In many ways, North Carolina is a developing and prosperous state. Its urban areas are among the fastest-growing in the country, and it was even in the running for an Amazon second headquarters.

The condition is entirely different in rural North Carolina. In North Carolina, 80 of its 100 counties are considered rural making up the vast majority of the State. Many of these counties have a declining population, job growth is flat or on the decline, and they are struggling with basic needs like access to health care and internet connectivity. Experts are looking for ways to attract new companies to invest in these struggling areas. 

Many agree that ignoring these challenges, such as easy access to high-speed Internet, health care, higher education, and a diversity of jobs, will hamper the State's long-term prosperity. Despite North Carolina's success in urban areas, North Carolina is considered by some to be a state of "persistent rurality." 

North Carolina has the largest proportion of individuals living in rural areas among the ten most populous states, and its rural population is second only to Texas. The State's population is increasingly concentrated in the urban areas, with many rural areas seeing a decline in population since the 2010 census.

Nearly half of the State's growth since 2010 has occurred in just two counties: Wake and Mecklenburg. It's a classic tale of two Carolinas, one flourishing and one failing. This issue exists nationwide, with many states trying to bridge the urban-rural divide. However, the problem becomes more critical as the differences become more severe. The two Carolinas have exposed a need for new economic models in rural areas and bold ideas for bringing infrastructure to communities far from each other.

The question for debate is, should North Carolina invest in cities or rural areas for long-term prosperity?