Today, Hometown Strong announced six initial partnerships with counties across North Carolina. Initial partnerships announced today include Burke, Edgecombe, Lenoir, Madison, Pasquotank, and Robeson Counties.
“Small communities like the one I grew up in have a special character and so much to offer. They deserve to have a real voice in Raleigh,” Governor Cooper said. “I want to make sure that state government is listening to local leaders and doing everything it can to strengthen rural North Carolina. That’s what this initiative is all about.”
“Governor Cooper is committed to bridging the urban-rural divide,” said Hometown Strong Director Pryor Gibson. “That means bringing everyone around the table to address the most pressing issues facing rural communities today.”
Hometown Strong partnerships are intended to give rural communities a clear voice in state government, bringing local leaders together with officials from across state government to remove barriers, increase communication and identify long-term opportunities and needs. In coming weeks, an action team comprised of cabinet agency representatives will begin holding roundtable discussions in partner counties, creating new templates for leveraging the resources of state government to benefit rural North Carolina.
“Leaders in rural North Carolina know what their communities need to thrive. But they need help leveraging the resources that state government has to offer and in many cases is already offering but could be doing so more as a team than as distinct efforts,” Gibson said. “That’s what this process is about: convening conversations, increasing communication and creating templates for partnerships that we can expand across our state.”
Hometown Strong plans to announce additional partnerships moving forward. Since February, Hometown Strong staff have met with leaders from more than 20 counties.
A website was also launched to provide information on the initiative, county partnerships, and program updates. Learn more at HometownStrong.nc.gov.