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Welcome to 2025! It's hard to believe we're a quarter of the way through the 21st century already and closing in on the 40th anniversary of the NC Rural Center. As we begin our 38th year, we're mindful of the reason we're here: To improve the quality of life of all rural North Carolinians in the communities that they call home.
We do this in the context of a rapidly evolving state where the fastest-growing county is a rural county (Brunswick), the county with the most significant population loss is also a rural county (Robeson). and both are located within the same geographic region of our state. Finally, it must be said, we love them both equally.
Our theme for the 2025 Rural Summit (March 25-26, 2025) is Securing Our Rural Future. Securing that future is a very different thing (as just illustrated with the preceding example) depending upon where you live, but it is fundamentally grounded in the framework of the Rural Center's Advocacy Platform which revolves around core pillars of Education & Workforce, Health, Infrastructure, and Business & Economic Development.
Every rural community has inherent value and is vital to the overall economic health of our state. We recognize the opportunities and challenges facing rural North Carolina may vary by region and by community, and we will strive to secure public policy outcomes that acknowledge these differences and invest in all communities fully, regardless of geographic, demographic or other considerations.
We seek your engagement in carrying this message and the local stories of rural North Carolina communities to the decision makers who represent our state. We look forward to the work that lies in front of us.
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