What Is Future Forward?

Future Forward is a regional economic development initiative aimed at creating a comprehensive economic development strategy for twelve counties in the Western Piedmont and Mountains of North Carolina located in the 10th and 11th Congressional Districts.

• The plan initially received funding support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
• Former Congressman Cass Ballenger appointed a 21-member leadership group to oversee the Future Forward strategy development process.
• The Western Piedmont Council of Governments manages the federal and state grant funds for the project.
• The plan identifies a set of key strategies and action items that brings the region together and provides a wish list of key economic development projects for federal, state, local, and private investment.
  

What’s it mean to you?

This effort is aimed at helping you by ensuring that we invest in the right set of public priorities to ensure businesses in the region can continue to create new well-paying jobs for you, your family, friends, and co-workers.

The Future Forward project:

• Identifies a set of strategies and action items that will help the twelve participating counties achieve their goals of promoting economic development and prosperity.
• Develops a blueprint that will help local leaders in making decisions aimed at supporting the region as its economy transforms.