About Us
What Do We Do?
Hometown Strong is an initiative dedicated to supporting the rural counties of North Carolina. We understand that small communities often face unique challenges, and we are here to help.
Our mission is to empower rural communities by providing resources and support to improve the quality of life for residents. We focus on economic development, education, healthcare, and community engagement.
We work closely with local leaders and organizations to identify the specific needs of each community and develop customized solutions. Whether it's supporting small businesses, investing in infrastructure, or providing educational opportunities, we are committed to making a positive impact.
In addition to providing resources, we also work to connect rural communities to the broader North Carolina community. We promote the strengths and assets of rural areas and seek out partnerships and collaborations to benefit all involved.
We believe that by working together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who call North Carolina's rural counties home. Join us in our mission to make Hometown Strong!
North Carolina is a rural state, with 80 of our 100 counties being outside major metropolitan areas. Approximately 2.2 million people call rural North Carolina home. Without a doubt, the state’s most beautiful natural resources can be found in rural North Carolina. Sites like Table Rock, Pisgah National Forest, and Lake James attract countless tourists year after year.
Rural communities are resilient tight-knit communities that know and look out for each other. They share the joys of a local celebration or a high school sports victory and the pain of a lost employer or natural disaster. Even though rural residents differ vastly in geographic location or demographic makeup, they share one common attribute—they are proud of the places they call home and want to see them thrive.
Image from NC Department of Health and Human Services.
Hometown Strong coordinates with both the public and private sectors across many industries to make state government work to benefit the people it’s meant to serve. The focus of our work is - and will always be - meeting the needs of local communities. That’s why our motto is Community Focused Partnerships.
- Use Existing Data and Programs. Using existing resources avoids start-up delay and moves projects rapidly into action.
- Use Local Priorities. Listening to local leaders about their community needs focuses action in the right areas.
- Lead with Positives. Every community has strengths to build upon and a desire to prosper while maintaining a unique character. Building on strengths and assets already in place and coming from a positive perspective creates ongoing momentum.
- Share Templates for Success. State agencies can bring technical assistance and other resources to bear upon local priorities that can complete projects on the cusp, convene a group of decision-makers or begin planning for long-term projects.
Your Agency Resources
The Department of Administration acts as the business manager for North Carolina state government.
The department oversees Government Operations such as building construction, purchasing and contracting for goods and services, managing state vehicles, acquiring and disposing of real property, and operating auxiliary services such as courier mail delivery and the sale of state and federal surplus property.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community, and workforce development.
The Department works with local, regional, national, and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians. Taking a comprehensive approach to economic development, the department’s work reaches many areas. The department helps people find jobs and employers find and retain a qualified workforce. The department administers the state’s employment security system, supporting workers during career transitions. The department provides local communities with grants and planning services to spur infrastructure development and economic growth, and administers the state’s economic incentive programs.
Department of Environmental Quality
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources.
The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and also works to advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina’s needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system.
DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life.
Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services manages the delivery of health- and human-related services for all North Carolinians, especially our state's most vulnerable citizens – children, elderly, disabled, and low-income families. The department works closely with health care professionals, community leaders, and advocacy groups The department works with local, state and federal entities and many other stakeholders to make this happen.
Department of Information Technology
The IT professionals at the Department of Information Technology are committed to providing outstanding service to their customers and the North Carolinians they serve. Led by the State Chief Information Officer (SCIO), the department is the leading provider of IT services to state agencies, local governments, and educational institutions across North Carolina.
Our services include hosting, networking, telecommunications, and desktop computing and unified communications, including email and calendaring. The department offers 24/7 support through our ITIL®-trained Service Desk and IT Service Support teams.
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (created in 2015) focuses on protecting North Carolina’s military installations, working with the communities around military bases, helping military families and veterans get the support and services they need, and helping connect veterans with jobs.
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR)
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational, and economic future of North Carolina. The department is home to the state’s historic sites, museums, zoo, symphony, parks, aquariums, libraries, archives, and more.
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
The overall mission of the Department of Public Safety is to improve the quality of life for North Carolinians by reducing crime and enhancing public safety.
DPS employees supervise offenders in prison, in juvenile detention centers, and in community supervision. State troopers enforce North Carolina highway laws and Emergency Management personnel help plan for and recover from man-made or natural disasters.
The North Carolina Department of Revenue is a cabinet-level executive agency charged with administering tax laws and collecting taxes on behalf of the people of the State.
Its mission is to fund public services benefiting the people in North Carolina, administer the tax laws, and collect the taxes due in an impartial, consistent, and efficient manner.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
One of state's largest government agencies, the Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining approximately 80,000 miles of roadways and 18,000 bridges and culverts across North Carolina, as well as regulating and implementing programs to support rail, aviation, ferry, public transit, and bicycle and pedestrian transportation.
The department also includes the Governor's Highway Safety Program, N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, and N.C. Turnpike Authority. The department also oversees the N.C. State Ports Authority and N.C. Global TransPark – both of which help expand economic opportunities in the state.
Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)
The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management is tasked with delivering the highest quality statewide budgetary, management, and information services to advise the Governor, state agencies, and the legislature on the most effective use of public resources.
Office of State Human Resources (OSHR)
The Office of State Human Resources serves as the "Center of Human Resources Collaboration and Facilitation" for the State of North Carolina through an integrated, professional Human Resources function that is collaborative, strategic, and customer-focused, allowing state government to attract, retain, develop, and motivate a high-performing, diverse workforce.
In compliance with the State Human Resources Act and with accountability to the Governor and the State Human Resources Commission, OSHR provides high quality human resources services that enable agencies and universities to attract, motivate, develop, and retain a competent, diverse workforce to meet their business objectives.