 NEWS
Rural Health Care Initiative gets under way
The Rural Center is accepting applications for a new, model grants program. The Rural Health Care Initiative is designed to spur economic activity and job creation by assisting in the construction and/or renovation of rural health care facilities. Grants of up to $480,000 will help local governments build or renovate health care facilities in partnership with private or nonprofit health-care agencies. The initiative will accept applications through June 1 for awards to be announced in late August. The program guidelines and application are available online.
Teen entrepreneurs recognized
A student with a vision for opening a dance studio received the top prize in the third annual Hop on the BUS! high school business plan competition. Kristin Huizenga, a sophomore at Apex High School in Wake County, won $1,000 for her plan. Second place went to Mary Kylie Cranford, a freshman at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, who developed a plan for a boat rental business in Beaufort. Brittany Pritchett, a senior at the Durham School of the Arts, won third place for a business plan addressing teen obesity and fitness among young girls. Winners, chosen from 260 entries, were announced Feb. 24 during a ceremony in Raleigh. Hop on the BUS! is cosponsored by the Department of Public Instruction, N.C. REAL, North Carolina 4-H, Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina and the Rural Center’s Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship.
e-NC awards grants for broadband expansion
The e-NC Authority announced grants March 11 that will help extend broadband access in six rural counties. The two incentive grants, totaling nearly $1 million, will go to telephone companies Embarq and Verizon to make more high-speed Internet access available in Caswell, Cherokee, Duplin, Graham, Pamlico and Tyrrell counties. The companies must match the grants at least dollar for dollar. More information on the grants program and other aspects of e-NC’s efforts to expand broadband access may be found on the e-NC website.
Waterfowl park expands
Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center broke ground March 6 for its second phase of development. The five-acre expansion is scheduled for completion this summer. It will include a wheelchair-accessible tree house for viewing the waterfowl and a wetlands restoration project. The Rural Center, the Conservation Fund and other organizations helped fund the expansion. The park is a centerpiece of Scotland Neck’s strategy for building an economy based on natural assets. Scotland Neck is participating in the center’s N.C. Small Towns Economic Prosperity Demonstration Program.
Burke named president of Biofuels Center
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina has named W. Steven Burke as its new president. Currently the senior vice president of corporate affairs for the N.C. Biotechnology Center, Burke has served as the center’s board chairman since July 2007 and has been its acting president since August 2008. He will begin his new duties on April 20. Biotechnology Center president and CEO Norris Tolson will assume the role of chairman of the board of directors of the Biofuels Center. MEETINGS AND EVENTS March 30: Triangle North opens for business
Triangle North, a network of four business parks in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties, will hold an open-for-business conference March 30 at 11 a.m. with a buffet luncheon to follow. The conference will brief business leaders, economic developers and others on the advantages – including state tax credits – of business locations in these parks. Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers include N.C. Rep. Jimmy Crawford; Danny Wright, chairman of the Kerr-Tar Regional Economic Development Corp.; and Bud Cohoon, executive director of Triangle North. To attend, reply to Triangle North by March 25 at (252) 436-6098 or rsvp@trianglenorthnc.org. The Research Triangle Regional Partnership received a Rural Center grant to help implement the Triangle North business and marketing plan. Learn more about the parks at Triangle North’s website.
April 2-4: Executive Networking Conference
The N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development will hold its 2009 Executive Networking Conference April 2-4 in Pinehurst. The conference brings together minority business entrepreneurs and corporate decision-makers for professional development and networking. This year’s theme is “Seizing Business Opportunity through Innovation and Leadership.” The agenda and registration information are available on the NCIMED website.
April 8: Essentials of Economic Development
The UNC School of Government will offer its one-day Essentials of Economic Development course April 8 in Boone. The course is designed to help local, regional and state officials understand the fundamentals of economic development in the current climate. Participants will examine various economic development strategies and consider how governments, along with nonprofits and the private sector, can help create jobs and wealth. For details, visit the School of Government website.
May 31-June 1: Entrepreneurial development training
The International Economic Development Association will conduct a two-day class on entrepreneurial and small business development strategies beginning May 31 in Raleigh. Among other topics, the course will identify the tools economic developers need to create a climate that caters to small businesses. One session will be devoted to rural entrepreneurship. More information is available online. The class will precede a joint conference on “Future Knowledge Ecosystems: The opportunity for science and technology parks, places, and partners.” The conference is sponsored by the International Economic Development Association and the International Association of Science Parks and will take place June 1-4.
Sept. 9-11: Conference for N.C. Nonprofits
The N.C. Center for Nonprofits will host its annual statewide conference Sept. 9-11 in Concord. The theme will be “Hope in Chaotic Times.” Registration will open in the spring. Watch for updates on the organization’s website.
 AT THE CENTER
Rural Venture Fund invests in Farmville company
The Rural Center’s Rural Venture Fund has invested $350,000 in Innovative Cleaning Systems of Farmville. The investment is the ninth since the center launched the fund last year. For more on the company and the Rural Venture Fund, visit the website.$8.7 million in grants awarded to rural communities
The Rural Center announced nearly $8.7 million in grants Feb. 25. The grants will help communities in at least 30 counties address water and sewer needs, create jobs and spur small-town revitalization. For more details, read the press release.
Small Towns, Big Ideas available for order
Small Towns, Big Ideas, the latest product of the center’s Small Towns Initiative, documents the economic success stories of 45 small towns. It tells how they planned and implemented economic development strategies, describes the challenges they’ve had to overcome and explains why their strategies are working. The book may be ordered from the Rural Center or downloaded from center’s website. Individual print copies are $25, postage included. Multiple copies may be ordered for $15 each, plus postage and handling. To order, contact the Rural Center communications office by phone at 919-250-4314 or by email. In addition, the School of Government is hosting an interactive, click here for the online version.
 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Building Reuse accepting applications
The Rural Center's Building Reuse and Restoration Program is accepting applications for its next round of grants. Applications are due May 4 for awards to be announced June 24. The program offers pre-development (planning) and development grants to help restore vacant buildings to job-generating uses. Complete details are available from the program's webpage. For additional information, contact Melody Adams at 919-250-4314.
Health Fellows Program
The N.C. Foundation for Advanced Health Programs is offering fellowships for health care professionals working in rural areas. Fellowships of up to $3,000 over two years may be used for education and training courses, travel, mentoring activities and other approved projects. The Jim Bernstein Community Health Leadership Fellows Program is intended to develop future leaders to work in and improve the health of rural and other underserved communities in North Carolina. The deadline for applications is April 17. For more information or to obtain an application, contact Judy Howell at 919-821-0485, extension 228.
ARC offers energy-related grants
The Appalachian Regional Commission is accepting grant applications for two types of programs. It expects to award six to 10 grants of up to $45,000 each to implement high energy-efficiency and renewable-energy programs in K-12 schools in the ARC region. Another seven to 10 awards of up to $40,000 will help provide energy-efficiency and renewable-energy training and certification programs for adults in the region. The application deadline for both programs is May 29. Details are available from the commission.
|
|
|
