Electronic submissions are preferred and can be sent to ocracokeswc@gmail.com. Hard copies are also accepted, please email ocracokeswc@gmail.com to arrange delivery. Please see the attached Guidelines and Application.
Saltwater Connections, as part of the overall plan of work funded by the NC Rural Center, has funding for small community projects that help meet identified needs within the 21 unincorporated communities in the Hatteras Island, Ocracoke, and Down East Carteret County region. Funding will support community opportunities to grow jobs and income. The funds also will provide leverage for additional funding and will facilitate community partnerships to maximize potential benefits from the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway designation. This document is to help identify projects that the Saltwater Connections project will implement with the community as a partner.
Who can apply? Community organizations or residents located in the 21 unincorporated communities along the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway on Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island, and Down East Carteret County are eligible. Partnering of communities, local small businesses, government agencies, and organizations in developing and implementing projects is encouraged.
What end products and results should a project have? Proposed projects should support and facilitate job creation and retention, supplemental income generation, or small business development, including commercial fishing and nature based and cultural tourism industries, and should attempt to further one or more recommendations in the Saltwater Connections Resource Team reports.
What kinds of projects are relevant? The type of community projects Saltwater Connections is seeking include, but are not limited to, projects that address the needs of: nature-based, cultural and heritage tourism; commercial, charter and recreational fishing industries; business skills development or workforce training; developing value-added and new products; creating business models that can be replicated; developing branding, marketing and expansion of markets or supplies; creation of professional business plans; building on the local foods movement; creating or enhancing exhibits, events or other things to do, particularly in the shoulder season; promoting locally produced products or services; creating mentorship programs; enhancing youth entrepreneurship, providing a nationally recognized designation to a community or area; improving streetscape or signage; or using technology to connect entrepreneurs with markets. Saltwater Connections will not support projects where benefits accrue to only one individual or business.
Questions? Please email ocracokeswc@gmail.com or call either of the Ocracoke SWC contacts, Melinda Sutton at 252-921-0476 or Robin Payne at 252-921-0365.