As the fall season settles across North Carolina, the Rural Center continues to do what we do best: listen, learn, and engage with communities across our state. | | | |
For the fifth consecutive year, the last week of September marked our annual Board of Directors retreat, a time to step outside the conference room and into the communities we serve. This year, we gathered in West Jefferson in the High Country of northwestern North Carolina for a productive retreat focused on strategic priorities, organizational growth, and the opportunities and challenges shaping rural communities today.
In this issue, you'll learn about our new publication highlighting the groundbreaking work of our Faith In Rural Community's Connect Church program, an innovative initiative that strengthens community connections through one of rural America's most trusted anchor institutions: the local church. You'll also find updates from our statewide Advocacy Listening Tour, which is entering its final stretch.
The insights shared by rural leaders, residents, and partners will help shape our 2027 Advocacy Agenda and ensure that the voices of rural North Carolinians remain at the center of our policy priorities. Make sure you respond to our Rural Issues Poll linked below.
Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to listening, learning, and working alongside rural communities to build a North Carolina where every rural voice matters and every rural community has the opportunity to thrive.
| | New Faith in Rural Communities Book Highlights 9 Innovative Programs Created by Rural North Carolina Churches | | |
The NC Rural Center’s Faith in Rural Communities team has published a book showcasing nine innovative projects that rural North Carolina churches created after completing FIRC’s Connect Church program.
Heather Kilbourne, FIRC’s senior director, says they created the book to highlight how churches are addressing community problems in beneficial ways for people both inside and outside congregations.
"I think [the book] tells a story that is not your typical church story. These are churches that have really stepped out into the community with some really innovative ideas," she says.
One of the stories in the book is about a missional engagement project created by three Methodist churches in the Sanford Circuit Charge: McQueen Chapel UMC in Lemon Springs, Mt. Olive UMC in Lillington, and Union Grove UMC in Broadway. For Connect Church, the three churches formed one church team to go through the program curriculum. They decided to create a new program that jointly tackled youth and senior loneliness.
"I don’t think we realized how much talent the three churches had until we all came together," says McQueen UMC Youth Coordinator Dianna Blue of the Connect Church experience.
You can read more about the book and see a digital copy at the link below.
| | 2027 Rural Summit Save the Date &
Request for Breakout Session Proposals | | |
We hope you'll join us for the NC Rural Center’s 2027 Rural Summit on March 24-25, 2027, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park!
In 2027, the Rural Center will celebrate the 40th anniversary of our founding — 40 years of working together to build vibrant communities in North Carolina. This year's Summit will honor the people, ideas, and communities that have shaped our history and continue to build places where all people can live and thrive.
Early-bird registration will open on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
We're also accepting Summit breakout session proposals through October 30 and would love to hear your idea!
Breakout sessions will be categorized around the Rural Center's four foundation pillars:
🔹 Leadership
🔹 Capital
🔹 Advocacy
🔹 Capacity Building
To learn more about what makes a strong proposal and submit your own, visit the link below.
| | A Conversation with Patrick Woodie | | |
Rural Center Archivist Kensi Laube and Communications Associate Karla Gomez recently spoke with Center President & CEO Patrick Woodie about living in and working for rural North Carolina.
Woodie grew up in Piney Grove and has spent more than 30 years engaged with the Rural Center as a REDI graduate, a board member, vice president of programs, and now president and CEO.
Along with talking about his travels in rural parts of the state, he also discusses the Rural Center’s past and future work as the Center approaches its 40th anniversary. "We have a real responsibility to be out and about in the state and to be present in rural communities as much as we can. As we look to the future, we'll do more of that, and we'll be doing it in ways we haven't done before.”
(Photo: Patrick Woodie testimony to the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee Hearing on the Small Business Jobs Act on May 19, 2011.)
| | 2026 Listening Tour &
2026 Rural Issues Poll Links | | |
While the first three weeks of the 2026 Rural Listening Tour have passed, there's still one week left. We've enjoyed getting to know those of you who joined us on one of our tour stops. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and time with us.
The last two stops, both of which are full, will happen next week in Elizabethtown (October 13) and Maysville (October 14). If you've signed up for one of those stops, we look forward to seeing you soon!
If you live or work in rural North Carolina and can't join us on the tour, we'd love for to you to take a few minutes to share your feedback about what’s happening in rural North Carolina and answer our 2026 Rural Issues Poll. (Encuesta disponible en español.)
Feedback from both the poll and the tour stops will be used to create our new advocacy platform. The updated platform will be publicly released in early 2027.
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The Faith in Rural Communities team continues to expand their Connect Church program work outside of North Carolina.
