Olivia Webb

Richmond County Daily Journal

A university-based pilot program will provide the Town of Ellerbe with a management adviser for the next two years.

Funded by a grant from the GoldenLEAF foundation, the North Carolina Service Corps was designed to aid economically distressed North Carolina communities. Each the 12 communities selected this year will receive assistance in the areas of economic development, local government management, proposal writing and grant administration.

"This is our a tiny contribution: Giving local governments additional capacity," said Will Lambe, director of the Community and Economic Development Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government. Lambe has been involved in creating the program, raising money for it - and now, managing it.

"We aren't under the illusion that we're going to 'save' any towns. This is a tool we're providing to Ellerbe's leaders, a way to give local government additional capacity."

Ellerbe, Candor and Star will share one of the four management advisers; Two are from Appalachian State University, one from UNC-Chapel Hill and one from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Mayor of Ellerbe Lynn McCaskill. "They (Corps members) are going to be  fresh out of graduate school, and they've got the technical book knowledge. This will be a chance for them hit the ground running and get their feet wet with practical, hands-on experience."

Each of the four clusters of communities has agreed to share the services of a management adviser and has defined specific projects or priorities to be addressed during the two-year period.

"Ellerbe looks very different than years ago, and a big part of that is the grant funding that Sandy Ridley was able to get," said McCaskill. Ellerbe has a lot of needs. The funds are available out there, but you need someone with the time and the resources to find the grant that is the best fit for each specific project, and how to write and submit it."

According to McCaskill, the town will focus on obtaining funding for its sewer project, fire department, rescue squad and other civic improvements.

"We have some sort of broad programmatic goals," said Lambe. "We want to look for evidence of increased regional inter-jurisdiction, cooperation, economic activity, grant applications…

"We'll look for evidence that public engagement has been increased, and more people are getting involved in local decision-making."

According to McCaskill, Ellerbe not only offers a learning experience, but also community pride and preservation of small town charm. He said he has seen evidence of public engagement all around him.

"I'm constantly impressed by people taking an active role in how their homes look, keeping them neat and clean. I feel good about our town."

According to McCaskill, the name of Ellerbe's assigned MPA student has not yet been announced. Management advisers will begin their two-year contract positions after spring graduation.

"More change is possible in rural communities in the sense that they're willing to try anything," said Lambe. There are more opportunities to do different thing than might be perceived.

"Hopefully we can make something exciting happen."