Patrick Woodie

The Rural Center's Building Reuse and Restoration Program helps rural communities maximize the economic potential of existing structures. Between the time the program launched in 2004 and October of 2012, it has assisted 310 building projects through $52 million in grants. These projects have leveraged $732 million in additional investments, put 390 businesses into project buildings and created more than 8,000 jobs.

The North Carolina New Generation Initiative opens exciting new opportunities for rural young people and the communities they live in. Opportunities for young people to become engaged as community leaders … to start businesses … to train for skilled jobs in high-demand fields. Opportunities for communities to learn how to more fully involve youth and young adults in economic and civic life.

The initiative works primarily through traditional lenders such as banks and credit unions. By reducing the risks involved, it allows lenders to approve some business loans they otherwise could not. The initiative also invests in venture capital and angel funds, which in turn make equity investments in North Carolina businesses. The initiative is made possible by $46.1 million in federal funding under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. With three component programs, the initiative is… Show more

The initiative works primarily through traditional lenders such as banks and credit unions. By reducing the risks involved, it allows lenders to approve some business loans they otherwise could not. The initiative also invests in venture capital and angel funds, which in turn make equity investments in North Carolina businesses. The initiative is made possible by $46.1 million in federal funding under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. With three component programs, the initiative is expected to enable more than $600 million in business loans and equity investments by 2016. Show less

Six North Carolina partners joined forces to announce more than $20 million in available funding across multiple years to support the Rural Hope Initiative. Rural Hope is designed to spur economic activity and job creation in the health care sector while improving the availability and quality of health care services in rural communities. Under the Initiative, grants and loans assist in the construction and renovation of new or existing health care facilities and the purchase of new equipment… Show more

Six North Carolina partners joined forces to announce more than $20 million in available funding across multiple years to support the Rural Hope Initiative. Rural Hope is designed to spur economic activity and job creation in the health care sector while improving the availability and quality of health care services in rural communities. Under the Initiative, grants and loans assist in the construction and renovation of new or existing health care facilities and the purchase of new equipment for existing or new health care facilities. Project collaborators include the N. C. Rural Center, Golden LEAF Foundation, USDA Rural Development, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and the N. C. Office of Rural Health and Community Care. Show less

Project GATE, or Growing America Through Entrepreneurship, helps laid-off workers explore options for starting their own businesses. It provides access to free, one-on-one business counseling and scholarships for business management and vocational training. Project GATE was part of a federally funded demonstration that involved several statewide partners.