RALEIGH, N.C. — Governor Cooper says 30 local governments in rural areas across North Carolina have been awarded grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund.
The fund is a new source of support for rural economic development projects in the state funded by the federal American Rescue Plan.
Officials say a total of $20.1 million will be issued in the first round from the Fund, which helps local governments overcome challenges that limit their economic competitiveness.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce and its Rural Economic Development Division will administer the rest of the $48 million grant fund.
βNorth Carolinaβs rural communities are our heart and soul, and we are committed to helping them grow and become more competitive,β said Governor Roy Cooper. βTodayβs awards will provide both the funds and the expertise to help transform and expand North Carolinaβs rural economies, create good jobs, and strong communities.β
The new grant fund will address a variety of needs including revitalizing downtown districts, building the capacity of local government staffs, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering small business recovery, and generally supporting economic growth initiatives.
Officials say the Rural Transformation Grant Fund awarded grants in three categories:
- The Downtown Revitalization category supports downtown development initiatives that help grow and leverage a communityβs commercial core into an asset for economic growth and prosperity.
- The Resilient Neighborhoods category offers grants focused on community development and quality of life improvements, such as eliminating food deserts, creating healthy living initiatives, and increasing access to affordable housing options, among other initiatives.
- The Community Enhancements for Economic Growth category provides grants to local governments to smooth the way for economic development opportunities, such as the acquisition of land and buildings, the preparation of business sites, and the removal of structural and physical barriers that may be limiting development.
On May 24th, officials say a fourth category of the program known as Rural Community Capacity Building announced an initial cohort of 19 communities across the state that would participate in an educational initiative to bolster the professional development and planning capacity of local government staffs.
βEconomic development success requires extensive preparation and planning,β said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders.Β βIβm excited to see how this first round of grants will help many rural communities in North Carolina reach the next level of prosperity.β
Officials say local governments awarded project grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fun include:
Downtown Revitalization Category:
- City of Newton $900,000
- City of Sanford $900,000
- Town of Old Fort $900,000
- City of Lumberton $900,000
- Town of Spencer $900,000
- Town of Tarboro $875,000
- City of Greenville $875,000
- Town of Valdese $850,000
- County of Stokes $850,000
- City of Rockingham $750,000
- Alexander County $650,000
- Town of Weldon $369,778
- City of Roxboro $175,000
- Town of Mount Olive $175,000
- Town of Stantonsburg $50,000
- Resilient Neighborhoods Category
- Randolph County $900,000
- Town of Jonesville $900,000
- Town of Pembroke $850,000
- Town of Wallace $825,000
Community Enhancements Category:
- City of Hickory $900,000
- City of Salisbury $875,000
- City of Raeford $846,000
- Town of Windsor $839,450
- Town of Butner $825,000
- Town of Mars Hill $750,000
- Town of Garysburg $355,680
- Town of Elizabethtown $332,500
- Town of Pilot Mountain $330,000
- Warren County $300,000
- City of Saluda $170,000
βTodayβs awards allow us to share more widely the best practices we know work well for rural economic development programs,β said Kenny Flowers, the Commerce Departmentβs Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development. βI look forward to working with these communities and others to come later, as we work to transform the economy in rural North Carolina.β
Officials say the application window for the second round of funding will open in early September of 2022.
More information about the Rural Transformation Grant Fund is available here.
