City of Kinston, Department of Public Services ......

Kinston, located geographically direct center of Eastern North Carolina, is a place you may visit once, and decide to never leave. The warmth in the heart of the citizens reverberates to visitors making them instantly feel at home. The power of a community like Kinston whom celebrates its diversity and provides numerous opportunities to get involved, create partnerships, and work together to meet Kinston’s Vision of a revitalized, “city that embraces prosperity, positive people, and opportunity for all citizens.”

This Vision was created by 20 active non-profit, businesses, and public organizations. Surveys were compiled, community meetings held, and nearly 100 citizens participated in the community meetings to decide on a vision to guide an inclusive redevelopment process.

Historically, Kinston was not unlike most municipalities in the region; losing most of its manufacturing and tobacco industries to more cost-effective operations overseas. However, instead of focusing on the past, Kinston is highlighting the ways it’s bringing back jobs to the area; increasing educational success; and providing a rise in quality of life for Kinston’s future.

It’s the desire of the elected Council to promote citizen interest, involvement, and participation in community decision making and activities confronting the city. Kinston encourages citizen participation be representative of the entire community. Eligible Kinston citizens can be appointed to any of the following fifteen “standing” boards and commissions.

Appearance Commission
Board of Adjustment
Call Kinston Home Corporation
Planning Board
Fireman’s Relief Fund
Historic District Commission
Kinston Housing Authority Board
Kinston Tree Management Commission
Tourism Development Authority
Library Board
Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority
NC Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Pride of Kinston, Board of Directors
Recreation Commission
Utilities Advisory Committee

Kinston’s downtown development organization, Pride of Kinston, is another stellar example of including all citizens in its mission. The Pride Board of Directors includes 22 members and 28 citizens who serve on Pride’s six additional Boards & Committees.

Pride is making huge strides to help develop our economy, “Rebuild the Hope”, bring jobs to Kinston, improve our appearance and the overall quality of life for all citizens.
2007 survey indicated $3 million was spent increasing the number of jobs and the overall appearance of downtown by owners of 21 properties.
Over the past four years, owners spent $111,000 in downtown improvement plans for 22 façade projects. Pride contributed some $50,000 in grants.
Grants are funded by a partnership with the city, utility department, and 550 residents who voluntarily round up their utility bill to the next whole dollar.
Pride partnered with Caswell Center (mental health development facility) to employ some 507 clients. They worked 3, 717 hours to maintain downtown streets and sidewalks.
Non-profits, businesses, and residents participate and leverage resources towards the overall common goal to beautify our city and the gateways into our community and all its treasures.
339 volunteers supported Pride and its community events & activities in the last year
Community Council for the Arts boasts the largest public art collection and the only Master Plan for public art east of Raleigh, NC. Over 30 public art pieces are placed around the city.

Businesses also play a large role in contributing to improving our needs in the community. One specific example is the Committee of 100. The Committee is a group of individuals, businesses, and corporations that can provide some funds to economic development projects that help the community vs. an individual. They provided some economic incentives to help lure the largest independent supplier of aerostructures, Spirit AeroSystems, to build a plant at the Global TransPark in Kinston.

Non-profits in Kinston remain the crucial glue to lining up Kinston’s needs with the community engagement efforts. The work of the Chamber, Pride, Gunboat Association, Cultural and Heritage Tourism, local and regional legislators, and other friends paid off when the NC General Assembly voted to appropriate $3 million to add to the already approved $530,000 Kinston had for the relocation of the Civil War Gunboat Museum to downtown. Kinston’s experiences in the Civil War bring tourists and history buffs from around the world. A new Visitor’s Center, opened in 2007, and is located on the site of the First Battle of Kinston.

There is strong collaboration between private entities, such as the Neuse River Foundation which supports the River Keeper, the recreation department, and Kinston’s tourism development authority. Collaboratively these groups have worked with NC’s state-wide effort in a “mountains-to-sea” greenway to ensure the trail can follow Kinston's Neuse River and preserve the civil war trails. This year the recreation department featured free community Movies-in-the-Park, Big Daddy’s Express (interactive train ride in Neuse River Park), life-size tepee for overnight family camping, Halloween hay rides, new dog park, plus the regular operation of six city community centers and seasonal activities.

Boy’s & Girls Club: Serves over 900 children through after-school programs, mentors, and tutors. Over 80% of these kids come from at-risk situations.

United Way: Our local Lenoir/Greene Campaign raised over $2,350,382 in the last five years. This is an average of over $470,000 per year to support our non-profits to help those in need in our local community! These numbers prove the citizens of Kinston’s love and sense of civic engagement needed to be an All-America City.

KLC-Chamber of Commerce: Offers resources and programs such as Wake-Up Lenoir legislative gatherings. They connect the business community with educators through Education Foundation and a Diversity Affairs committee to work with Early College Students.

NC Community Foundation: Provides funding ($500-$3000) for qualifying local non-profit and civic organizations such as:

Lenoir County SPCAS.A.F.E.- shelter for victims of domestic violenceKinston Community Health Center
Preparing Communities for On-Going Development (PCOGD)- Serve at risk youth and low-income families with character education
Raising Awareness for the Developmentally Disabled (RADD)- summer camp for 5-21 year olds

Kinston recognizes and celebrates its diversity through examples including The Gate and its new Connections 110 concept. This is an opportunity for fellowship and a meal between two churches, of culturally diverse backgrounds, in an effort to join together all members of our community. The Arts Council acknowledges all persons contributing to the arts including a local widely-attended African American Musical Trail. To meet the needs of the Latinos, La Voz, “The Voice” was presented to the Council and the citizens of Kinston as an interpretation service. Kinston entrepreneurs started this service.

As shown, Kinston is an example of a city that invites people of all socio-economic status, race, gender, and creed to be forward-thinking and innovative in its efforts to meet its needs. Having a prepared workforce requires success within in our education system. To bring jobs to the area, Kinston must be able to provide a prepared or trainable workforce as one component. What about the appearance of the community? Do we have adequate infrastructure and water? Do we provide the quality of life to attract and keep people? Like most things, all parts of problems and fixing problems are intertwined. It’s through a community’s ability to think forward, cross jurisdictional lines, and align all “parts” and organizations to create a viable solution for the future.


		.. Kinston Public Services is one of 60 electric providers recognized nationwide as a Reliable Public Power Provider for its high level of safe and reliable electric service.