Division between urban and rural interests isn't new to the North Carolina legislature. The fissure is getting a new look from Republicans now in charge of state government.
The Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham areas are outpacing the rest of the state in landing big companies and jobs. They've also become more powerful in the legislature with each round of redistricting.
According to the Greensboro News and Record, others see it differently. Republican Senator Andy Wells of Catawba says the split is not rural-urban. He calls it a "Raleigh-Charlotte versus anybody else split," While the state unemployment rate has fallen sharply to 5.5 percent, nearly 20 small or rural counties still are at or above 7 percent.
The Job Development Investment Grant bill does sweeten incentives for computer data centers, which have come to Rutherford, Catawba and Caldwell counties, and it provides $20 million for an infrastructure fund. But that amount compares to $1.5 billion in awards since the program's inception. Only 9 percent of grant dollars through 2013 went to companies building in rural counties, according to a North Carolina Justice Center report, and a disproportionate number of rural projects failed.
Governor McCrory and legislative leaders say they want all parts of the state to prosper.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad