2009-2012 Appalachian Development Plan
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2009-2012 Appalachian Development Plan i | P a g e State of North Carolina Appalachian Regional Commission ii | P a g e STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 20301 MAIL SERVICE CENTER • RALEIGH, NC 27699-0301 BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE GOVERNOR Mr. Thomas M. Hunter Executive Director Appalachian Regional Commission 1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20009-1068 I am pleased to submit our new Appalachian Development Plan for 2009-2012. This document identifies our priorities for investing Appalachian funds to enhance the economic development potential of North Carolina's portion of the region. The information in this submission is consistent with the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, as amended, and Section 5 of the ARC Code. We look forward to working with the Commission to help the people in our ARC counties build a better future. Please contact Jim McCleskey, my ARC alternate, or Olivia Collier, my Appalachian program manager, if there are any questions about this material. Sincerely, Q~. Q..q. B~ -c...... cc: Jim McCleskey Olivia Collier Marion Sullivan LOCATION: 116 WEST JONES STREET • RALEIGH, NC • TELEPHONE: (919) 733-5811 WWW.GOVERNOR.STATE.NC.US Acknowledgments This Appalachian Development Plan was prepared by the North Carolina Appalachian Regional Commission Program Office with the cooperation and support of the six Local Development Districts, North Carolina Department of Commerce and staff in Governor Beverly Perdue’s office. These individuals each contributed significantly to the preparation of this report and their assistance is gratefully acknowledged: Bill Gibson Meihui Bodane Executive Director Policy Office Southwestern Regional Planning Commission North Carolina Department of Commerce Joe McKinney Caroline Howe Executive Director Policy Office Land of Sky Regional Council Governor’s Office Jim Edwards Al Delia Executive Director Policy Director Isothermal Planning Commission Governor’s Office Rick Herndon Marion Sullivan Executive Director Director of Intergovernmental Relations High Country Council of Governments Governor’s Office DeWitt Blackwell Betty Huskins Executive Director Regional Associate Western Piedmont Council of Government NC Association of Council of Governments Matt Dolge Jim McCleskey Executive Director Director, Washington Office Northwest Piedmont Council of Government Governor’s Office The Appalachian Development Plan was prepared by the staff of the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Development under the direction of Joseph Crocker, Assistant Secretary for Community Development. Staff direction for this project was provided by Olivia Collier, ARC Program Manager. Kristy Carter, ARC Community Planner and Brande Roberts, CDBG & ARC Program Specialist, participated extensively in the preparation of this document. i | P a g e Table of Contents Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Governor Perdue’s Goals and Priorities for ARC Funding ............................................................................. 2 Economic Development Priorities ................................................................................................................ 2 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 4 The Appalachian Regional Commission Program ......................................................................................... 4 North Carolina Appalachian Region Profile .................................................................................................. 7 Demographics and Population ...................................................................................................................... 8 Income and Poverty .................................................................................................................................... 10 Employment, Labor, and Wages ................................................................................................................. 11 Education .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Entrepreneurship Activity and Resources ................................................................................................... 19 Tourism ....................................................................................................................................................... 21 County Profiles ............................................................................................................................................ 24 At-Risk Counties .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Distressed Areas .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Economically Strong Counties ..................................................................................................................... 26 Attainment Counties ................................................................................................................................... 26 Competitive Counties .................................................................................................................................. 26 Regional Initiatives ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Rationale ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 ARC Goals and Objectives and NC Strategies ............................................................................................. 29 ii | P a g e ARC Goal #1: Increase Job Opportunities and Per Capita Income in Appalachia to Reach Parity with the Nation.......................................................................................................................................................... 29 Strategic Objective 1.1: Foster Civic Entrepreneurship ...................................................................... 29 Strategic Objective 1.2: Diversify the Economic Base......................................................................... 29 Strategic Objective 1.3: Enhance Entrepreneurial Activity in the Region........................................... 29 Strategic Objective 1.4: Develop and Market Strategic Assets for Local Economies NC Strategies: .. 30 Strategic Objective 1.5: Increase the Domestic and Global Competitiveness of the Existing Economic Base NC Strategies: ............................................................................................................................. 30 Strategic Objective 1.6: Foster the Development and Use of Innovative Technologies NC Strategies: ............................................................................................................................................................ 30 Strategic Objective 1.7: Capitalize on the Economic Potential of the Appalachian Development Highway System NC Strategies: .......................................................................................................... 30 ARC Goal #2: Strengthen the Capacity of the People of Appalachia to Compete in the Global Economy 31 Strategic Objective 2.1: Foster Civic Entrepreneurship NC Strategies: .............................................. 31 Strategic Objective 2.2: Enhance Workforce Skills through Training NC Strategies: .......................... 31 Strategic Objective 2.3: Increase Access to Quality Child Care and Early Childhood ......................... 32 Strategic Objective 2.4: Increase Educational Attainment and Achievement NC Strategies: ............ 32 Strategic Objective 2.5: Provide Access to Health-Care Professionals NC Strategies: ....................... 32 Strategic Objective 2.6: Promote Health through Wellness and Prevention NC Strategies:.............. 33 ARC Goal 3: Develop and Improve Appalachia’s Infrastructure to Make the Region Economically Competitive ................................................................................................................................................. 33 Strategic Objective 3.1: Foster Civic Entrepreneurship NC Strategies: .............................................. 33 Strategic Objective 3.2: Build and Enhance Basic Infrastructure NC Strategies: ................................ 33 Strategic Objective 3.3: Increase the Accessibility and Use of Telecommunications Technology ..... 34 Strategic Objective 3.4: Build and Enhance Environmental Assets .................................................... 34 Strategic Objective 3.5: Promote the Development of an Intermodal Transportation Network ....... 34 ARC Goal 4: Build the Appalachian Development Highway System to Reduce Appalachia’s Isolation ...... 35 iii | P a g e Strategic Objective 4.1: Foster Civic Entrepreneurship ...................................................................... 35 Strategic Objective 4.2: Promote