8/18/2010 - Cleveland named one of four 21st Century counties in N.C.
Cleveland County is one of four counties selected to participate in the 21st Century Communities Program, state Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco announced Thursday.
The program, part of the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance, fosters economic growth in less-prosperous counties by helping them develop innovative economic and community development plans and initiatives. Other counties selected include Jones, Pamlico and Stokes.
Kristin Fletcher, executive vice president of economic development for the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, pursued and applied for entry into the program on behalf of Cleveland County, and expressed her excitement for Cleveland County being selected to participate.
“I am ecstatic to begin this program with the North Carolina Department of Commerce,” Fletcher said in a release. “Cleveland County is fighting to compete and stay afloat in an intensely competitive and global economic climate, and this two-year program will help us engage in a long-term strategic planning and implementation process that is long overdue and an absolute necessity if we want to build a balanced and diversified economy in Cleveland County.”
For Cleveland County’s application to be considered for the program, it was required that at least 75 percent of the county’s municipalities submit letters of support with the application.
“They didn’t hesitate to offer their support for our application into this program,” Fletcher said. “Their support is a true reflection of this community’s commitment to progression and positive growth.”
Fletcher and Assistant County Manager Eddie Bailes will champion the program in Cleveland County, and will attend an orientation session in Laurinburg for two days at the end of August.
View article on Shelby Star website: http://www.shelbystar.com/news/cleveland-49084-21st-one.html
