For More Information Contact Susan Scaggs Caswell County Campus Piedmont Community College

From Cooperation to Corporation Piedmont Community College RCCI Conference 2006

Piedmont Community College and the RCCI Complex college Service Area Complex college Service Area Person County Person County Caswell County Caswell County RCCI two pronged approach RCCI two pronged approach

Caswell County Basics

Where are we? Who are we? Where have we been? Where are we now?

Where are we? Caswell County is located in the upper right corner of the Piedmont Triad and well within commuter distance of the Research Triangle Park Our nearest cities are Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point as well as Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and Danville, VA

Approximately 23,000 people call Caswell County home…there are more deer than people here Who are we?

Racially the county has a 60/40 white black population with little other racial diversity This demographic has remained fairly unchanged

The religious community is homogeneous – mainstream Christian There is a fading Amish presence in the County Consider the implications of a community lacking real religious and racial diversity

Less than 10% of our folk have a college degree

Tobacco farmers wondering what is next Under educated, under the poverty line, under exposed to new ideas and possibilities, and under a deadline for change

Nearly 80% of the working population commute outside the county to work

Established 1777 First County Created by the State of North Carolina Named for State's First Governor, Richard Caswell Economy built on tobacco farming Where have we been?

Pre Civil War, Caswell was one of the wealthiest counties in the state Caswell was one of the five top tobacco producing counties

In 1850, 52% of Caswell’s population were slaves

Manufacturing Industry in Caswell employs 446 people The single largest manufacturing industry serves 210 people – Royal Park Uniform, Inc Where are we now?

The largest overall employer in the County is the County Schools system

There are two prisons in Caswell An honor grade camp – Dan River Prison Work Farm A Medium Custody Unit – Caswell Correctional Facility

Caswell has a 15,000 acre NC Wildlife Management Area

Cultural Resources: Yanceyville Historic District, Square, and Courthouse Entire County is a historic agricultural window to the past

Life in the county: Friendly hardworking people Farming and the rural life Active Caswell Council for the Arts Caswell Civic Center Historic Association Horticulture Club Rotary, Ruritan, Kiwanis

The Caswell County Project Partnerships Partnerships Partnerships County/City Government County/City Government Economic Development Economic Development Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce NC Department of Labor NC Department of Labor

Immediate Benefit 21 st Century NC Department of Labor 21 st Century NC Department of Labor NC-DOL staff assigned NC-DOL staff assigned Environmental Scan Conducted/Published Environmental Scan Conducted/Published

Environmental Scan Findings Local Assets Local Assets Hardworking people Hardworking people Piedmont Community College Piedmont Community College Historic Nature of the County Historic Nature of the County Local Challenges Local Challenges Leadership Development Leadership Development Land Use Land Use Strategic Plan Strategic Plan

Using the Scan Results The RCCI 21 st Century Team Develops a Strategic Plan

Caring effective leadership Follow through on plan that is in motion Improved K-12 Attention to infrastructure Land Use Plan A Unified Vision What do we need?

Got the cooperation… now what about the corporation

Remember this List? Active Caswell Council for the Arts Caswell Civic Center Historic Association Horticulture Club RotaryRuritanKiwanis

Caswell 21 st Century Development Corporation is born Non-profit group to solicit, receive, and distribute funds to community projects

Already Funding The Caswell County Ag-Expo The Caswell Community Arboretum

MarketingTourismAgricultureEducationOutreach Broadband Connectivity Industrial Park Following the Strategic Plan

Entire County is a historic agricultural window to the past Entire County is a historic agricultural window to the past Comprehensive list of possible historic themes, including plantations, historic churches, and cemeteries Comprehensive list of possible historic themes, including plantations, historic churches, and cemeteries Focus on Tourism

Hwy 29 Survey The results indicated the top three possible draws off the highway were 1) want to see a tobacco farm, 2) want camping, and 3) need food Focus on Tourism

Develop RV park and or campground somewhere near Hwy 29 Develop a working heritage farm where visitors can come and experience tobacco farming and visit a “Rural Heritage Center” Other items of interest that could be associated with this working heritage farm were the establishment of a farmers market, an agriculture museum Tourism in Caswell County

Still LOTS to do in Caswell County, but we have momentum

For More Information Contact Susan Scaggs Caswell County Campus Piedmont Community College