When communities talk about economic development, the conversation often focuses on recruiting new companies, building industrial parks, widening roads, or offering incentives to businesses.
Those things matter.
But there is another piece of economic development that is sometimes overlooked: having a workforce with the skills employers need.
That is where community colleges become critically important.
In Brunswick County, Brunswick Community College (BCC) provides a good example of how a community college can serve as much more than a place where students earn degrees. It is part of the county’s workforce infrastructure, a resource for existing businesses, a partner for entrepreneurs and a tool for attracting new investment.
I was pleased to speak with Dr. Gene Smith, President of BCC, about the college, the programs and services it provides and get his take on what the future of programming in the future looks like.
You can view the full interview with links at: https://www.allthingsleland.com/ (https://www.allthingsleland.com/)
#brunswickcountync #BrunswickCommunityCollege #leland #economicdevelopment
7 Oct 2026
North Carolina Is Putting Hundreds of Millions Into Private-School Vouchers
North Carolina is making a major shift in how taxpayer dollars are used for K-12 education. 📚
The Opportunity Scholarship program helps families pay for private school tuition and fees. Here's what to know:
💰 The cost: The state appropriated $625 million for 2025-26 and $675 million for 2026-27, more than three times the $191.54 million in 2024-25. Under state law, the program is set to cost roughly $6.24 billion through 2032-33, then settle at $825 million a year as a permanent part of the state budget.
🚫 No income cap: Income determines the size of the scholarship, not eligibility. In 2026-27, a family of four earning over $274,725 can still receive up to $3,574 per student.
🔍 Accountability: Private schools must test scholarship students, but beginning in 2026-27 they only certify compliance rather than submit test-performance data each year. The state must verify at least 4% of schools annually, and the test data it collects is not a public record.
Taxpayer dollars are going to private schools without the same public transparency required of traditional public schools.
Details with links at https://www.allthingsleland.com/ (https://www.allthingsleland.com/)
#NorthCarolina #SchoolVouchers #PublicSchools
5 Oct 2026
A Wilmington Viewpoint: Community Conversation with Council Member Salette Andrews
I was pleased to have a conversation with Wilmington Council Member Salette Andrews on a wide range of issues.
We talked about the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, tolls, preservation of the historic district, regional cooperation amongst local governments and a number of related issues.
Please subscribe at https://www.allthingsleland.com/ (https://www.allthingsleland.com/)
Contact All Things Leland
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of All Things Leland?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
