N.C. Rural Center renovates conference facility with help from SECU members
RALEIGH, NC (March 21, 2017) — A dedication and opening celebration was held on Thursday for the SECU Training and Conference Center at the N.C. Rural Center in Raleigh. The renovation was made possible with the support of State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) members, who provided a $236,000 SECU Foundation grant in 2016 to Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. (The Rural Center), helping fund technology and equipment upgrades as well as the replacement of historical wall display elements. The enhancements will open the door for more state, regional and local groups to use the facility through options such as video conferencing for off-site access.
Jim Johnson, SECU Foundation Board Chair, spoke briefly during the dedication. He remarked, “SECU members are pleased to assist the Rural Economic Development Center with its mission and history of promoting development and advocacy in our state’s most fragile communities. SECU Foundation’s grant for the SECU Training and Conference Center strengthens our commitment to rural North Carolina and the shared philosophy of our Foundation and The Rural Center – helping others.”
The Rural Economic Development Center was established in 1987 to develop, promote and implement sound economic strategies that improve the quality of life for rural North Carolinians, with a special focus on individuals with low-to-moderate incomes and communities with limited resources. As an integral part of the facility, which serves the state’s 80 rural counties, the SECU Training and Conference Center will continue to be a preferred destination point for groups statewide whose efforts support rural communities. This project is the Foundation’s second joint initiative with The Rural Center, previously partnering in 2013 to collaborate on a successful Public Service Internship Program for college students.
“We are grateful for the generosity of State Employees’ Credit Union members and their ongoing support of our state’s rural places,” said Patrick Woodie, President of The Rural Center. “The renovation of our Conference Center means more organizations can take advantage of a state-of-the-art facility to plan, learn and act to improve the lives of all North Carolinians.”
SECU Training and Conference Center at the N.C. Rural Center in Raleigh.
About SECU and the SECU Foundation
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, and federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 85 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States with $50 billion in assets. It serves over 2.7 million members through 274 branch offices, over 1,100 ATMs, Member Services Support via phone, www.ncsecu.org, and a Mobile App. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high-impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of over $235 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.
World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 86,451 credit unions in 118 countries serve 375 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.
