Western Mars Hill Madison 2,072

CERRI Round 1 Participants(As of March 31, 2021)

SandhillsRaeford

CarthageHoke

Moore4,9402,460

Southwest Dallas Gaston 4,945

SoutheastPamlico County

Rose HillPamlicoDuplin

13,2861,660

Northeast Ahoskie Hertford 4,717

HudsonNorthwest Caldwell 4,011

North Central Warren County Warren 19,807

Piedmont Jonesville Yadkin 2,244

Prosperity Zone Community County Population

The CERRI was developed bythe Rural Planning Program(RPP), part of the Main Street &Rural Planning Center in theN.C. Department of Commerce,in response to the economicchallenges communities havefaced due to the COVID-19pandemic. The CERRI providesparticipating communities witha planning process to developlocal strategies for economicrecovery and technical servicesfor strategy implementation.Key steps include conducting acommunity assessment,developing an economicrecovery plan of work, anddelivering implementationservices to help communitiessupport small businesses andbuild local economic resiliency.

What is the CERRI?

Community Economic Recovery and Resiliency Initiative (CERRI)Quarterly Impact Report #1

For more information, contact:Darren Rhodes, Rural Planning Program Manager │ NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center

drhodes@nccommerce.com │ (336) 618-5117 mobile

2021 Quarter 1 (January - March) Activities

CERRI Round 1 - Participating CommunitiesThe RPP held virtual information sessions on the CERRI inNovember and has since identified 10 communities interested inparticipating in the first round of the program.

CERRI Round 1 Communities

March 2021

Upcoming CERRI ActivitiesThe RPP looks forward to the first CERRImeetings in Hudson, Jonesville, PamlicoCounty, Raeford, Rose Hill, and WarrenCounty in the second quarter of 2021.Dallas will begin its CERRI work in latesummer and Mars Hill will follow. Toprepare for the initial meetings, thecommunities are establishing local workgroups and identifying stakeholderswhile RPP staff members are meetingremotely with local CERRI projectcoordinators, preparing surveys,compiling data, and reaching out toproject partners.

One of several murals in Carthage depictingthe history of the town and Moore County.

"When Tobacco Was King"

The Ahoskie CERRI Committee heldits first meeting in March, during

which RPP staff presented anEconomic Diversity Report, helped

the group develop a business survey,and facilitated a SWOT analysis. The

business survey will be distributed toAhoskie Chamber of Commerce

members. The Committee will meetagain in April to review the businesssurvey results, develop an EconomicRecovery Plan of Work, and discuss

the steps needed to implementthe plan.

Ahoskie

In the first quarter of 2021, Carthageidentified a project coordinator and

assembled a local work group forthe CERRI. Prior to the work group’s

first meeting in early March, RPPstaff surveyed town leaders and

work group members to learn aboutthe community and to understand

their goals and expectations for theCERRI. RPP staff also conducted avirtual tour of the town. The local

work group will meet with RPPstaff again in April.

Carthage

CERRI PartnersIn addition to RPP services, CERRIcommunities will receive projectdevelopment, resource identification,and implementation assistance fromother project partners, includingregional councils of government, localand regional economic developmentorganizations, the NC AppalachianRegional Commission program, NCHometown Strong, and the U.S.Economic Development Administration.In addition, Hometown Strong ActionTeams are meeting with each CERRIRound 1 community. CERRI participantswill also benefit from training and toolsprovided through the NC Main Street &Rural Planning Center's affiliation withLeverage NC.

Community Economic Recovery and Resiliency Initiative (CERRI) Rural Planning Program (RPP)Quarterly Impact Report #1 2021 - Quarter 1

For more information, contact:Darren Rhodes, Rural Planning Program Manager │ NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center

drhodes@nccommerce.com │ (336) 618-5117 mobile

CERRI Activities - 1st Quarter HighlightsDuring the first quarter of 2021, RPP staff began CERRIwork in two of the first round communities, Ahoskieand Carthage, as summarized below.