Economic development in rural communities rarely happens because of the work of one organization. Long before a company announces plans to locate or expand, local, regional, state, and federal partners are working together to strengthen communities, prepare infrastructure, develop sites, support businesses, and position rural areas to compete for new investment.
The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations explores how local, regional, state, and federal partners work together to prepare rural communities for economic growth—from developing infrastructure and strengthening local assets to taking a regional approach to workforce, sites, and other resources that can help communities compete when new opportunities arise.
In this episode:
- Robert Hosford, USDA Director of State Operations for Rural Development and State Director for North Carolina, discusses how investments in infrastructure, water and wastewater, broadband, housing, community facilities, and businesses help create the foundation rural communities need for economic growth. He also shares how USDA Rural Development works alongside state and local partners to help communities prepare for future opportunities and support existing businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Reginald Speight, Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the N.C. Department of Commerce, explains how Commerce works with rural communities to build local capacity, identify assets, and prepare for economic development opportunities. He also discusses how state, local, federal, and philanthropic partners coordinate resources when a project emerges and how a new industry can generate additional investment, housing, workforce development, and business growth throughout a community and region.
- Scott Millar, President of the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, shares the local perspective on what companies consider when choosing where to locate or expand, from available sites and infrastructure to workforce and supporting industries. He also discusses why regional collaboration is critical to economic development and how communities can build on existing industry clusters and assets to create long-term opportunities.
Listeners will learn why successful rural economic development begins well before a company considers a community and continues long after an announcement. By building relationships, preparing infrastructure and sites, developing the workforce, and leveraging resources across organizations and county lines, rural communities can better position themselves to compete for investment and turn individual projects into broader economic opportunities.
Listen now to this episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.