‘I know where I came from’: NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall says she’s focused on stopping the state’s rural ‘brain drain’

Nearly 30 years since Elaine Marshall became the first woman elected to a statewide executive office in NC, she’s running for reelection on a promise to boost rural economic growth and help small businesses get off the ground.

NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall grew up on a farm, so she lights up when she talks about rural issues.

“We’ve got rural North Carolina hurting,” she said in a recent interview with Cardinal & Pine. “We have counties that are shrinking in population and they’re mostly experiencing brain drain.”

Marshall says that’s why her office—which is one of the first points of contact for aspiring small business owners—is focused on rural economic growth through its Rural RISE (Resources for Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs) program, connecting entrepreneurs with advice, counseling, and their local chambers of commerce. 

Read more at https://cardinalpine.com/2024/06/25/i-know-where-i-came-from-nc-secretary-of-state-elaine-marshall-says-shes-focused-on-stopping-the-states-rural-brain-drain/