The North Carolina Department of Commerce will be adding a new community development program to its already broad array of community planning efforts.
The North Carolina Certified Retirement Community Program is currently under development for communities that are positioning for retiree attraction as an economic and community development strategy. North Carolina currently enjoys a robust in-migration of retirees to the state who desire to have it all in North Carolina.
The North Carolina General Assembly, during the 2008 short session, recognized the inherent panoply of quality living that the state offers and established the North Carolina Certified Retirement Community Program (S.B. 1627) as a vehicle to designate communities that offer this unprecedented, quality of living that is sought by the mature community.
Program planning, development, implementation, and administration are and will be conducted through Commerce’s Office of Rural Development Programs. The program value adds for communities that earn this designation will be the enhanced marketing via commerce tourism and web products. The designation has a five year life, after which communities will need to consider recertification at the sunset of the five year period.
The program is currently under pilot with the City of Lumberton and its Retiree Attraction Committee; with the statewide rollout and application period to occur July 1, 2010. Further information such as program guidelines and application will become available for communities in April 2010.
Any questions or comments regarding The North Carolina Certified Retirement Community Program can be directed to Mark A. Roberts, Director, Office of Rural Development at 919.733.4979 or e-mail mroberts@nccommerce.com.