Blueprint for Bertie A Community Economic Development Plan

Center for North Carolina Strategic Economic Growthwww.NCGrowth.unc.edu

WHO WE ARETHE KENAN INSTITUTE OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE at the University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill, finds ways to connect people and organizations, create opportunities and resources, and accelerate the achievements of its partners in and around the community. The Institute has built bridges with other educational institutions and members in the community in the ways of research, economic development, and concierge services.

The Center for NC Strategic Economic Growth (aka “NC Growth”) at the Kenan Institute identifies and leverages resources that promotes sustainable economic growth and revitalizes economically distressed communities in NC. NC Growth also conducts economic development research and supports small businesses through our Entrepreneur Technical Assistance Program (ETAP).

The Bertie County Commissioners and the Economic Development

Office asked NC Growth to develop an Economic

Development Plan for the County.

Broad community engagement was central

to the creation of this “Community” Economic

Development Plan.

….…

PROCESS -

Presentation to MidEast

Commission

Presentation to Bertie County

Commissioners

Contract Established

Preliminary Assessment of Bertie County

Presentation to Windsor-Bertie

Chamber of Commerce

Presentation to Mayor-Commissioners

Meeting

County-wide Community Meetings *

Meetings with Industry, Community, and Political Leaders

February 2013

April 2013

June 2013

September 2013

Overview

Ongoing Data Analysis*

Plan Outline Completed Stakeholders’

Meeting *

Continued conversations with

Community Leaders

Presentation to Bertie-Hertford Community

Foundation

Draft Plan Completed

Co-hosted Faith-Workforce Summit *

Presentation to Mayor-Commissioners Meeting

May 2014March2014October 2013

February 2014

PROCESS -

Overview (cont.)

June2014Final drafting and editing of

plan

July2014

PROCESSPlan Sustainability Strategy

We engage different people and perspectives in

order to gather their thoughts, ideas, and

opinions. We hope to create sustainability and longevity by identifying and connecting existing

ideas, talent, and resources.

• Four Community Meetings/Events – Windsor – Aulander– Colerain– Windsor (Ages 14-25)

GOAL: To begin a dialog with community members about their vision for themselves, their families, and the county. Information gathered helped set the vision for the plan.

PROCESSCOMMUNITY MEETINGS

POPULATION LABOR FORCE EMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED

2010 21,282 8,912 7,820 1,092

2012 20,653 8,498 7,470 1,028

Under 15

15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 over 650

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

men women

Age

Num

ber o

f Res

iden

ts

White Black

American Indiana and Alaska Native Asian

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander Other

Two or more race

PROCESSDATA ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS:Quiet Lifestyle

Cheap LandRail Freight

Natural ResourcesIntracoastal Waterway

Rich History Available Workforce

OPPORTUNITIES:Creation of Disaster Resistant Jobs

TourismTimber & Agriculture

Open Areas for Development

WEAKNESSES:Frequent Natural DisastersPoor Access to Highways

Lower Educational Achievement NumbersWeak Tax Base

Need to Train and Retrain WorkforceCrumbling Infrastructure THREATS:

Declining and Aging PopulationCrumbling Infrastructure

Neighboring Counties Development

PROCESSDATA ANALYSIS

PROCESSSTAKEHOLDER MEETING

Representatives included: CADA

Community Colleges Cooperative Extension

Local Non-Profits Governmental Entities

Church Affiliates Region Q

EDC Board Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation

Education Representatives

Engaged community leaders and others to leverage existing resources

& build partnerships

GOAL: Identify programs that could be facilitated at their churches. CADA,

MidEast Commission, and community colleges were represented.

PROCESSFAITH-WORKFORCE SUMMIT

Local pastors were convened to discuss three main topics:

INCREASING1. Access to Job Skills2. Employment Opportunities3. Financial Empowerment

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED

Bertie County Economic Development Commission

Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation (FDIC)

Conservation Fund, Resourceful Communities Program

Self Help Credit Union

NC Commerce

North Carolina’s Eastern Region

North Carolina Institute for Public Health

Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

Region Q Workforce Development Board

Manpower Development Cooperation (MDC)

Faculty, Department of City and Regional Planning, UNC

Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust

Choanoke Area Development Authority (CADA

The Hive House

Bertie County PeanutsNC Cooperative Extension Office, Bertie County

Martin Community College

Bertie County Smart Start

Windsor-Bertie Chamber of Commerce

AVOCA

Roanoke Chowan Community College

Current and Former Mayors and Town Council Members,

Bertie County

Current and Form Bertie County Commissioners

Place of Possibilities

Reach Out and Read

Office of Congressman Butterfield

Office of Senator Kay Hagan

Office of Senator Richard Burr

NC Back to Work Program

Heritage Collegiate Leadership Academy

Oxley Hill Baptist Church

North Carolina Partnership for Children

Bertie NC Works Center, CADA

Small Business Entrepreneurs

Bertie Public Schools

Martin Community College

Duke Endowment

North Carolina Medical Society Foundation

Golden LEAF Foundation

United Way of Wayne County

UNC Institute for the Environment

NC Industrial Extension

Fundraising Consultant

Bertie –Hertford Community Foundation

South by North Strategies

NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development

School of Government, UNC

North Carolina Community Foundation

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED

PLAN - FOCUS AREAS

1. Workforce Development

2. Business Attraction and Industry Participation

3. Coordination and Marketing

4. Community Capacity Building

• A lack of job readiness among county residents and low accessibility of employment and training because of distance and transportation costs

• Persistent gap between retail demand and retail options within the county, lack of land availability, and the difficulty in engaging industry in employment training

• Poor county wide coordination and inadequate marketing of county resources

• Lack of financial services• Low capacity of existing community

organizations

PLANKEY FINDINGS

PLAN• Create community economic

development task force• Make training and education

opportunities more accessible

• Career Readiness Certificate testing for all high schoolers

• Move toward a WorkReady Community Model

• Invest in improving marketing and branding of county

PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS