July 2008 Legislature passed SB 1627, which created the North Carolina Certified Retirement Community Program.

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2 July 2008 Legislature passed SB 1627, which created the North Carolina Certified Retirement Community Program. The purpose of this program is to encourage retirees and those planning to retire to make their homes in North Carolina.

3 The NC Department of Commerce, Rural Development Division along with Travel and Tourism has joined resources to provide the tools necessary for Certified Retirement Communities to attract and encourage retirees to choose NC as their retirement home.

4 Promote NC as a retirement destination to retirees and potential retirees both in and outside NC Assist NC communities in their efforts to market themselves as desirable retirement locations and to develop communities that retirees would find attractive for a retirement lifestyle Assist in developing retirement communities and long-term living communities for economic development purpose and as a means of providing a potential workforce and enriching NC communities Encourage tourism to NC to evaluate the state as a desirable retirement location and for visiting those who have retired in this state

5 To be eligible to obtain certification as a NC certified retirement community, the community shall meet each of the following requirements: 1. Be located within 30 miles of a hospital and/or emergency medical services. 2. Take steps to gain the support of churches, clubs, businesses, media, and other entities whose participation will increase the program s success in attracting retirees or potential retirees.

6 3. Establish a retiree attraction committee. The attraction committee shall fulfill or create subcommittees to fulfill each of the following: A. Conduct a retiree desirability assessment analyzing the community with respect to each of the factors identified by the Department and submit a report of the analysis to the Department. (Factors are listed in SB Bill 1627 and included in the application assessment)

7 B. Raise funds necessary to run the program, organize special events and promote and coordinate the program with local entities. C. Send a representative of the retirement attraction committee to attend any State training meetings during the certification process. D. Establish a community image, evaluate target markets and develop a marketing and public relations plan designed to accomplish the purpose of the program.

8 E. Develop a system that identifies and makes contact with existing and prospective retirees, that provides tour guides when prospects visit the community and that responds to inquiries, logs contacts made, invites prospects to special community events and maintains continual contact with prospects until the prospect makes a retirement location decision.

9 4. Remit an application fee equal to the greater of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or fifty cents (.50) multiplied by the population of the community, as determined by the most recent census. 5. Submit the completed marketing and public relations plan designed to accomplish the purpose of the program to the Department.

10 6. Submit a long-term plan outlining the steps the community will undertake to maintain or improve its desirability as a destination for retirees, including corrections to any services or facilities identified in the retiree desirability assessment

11 Eligibility Guidelines 1. Must be an incorporated town, municipality, or city 2. Must be able to describe organizing process and why the community has chosen to apply for certification. Provide any relevant planning including committee structure(committee must meet six (6) months threshold prior to applying)

12 3. Submit a marketing strategy specifically for retiree attraction 4. Describe how local unit of government is engaged with committee 5. Describe how committee is engaged with community awareness relative to this effort 6. List other partners engaged with the committee

13 7. Submit application fee along with application 8. Submit supporting rationale with application (not to exceed 15 double-spaced typewritten pages at 12 font) submit in word or PDF format only

14 DEMOGRAPHICS Population County City / Town Persons under 18 years old, percent from 2007-Co. City/Town Persons 65 years old & over, percent from 2007-Co. City/Town Households, from 2010 census - County City/Town Persons per household, from 2010 census County City/Town Median household income - County City/Town Diversity, percent from 2010 census White - County City/Town Black County City/Town American Indian County City/Town Asian County City/Town Hispanic or Latino- County City/Town Crime rate per thousand County City/Town Exact population

15 HOUSING / Technology What is the median sale price of a two-bedroom home? What is the median sale price of a three-bedroom home? How many homes, as of this date, do you have for sale in the following ranges? $60,000-$149,000 $150,000-$300,000 Over $300,000 Are quality apartments available? Median monthly rent? Are condos/town homes/garden homes available? Median price? Are there retirement communities in your area? Active Living Continuing Care Assisted Living Does your community have Broad band (DSL, Cable Modem, Wireless, Satellite Dial up Service Cellular Service

