1. For More Information Contact Susan Scaggs Caswell County Campus Piedmont Community College scaggss@piedmontcc.edu 336-694-5705

2. From Cooperation to Corporation Piedmont Community College RCCI Conference 2006

3. 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

4. Caswell County Basics

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

6. 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

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

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

10. 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

11. Less than 10% of our folk have a college degree

12. 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

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

14. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

20. Caswell has a 15,000 acre NC Wildlife Management Area

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

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

27. 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?

28. Got the cooperation… now what about the corporation

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

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

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

32. MarketingTourismAgricultureEducationOutreach Broadband Connectivity Industrial Park Following the Strategic Plan

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

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

38. For More Information Contact Susan Scaggs Caswell County Campus Piedmont Community College scaggss@piedmontcc.edu 336-694-5705