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.

Fiscal Year 2025

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 Commission
High Country Council of Governments
Land-of-Sky Regional Council
Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Southwestern Commission
Western 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