16 HEALTHCARE Number of hospitals in your community? # of beds Number of regional hospital systems in a 30-mile radius? Specialists in your community: # of Cardiologists # of Oncologists # of Orthopedics # of Physical Therapist Does your hospital provide emergency transportation to a trauma center? Number of home healthcare providers in your community? Immediate care facility other than an Emergency Room available? Number of Dentists in your community? Hearing aid center available? Number of Pharmacies? Number of exercise facilities or wellness centers in your community? Number of Physicians

17 LOCAL ECONOMY What are current property tax rates? City What is the property tax on a $100,000 home? City County What is the current sales tax rate? Are there special property tax exemptions for seniors? Personal tax exemptions? Housing or homestead exemptions? Discount for retirees (entertainment, medicines, and food) available? Number of banks? Number of accountants? Number of financial planners? Cable and satellite services offered? Broadband Internet service available? Retail Offerings (please check): Downtown Shopping District Big Box Retailer (Wal-Mart, Big K, Target, Lowes) UPS/Fed Ex Package Store

18 Farmers Market (local) Pharmacy (Chain or Independent) Department (Clothing, Shoe) Stores Package Store Are there local employment opportunities for retirees?(full / part- time and business opportunities available in a variety of trades, professions and services) Bookstore: Local or Chain? Children s Clothing Restaurants Fast Food Family Dining Fine Dining How many serve alcoholic beverages? Personal Services (Please check): Lawn care Personal shopper Laundry service Dry cleaning service Distance to nearest major shopping mall? Distance to International airport(s)? Distance to Regional airport(s)? Distance to nearest Military base? Distance to nearest Fire Station Distance to nearest Police Station

19 LEISURE/CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES Number of parks? Please list by name in the appropriate category City/County parks: State parks: National parks/forests: Wildlife refuges: Number of trails? Greenways & Birding: Other: Number of golf courses? Public: Private: Number of historic sites(including historic homes)

20 State: National: Private/non-profit How many bodies of water? Rivers: Lakes: Sounds: Beaches: Boat Launches: Are there sporting opportunities to include watching or participating Wineries/vineyards available in your community? Number of museums? Number of art galleries? Number of libraries? Is there community theatre? What other types of performing arts? List local festivals & celebrations (community or ethnic): Is there an active arts society? What other venues are listed in the Official NC Travel guide that is not listed above?

21 SERVICES FOR RETIREES Is there public transportation? What type? Buses Train Taxes Shuttles Are there special transportation services (dial-a-ride or other services for banking, shopping, etc.)? Number of travel agencies? RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) available? SCORE (Senior Corp of Retired Executives) Chapter available?

22 COMMUNITY / EDUCATION /MILITARY Is there an active Chamber of Commerce? Is there a Convention & Visitors Center or Tourism Info center? Is there an Economic Development Organization? Is there a Retiree Recruitment Program? If so, is there a current plan in place? Is there staff? Is there specific literature for the recruitment efforts? Is there continuing education for retirees? What type of education does your community have: University No. miles Community College No. miles Continuing Education No. miles Is there a military base(s)? if yes, how many miles

23 . What is unique about this community that makes it especially appealing to retirees? List the major strengths for retirees in this community: List things the community would consider enhancing to make them more attractive to retirees (add additional pages, if necessary): Describe this community s climate.

24 Technical assistance is available prior to the application being submitted. Technical assistance will be provided by Community Development Division staff. There maybe a cost associated with the technical assistance if staff has to travel to potential communities. Cost will consist of travel and per diem.

25 The Department of Commerce, Community Development, Rural Development Division will accept applications in January and July of each calendar year. The first round of applications will be due January 31, The second round of applications will be due by July 31, 2012.

26 Applications received will be reviewed within days of receipt by the Certified Retirement Committee Program (CRCP) committee. Communities will be selected based on the information in the application consistent with the requirements of the factors listed in Senate Bill 1627, G.S. Section 1,143B

27 CRCP committee has established a rating scale for your review. The rating scale is in the application. Applicant must submit three(3) completed copies of the application to Rural Development Division. All copies must be completed and have original signatures of the chief elected official on the application summary form.

28 Mail Charlie E. Thompson, Jr., CPM Senior Community Development Officer Department of Commerce Rural Development Division 4313 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina

29 Delivery Rural Development Division Anderson Place 100 E. Six Forks Rd., 2 nd Floor Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

30 BECOMING A CERTIFIED RETIREMENT COMMUNITY COULD BE THE BEST DECISION YOU EVER MADE!!!!!!