The N.C. Department of Commerce is currently meeting with board members and staff from the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) to develop a seamless transition plan for the existing Rural Center programs and grants. OSBM has authorized payments for 17 grants submitted for funding by the N.C. Rural Economic Center. The grants total nearly $1.6 million.
“There is a high spirit of cooperation as we work with the N.C. Rural Center and OSBM to review existing grants,” said Sec. Decker. “We’re committed to an effective smooth transition so that grants can continue to be funded.”
Laura Kendall has been retained on an interim basis to manage the transition process with the N.C. Department of Commerce and the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center. Kendall will serve as a consultant and liaison to facilitate the process of grants and programmatic review. She is being retained for 60 days. Kendall is the former President of Tanner Companies. She has also worked as the Chief Financial Officer for Delhaize America and Food Lion.
“We’re looking forward to our continued relationship with N.C. Department of Commerce and honoring our commitment to rural North Carolina,” said N.C. Rural Center board member Brian Crutchfield. “We’ve already made great progress in our meetings with Laura Kendall, and I’m confident we’ll continue to move in a positive direction.”
The N.C. Department of Commerce is taking steps to establish the new Rural Economic Development Division and Rural Infrastructure Authority as outlined in the state budget. The programs will support rural communities by making targeted investments that create jobs and improve key infrastructure. The Department will begin taking applications for new rural grants on October 1.
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