Mitchell Is Becoming A 21st Century Community
by Van Phillips
October, 2003

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Mitchell County has been designated by the state as eligible to participate in the 21st Century Program.

The purpose of the program is to ensure prosperity and sustainability in some of North Carolinas most needy communities. The N.C. Department of Commerce is working with communities, such as Mitchell County to help them move forward because of the economic challenges.

The program will create new partnerships between state and Mitchell County to build new strategies for long term economic vitality. This program will engage key federal, state, and local agencies as partners in an effort to maximize the use of all available resources.

The Department of Commerce will be sending a team to Mitchell County this week. Department heads, local elected officials, and individuals in key positions have been scheduled for interviews. The team from the Department of Commerce will be seeking information about the nature of challenges facing Mitchell County.

Along with Mitchell County officials, the Department of Commerce will assess the challenges and then begin to identify solutions. Also, the state through the Department of Commerce will offer assistance and guidance not only through the identification process but through the planning as well as implementation.

Over the last several months, Mitchell County has experienced the loss of many jobs. At times, the county has had the highest unemployed rates in the state. The problem is compounded by the job losses at the state as well as the national level.

Many people have been working extremely hard on the local level to turn this situation around. Everything possible is being done to recruit jobs for Mitchell County. The 21st Century grant program is a starting place.