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Patrick Woodie speaks with "What Matters in North Carolina" The Freedom Action Network's Mark Shiver interviewed Patrick Woodie for an episode of the "What Matters in North Carolina" podcast. The conversation covered a wide variety of issues related to rural North Carolina and the work of The Rural Center, including topics such as rural broadband access, Hurricane Matthew, and, yes, even barbecue. Some of the highlights include: On Rural Banking "There are steps we discussed at the banking symposium last week that will make sure we are paying attention to the health of rural banking and the future it has in our communities." On Facing Rural Challenges "The rural dimension of these issues are completely different [than] the urban dimensions. When we are talking about a stronger state economy, we need to have an economic development system that is not a one-size-fits-all solution." On Hurricane Matthew Relief "[The Rural Center] quickly began putting in place a response for small businesses that were affected by the hurricane. There was an emergency bridge loan program that was put in place after Floyd that was an important part of the recovery. We were able to reach out to some of our bank partners and to the Golden LEAF Foundation to help us fund a very similar response, another emergency bridge loan program." On Rural Broadband "Broadband infrastructure is a hot topic in the general assembly right now. We can take some comfort and pride that North Carolina has built a growing broadband infrastructure. But with that being said, we are still building. It is going to take a combination of public and private partnerships to address these problem areas where broadband is not being reached." Listen to the full interview here. FROM THE RURAL CENTER Welcome to the 27th Class of Rural Leaders Misty Herget Director of Leadership The Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI) is preparing for its 27th class of rural leaders selected through a highly competitive application process. REDI equips participants with the wisdom, skills, and relationships to help their communities thrive in the midst of a rapidly changing rural environment. The curriculum focuses on today's economic trends in North Carolina, best practices in adaptive leadership, a framework and tools for rural economic development, and other resources and opportunities. The first session opens March 28 with more than 30 highly-skilled and motivated leaders from across the state working to develop and enhance their strong leadership skills, build local leadership capacity, and discover new strategies and ideas for advancing their communities and regions economically. Since the first REDI class in 1989, more than 1,100 leaders have graduated from the program. But as any REDI alum will tell you, the learning doesn't stop there. Graduates join a state-wide network of alumni who continue to learn from their peers through continuing education opportunities, while fostering ongoing relationships with other rural leaders from across the state. REDI XXVII saw the largest applicant pool in the history of the Institute This year's applicants were a very highly-qualified pool of local elected officials, local and state government staff, nonprofit and faith community leaders, healthcare staff, and small business owners. The response reminds us of the ongoing need and demand for a rural leadership program in our state. It shows an ongoing desire on the part of community leaders to continue to develop their skills, share best practices, and build networks to make their communities the best possible places to live, work, and play. Here's what alumni have to say: "Rural economic development issues can be both complex and challenging. Few leadership development opportunities exist that equip and empower leaders to face those challenges like REDI. From its innovative curriculum, staff support, peer collaboration, networking, to its presentation of emerging issues impacting rural North Carolina. REDI participants leave with the practical understanding and tools necessary to impact their communities." --Larry Phillips, Surry County Commissioner, REDI XXVI "I am so thankful for my experience in REDI, mostly because I was able to put the lessons of the REDI leadership training to work immediately. The lessons I learned in REDI helped me hone in on the real opportunities in Eastern North Carolina and broadened my network of champions within the communities Congressman Butterfield serves. Many of my REDI peers and I are eager to share our stories of triumph and progress and this helps to constantly reinforce all that we gained during our unique and collaborative program." --Christina Piard, Office of Congressman G.K. Butterfield, REDI XXV Over the coming months, we will be introducing you to our new REDI participants and sharing updates from our training events throughout the state. We are excited to launch REDI XXVII and can't wait to start working with the next generation of rural leaders. Stay tuned! Community Allies for Hurricane Recovery Barry Ryan Senior Director of Programs Michael Sprayberry, director of the N.C. Division of Emergency Management, speaks to the crowd at yesterday's Community Allies for Hurricane Recovery event at The Rural Center. Yesterday, The Rural Center and a group of partner organizations hosted a training event for local nonprofit and grassroots leaders serving communities affected by Hurricane Matthew. The event provided updates on immediate recovery needs, connected participants to experts and resources, and explored long-term community revitalization strategies. Visit our social media accounts for highlights from the day and check back in on our March newsletter for more information. The Big Crunch: Data for Advocacy Jason Gray Senior Fellow, Research & Policy Being a strong advocate requires that we have a focused but flexible message that works well with different audiences. How do you make the case for an issue for someone who grew up in your community? How would you make it appeal to an individual who just moved to the community recently? How would you make it to an individual from out of state who just moved to Charlotte or Durham? North Carolina is a magnet for people from all over the nation and the world. Over half of the people now living in the state were not born here. This interactive map gives a snapshot of how this varies across the state. The pie charts give the county percentages of who were born in or out of the state. Clicking on the balance of the county tells you the county's percentage of the state total born out of state. You will see a big difference in large urban areas! But there are also differences between rural areas - how does it look in your community? And how will that shape the way you talk about your community's history and needs? Your Voice at the NC General Assembly John Coggin Director of Advocacy The 2017 Long Session of the General Assembly is off to the races, with 329 bills filed as of Friday, February 24. We understand that's a LOT of legislation to sort through, but don't worry! We will do it for you at the Rural Center. Throughout the General Assembly session, the Rural Center will be maintaining a Bill Tracker for legislation pertaining to the 10 Rural Counts Strategies. This tracker will help you quickly identify legislation around issues important to you. Want to keep up with this tracker, along with updates about what's happening in Raleigh and DC, and great resources for deepening your engagement in your community? Sign up as a Rural Counts advocate to receive our monthly newsletter and occasional action alerts when it's most important to remind our leaders that #RuralCounts. And, mark your calendars for our first statewide Rural Day on Tuesday, May 9, and be on the lookout for a