1. The Economic Impact of BRAC on the 11 Member Counties: Bridging the Gap for Economically Disadvantaged Populations 'Lifelong Learning and Literacy (L3) Project Dr. Pamela Jackson June 23, 2010

2. Research Agenda Content of the Report – Demographic, Education, and Economic Profile – Employment Impact of BRAC by County and Region – Analysis of Focus Group Data – Regional and County Specific Recommendations Methodology – Quantitative data sources 2005 – 2007 American Community Survey IMPLAN software to estimate the detailed impact of BRAC on each county – Qualitative data sources Focus group sessions (11) Visioning Summits (3) Advisory Board Meetings (2) Report available at bracrtf.com

3. Economically Disadvantaged Population Estimates of Economically Disadvantaged Population by County and Region County Total Economically Disadvantaged Percentage of County Population (%) Percentage of Region’s Disadvantaged Population (%) Bladen8,11825.54.5 Cumberland51,96717.929.0 Harnett17,44117.19.7 Hoke6,01314.93.4 Lee8,47515.14.7 Montgomery6,16823.53.4 Moore9,96612.25.6 Richmond11,11925.26.2 Robeson37,68830.421.0 Sampson12,53520.17.0 Scotland9,57228.35.3 Total179,062

4. Educational Attainment

5. Educational Attainment of the Disadvantaged Cumberland and Scotland Percent

6. Occupational Gap Construction Percent

7. Focus Groups: Major Issues Information about BRAC related employment opportunities Literacy Training Transportation Entrepreneurship

8. Recommendations Literacy Establish MoUs between Literacy Councils and Community Colleges Employ the services of the faith-based community to offer literacy programs in churches – Sharing How Access to Resources Empowers (SHARE) program Establish comprehensive family literacy programs where children learn in nearby classrooms while parents pursue their own educational goals Develop a Literacy and Lifelong Learning initiative and campaign

9. Recommendations Literacy Design strategies to provide the needed skills using the absolute or comparative advantage principle – Wi-Fi and broadband can be used to transmit basic literacy courses, from one county location to another. Policy changes Define family literacy as an allowable activity under the state's work requirements Add family literacy programs to the post-employment support system Designate family literacy programs as allowable sites for child care funds

10. – Create vertical (and/or horizontal) collaborations within the food supply chain, Packaging Delivery Value added processing – Funding Sources The Center for Economic Empowerment and Development Kiva Lending Teams Identify a microloan intermediary in each county Recommendations Entrepreneurship

11. The Economic Impact of BRAC on the 11 Member Counties: Bridging the Gap for Economically Disadvantaged Populations Q UESTIONS