Thomas Hall, executive director of the Thomas E-Hub and UNCP Incubator recently announced that ED HUNT, UNCP KBR coordinator, is the recipient of NC Rural Center's 2022 Excellence in Regional Collaboration Award, which will be presented at Rural Day in Raleigh on March 22.
“The Excellence in Regional Collaboration award recognizes an individual or organization that has developed and implemented innovative collaborations across sectors and/or regions in order to secure a more vibrant future for all people in their communities,” the email from Hall read. “The winner will have demonstrated an understanding of the interconnectedness of our rural places and demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering inclusive partnerships that equitably and sustainably address community needs across the region they serve.”
“Ed certainly is well-deserving of this award, as he has led our efforts over the last five years to improve the economic vitality of the agriculture community in the Pembroke region,” he continued. “Funded by KBR and NC IDEA, Ed has conducted numerous Good Agricultural Practices workshops, established and runs the
Produce Point that has increased the amount of locally purchased produce from 2% to over 16%, and is working to build out the AgHealth Innovation Site, establish a Food Market, and restore the momentum the agriculture community had prior to the pandemic. He did all this by building strong partnerships and collaboration with the many like-minded agricultural groups in the region.”
The NC Rural Center works to improve life in rural areas across North Carolina by developing, promoting, and implementing sound economic strategies across 78 of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
Brian and Staci Graybill opened their third business together, Market Square Pantry, in December 2025. Photo provided by Faith Hatton. For Fayetteville entrepreneurs Brian and Staci Graybill, building a business has often started when they were
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