special email announcing the opening of registration in early March. We look forward to seeing you in Raleigh for Rural Day! Bridge Loan Update and Extension Barry Ryan Senior Director of Programs Since its launch, the North Carolina Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, a partnership The Rural Center formed with the N.C. Small Business and Technology Development Center and the N.C. Community Colleges Small Business Center Network, has provided 13 loans totaling $195,000 to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The loans have supported businesses with 84 full-time and 47 part-time employees in eight North Carolina counties. We are excited to announce that the application deadline for the program has been extended to March 20, 2017. So help us spread the word to the small businesses throughout the state that were impacted by Hurricane Matthew. Learn more. Staff Spotlight: President Patrick Woodie Q: What is your connection to North Carolina? A: I am a native North Carolinian, born in Alleghany County, and grew up in Piney Creek. Q: What brings you the greatest satisfaction in your work? A: The sense that you are really doing work that impacts people's lives and makes people's lives better. Feeling like you're working for the greater good of North Carolina, and that act of service is something my family instilled in me early on. Q: What do you wish other people knew about The Rural Center? A: Everybody who works at the Center is very aware of our mission to serve the communities of rural North Carolina, and that is very important to every person here. Q: What are three words to describe The Rural Center? A: Committed, dedicated, and determined. Q: What was the best piece of advice you ever received? A: My high school biology teacher told me something that I will never forget, "We have two ends with a common link, with one we sit, the other we think. Success depends on which you choose, heads you win and tails you lose." JOBS & FELLOWSHIPS Demographic Analyst Carolina Demography This position will prepare data and materials to fulfill client requests. This person will research and obtain relevant data sources, conduct quality control checks, construct variables, create analysis files, and conduct preliminary analysis and reporting to address the demographic questions associated with the clients' needs. This position will require the use and management of data with complex structures, including Census data, American Community Survey data, and other federal, state, and local data, based on an evaluation of what is needed to respond to the client's requirements. This position will do preliminary interpretation of the results and prepare draft reports and presentations for the clients that describe how demographic change affects their organization. Apply now. Chief Financial Officer North Carolina Community Foundation The chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for leadership, stewardship, and management of the financial and accounting matters of the NC Community Foundation including: financial accounting, budgeting, reporting, and long-range planning; internal controls, vendor and service provider management; and technology management. The CFO studies, analyzes, and reports on trends, opportunities for expansion, and projection of future growth. This position reports directly to NCCF's President/CEO. Apply now. The Fletcher Fellowship The AJ Fletcher Foundation The Fletcher Fellowship is a project-based role that is structured to fulfill the current interests of the organization and includes an individual development plan with mentoring by senior N.C. social sector leaders, peer learning, and networking. The 2017-2018 Fletcher Fellow will primarily work on projects that support the organization's goal to amplify grantees' voices in public spaces. This person will work closely with staff and partner organizations to support efforts in communications, including creating website and social media content, producing our podcast series, and writing press releases. The role requires savviness in research, planning, and digital strategy and assistance on occasional administrative projects. Apply now. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The New "Visualizing Funding for Libraries" Website Foundation Center Libraries of all types are typically overly-reliant on one key source of funding. The Visualizing Funding for Libraries data tool can help public, academic, and school libraries, as well as special collections, archives, and digital libraries, identify funding opportunities to support innovative projects and solutions for their communities. Learn more. Community Connect Grants USDA The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rurual Utilities Service (RUS) is now accepting applications for the Community Connect grant progam. The applications deadline is March 13, 2017. This program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities with lower-income populations, areas that are extremely rural and/or currently unserved, and areas where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services. The grant awards range from $100,000 to $3M per application. Learn more. USDA's Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program USDA The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced the availability of $27 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to strengthen market opportunities for local and regional food producers and businesses. AMS announced the request for applications for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, which includes Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grants, and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). The grant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017. Learn more. EVENTS 2017 UNC Clean Tech Summit UNC Institute for the Environment UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School The 4th Annual Summit will bring together professionals in business, policy, and academia from across the state and region for two days of discussion, workshops, mentoring, and networking to foster leadership and growth in the southeast's clean tech industry. The event will be held March 2 - 3 at the UNC Friday Center. Learn more. Public Policy Forum & N.C. Nonprofits Day North Carolina Center for Nonprofits With the 2017-18 session of the General Assembly now officially underway, it's a critical time to make our voices heard. Get the tools, training, and connections to help you speak out effectively for your cause at the Public Policy Forum. At N.C. Nonprofits Day, build relationships with legislators now to help them understand your issues and concerns, and advocate on policies that affect your mission. The event will be held March 20 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Learn more. Come to the Table Conference Rural Advancement Foundation International The 2017 Come to the Table Conference, "Bridging Divides: Cultivating Food & Faith Connections," is happening March 16 in Durham. The conference will explore both the history and present state of our food system: how and why food is produced and distributed the way it is, and how faith communities can support both farmers and consumers. The keynote speaker will be Jason Brown, former NFL lineman and owner of First Fruits Farm. Register here. AROUND RURAL NORTH CAROLINA Rep. Szoka, Sen. Meredith file bill to bring fast internet t o rural areas Fayetteville Observer Cumberland County's state Rep. John Szoka and state Sen. Wesley Meredith filed legislation this week that aims to bring high speed internet to communities that lack it. "We have a lot of people that do not have access to broad band. We need to have that," Meredith said. Szoka and Meredith's proposed law would be called the BRIGHT Futures Act. It would allow local governments