Rural Economy
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‘This should not be a partisan issue’: The political tug-of-war over rural NC broadband internet gaps
State and federal leaders say they’re making progress extending access into NC broadband internet gaps—mostly because of Biden infrastructure funding—but the Republican closure of an affordable broadband program for lower-income people threatens to dampen progress.
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In rural North Carolina, organizers take a people-first approach to politics
In an election year where abortion is set to loom large, Down Home NC is organizing and knocking on doors in rural North Carolina with in-depth conversations focused on issues rather than candidates.
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Opinion: How North Carolina fails its farmworkers
This isn’t just a rhetorical question. It carries real consequences for the González Mendoza family—and thousands of H2-A visa recipients across the state. North Carolina is home to the fifth-most H2-A workers in the country, nearly 15,000 migrants who labor in the agricultural sector with few protections.
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Josh Stein sues company over closure of Canton paper mill, alleging breach of contract
In an interview with Cardinal & Pine, Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said he believes that the county and town should receive most if not all of the $12 million, if it’s recovered by Stein’s lawsuit.
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Josh Stein shares how he’ll support the agriculture industry during visit to Wilson County farm
“My philosophy is pretty basic,” Stein said. “Government can help create conditions for you to succeed, and that’s what we should do. Help you set standards, and make sure that there’s fair rules of the road, and they’re equally enforced, and then get out of the way, and certainly don’t create problems for ourselves.”
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Op-Ed: How N.C. workers are changing the narrative on climate
For a long time, climate change has felt distant—something scientists study and activists march about. But as we look around our neighborhoods, and our daily lives, we realize the impact of climate change is not nine miles above our head at the ozone layer, but settling in right here at home. In Johnston County, as…
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Unless Congress acts, 900,000 North Carolinians could lose access to affordable internet
Despite bipartisan support, Republican leaders in Congress have blocked additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which will run out of money on May 1. Without it, most families in the program will lose a vital utility.
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Eastern NC gets federal funds for climate-resilient infrastructure
The funding comes as the impacts of climate change continue to be felt more frequently, with North Carolina at particular risk of hurricanes, floods, and other extreme weather events.
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Growing EV industry could boost opportunities in rural NC
North Carolina has become a leader in the electric vehicle industry. With billions of dollars in investments from companies like Toyota and VinFast, the state is poised to see thousands of jobs created. In 2018, Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order that set a goal for North Carolina to have 80,000 registered electric…
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Op-Ed: Lessons for the rural housing crisis from Western N.C.
Sarah Davis, a realtor in Watauga County, realized something was missing from most of her transactions: people. Nameless companies from somewhere else — usually under some otherwise bland word followed by “LLC” — were buying up most of the properties in her western North Carolina county. Houses were selling for astronomical prices. It wasn’t a bad time…
