NC Commerce Rural Planning Program

Over the past few years, we've been fortunate to partner with Uplift NC on initiatives that helped strengthen tourism, outdoor recreation, and economic development across rural North Carolina, including our CORE (Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies) program.

As the program comes to a close, this video highlights the partnerships, projects, and communities that made UPLIFT such a meaningful investment in rural places. We're grateful to have been part of this work and look forward to building on the momentum it created.

Watch the impact here:

UPLIFT NC 2022-2025 A recap of a three year program supporting community driven tourism...

Rural Economic Development Division Assistant Secretary Reginald Speight, together with Main Street & Rural Planning Center representatives Liz Parham, Grace Lawrence, and Bruce Naegelen, met with delegates from Canada, Israel, Liberia, Slovakia, and Uzbekistan participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The discussion highlighted North Carolina’s commitment to rural economic development, workforce policy, and strategies to strengthen investment in rural communities. Delegates will take the insights and strategies learned in North Carolina back to their home countries to support their own rural development efforts.

Happy Independence Day from the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Rural Planning Program! We hope you have a fun and safe holiday celebrating our nation's 250th Anniversary!

The Rural Planning Program recently facilitated a Community Visioning Session in the Town of Franklin. Input collected during the meeting will inform Franklin’s Strategic Downtown Economic Development Plan.

Thank you to the business owners, residents, and community partners who shared their time, ideas, and perspectives.

The Appalachian Regional Commission's READY Local Governments program is now accepting applications. This nine-week training program helps local government staff build the skills needed to identify, apply for, manage, and implement federally funded projects.

Local governments in the North Carolina's 31 Appalachian counties are eligible to apply.

📅 Application deadline: July 31, 2026
💻 Pre-application webinar: July 9, 2026, at 10:00AM

Local governments that successfully complete the program are eligible to apply for up to $50,000 to support internal capacity-building projects.

Learn more and apply:

READY Local Governments - Appalachian Regional Commission READY Local Governments provides training to help local government officials better identify, secure, manage and implement federally funded economic development projects to maximize positive outcomes. Following successful completion of the training program, participating organizations are eligible t...

Northwestern Prosperity Zone Planner Phil Boggan recently facilitated a planning charrette that convened leaders from the Town of Lansing, Ashe County, and nonprofit partners.

The session informed Love Lansing: A Revitalization and Resilience Partnership Report, which highlights current projects, strengthens organizational alignment, and identifies opportunities for collaboration.

Lansing demonstrates how communities can leverage strong partnerships and shared assets to move from disaster recovery toward long-term growth.

Thank you to Lansing NC, Official Site Ashe County NC, GLAD Greater Lansing Area Development, Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts, Lansing Alliance, Bridges to Recovery, and other partners committed to for economic recovery in Lansing and Ashe County.

Interested in strategic planning services? Learn more here: https://www.commerce.nc.gov/.../nc-rural-planning-program

The Town of Hertford has found a creative way to activate its natural assets through self-service kayak rentals at the Hertford Bay Marina. This amenity offers a grab-and-go opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the Perquimans River and experience the community from the water.

For communities looking to leverage their outdoor assets, Hertford's model demonstrates how accessible recreation amenities can drive economic activity.