to partner with private companies to expand broadband connectivity. Further, it would permit the North Carolina Department of Commerce to issue grants to underwrite projects that expand digital infrastructure in rural areas. Read more. Longtime Thom Tillis aide joins Trump administration News & Observer Ray Starling, who worked for Sen. Thom Tillis in the U.S. Senate and the N.C. House, is joining President Donald Trump's administration as special assistant to the president for agriculture, trade and food assistance. Starling had most recently served as Tillis' chief of staff in the Senate. Before that, he was general counsel in the Republican's Senate office and in the office of N.C. House Speaker. Starling has also served as an adviser to Tillis on agricultural policy. Read more. GoldenLEAF scholarships due today GoldenLEAF The Golden LEAF Scholars Program is designed to assist current high school seniors and North Carolina community college transfer students. Recipients must be from certain rural counties, demonstrate both financial need and merit, and plan to attend participating North Carolina colleges and universities. The scholarship is funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation through a grant to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. The number of years of scholarship support depends on the degree sought and the number of credits transferred. Learn more. Applications available for "Stronger Economies Together" initiative USDA Rural Development North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service USDA Rural Development, in conjunction with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and other state and local partners, has released details of an initiative called "Stronger Economies Together" (SET), which is designed to help regional teams develop new approaches to strengthen and enhance regional economic development activities. The SET initiative is an opportunity for current or newly formed multi-county teams to receive the latest tools, training, and technical assistance to help their region move forward and capitalize on the strengths of the region to create jobs, wealth, and economic development. Deadline for applications is March 17. Learn more. Carteret General Hospital named one of the best rural hospitals in the nation Becker's Hospital Review Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City was named one of the top 100 rural and community hospitals in the country by The National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute, iVantage Health Analytics, and The Chartis Center for Rural Health. According to an announcement in Becker's Hospital Review, the 100 hospitals are identified as "top performers in managing risk, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction and operating at a lower cost than their peers..." Congratulations to everyone at Carteret General! Read more. RURAL NEWS How a rural Mississippi town created a new local economy to rebuild its Main Street (VIDEO) Co.Exist When Kagan Coughlin and Alexe van Beuren first visited Water Valley, Mississippi a decade ago, the majority of the storefronts on the small town's Main Street were empty. But the couple was charmed by the people they met; inside an old soda fountain, a fourth-generation business owner made them a milkshake, chatted for half an hour, and hugged them when they left. They decided to move to town. They became part of a small group of people who have helped rebuild Main Street. A former machine shop is now a brewery. A drugstore is an art gallery. A service station became a restaurant. Read more. How North Carolina can save jobs from the coming Silver Tsunami Forbes That challenge could continue to grow in coming years as the Baby Boomers continue to retire. This so-called "Silver Tsunami" will hit the state's rural areas hard, as the number of North Carolinians between the ages of 60 and 70 is expected to grow by more than 200,000 over the next 15 years. Since many businesses are owned by Baby Boomers, the challenge of an aging population is magnified when those businesses don't have a viable succession plan in place, which results in companies shutting their doors - and the loss of thousands of jobs across already hard-hit communities. Read more. Can school buses close the digital gap? GOVERNING Take an evening drive through some of the towns that make up the Coachella Valley Unified School District, a largely rural area near the Salton Sea in Riverside County, Calif., and you might be surprised to see yellow school buses parked in odd, uncharacteristic locations. But rest assured, they have a purpose. Equipped with Wi-Fi routers and solar panels, these buses provide Internet to the district's most underserved communities. Read more. America's Great Divergence The Atlantic A growing earnings gap between those with a college education and those without is creating economic and cultural rifts throughout the country. Read more. Government and business get together to provide broadband The Daily Yonder Smaller communities that want to get involved in improving their broadband don't necessarily have to go it alone. Partnerships between local governments, nonprofits, and commercial enterprises have proven to be a good route to better service for some communities. Public-private partnerships are popular because they can offer ways for local governments to help jumpstart better broadband without bearing all the financial, technical, or administrative responsibilities. Conversely, for private internet businesses, a partnership with a public entity can expand their market, give them access to better technology, create attractive financing, or create other advantages. Read more. Maternal health care is disappearing in rural America Scientific American The disappearing maternal care problem is common across rural America. Only about 6 percent of the nation's ob-gyns work in rural areas, according to the latest survey numbers from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Yet 15 percent of the country's population, or 46 million people, live in rural America. As a result, fewer than half of rural women live within a 30-minute drive of the nearest hospital offering obstetric services. Only about 88 percent of women in rural towns live within a 60-minute drive, and in the most isolated areas that number is 79 percent. Read more. How a rural preschool overcame an industry wide challenge and paid teachers more Chalkbeat Marcia Walter has worked at Dragon's Wagon Preschool in the small town of Holyoke in northeastern Colorado for more than 25 years - starting as a teacher's aide and working her way up to director. In August, she got some news that made her cry: She was getting a raise. Read more. Rural health providers head to D.C. to flex newfound political clout North Carolina Health News In the past six years, dozens of rural hospitals around the United States have discharged their final patients and turned out the lights, including three in North Carolina. The nation's crisis of opiate addiction and overdose has been playing out most strongly in rural towns, where family and community ties are strong and overdose deaths hit hard. And research shows there's a persistent gap in life expectancy between rural and urban communities, with data showing that rural areas experience poorer health on almost every measure and have less healthcare infrastructure to support residents. Read more. High school students build tiny houses for flood victims NPR Since flooding in West Virginia last June killed at least 23 people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes, residents have been struggling to find adequate housing. These small homes, built by high school students in nearby vocational schools, may be the solution. Read more. How advanced manufacturing is transforming WNC's