Since August 20, the Connect Church team has trained approximately 30 coaches to support Connect Church hub partner organizations in Indiana, Missouri, Montana, and South Carolina. Each of those four hubs have since launched their own respective Connect Church cohorts comprised of five churches. Instead of the FIRC team coaching each Connect Church team directly as they do for North Carolina churches involved in the program, this expanded model involves FIRC team members coaching hub partners, allowing each hub partner to hire coaches for their cohort.
Additionally, our Virtual Connect Church platform officially launched September 22 with their own cohort, working with the Brethren Church. Members from nine Brethren Churches joined the launch call. Virtual Connect Church lets churches learn the Connect Church platform via pre-recorded online instruction.
| | Rural Food & Health Forum | | |
The Green Rural Redevelopment Organization's Rural Food & Health Forum will be held at James B. Hunt Jr. Library at N.C. State University on October 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Event sessions include:
- Food, Health, and Rural Impact
- Rural Health Transformation: Improving Health and Care Delivery for Nearly 3 Million Rural North Carolinians
- North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program Deep Dive and Q&A
- Understanding the Role of Rural Food Hubs
- Advancing Rural Health Through Policy, Partnership, and Advocacy
- Strengthening Rural Healthcare: The Role of the North Carolina Office of Rural Health's Rural Hospital Program
- Rural Solutions Exchange: Connecting People, Food, and Innovation for Rural Impact
- And more
View the agenda
| | Wilson Forward Annual Meeting | | |
Our Chief Program Officer Chris Estes, a nationally known expert on rural development, will deliver a keynote at the 2026 Wilson Forward Annual Meeting on October 13.
The meeting's theme is "Turning the Key: Partnerships That Unlock Wilson's Future."
While the event has reached full capacity, you can find out more about the agenda and join the waitlist at the link below.
Learn more
| | NCACC County Map Book 2026 | | |
The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners has released its County Map Book for 2026.
The book highlights data from all 100 North Carolina counties and includes: county population, population change since 2016, median age, population data, county tiers, broadband internet access, median household income, the number of children living in poverty, the unemployment rate, and more.
Read more
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North Carolina Health News shared answers to frequently asked questions about two Medicaid changes that will affect thousands of North Carolinians.
Notable dates related to changes related to eligibility cuts and work requirements include:
🔹 October 1: Eligibility will be cut for lawfully present immigrants who do not hold a green card or qualify for an exemption
🔹 January 1: Most adults covered by Medicaid expansion will need to prove they are working, attending school, or participating in other approved activities to remain enrolled
Learn more about these changes, along with who is exempt from them at the link below.
Find out more
| | 12th Annual Dallas Herring Lecture | | |
AMEXCAN's 23rd Annual Latino Festival
"Building a More Cultural Immersion"
| | |
The Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, Inc. (AMEXCAN) is holding its 23nd Annual Latino Festival “Building a More Cultural Immersion” on October 10 in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The festival will take place from noon to 5 p.m at J.H. Rose High School in Greenville.
The afternoon will feature cultural performances, music, artists, and food celebrating Latino voices, traditions, and community engagement.
| | Institute for Emerging Issues' Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative | | |
The Institute for Emerging Issues is accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Cohort of its Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative.
This four-day professional development program will be held November 16-19. The Leadership Initiative is designed to build committed and capable leaders who understand the economic conditions of their community and state.
Applications for the cohort's 25 spots will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the group is filled. Applications will close October 23 at 5 p.m.
Learn more
| | Agriculture Innovation Center
Program Grants | | |
USDA Rural Development is making $2.5 million in grant funding available for centers that provide services to agricultural producers wanting to develop and market value-added products.
Applications for the Agriculture Innovation Center Program will be accepted now through January 31, 2027. The maximum grant amount is $1 million.
Commercial organizations, Indian tribes, higher education institutions, local governments, nonprofits, and state government may apply for this funding.
Learn more
| | NC LIVE and Google Partnership | | |
NC LIVE has partnered with Google to bring Grow with Google to communities across North Carolina.
Grow with Google allows learners and jobseekers to obtain skills and certificates in high-demand tech fields like AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, IT support, and more.
Through their public or academic library and NC LIVE, users will have free access to Google Career Certificates and AI courses plus three free months of Google AI Pro through December 2027.
Learn more
| | Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grants | | |
North Carolina Emergency Management is accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations actively involved in housing repair and reconstruction projects as a result of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
Applications for Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grants will be accepted until October 16.
To learn more about what organizations are eligible to apply, eligible categories of work, how to submit application materials, and key target dates, click the link below.
Find out more
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