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              Data Overview of the Appalachian Region
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    HomeAppalachian StatesNorth Carolina

        
            
North Carolina
	
	
						
A rainbow over the Fontana Lake greets visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains.
			
	
	
	Our Work In North Carolina





	


  
In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, ARC is supporting 60 projects in North Carolina totaling $18 million in fiscal year 2023. These investments have been matched by over $23.2 million and are attracting an additional $127.3 million in leveraged private investments in North Carolina. They are also creating or retaining 1,300 jobs, training and educating 2,470 students and workers, and benefiting the 1.8 million residents in North Carolina’s 31 Appalachian counties.



State Partners
    
    **Governor:**Honorable Roy Cooper
**Governor’s ARC Representative:**Jim McCleskey, Director
email: jim.mccleskey@nc.gov
North Carolina Washington Office
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Suite 332
Washington, DC 20001
                    **ARC State Program Manager:**Olivia Collier, Director of Regional Development Commissions (ARC & SCRC)
email: ocollier@commerce.nc.gov
301 North Wilmington Street
4346 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4346
919.218.3623

          For more information on grants in North Carolina, contact your state partners directly.
    
          Email Your State Program Manager

Investment Priorities

In **Fiscal Year 2023**, ARC and the North Carolina Department of Commerce partnered on the following investments and projects.




	



Community Infrastructure      
              $7M
      
              invested in North Carolina to ensure access to reliable and affordable broadband, clean water and updated wastewater systems, highways, and more																				  


Workforce Ecosystem      
              $4.8M
      
              invested in North Carolina to expand community systems that will help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance their careers




	



Economic Opportunity Icon Card
      
      

              Building Businesses      
              $2.8M
      
              Invested in entrepreneurship and business development to strengthen the economy in North Carolina																				  


Additional Priorities      
              $3.4M
      
              invested to grow the capacity of local leaders, organizations, and communities and preserve North Carolina’s local history, culture, and natural assets

Investment Snapshot





	


  
Fiscal Year 2023          
                      State Profile
          
                      Learn more about ARC’s fiscal year 2023 investments in North Carolina.
          
                      Download the Fact Sheet






	

Investments in Action        Pathway & Project-based Learning in Automotive & Aerospace Manufacturing
							
															With ARC support, Isothermal Community College designed and deployed a manufacturing curriculum in local high schools. Because of this, many students are pursuing careers in the Region’s growing automotive and aerospace industries.
							
															Read More




	


State Plans and Strategies
        
                  ARC’s current strategic plan is a blueprint for investments at the Regional level. Each of Appalachia’s 13 states develops a companion four-year plan and annual strategy statement outlining its funding priorities for ARC projects.
        
        North Carolina Appalachian Development Plan

    
    
          
  Read Full ReportNorth Carolina Strategy Statement

    
    
          
  Read Full Report





	


  
Fiscal Year 2024          
                      County Economic Status
          
                      Every year, ARC applies an index-based classification system to compare each county in the Region with national averages to understand how counties are performing.
          
                      Download the Map


Counties in Appalachia

**(31 out of 100 counties)**: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey


Local Development Districts

Foothills Regional CommissionHigh Country Council of GovernmentsLand-of-Sky Regional CouncilPiedmont Triad Regional CouncilSouthwestern CommissionWestern Piedmont Council of Governments


	
LDD County and Contact Information



State Links



North Carolina State Government Website



North Carolina State Tourism Website



North Carolina ARC Website Appalachian Regional Commission

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