economy Mountain Xpress It's easy to miss the turnoff on Sweeten Creek Road that leads to GE Aviation's South Asheville operation. The service road winds through an industrial park, past several mundane structures and parking lots; employees move between GE's two main buildings - the rotating-parts plant and the newer ceramic matrix composite facility. But within those nondescript warehouse walls lies a world of robotics, high-tech devices and dynamic innovation, where a legion of highly skilled workers conceptualizes, develops and produces a dizzying array of flight components used by companies across the globe. Read more. Speakers make economic case for preschool News & Observer Politicians, economists, academics and education advocates gathered to discuss the link between preschool programs and benefits to North Carolina's economy. They talked about how early education can help bridge a growing gap between rural and urban communities and between those who do and don't have technological skills needed for many of today's jobs in North Carolina. Read more. Local innovation strengthening rural economies (VIDEO) The Aspen Institute's America's Rural Opportunity Project Watch the full recording of an America's Rural Opportunity panel's discussion on the importance of local innovation in rural economies. Watch Now. CRD program helps rural areas' economies in eastern N.C. (VIDEO) WNCT East Carolina University is partnering with local leaders through the Community and Regional Development Program to assist with issues rural communities face. Read more. RESEARCH & POLICY In infrastructure plan, a big opening for rural broadband Brookings Institute Despite tens of billions of dollars of federal subsidies for rural communications networks, rural broadband connectivity remains a vexing problem. While the numbers show improvement from prior years, the most recent broadband report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that 39 percent of the rural population (23.4 million Americans), compared to just 4 percent of the urban population, lacked access to what the FCC regards as basic fixed broadband service-25 megabits per second (Mbps) up/3 Mbps down. Read more. Addressing Mental Health Needs: Perspectives of African Americans living in the rural south PsychiatryOnline.org Rural African Americans are disproportionately affected by social stressors that place them at risk of developing psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to understand mental health, mental health treatment, and barriers to treatment from the perspective of rural African-American residents and other stakeholders in order to devise culturally acceptable treatment approaches. Read more. Investing in water: Comparing utility finances and economic concerns across U.S. cities Brookings Institute Water utilities are under enormous pressure to balance a host of physical and financial responsibilities, especially when it comes to providing affordable, clean, and reliable service. From drinking water to wastewater to stormwater, utilities are trying to better quantify their infrastructure needs, develop more targeted plans, and explore a broad set of financing tools to pay for it all. Increasingly, utilities are also learning more from each other and collaborating with a variety of public and private partners to adopt a more flexible, forward-looking approach in future projects. Read more. Aging in rural communities: Older persons' narratives of relocating in place to maintain rural identity Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy Literature often looks at older persons' rural-to-urban moves, but relocation within the same region is less explored. The purpose of this study is to understand the perspectives of older persons who move to age in town in the same rural setting. Using data from 16 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with older persons in a rural community and directed content analysis, this study examines these older persons' assessments of their current living situation, still seen as living rurally but now in a more populous location. Read more. RURAL PERSPECTIVES "Rural Perspectives" is a new feature of our monthly newsletter where we share opinions and perspectives on the big issues facing rural communities. We hope the viewpoints contained in the articles below are starting points for the difficult conversations we must have as a state about the critical issues facing our rural places. Take the time to read, share with a colleague or neighbor, and start the conversation. Dear Mr. President: Keep rural America a priority Center for Rural Affairs To help ensure a focused and coordinated effort to address the needs of rural areas, we suggest a designated senior member of the White House staff and/or an Office of Rural Policy within the Executive Office of the President to focus specifically on rural issues. Such an individual or office could become an added voice to ensure that the interests of rural Americans are addressed across the highest levels of your Administration. Read more. Where school choice isn't an option, rural public schools worry they'll be left behind Washington Post Washington has long designed education policy to deal with urban and suburban challenges, often overlooking the unique problems that face rural schools like this one. With a new administration in the White House that prefers "school-choice" approaches - favoring charter schools and private-school vouchers so parents can opt out of public schools and bring taxpayer dollars with them - the nation's rural schools are left to wonder about their fate. Read more. Toxic childhoods Politico While we know that racial discrimination contributes to the adversity experienced by some communities, national data reveal that adverse childhood experiences are far from a black and brown problem. Some of the U.S. states with the highest ACE scores are disproportionately white and rural - for instance, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Montana all rank near the top for the proportion of the population of children with two or more ACEs. Read more. Where is 'rural America,' and what does it look like? The Conversation Rural people and issues generally receive little attention from the urban-centric media and policy elites. Yet, rural America makes unique contributions to the nation's character and culture as well as provides most of its food, raw materials, drinking water and clean air. The recent presidential election also reminds us that, though rural America may be ignored, it continues to influence the nation's future. Read more. A thriving rural town's winning formula faces new threats under Trump administration NPR But as some small towns struggle to remain viable, others, like Garden City, Kan., are booming. But, other than being surrounded by cows and cornfields, the town doesn't square with most people's stereotypes of rural Kansas. Three, 4 and 5-year-olds flock to their parents' arms at a pre-K school in Garden City. Principal Josh Guymon says enrollment is up sharply since the start of the school year, and these parents have come from all over the world. "We have a significant Burmese population," Guymon says. "We have a Vietnamese population. We're seeing a lot of students come in from the northern African countries - Somalia, Ethiopia - and of course, the majority of them from Mexico or other countries in Central America." Read more. STAY CONNECTED
Patrick Woodie speaks with "What Matters in North Carolina"
The Freedom Action Network's Mark Shiver interviewed Patrick Woodie for an episode of the "What Matters in North Carolina" podcast. The conversation covered a wide variety of issues related to rural North Carolina and the work of The Rural Center, including topics such as rural broadband access, Hurricane Matthew, and, yes, even barbecue.
