It is no secret that over the past decade America has faced an economic crisis of historic proportions. Although the country appears to be recovering from the greatest recession since the Great Depression, there are still major problems to be solved: namely poverty. Today, poverty hits more households than ever, especially in places like Eastern North Carolina. According to the 2010 Bureau of Economic Analysis, North Carolina ranks ninth among the richest states, with gross domestic production worth $424.9 billion.[2] North Carolina is among the leading states in agricultural production, consisting of poultry, tobacco, hogs, cattle, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. However, a U.S. Census Bureau survey indicates that the poverty rate in North Carolina has climbed to 18 percent, exceeding the official national poverty level of 15.2 percent (1). Although these percentages may seem considerably low, they equate to 1.7 million people without adequate housing, health care, education or employment. This ranks North Carolina as the 12th poorest state in the country. Additionally, the federal government reports that at least 20 percent of residents in 10 eastern North Carolina counties consistently reported living in poverty over the past 30 years. These “persistent poverty” counties include Bertie, Bladen, Columbus, Halifax, Martin, Northampton, Pitt, Robeson, Tyrell and Washington County. Merriam Webster defines poverty as the state of lacking a customary or socially acceptable amount of money or material goods. The United States Census Bureau identifies poverty as a lack of goods and services generally taken for granted by members of society at large. Professor Gene Nichol, however, defines poverty from an emotional perspective, but somewhat...... middle of paper...... drawing on resources that already exist. Historic sites and landscapes, as well as military presence and agriculture are seen as additional contributors to the region's growth. Although ENC's reconstruction efforts are ongoing, the fact that 16 percent of residents live in poverty remains. Education, or in this case, lack thereof, has been shown to be a major factor in poverty levels in Eastern North Carolina, as opposed to the rest of the state. The fact that service jobs requiring less education employ most residents also affects the poverty rate. Lower educational requirements mean lower wages, contributing to increased poverty. Community colleges have recognized the booming industries mentioned above and, through the combined efforts of the aerospace field, provide the opportunity to expand their education as well as their bank accounts..