graduate of our Rural Economic Development Institute, who founded the center in a former school building and textile factory in 2004 and has run it ever since. For more about this rural gem, visit https://lnkd.in/eimy4Ra8. #SmallBiz #ArtsEconomy #InvestInRural #CelebrateRural

WNC: we’re still standing strong—together. ???? #WNCStrongTogether is here for you with up-to-date recovery loans, resources, and grants to help your business bridge the gaps and move forward. This isn’t a short road, it’s a l o n g recovery and we are not going to stop supporting you! We’re working alongside our incredible partner organizations to ensure you have access to every possible tool for recovery and growth. If you're looking for support, funding, or guidance—start here. Visit wncstrongtogether.org to explore the latest opportunities. Let’s continue to lift each other up. ??? #WNC #SmallBusinessSupport #ResilientTogether #MountainBizWorks #WNCStrongTogether

Downtown development projects in Pittsboro and Goldsboro were among those recently honored at the N.C. Main Street Conference. Champions of small downtowns from throughout rural North Carolina were also recognized for their commitment to their communities. Read about the conference here: https://ow.ly/YJ9e50ViOMS Full list of winners: https://ow.ly/pH0l50ViOMT #CelebrateRural #SmallTowns #EconomicDevelopment

St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Morehead City helps keep moms and their babies healthy and fed through its Carteret Mother's Care Project, a partnership with MARTHAS MISSION CUPBOARD INC, Carteret OBGYN, the North Carolina Medical Society and the NC Rural Center. Right now, the project focuses on providing pre-made boxes of food designed by certified nutritionists to address health concerns faced by 32 high-risk prenatal mothers and then monitoring the outcomes. Their work saves lives. Local health officials say that about 60% of women in the county with high-risk pregnancies suffer from food insecurity. Read more now about this innovative service mission: https://ow.ly/QHjr50VjCuh #Faith #Church #Health #InvestInRural #CelebrateRural

Eastern NC is full of opportunity, adventure, and incredible affordability. Through our initiatives, we’re building networks that will connect communities, schools, industries, and people, creating a more resilient region. We are here to bridge the gaps and drive economic growth for a brighter tomorrow. Read more about our work: https://lnkd.in/e6Es6CBv #EasternNC #EconomicGrowth #CommunityBuilding #NCEastAlliance ?? Travis Long