Some of the highlights include:
On Rural Banking
"There are steps we discussed at the banking symposium last week that will make sure we are paying attention to the health of rural banking and the future it has in our communities."
On Facing Rural Challenges
"The rural dimension of these issues are completely different [than] the urban dimensions. When we are talking about a stronger state economy, we need to have an economic development system that is not a one-size-fits-all solution."
On Hurricane Matthew Relief
"[The Rural Center] quickly began putting in place a response for small businesses that were affected by the hurricane. There was an emergency bridge loan program that was put in place after Floyd that was an important part of the recovery. We were able to reach out to some of our bank partners and to the Golden LEAF Foundation to help us fund a very similar response, another emergency bridge loan program."
On Rural Broadband
"Broadband infrastructure is a hot topic in the general assembly right now. We can take some comfort and pride that North Carolina has built a growing broadband infrastructure. But with that being said, we are still building. It is going to take a combination of public and private partnerships to address these problem areas where broadband is not being reached."
Listen to the full interview here.
FROM THE RURAL CENTER
Welcome to the 27th Class of Rural Leaders
Misty Herget
Director of Leadership
The Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI) is preparing for its 27th class of rural leaders selected through a highly competitive application process. REDI equips participants with the wisdom, skills, and relationships to help their communities thrive in the midst of a rapidly changing rural environment. The curriculum focuses on today's economic trends in North Carolina, best practices in adaptive leadership, a framework and tools for rural economic development, and other resources and opportunities.
The first session opens March 28 with more than 30 highly-skilled and motivated leaders from across the state working to develop and enhance their strong leadership skills, build local leadership capacity, and discover new strategies and ideas for advancing their communities and regions economically.
Since the first REDI class in 1989, more than 1,100 leaders have graduated from the program. But as any REDI alum will tell you, the learning doesn't stop there. Graduates join a state-wide network of alumni who continue to learn from their peers through continuing education opportunities, while fostering ongoing relationships with other rural leaders from across the state.
REDI XXVII saw the largest applicant pool in the history of the Institute
This year's applicants were a very highly-qualified pool of local elected officials, local and state government staff, nonprofit and faith community leaders, healthcare staff, and small business owners. The response reminds us of the ongoing need and demand for a rural leadership program in our state. It shows an ongoing desire on the part of community leaders to continue to develop their skills, share best practices, and build networks to make their communities the best possible places to live, work, and play.
Here's what alumni have to say:
"Rural economic development issues can be both complex and challenging. Few leadership development opportunities exist that equip and empower leaders to face those challenges like REDI. From its innovative curriculum, staff support, peer collaboration, networking, to its presentation of emerging issues impacting rural North Carolina. REDI participants leave with the practical understanding and tools necessary to impact their communities."
--Larry Phillips, Surry County Commissioner, REDI XXVI
"I am so thankful for my experience in REDI, mostly because I was able to put the lessons of the REDI leadership training to work immediately. The lessons I learned in REDI helped me hone in on the real opportunities in Eastern North Carolina and broadened my network of champions within the communities Congressman Butterfield serves. Many of my REDI peers and I are eager to share our stories of triumph and progress and this helps to constantly reinforce all that we gained during our unique and collaborative program."
--Christina Piard, Office of Congressman G.K. Butterfield, REDI XXV
Over the coming months, we will be introducing you to our new REDI participants and sharing updates from our training events throughout the state. We are excited to launch REDI XXVII and can't wait to start working with the next generation of rural leaders.
Stay tuned!
Community Allies for Hurricane Recovery
Barry Ryan
Senior Director of Programs
Michael Sprayberry, director of the N.C. Division of Emergency Management, speaks to the crowd at yesterday's Community Allies for Hurricane Recovery event at The Rural Center.
Yesterday, The Rural Center and a group of partner organizations hosted a training event for local nonprofit and grassroots leaders serving communities affected by Hurricane Matthew.
The event provided updates on immediate recovery needs, connected participants to experts and resources, and explored long-term community revitalization strategies.
Visit our social media accounts for highlights from the day and check back in on our March newsletter for more information.
The Big Crunch: Data for Advocacy
Jason Gray
Senior Fellow, Research & Policy
Being a strong advocate requires that we have a focused but flexible message that works well with different audiences. How do you make the case for an issue for someone who grew up in your community? How would you make it appeal to an individual who just moved to the community recently? How would you make it to an individual from out of state who just moved to Charlotte or Durham?
North Carolina is a magnet for people from all over the nation and the world. Over half of the people now living in the state were not born here. This interactive map gives a snapshot of how this varies across the state. The pie charts give the county percentages of who were born in or out of the state.
Clicking on the balance of the county tells you the county's percentage of the state total born out of state. You will see a big difference in large urban areas! But there are also differences between rural areas - how does it look in your community? And how will that shape the way you talk about your community's history and needs?
Your Voice at the NC General Assembly
John Coggin
Director of Advocacy
The 2017 Long Session of the General Assembly is off to the races, with 329 bills filed as of Friday, February 24. We understand that's a LOT of legislation to sort through, but don't worry! We will do it for you at the Rural Center.
Throughout the General Assembly session, the Rural Center will be maintaining a Bill Tracker for legislation pertaining to the 10 Rural Counts Strategies.
