Topics Related to Community

Rural Communities Receive State Grants Attracting 312 New Jobs and More than $554 million in Private Investment

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. 

More Counties Able to Provide Temporary Jobs for Hurricane Florence Recovery

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.

North Carolina Highlights Innovations to Attract Companies, including Amazon, to Be its Next First

Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today an initiative to attract business by highlighting the world-class, inventive, and forward-thinking nature of North Carolinians through the NC Next Firsts campaign. The North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the state’s public-private economic development organization, are implementing the effort. 

North Carolina Communities Receive National Main Street Accreditation For 2017

The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center announced today that 39 North Carolina communities have achieved accreditation from the National Main Street Center® for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center, ® a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Grants for Hurricane Matthew Recovery Projects Awarded to North Carolina Communities

A new series of state grants will help improve drainage, repair sewer systems, and replace waterlines in several communities hit hard by Hurricane Matthew, the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced today.

The grants are part of $10.25 million in funding provided by the state legislature to N.C. Commerce to address rural economic development and small business needs following the storm and its historic floods. These recovery grants are a small part of a larger effort to help hurricane-affected communities recover and rebuild.

Napoleon Wallace Joins Commerce Team To Lead Rural Economic Development

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland has appointed Napoleon Wallace, a finance and community development executive, as the department’s Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development.

Mr. Wallace will spearhead the department’s support for North Carolina’s rural communities, leading a team of specialists that help communities make the necessary preparations and infrastructure investments to attract business and economic growth.

N.C. Main Street Champions Honored

Main Street Champions, individuals who work and advocate for downtown revitalization across the state were recognized for their commitment this morning at an awards ceremony breakfast in Shelby. Thirty-six individuals received honors for their contributions in 2016.

“Downtown districts are important economic engines in our state,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “The men and women we’re recognizing today are the people who keep those engines running, generating prosperity for communities all across North Carolina.”

2016 NC Main Street Award Winners Announced

Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland and Executive Director of Economic Development Susan Fleetwood presented awards last evening to 15 North Carolina Main Street program participants. The N.C. Main Street Awards Ceremony, held at the Don Gibson Theatre, recognized excellence in downtown revitalization in several categories including promotion, organization, design and economic vitality.

Downtown Revitalization Strategies To Be Highlighted at N.C. Main Street Conference

The state’s largest conference focused on bringing new vitality to downtown business districts will open in Shelby tomorrow (March 14). The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center organizes and hosts the annual conference, which this year is expected to draw more than 500 participants.

After Ten Days And Teamwork, The North Carolina House Will Stand At The Fairgrounds

, N.C. –State employees from N.C. Commerce, N.C. Health and Human Services, and N.C. Revenue will team up to build a Habitat for Humanity home at the North Carolina State Fair in just ten days from start to finish. After the whirlwind construction phase, the home will be moved to a neighborhood in east Raleigh.The state government agencies are partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County to build The North Carolina House. The home will showcase North Carolina materials and craftsmanship, along with the 'can-do' spirit of the state employees who are volunteering.