Community Development, Department of Commerce

Contact Information

For additional information about the ARC program, please contact:

Olivia is the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Program Manager for North Carolina, a federal program that provides economic development assistance to Appalachia based on the Governor’s priorities.  She has held this since January of 2007.  Olivia manages the day to day operations of the State’s ARC program.  As program manager, her primary responsibilities are to ensure that the Governor’s priorities in Appalachia are being achieved and to ensure ARC resources are being deployed to assist in critical economic development challenges in the eligible ARC communities in Western North Carolina. Prior to her current role, Olivia worked with the Community Development Block Grant Program ensuring that all grantees comply with applicable federal requirements.  She also served as the Public Information Officer for the Division of Community Assistance for two years.  Olivia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Master’s in Public Administration from East Carolina University. She currently serves on the New Generations Advisory Council and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s Rural Health Task Force.

Libby joined the Department of Commerce in 2006 and serves as the Assistant Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Program Manager.  As Assistant ARC Program Manager she helps provide oversight of the federal grant funding the state receives and communicates the Governor’s priorities for investing Appalachian funds to enhance the economic development potential of North Carolina’s portion of the region.  She currently serves on the Western NC Local Food Policy Council and the NC Sustainable Communities Task Force. She is a member of the NC Interagency Leadership Team (ILT) and the Healthy Environments Collaborative (HEC).  Libby holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from UNC-CH.

Kristy, based in ARC’s Asheville office, joined the Department of Commerce in 2006.  Prior to working with DCA, Kristy worked with homeless folks and on housing issues in Asheville, NC.  Kristy has a BS and an MPA from Western Carolina University. Kristy assist’s North Carolina’s ARC communities with community development, economic development, and land use planning projects.  Her specialty areas include long-range planning and visioning, facilitation and training, bicycle and pedestrian planning, and neighborhood development.  She also assists with  ARC program administration.  Kristy is involved in a variety of community activities and is a current member of the City of Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission and a former member of the City of Asheville's Board of Adjustment.