This tracker will help you quickly identify legislation around issues important to you.
Want to keep up with this tracker, along with updates about what's happening in Raleigh and DC, and great resources for deepening your engagement in your community?
Sign up as a Rural Counts advocate to receive our monthly newsletter and occasional action alerts when it's most important to remind our leaders that #RuralCounts.
And, mark your calendars for our first statewide
Rural Day on Tuesday, May 9, and be on the lookout for a special email announcing the opening of registration in early March.
We look forward to seeing you in Raleigh for Rural Day!
Bridge Loan Update and Extension
Since its launch, the North Carolina Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, a partnership The Rural Center formed with the N.C. Small Business and Technology Development Center and the N.C. Community Colleges Small Business Center Network, has provided 13 loans totaling $195,000 to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Matthew.
The loans have supported businesses with 84 full-time and 47 part-time employees in eight North Carolina counties.
We are excited to announce that the application deadline for the program has been extended to March 20, 2017.
So help us spread the word to the small businesses throughout the state that were impacted by Hurricane Matthew.
Learn more.
Staff Spotlight: President Patrick Woodie
Q: What is your connection to North Carolina?
A: I am a native North Carolinian, born in Alleghany County, and grew up in Piney Creek.
Q: What brings you the greatest satisfaction in your work?
A: The sense that you are really doing work that impacts people's lives and
makes people's lives better. Feeling like you're working for the greater good of North Carolina, and that act of service is something my family instilled in me early on.
Q: What do you wish other people knew about The Rural Center?
A: Everybody who works at the Center is very aware of our mission to serve the communities of rural North Carolina, and that is very important to every person here.
Q: What are three words to describe The Rural Center?
A: Committed, dedicated, and determined.
Q: What was the best piece of advice you ever received?
A: My high school biology teacher told me something that I will never forget, "We have two ends with a common link, with one we sit, the other we think. Success depends on which you choose, heads you win and tails you lose."
JOBS & FELLOWSHIPS
Demographic Analyst
Carolina Demography
This position will prepare data and materials to fulfill client requests. This person will research and obtain relevant data sources, conduct quality control checks, construct variables, create analysis files, and conduct preliminary analysis and reporting to address the demographic questions associated with the clients' needs. This position will require the use and management of data with complex structures, including Census data, American Community Survey data, and other federal, state, and local data, based on an evaluation of what is needed to respond to the client's requirements. This position will do preliminary interpretation of the results and prepare draft reports and presentations for the clients that describe how demographic change affects their organization.
Apply now.
Chief Financial Officer
North Carolina Community Foundation
The chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for leadership, stewardship, and management of the financial and accounting matters of the NC Community Foundation including: financial accounting, budgeting, reporting, and long-range planning; internal controls, vendor and service provider management; and technology management. The CFO studies, analyzes, and reports on trends, opportunities for expansion, and projection of future growth. This position reports directly to NCCF's President/CEO.
The Fletcher Fellowship
The AJ Fletcher Foundation
The Fletcher Fellowship is a project-based role that is structured to fulfill the current interests of the organization and includes an individual development plan with mentoring by senior N.C. social sector leaders, peer learning, and networking. The 2017-2018 Fletcher Fellow will primarily work on projects that support the organization's goal to amplify grantees' voices in public spaces. This person will work closely with staff and partner organizations to support efforts in communications, including creating website and social media content, producing our podcast series, and writing press releases. The role requires savviness in research, planning, and digital strategy and assistance on occasional administrative projects.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The New "Visualizing Funding for Libraries" Website
Foundation Center
Libraries of all types are typically overly-reliant on one key source of funding. The Visualizing Funding for Libraries data tool can help public, academic, and school libraries, as well as special collections, archives, and digital libraries, identify funding opportunities to support innovative projects and solutions for their communities.
Community Connect Grants
USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rurual Utilities Service (RUS) is now accepting applications for the Community Connect grant progam. The applications deadline is March 13, 2017.
This program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities with lower-income populations, areas that are extremely rural and/or currently unserved, and areas where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services. The grant awards range from $100,000 to $3M per application.
USDA's Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced the availability of $27 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to strengthen market opportunities for local and regional food producers and businesses.
AMS announced the request for applications for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, which includes Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grants, and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).
The grant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017.
EVENTS
2017 UNC Clean Tech Summit
UNC Institute for the Environment
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
The 4th Annual Summit will bring together professionals in business, policy, and academia from across the state and region for two days of discussion, workshops, mentoring, and networking to foster leadership and growth in the southeast's clean tech industry.
The event will be held March 2 - 3 at the UNC Friday Center.
Public Policy Forum & N.C. Nonprofits Day
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
With the 2017-18 session of the General Assembly now officially underway, it's a critical time to make our voices heard. Get the tools, training, and connections to help you speak out effectively for your cause at the Public Policy Forum.
At N.C. Nonprofits Day, build relationships with legislators now to help them understand your issues and concerns, and advocate on policies that affect your mission.
The event will be held March 20 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh.
Come to the Table Conference
Rural Advancement Foundation International
The 2017 Come to the Table Conference, "Bridging Divides: Cultivating Food & Faith Connections," is happening March 16 in Durham.
The conference will explore both the history and present state of our food system: how and why food is produced and distributed the way it is, and how faith communities can support both farmers and consumers.
The keynote speaker will be Jason Brown, former NFL lineman and owner of First Fruits Farm.
Register here.
AROUND RURAL NORTH CAROLINA
Rep. Szoka, Sen. Meredith file bill to bring fast internet t o rural areas
Fayetteville Observer
Cumberland County's state Rep. John Szoka and state Sen. Wesley Meredith filed legislation this week that aims to bring high speed internet to communities that lack it.
