The Hometown Strong Rural Grants Program
Our team is working to bring federal dollars to rural communities across the state by providing municipalities with access to grant writers, financial resources, and training in grant writing and administration. Our team works closely with local staff, helping build their knowledge of and capacity to write successful proposals and grant applications.
The Rural Grants Team is Ready to Write
The Rural Grants team onboarded six new staff members in January. The diverse team is composed of experienced grant writers and those with backgrounds in public engagement, communication, emergency management, resiliency, community and inclusive economic development, and business development. We look forward to introducing you to the rest of our amazing team in the coming months.
| Emily Adair, Rural Grants Director The team is led by Emily Adair, who has more than two decades of grant writing experience across the country and in North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Policy from Western Carolina University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a research thesis in Rural Economic Development. Emily has expertise in food systems, agriculture, economic development, water and sewer infrastructure, land conservation, research, and data analysis. |
 | Mariah Matheson, Grants Specialist Marian is a committed public servant with more than 12 years of experience in the public sector. Following a break dedicated to parenting, Mariah is eager to re-enter the workforce and contribute to positive change. Specializing in legislative research and policy analysis, she has a deep passion for making a meaningful impact in the nonprofit or government sectors. Mariah has strength in legislative research, specifically focused on environment, water, wastewater, utilities, solar, renewable energy, telecommunications, and agriculture. |
