Current Challenge:
District 11 faces persistent economic distress, with Nash County showing 22.3% child poverty rates and regional unemployment above state averages. The district has historically lost manufacturing jobs to overseas competition.
Policy Solutions:
- Create the “Second Chance Workforce Initiative” combining faith-based mentorship with skills training.
- Partner with Nash Community College and Louisburg College to offer debt-free certification programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and IT.
- Push for tuition-free technical training in high-demand fields (HVAC, CDL, healthcare tech, IT).
- Provide state-level tax incentives for small businesses that hire locally and offer apprenticeships.
- Support regional efforts to revitalize historic business corridors in Rocky Mount, Henderson, and Louisburg.
- Establish community-based job training centers in partnership with local churches, providing wraparound services including childcare, transportation, and financial literacy.
- Advocate for state funding to match federal workforce development grants, ensuring District 11 receives its fair share of the $73 million allocated for community college programs.