"We have a lot of people that do not have access to broad
band. We need to have that," Meredith said.
Szoka and Meredith's proposed law would be called the BRIGHT Futures Act. It would allow local governments to partner with private companies to expand broadband connectivity. Further, it would permit the North Carolina Department of Commerce to issue grants to underwrite projects that expand digital infrastructure in rural areas.
Read more.
Longtime Thom Tillis aide joins Trump administration
News & Observer
Ray Starling, who worked for Sen. Thom Tillis in the U.S. Senate and the N.C. House, is joining President Donald Trump's administration as special
assistant to the president for agriculture, trade and food assistance.
Starling had most recently served as Tillis' chief of staff in the Senate. Before that, he was general counsel in the Republican's Senate office and in the office of N.C. House Speaker. Starling has also served as an adviser to Tillis on agricultural policy.
GoldenLEAF scholarships due today
GoldenLEAF
The Golden LEAF Scholars Program is designed to assist current high school seniors and North Carolina community college transfer students. Recipients must be from certain rural counties, demonstrate both financial need and merit, and plan to attend participating North Carolina colleges and universities. The scholarship is funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation through a grant to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. The number of years of scholarship support depends on the degree sought and the number of credits transferred.
Applications available for "Stronger Economies Together" initiative
USDA Rural Development
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
USDA Rural Development, in conjunction with the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service and other state and local partners, has released details of an initiative called "Stronger Economies Together" (SET), which is designed to help regional teams develop new approaches to strengthen and enhance regional economic development activities. The SET initiative is an opportunity for current or newly formed multi-county teams to receive the latest tools, training, and technical assistance to help their region move forward and capitalize on the strengths of the region to create jobs, wealth, and economic development.
Deadline for applications is March 17.
Carteret General Hospital named one of the best rural hospitals in the nation
Becker's Hospital Review
Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City was named one of the top
100 rural and community hospitals in the country by The National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute, iVantage Health Analytics, and The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
According to an announcement in Becker's Hospital Review, the 100 hospitals are identified as "top performers in managing risk, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction and operating at a lower cost than their peers..."
Congratulations to everyone at Carteret General!
RURAL NEWS
How a rural Mississippi town created a new local economy to rebuild its Main Street (VIDEO)
Co.Exist
When Kagan Coughlin and Alexe van Beuren first visited Water Valley, Mississippi a decade ago, the majority of the storefronts on the small town's Main Street were empty. But the couple was charmed by the people they met; inside an old soda fountain, a fourth-generation business owner made them a milkshake, chatted for half an hour, and hugged them when they left. They decided to move to town.
They became part of a small group of people who have helped rebuild Main Street. A former machine shop is now a brewery. A drugstore is an art gallery. A service station became a restaurant.
How North Carolina can save jobs from the coming Silver Tsunami
Forbes
That challenge could continue to grow in coming years as the Baby Boomers continue to retire. This so-called "Silver Tsunami" will hit the state's rural areas hard, as the number of North Carolinians between the ages of 60 and 70 is expected to grow by more than 200,000 over the next 15 years.
Since many businesses are owned by Baby Boomers, the challenge of an aging population is magnified when those businesses don't have a viable succession plan in place, which results in companies shutting their doors - and the loss of thousands of jobs across already hard-hit communities.
Can school buses close the digital gap?
GOVERNING
Take an evening drive through some of the towns that make up the Coachella Valley Unified School District, a largely rural area near the Salton Sea in Riverside County, Calif., and you might be surprised to see yellow school buses parked in odd, uncharacteristic locations. But rest assured, they have a purpose. Equipped with Wi-Fi routers and solar panels, these buses provide Internet to the district's most underserved communities.
America's Great Divergence
The Atlantic
A growing earnings gap between those with a college education and those without is creating economic and cultural rifts throughout the country.
Government and business get together to provide broadband
The Daily Yonder
Smaller communities that want to get involved in improving their broadband don't necessarily have to go it alone. Partnerships between local governments, nonprofits, and commercial enterprises have proven to be a good route to better service for some communities.
Public-private partnerships are popular because they can offer ways for local governments to help jumpstart better broadband without bearing all the financial, technical, or administrative responsibilities. Conversely, for private internet businesses, a partnership with a public entity can expand their market, give them access to better technology, create attractive financing, or create other advantages.
Maternal health care is disappearing in rural America
Scientific American
The disappearing maternal care problem is common across rural America. Only about 6 percent of the nation's ob-gyns work in rural areas, according to the latest survey numbers from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Yet 15 percent of the country's population, or 46 million people, live in rural America. As a result, fewer than half of rural women live within a 30-minute drive of the nearest hospital offering obstetric services. Only about 88 percent of women in rural towns live within a 60-minute drive, and in the most isolated areas that number is 79 percent.
How a rural preschool overcame an industry wide challenge and paid teachers more
Chalkbeat
Marcia Walter has worked at Dragon's Wagon Preschool in the small town of Holyoke in northeastern Colorado for more than 25 years - starting as a teacher's aide and working her way up to director.
In August, she got some news that made her cry: She was getting a raise.
Rural health providers head to D.C. to flex newfound political clout
North Carolina Health News
In the past six years, dozens of rural hospitals around the United States have discharged their final patients and turned out the lights, including three in North Carolina. The nation's crisis of opiate addiction and overdose has been playing out most strongly in rural towns, where family and community ties are strong and overdose deaths hit hard.
And research shows there's a persistent gap in life expectancy between rural and urban communities, with data showing that rural areas experience poorer health on almost every measure and have less healthcare infrastructure to support residents.
