The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments (UCPCOG) serves five counties in North Carolina and works to coordinate governmental services and improve regional prosperity. The document discusses challenges around workforce availability and an aging population in the region. It argues that regional cooperation is needed to plan for new jobs and replace retiring workers, and that strategic planning at a regional level could establish common goals. The document advocates for regional mobility assessments, funding regional mobility management, designing inclusive rural mobility, and coordinating funding sources to improve transportation options and support workforce development across the region.

1. Connecting People & Places
Robert Hiett
Executive Director
Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments

2. Quick Background Highlights
Vice-Chairman Vice-Chairman Past President &
Board Member
GA Transit Hall of Fame
Southeastern
Regional Director
State Delegate (6 Years)
State Delegate (12+) Years) 17+ Years in GA Transit,
RPO/MPO Planning
Elected 2020

3. The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments (UCPCOG) is a regional council created
by North Carolina law to assist its members governments with the coordination of
governmental services, and to work with public and private partners to improve regional
prosperity. The UCPCOG serves as the designated regional Economic Development
District (EDD) for the U.S. Department of Commerce: Economic Development
Administration (EDA), the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and administers the regional
Workforce Development Program funded by WIOA.
UCPCOG Region
Counties:
• Edgecombe County
• Halifax County
• Nash County
• Northampton County
• Wilson County
Municipal Governments
• 41 Municipalities
Population:
• 304,148
Who We Are

4. UCPCOG Regional Themes
• Workforce
Development
• Talent Pipelines
• Economic
Development
• Business Resources
• Transportation
• Senior Employment
• Planning
Coordination
• Infrastructure
Coordination
• Rural Broadband
• Wellness
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5. 5
• Workforce availability is a primary driver for site selection,
and potential expansions.
• Workers will commute 30 to 50 miles for good paying jobs.
• Four of the five counties have more than 50% of their
workforce coming from somewhere else.
• Regional and multi-regional cooperation is needed to plan
and prepare to fill new jobs, and to replace workers who
will retire soon.
• Strategic planning, at a regional level, is needed to establish
common goals and action steps that can be supported
across all five counties.
• Mobility between transit service delivery areas could
improve workforce outcomes.
Talent Availability

6. Older Adult Populations
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Older adult populations will need additional local and regional travel options as their numbers increase.

7. Transit Service Delivery
(NCDOT Transit System Map: 2018)
Key Points
• 100 counties are served by transit.
• Service boundaries may be a single city, county, or multi-
county area.
• Transit planning and service delivery require input from a
diverse set of mobility partner organizations.
• Continuous outreach and education efforts need to occur to
improve local and regional mobility options.
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8. The Coordination Maze

9. Ideal Coordinated Rural Mobility Network
Citizens Technology
Private Pay
Volunteers
Vanpools
Workforce
Training
Government
Business
Potential Riders
Trip Successful!
Public Transit
Social Services Medical Services
Senior & Disability Organizations
Trip Ordered
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10. Improving Regional Rural Mobility
1. Perform regional mobility assessments to identify existing conditions, the right stakeholders, identify gaps, and make
recommendations to implement solutions.
• Mobility needs do not stop at a city or county line.
• A rider may need to cross one or more transit service areas to get to a job or a critical service.
2. Fund regional mobility management planning and coordinating activities in rural areas to build and maintain local and regional
coordination efforts.
• Coordination eventually breaks down without dedicated planning resources.
• Multiple public, private, and non-profit organizations are typically providing transportation already.
3. Regional rural mobility should be designed to be inclusive, equitable, and accessible to transit dependent populations.
4. Incorporate Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and Mobility on Demand (MOD) concepts and solutions across regional areas to improve
mobility options, provide seamless booking and planning for riders, and a way to quickly and easily bring in new partner
organizations or governmental agencies into the final solution.
5. Fund sources must be coordinated, there are 80 federal programs that pay for transportation services, for maximum effect to
provide reliable services to power rural workforce development, and to address senior livability issues as citizens age.
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11. Contact Information
Robert Hiett
Executive Director
Upper Coastal Plain Council of
Governments
rhiett@ucpcog.org
Regional success is achieved by building partnerships and working together to
create a positive outcome for all stakeholders.
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