FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 18, 2003
Clusters Work Group Hears from Region's Rural Leaders
Research Triangle Region, N.C. - Shoring up competitiveness is challenging enough for Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. But what should the Research Triangle Region's rural communities, many of which have lagged for generations, do to ready themselves for a place in the 21st-century economy?
That was the question put to about 75 public and private officials from the region's 10 predominantly rural counties. The group's input was sought during a planning session hosted by the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) June 18. The gathering was part of the Future Cluster Competitiveness Task Force that RTRP is facilitating to develop a vision and action plan for the region's future prosperity. The task force's Rural Development Work Group organized the half-day meeting on rural competitiveness. The panel is one of seven the task force has charged with formulating long-term strategy for the region.
In addition to job losses suffered during the recent recession, many of the region's rural counties are dogged by inadequate infrastructure, low levels of educational attainment, fragmented workforce services and a weak environment for entrepreneurship. "These are highly complex issues," says Leslie Stewart, associate director of The University of North Carolina's Office of Economic Development at the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, who facilitated much of the discussion. "But there is more momentum behind finding solutions than I've seen in quite some time."
Participants offered feedback on numerous action steps the work group has honed in recent months through its surveys of rural business and education officials, input that will be crucial as the task force sets short- and long-term priorities. Helping rural agencies access economic and community development grant funds, "regionalizing" K-14 education and vocational curricula, and showcasing rural entrepreneurial success stories were among the suggestions the work group heard.
Much of the discussion centered on the need for better transportation services in rural communities. One idea: extending public transit to the region's community colleges. Too often, rural transportation policy has simply meant highway upgrades designed to ease commuting by rural residents working in the cities, several participants pointed out. "Bringing better jobs to rural communities is the best solution for our region's crowded highways," said Ronnie Goswick, economic development director for Franklin County.
"Nobody came with easy answers," said Jim Brown, an executive with RBC Centura who co-chairs the Rural Development work group. "But if there were any easy answers, we would have solved these problems long ago."
RTRP is a public/private partnership that promotes economic development for the 13-county region of North Carolina comprising Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.
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