High school students build tiny houses for flood victims
NPR
Since flooding in West Virginia last June killed at least 23 people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes, residents have been struggling to find adequate housing.
These small homes, built by high school students in nearby vocational schools, may be the solution.
How advanced manufacturing is transforming WNC's economy
Mountain Xpress
It's easy to miss the turnoff on Sweeten Creek Road that leads to GE Aviation's South Asheville operation. The service road winds through an industrial park, past several mundane structures and parking lots; employees move between GE's two main buildings - the rotating-parts plant and the newer ceramic matrix composite facility.
But within those nondescript warehouse walls lies a world of robotics, high-tech devices and dynamic innovation, where a legion of highly skilled workers conceptualizes, develops and produces a dizzying array of flight components used by companies across the globe.
Speakers make economic case for preschool
Politicians, economists, academics and education advocates gathered to discuss the link between preschool programs and benefits to North Carolina's economy. They talked about how early education can help bridge a growing gap between rural and urban communities and between those who do and don't have technological skills needed for many of today's jobs in North Carolina.
Local innovation strengthening rural economies (VIDEO)
The Aspen Institute's America's Rural Opportunity Project
Watch the full recording of an America's Rural Opportunity panel's discussion on the importance of local innovation in rural economies.
Watch Now.
CRD program helps rural areas' economies in eastern N.C. (VIDEO)
WNCT
East Carolina University is partnering with local leaders through the Community and Regional Development Program to assist with issues rural communities face.
RESEARCH & POLICY
In infrastructure plan, a big opening for rural broadband
Brookings Institute
Despite tens of billions of dollars of federal subsidies for rural communications networks, rural broadband connectivity remains a vexing problem. While the numbers show improvement from prior years, the most recent broadband report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that 39 percent of the rural population (23.4 million Americans), compared to just 4 percent of the urban population, lacked access to what the FCC regards as basic fixed broadband service-25 megabits per second (Mbps) up/3 Mbps down.
Addressing Mental Health Needs: Perspectives of African Americans living in the rural south
PsychiatryOnline.org
Rural African Americans are disproportionately affected by social stressors that place them at risk of developing psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to understand mental health, mental health treatment, and barriers to treatment from the perspective of rural African-American residents and other stakeholders in order to devise culturally acceptable treatment approaches.
Investing in water: Comparing utility finances and economic concerns across U.S. cities
Water utilities are under enormous pressure to balance a host of physical and financial responsibilities, especially when it comes to providing affordable, clean, and reliable service. From drinking water to wastewater to stormwater, utilities are trying to better quantify their infrastructure needs, develop more targeted plans, and explore a broad set of financing tools to pay for it all. Increasingly, utilities are also learning more from each other and collaborating with a variety of public and private partners to adopt a more flexible, forward-looking approach in future projects.
Aging in rural communities: Older persons' narratives of relocating in place to maintain rural identity
Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy
Literature often looks at older persons' rural-to-urban moves, but relocation within the same region is less explored. The purpose of this study is to understand the perspectives of older persons who move to age in town in the same rural setting. Using data from 16 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with older persons in a rural community and directed content analysis, this study examines these older persons' assessments of their current living situation, still seen as living rurally but now in a more populous location.
RURAL PERSPECTIVES
"Rural Perspectives" is a new feature of our monthly newsletter where we share opinions and perspectives on the big issues facing rural communities. We hope the viewpoints contained in the articles below are starting points for the difficult conversations we must have as a state about the critical issues facing our rural places. Take the time to read, share with a colleague or neighbor, and start the conversation.
Dear Mr. President: Keep rural America a priority
Center for Rural Affairs
To help ensure a focused and coordinated effort to address the needs of rural areas, we suggest a designated senior member of the White House staff and/or an Office of Rural Policy within the Executive Office of the President to focus specifically on rural issues. Such an individual or office could become an added voice to ensure that the interests of rural Americans are addressed across the highest levels of your Administration.
Where school choice isn't an option, rural public schools worry they'll be left behind
Washington Post
Washington has long designed education policy to deal with urban and suburban challenges, often overlooking the unique problems that face rural schools like this one. With a new administration in the White House that prefers "school-choice" approaches - favoring charter schools and private-school vouchers so parents can opt out of public schools and bring taxpayer dollars with them - the nation's rural schools are left to wonder about their fate.
Toxic childhoods
Politico
While we know that racial discrimination contributes to the adversity experienced by some communities, national data reveal that adverse childhood experiences are far from a black and brown problem. Some of the U.S. states with the highest ACE scores are disproportionately white and rural - for instance, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Montana all rank near the top for the proportion of the population of children with two or more ACEs.
Where is 'rural America,' and what does it look like?
The Conversation
Rural people and issues generally receive little attention from the urban-centric media and policy elites. Yet, rural America makes unique contributions to the nation's character and culture as well as provides most of its food, raw materials, drinking water and clean air. The recent presidential election also reminds us that, though rural America may be ignored, it continues to influence the nation's future.
A thriving rural town's winning formula faces new threats under Trump administration
But as some small towns struggle to remain viable, others, like Garden City, Kan., are booming.
But, other than being surrounded by cows and cornfields, the town doesn't square with most people's stereotypes of rural Kansas.
Three, 4 and 5-year-olds flock to their parents' arms at a pre-K school in Garden City.
Principal Josh Guymon says enrollment is up sharply since the start of the school year, and these parents have come from all over the world.
"We have a significant Burmese population," Guymon says. "We have a Vietnamese population. We're seeing a lot of students come in from the northern African countries - Somalia, Ethiopia - and of course, the majority of them from Mexico or other countries in Central America."
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