Topics Related to Community

Governor Roy Cooper today announced that 19 rural local governments across North Carolina will receive funding to support key economic development projects. A total of $855,000 will be awarded to the fourth cohort of the Rural Community Capacity Building (RC2) Program, which is part of the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Transformation Grant Fund.
Republished press release from the Appalachian Regional Commission.Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded $3.5 million to Mountain BizWorks to bolster its new fund supporting Hurricane Helene recovery efforts throughout 28 counties in North Carolina. The fund, WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund, is providing rapid, flexible loans of up to $100,000 to small businesses suffering unprecedented economic losses related to Hurricane Helene.
The Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 22 grant requests to local governments totaling $8,401,717, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 557 jobs, 413 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $83.7 million in public and private investment.
To aid businesses as they continue the recovery process following Hurricane Helene, the Division of Employment Security (DES) has extended the deadline for businesses in the 27 counties and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina area to meet their third quarter wage filing requirements.The new deadline for these disaster-impacted businesses to complete their third quarter wage filing requirements is December 31, 2024.
The Division of Employment Security (DES) has announced that Mecklenburg and Swain counties have been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) because of the devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene, joining 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina that were previously announced. Additional counties may be added to the DUA availability designation at a later date.
Following a federal disaster declaration resulting from the devasting impacts from Hurricane Helene, the Division of Employment Security (DES) has announced that 25 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina have been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). 
The Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved eight grant requests to local governments totaling $1,650,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 297 jobs, 56 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $234 million in public and private investment.
The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 20 grant requests to local governments totaling $8,680,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 802 jobs, 408 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $474 million in public and private investment.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street and Rural Planning Center (the Center) is offering training to downtown small business owners and managers who have businesses in any of the 72 designated N.C. Main Street communities. The Center will host regional workshops, entitled “Making Your Community & Business a Destination.” One workshop will be held in each of the eight prosperity zones in the state. The first two workshops will be held in the Western region in Hendersonville on June 24, and the Northwestern region in Morganton on June 25.
Fifty-one North Carolina communities have received Main Street America™ Accreditation status for 2024, the N.C. Department of Commerce announced today. The National Main Street America Center and its state coordinating partner, the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.