Federal & State

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is an agency of the government of North Carolina that was founded in 1971 for the purpose of improving the economy statewide. The agency looks to bring new jobs into the state by recruiting new businesses and helping existing businesses grow. It also looks to promote the tourist industry because tourism is one of the most profitable industries in the state. Finally, it also looks to help with community growth by providing services to areas that have typically been overlooked by the government.

North Carolina Rural Center

The NC Rural Economic Development Center was originally founded in 1987 as a result of growing economic disparity between the urban and rural areas of the state. At the time, the urban areas were experiencing rapid economic growth, while the rural areas were suffering from economic decline. This non-profit group was created to remedy the situation through research, information dissemination, and technical assistance. The organization is run by a board containing fifty members representing various businesses throughout the state such as Progress Energy, RJ Reynolds, and BB&T, along with government officials and representatives from the university system. It receives funding from a wide variety of sources including the state government, federal government, and major businesses.