Doris Dobbins Lowe

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Boonville – Doris Dobbins Lowe, 88, of Boonville and High Point, NC, passed away at Willowbrook Rehabilitation and Care Center on Sunday, June 16, 2013, after three years of failing health. Daughter of Wesley Franklin Dobbins and Carrie Louiza Virginia Ann Gentry Dobbins, she, along with many other Yadkin County natives during World War II, worked at the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft complex in Baltimore, MD, building B-26’s in the sheet-metal department. She was first married to US Marine Sergeant Billy L. Martin of High Point when he was on leave from the Solomon Islands and before he returned to Camp Pendleton, CA, to prepare for the invasion of the Japanese homeland. They had one daughter, Cheryl.

Several years after Billy’s death, Doris married Joseph Willard Steed of Randolph County, NC, who was also a World War II combat veteran. After Joe’s gallant fight against brain tumors, she later married Jesse Robert Lowe of High Point. With over 20 years of service to the K-Mart/Sears companies, she retired from the North Main Street K-Mart in High Point.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Doris was preceded in death by her brothers, John Henry (Dorothy) Dobbins; Charles Bethel (Jesse Ruth “Jo”) Dobbins; Wesley Franklin Dobbins, Jr.; and Billy Gray Dobbins; sister, Mary Elizabeth (Paul) Kennedy; brothers-in-law, Cody, Reitzel, and Ted Martin of High Point; Berlie Hoyt Adams of Pfafftown and Paul Kennedy of Elkin; sister-in-law, Margye E. Martin of High Point; niece, Shelia Faye Dobbins of Yadkinville; and nephew, Donald “Donnie” Gray Eaton of High Point. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Martin (Gary Reeder) of Trinity; sister, Barbara (Hoyt) Adams and Marie (Early) Eaton; step-sons, Alan (Carolyn) Steed; Steve (Rose) Steed; Jesse Robert “Robin” Lowe, Jr.; Richard (Marty) Lowe; and Glenn Lowe; very special friend, Alice Staley; and several nieces and nephews.

For all of their love and exceptional care, the family would especially like to thank Dr. Benjamin Igwemezie and his excellent staff at BMI Nephrology in High Point, along with the local dialysis centers and everyone at Willowbrook. For over 60 years, Doris was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, and requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to the Mary Baker Eddy Library; 200 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, MA 02115. Memorial Service arrangements are incomplete.

Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.gentryfuneralservice.com.

We are deeply disturbed about articles this weekend in The News and Observer that have painted a partial and inaccurate picture of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and its work on behalf of rural communities in North Carolina. The articles focus on two rural job-generating grant programs – the Economic Infrastructure Program that supports water, sewer and other “backbone” infrastructure; and the Building Reuse and Restoration Grants Program that restores vacant buildings to productive business use.

We share the following points in hope of getting the facts straight.

Fact 1: Most rural leaders are aware of the Rural Center’s broad programming and results. Other N&O readers may not be. The center has led public policy initiatives, trained local leaders and in other ways helped build the capacity of our communities to answer their challenges. It has awarded 5,000 grants totaling over $680 million since 1987. Nearly two-thirds of this funding has helped communities solve serious health and environmental issues through water and sewer improvements. The articles focus on a subset of grants that provide incentives for job creation.

Fact 2: The General Assembly first appropriated funds to the Rural Center for job-generating programs in 2004, following the massive loss of rural jobs resulting from the 2001 recession. The center modeled its programs on existing state programs, both in terms of repayment, or clawback, provisions and reporting procedures. The North Carolina model meets accountability standards set by Good Jobs First, a national watchdog group that takes a cautious view of incentives.

Fact 3: Three out of every four grant dollars from the Economic Infrastructure and Building Reuse programs have supported private sector jobs in manufacturing, processing and health care – jobs that provide competitive wages and benefits. The N&O articles focus on restaurants and retail projects, which account for only 12 percent of funding. The restaurant and retail projects are often located in economically distressed counties where options are severely limited. These businesses keep local dollars in the community and increase the property tax base.

Fact 4: The Rural Center does not seek to dictate to rural North Carolinians what they should and should not choose for economic development. Projects are developed by community leaders; approved by town councils and county boards of commissioners; and submitted by units of local government. Both programs require that local governments match Rural Center grants dollar for dollar with other funds. The Rural Center has never “built” a Walmart or any other business.

Fact 5: By focusing on a handful of projects, the articles leave the mistaken impression that job numbers have fallen short in the programs. The fact is that of 274 grant projects that have been fully completed, 30 percent more jobs were created than required under the terms of the grant contracts. In absolute numbers, the applications projected the creation of 9,900 jobs. The businesses created 13,144 jobs.

Fact 6: With incentive grants, job counts must be constantly revised and are based upon 1) job numbers guaranteed by performance agreements; 2) actual job numbers reported in required reports; and 3) final job numbers at the time the project is closed out. Job numbers do change, but get increasingly more accurate as the project matures.

Fact 7: In a perfect world, our small towns would be filled with thriving, homegrown and locally owned businesses. But in the real world, rural communities often view chain stores and restaurants as highly desirable for the jobs, services and products they bring. And if towns choose to entice the “big box” stores, they must raise funds to build 100 percent of the public infrastructure required. Otherwise, the businesses will go elsewhere.

Fact 8: “Spending in the shadows.” It’s a poetic title, but we’re mystified as to its use in the N&O articles. In truth, the center conducts extensive outreach to ensure communities are aware of grant opportunities; ensures staff are available to answer community questions; and conducts rigid scoring reviews. Projects then move to board advisory committees for in-depth reviews and then to the board’s executive committee for final review and decision-making. Once decisions are made, the center announces the grants and posts projects on its website. Furthermore, the center makes a full report to the General Assembly on all grants.

We have the utmost confidence in the integrity of the Rural Center’s economic development initiatives and welcome any questions about the center’s grant-making processes.