Press Releases

A new certification program from the North Carolina Department of Commerce aimed at strengthening small businesses through destination development strategies has named its first cohort to carry the designation Certified North Carolina Destination Business. The statewide initiative, launched through Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center in its Rural Economic Development Division, offers small businesses the tools and resources to be stronger, more resilient businesses that are better able to weather economic uncertainty.

Visitor spending increased for 71 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in 2024, contributing to a statewide record total of $36.7 billion in visitor spending, according to county-level data released today by the N.C. Department of Commerce. The preliminary findings from an annual study commissioned by Visit NC, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina reflect the economic impact of tourism on local economies across the state.

Renew NC, North Carolina’s long-term disaster recovery effort, today finished making storm-related repairs to the first home approved for assistance through the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP). Renew NC is funded by a federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 75 counties in July 2025, increased in 11, and remained unchanged in 14. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.8 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and one remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.3 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.8 percent.

Governor Josh Stein today announced that the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved four grant requests to local governments totaling $1,872,019. The requests include commitments creating a total of 170 jobs. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $74.5 million in private investment.

The state’s seasonally adjusted July 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from June’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 664 over the month to 5,090,536 and decreased 3,550 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,844 over the month to 195,068 and increased 2,157 over the year.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is inviting residents across the state to help shape North Carolina’s economic future by participating in a series of public listening sessions starting Aug. 27. These sessions will give North Carolinians a direct opportunity to share ideas, concerns, and priorities that will inform the state’s next Comprehensive Strategic Economic Development Plan.

This week Renew NC surpassed 1,000 applications received, reaching a significant milestone for the state’s Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP). This program, administered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR), provides assistance to repair or rebuild homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene. Renew NC anticipates construction beginning on the first home within the next month.

Today Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina has received a $4 million federal grant to help incarcerated people gain job skills as they prepare to reenter society.

Today, Governor Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein, along with members of the Governor’s Cabinet and other agency leaders, learned about life after incarceration when they participated in a reentry simulation organized by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC). The simulation replicated the challenges people face as they transition back into society.