The Year 2000 has been a year full of productivity and change in the Halifax, Edgecombe Wilson Enterprise Alliance Enterprise Community (HEWEA-EC). This summary will highlight activity within our three county Enterprise Community. A breakdown by county follows. Our partners in the HEWEA look forward with great anticipation to continued progress.

HALIFAX COUNTY ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY

Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe: The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe has depleted all Enterprise Community funding; however, work continues with their housing efforts. The tribe is still rehabilitating homes in the area. Enterprise community funding helped the tribe establish a Skills Training Center which is operating for senior and youth programs.

The shopping center project has been put on hold and may be revisited at a later time if more funding can be found to support the project.

Halifax County Community Development Corporation: The Halifax County Community Development Corporation has had many challenges and undergone many administrative changes over the past year. Their Intermediary Relending Program was transferred to the North Carolina Minority Economic Development Corporation. This agency will administer the IRP and make loans to residents in the Enterprise Community. The HEWEA-EC is in the process of a benchmark review and revision process to re-designate funds to be used in the Halifax County Enterprise Community.

Town of Enfield: The Town of Enfield is reviewing its benchmarks to determine if they are still viable. Public meetings are planned to get input from citizens and provide a new direction for Enfield's future Enterprise Community activities.

Hollister REACH: Hollister R.E.A.C.H. made much progress during the year 2000. Funds were raised with the assistance of the HEWEA-EC, which allowed the start of a new building. Also a new adult computer class began and the after school program and senior programs were extended. This was accomplished through community volunteerism and collaboration with County and federal agencies and private foundations for funding.

EDGECOMBE COUNTY ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY

Rocky Mount/Edgecombe Community Development Corporation (RMECDC): Edgecombe County's Enterprise Community benchmarks for real estate development (commercial, housing, and downtown façade), homeownership counseling, and small business skills development are managed through the RMECDC. The RMECDC continued to provide services in partnership with the City of Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, and nonprofits.

The RMECDC was very involved in providing recovery and replacement service to thousands of local families impacted by Hurricane Floyd floodwaters. During 2000, the RMECDC developed single and multifamily housing, acquired buildings, purchased land, and sponsored housing rehabilitation in the Enterprise Community and developable sites adjacent to the EC. Because the Edgecombe County Enterprise Community is a small area (a portion of two census tracts) with little vacant land, housing development strategies in the EC have utilized housing rehabilitation, new construction, and developable site new construction in the EC and on adjacent sites.

The progress accomplished this year included RMECDC's Housing Counseling Center involvement in the coordination of a Group Work Camp. The Group Work Camp brought in 864 youth and adults to rehab 54 homes (21 of these homes were in the EC area; total value of all 54 homes rehabbed is $2,840,000). Funds were raised for the renovation of Bassett School Family Homeless Housing. The RMECDC invested $5,000 of EC funding for this project, and construction began. Housing Counseling Center EC activities included 19 EC residents being counseled and pre-qualified for homeownership. One home in the EC area (Heritage Park) was sold and two EC residents bought homes outside the EC area.

The RMECDC's Business Development and Resource Center provided 160 counseling sessions, 131 computer lab users, conducted 28 seminars, assisted 15 new business start-ups which created 40 jobs, and assisted 46 minority business flood survivors and 17 business owners. Of the totals above, the Business Center provided services to 124 residents in the EC area including 19 computer training participants; 12 counseling sessions; 36 seminar/workshop participants; working with 30 new and existing business owners; and 27 EC residents using the computer lab this year.

Rocky Mount Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) : During the year 2000, the OIC developed new partnerships, offered a paid work experience program, continued the summer youth program with its varied activities, and enrolled the Basic Education Program students living within the Enterprise Community. With funds received from the Enterprise Alliance, the OIC leveraged $450,000.

WILSON COUNTY ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY

City of Wilson: Rehabilitation funds were provided to owner-occupied homes in the City's redevelopment areas. Nineteen units were completed. The City provided down payment assistance to 13 tenants enabling them to become new homeowners; then the homes were rehabilitated. EC funding was leveraged with a Community Development Block Grant grant that provided the bulk of the rehab costs. Blighted conditions were addressed, and homeownership opportunities were provided to help stabilize neighborhoods.

Homebuyer Assistance benchmark funds were provided to 17 new home owners in Freeman Place II. Thirty-one units were completed and the new home owners moved in. One hundred percent of the construction was completed. EC funding was leveraged with City funds for down payment assistance and for acquisition and clearance of properties. Blighted conditions were addressed, and homeownership opportunities were provided to help stabilize the neighborhoods.

Benchmarks for Park Construction and Neighborhood Resource Centers were combined to complete the construction and park for the Elvie Community Resource Center. The City provided an additional $142,000 for construction of the Center. The Center, which was completed in September, 1998, provides space for neighborhood meetings and other program activities.

Under the Community Beautification benchmark, EC funding in the amount of $15,000 will be used to make aesthetic improvements in the City's redevelopment areas. For the Civic Education benchmark, EC funding in the amount of $10,000 will be used to provide technical assistance and support for various neighborhood groups served by new resource centers.

Wilson Community Improvement Association (WCIA): Over the past year WCIA made significant progress within the community. Resources were identified and secured which had a direct impact on agendas set by the concerns of Wilson residents. WCIA's partnership with Wilson residents, government and the business community resulted in tangible progress for the community.

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