Press Releases

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 11 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,127,500, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 460 jobs, 307 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $69 million in private investment.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce is investing $260,000 in Downtown Strong, a program to build local government capacity by providing economic development planning and revitalization resources and guidance. The program is a result of feedback gleaned from Governor Cooper’s Hometown Strong initiative. Downtown Strong will operate out of the Department of Commerce’s Main Street and Rural Planning Center.
The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 19 grant requests totaling $7,275,100, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 407 jobs, 167 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $95 million in private investment.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2019 today.  The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development.
The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 21 grant requests totaling $6,935,250, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 616 jobs, 304 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $594 million in private investment. 
Thirteen additional counties are now eligible to participate in the temporary employment program that puts North Carolinians to work on recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Florence, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. This brings the total number of counties declared eligible to 41. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded an $18.5 million Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant to help with Hurricane Florence response in late September. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions requested the grant.
The North Carolina Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NC Neighborhood) has awarded a total of $7.5 million in grants to 10 localities. The program provides federal funds from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) to communities to help address economic and community development needs, primarily for the benefit of low- and moderate- income residents.
The National Main Street Center has designated 47 North Carolina communities as accredited Main Street America™ programs, the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced today. Each year, the National Main Street Center and N.C. Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center partner to announce the list of all accredited Main Street America programs, recognizing exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.
North Carolina Main Street Champions will be recognized for their commitment to downtown improvements and strong communities during an awards breakfast in Clayton March 15 at 9 a.m. Thirty-nine individuals will receive honors for their contributions to Main Street programs and downtown districts in 2017. This year’s group of Main Street Champions brings the total number to 678 individuals recognized by the N.C. Department of Commerce over the past 18 years.
Nineteen communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization at the North Carolina Main Street and Small Town Main Street Awards Ceremony Wednesday, March 14 at 6 p.m. Deputy Secretary for Rural Economic Development and Workforce Napoleon Wallace and Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development Kenny Flowers will present in categories that include economic vitality, design, promotion and organization.