Everyone knows that economic hard times bring on a tremendous amount of anxiety and that unemployment in particular has extremely stressful connotations. Yet - are there specific, quantifiable health issues associated with joblessness? Will the current increase in unemployment have consequences for the medical and judicial infrastructure in our region? Will the current increase in unemployment lead to an increase in the rate of mortality. While proving decisively connections between unemployment and increased mortality is still controversial, there are several studies that do make these links, one of the most prominent being: “Influence of the Social Environment on Psychology: The Historical Perspective,” written by Dr. Harvey Brenner. In this report, the author not only finds a link between unemployment and early death, he also provides a formula to predict roughly how many extra deaths will be caused by a fixed percentage increase in the number of unemployed.

In 2005, Georgia representative Charlie Norwood proposed that an interstate highway to be known as I-3 be built connecting Knoxville to Savannah. When the new interstate was proposed, the main purpose given for it was to relieve traffic congestion within and around Atlanta. While the initiative has received wide support from lawmakers throughout Georgia, except for some in the northern part of the state, the potential interstate has not been well-received in the counties of western North Carolina, through which the proposed interstate would probably run. If I-3 is built, one of the most likely routes would take it right through Robbinsville in Graham County.

As policy makers begin to view their local economy as a component of a larger regional economic entity, they recognize the obsolescence of “buffalo hunting” as a method of business development. Historically, communities lured large corporations into town by providing tax incentives, often at the expense of another town and resulting in zero net jobs created. Today’s global business environment forces economic developers to think of non-traditional ways to grow their local economy. Many communities are turning their focus away from attracting conventional industries and toward creating a strong support structure to encourage entrepreneurial job growth.

Involved citizens dedicated to improving the quality of life in their community often seek to promote economic development. The specialized procedures and vocabulary used in the economic development process can create a barrier to entry and establish inefficiencies that can delay the creation of a community economic development plan. Diplomatically cultivated strategies ensure community consensus while efficiently utilizing time and resources.