In 2008, the North Carolina General Assembly created a Community Certified Retirement Program to be administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. This is a community development program for those towns that want to attract retirees to their area as an economic and community development strategy.

The program designates a town with the quality of life desired by the senior community. The potential benefits to making a city attractive to retirees are substantial: accumulated wealth brought to the area, developers attracted to build affordable housing and senior facilities, existing retirees remain in the community.

Texas has been very successful with its Certified Retirement Communities (CRCs) and estimates that each retirement household that moves into the state creates 1.5 jobs. The GO TEXAN Certified Retiree Community Program has been in place since 2006 and is currently updating information on the impact of CRCs on member communities. The city of Cuero, Texas has had its CRC designation for two years. Randall Malik, the executive director of the Cuero Development Corporation, credits his city’s newly constructed adult day care and assisted living facility for actively marketing Cuero as a certified retirement community.

ASSESSMENT

To be considered for certification, a local government must submit an application to the Community Development Division of the Department of Commerce. The city is evaluated on criteria important to retirees: affordable cost of living, low taxes, low crime rate, quality health care, recreation, educational and cultural opportunities, and a welcoming community. Population size does not preclude certification, nor does a rural or urban setting. The lack of affordable senior housing is also not a problem because, if certified, developers could be influenced to build. The designation has a life of five years, after which communities will need to consider recertification at the end of the five-year period.

GUIDELINES

The Department of Commerce has established qualifying criteria for a Certified Retirement Community.

1. Be located within 30 miles of a hospital or emergency medical services (does not have to be within city limits).
2. Get support from churches, clubs, businesses, media.
3. Submit an application fee to the 21st Century Communities program of $10,000. If the town does not receive certification, the $10,000 will be returned.
4. Submit a comprehensive marketing and public relations plan designed to achieve the purpose of the Program to the Department of Commerce.
5. Submit a long-term plan outlining steps the community will take to maintain or improve its attractiveness as a retirement destination.
6. Establish a retired attraction committee that must be in operation for six months before the town can apply for certification. Applications are received twice a year in January and June/July, and take several months to review. The committee:

• Assesses the community and submits a report to the Department.
• Send committee representative to state training meetings held by 21^St. Communities of the Century Program.
• It raises the necessary funds to execute the Program, organizes special events and promotes and coordinates the Program with local entities.
• Establishes an image of the community, assesses target markets, and develops a marketing and public relations plan designed to achieve the purpose of the program.
• Develops a system that identifies and contacts existing and prospective retirees who will provide tour guides when prospects visit the community, invite prospects to special community events, and maintain ongoing contact with prospects until the prospect takes an appointment. decision on the place of retirement.

Communities selected for certification will receive inclusion in statewide marketing efforts, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and grants to support their program.

WHAT IS THERE FOR RETIRED?

When retirees search for a retirement community, a large part of the research process has already been completed by the North Carolina state certification process. The retiree can be sure that the town will be welcoming and will have a minimum level of facilities and services.

At the time of this article, Lumberton, NC was the only Certified Retirement Community in North Carolina, developed in 2010. Connie Russ is the Lumberton Retiree Recruiter/Center Development Coordinator and was instrumental, along with her committee , in the development of the certification program. for North Carolina. Today there are three other North Carolina cities certified as retirement communities: Asheboro, Marion and Sanford.

For more information, you can visit:

http://www.nccommerce.com and look under Tourism. Programs and Services

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