North Carolina Rising | UNC-TV

NC Rising identifies & highlights success stories from our state's rural areas that once thrived on crops such as tobacco & manufacturing jobs such as furniture & textiles, but are now transitioning into a new global economy. Tar Heel Made takes a look at how manufacturers are looking to new markets to find products and services to help revitalize economically distressed areas in the state.

NC Rising identifies & highlights success stories from our state's rural areas that once thrived on crops such as tobacco & manufacturing jobs such as furniture & textiles, but are now transitioning into a new global economy. Tar Heel Grown takes a look at how farmers are looking to new markets to find new crops to help revitalize economically distressed areas in the state.

Alternative Farming

Alternative Farming

Rural Health Care...What's the diagnosis?

Rural Health Care...What's the diagnosis?

Project Description Relocated from California to the small town of Washington, North Carolina, Pacific Seacraft was saved from bankruptcy by a father and son from NC. Stephen Brodie bought the 30-year-old company at an auction in California for only $75,000, hauled the boat molds across the country, and set out to revamp the company along the Pamlico River.

To help boost the new industry in the area, the North Carolina Rural Ventures Fund chipped in a loan to help fund the start up. The funds from Rural Ventures Fund helped the Stephen and his father Reid physically move the company across the country, and finish some of the company’s stock of boat molds. Pacific Seacraft yachts sell for anywhere between 250- to 750-thousand dollars.

Project Description Relocated from California to the small town of Washington, North Carolina, Pacific Seacraft was saved from bankruptcy by a father and son from NC. Stephen Brodie bought the 30-year-old company at an auction in California for only $75,000, hauled the boat molds across the country, and set out to revamp the company along the Pamlico River.

To help boost the new industry in the area, the North Carolina Rural Ventures Fund chipped in a loan to help fund the start up. The funds from Rural Ventures Fund helped the Stephen and his father Reid physically move the company across the country, and finish some of the company’s stock of boat molds. Pacific Seacraft yachts sell for anywhere between 250- to 750-thousand dollars.

In 2005, Cherokee County purchased a 25,000 square foot building in order to develop the Cherokee County Center for Applied Technology. A collaboration between Tri-County Community College, Cherokee County, and several industry partners, the facility is now used for classes and short-run manufacturing and houses the college's Machinist Training Program and the Associate Degree program in Machining Technology.

The primary goal in developing the center was to provide the community with a workforce development program as the need for skilled workers in the area grew as more industrial business took root. The NC Rural Center and the Economic Development Administration provided grant funds for the renovation of the building, and the center received grant money from Duke Energy to help pay for 10 large machines. Phase One of the building renovation was completed in 2008.

In 2005, Cherokee County purchased a 25,000 square foot building in order to develop the Cherokee County Center for Applied Technology. A collaboration between Tri-County Community College, Cherokee County, and several industry partners, the facility is now used for classes and short-run manufacturing and houses the college's Machinist Training Program and the Associate Degree program in Machining Technology.

The primary goal in developing the center was to provide the community with a workforce development program as the need for skilled workers in the area grew as more industrial business took root. The NC Rural Center and the Economic Development Administration provided grant funds for the renovation of the building, and the center received grant money from Duke Energy to help pay for 10 large machines. Phase One of the building renovation was completed in 2008.