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
[email protected] │ (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
[email protected] │ (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.