The American Rescue Plan

Find out what it means for our region

Isothermal Housing Task Force – Regional Plan

The Isothermal Housing Task Force is made up of nonprofit, government, and community leaders around the Isothermal region. The Housing Task Force’s goal is to study the issue of affordable housing in the four-county region, consult with housing industry experts, and explore ways the region’s municipalities and government sectors can protect existing opportunities for quality, […]

ARC Application Deadlines

The Fiscal Year 2022 Pre-Application form for Appalachian Regional Commission funding is now available online. Pre-apps are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2021. Access the Pre-Application. If you would like to discuss a potential ARC application with IPDC, please contact Sarah Kopkin at [email protected].

Isothermal 2019 County Aging Profiles

The 2019 State Aging Profile and the 2019 County Aging Profiles (for all 100 counties) were recently released from the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services. To see data on the Isothermal region, please click here. You’ll find race and ethnicity information along with social and economic characteristics. There is also data on health, workforce, […]

President Biden Signs Executive Orders to Extend Eviction & Foreclosure Protections

Several hours after being sworn in, President Joseph Biden signed multiple executive orders and actions to address numerous COVID-19 related health and economic impacts. Among them President Biden directed the CDC to extend its national eviction moratorium through the end of March. The current order was set to expire on January 31st. Restrictions on foreclosures of properties with federally-guaranteed […]

Department of Commerce Releases 2021 County Tier Designations

The North Carolina Department of Commerce annually ranks the state’s 100 counties based on economic well-being and assigns each a Tier designation. This Tier system is incorporated into various state programs to encourage economic activity in the less prosperous areas of the state. The 40 most distressed counties are designated as Tier 1, the next […]

Aging Ombudsman Services in the Region – Update

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in our region we have temporarily stopped in person Ombudsman services to the public until January 1, 2021. Isothermal Regional Area Agency on Aging provides Ombudsman services that include but are not limited to investigating concerns made on or behalf of residents in long term care settings, provide […]

Notice of Housing Assistance Program for McDowell County

The Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (IPDC) will be accepting applications for the Essential Single-Family Rehabilitation Loan (ESFRL) Pool beginning October 1, 2020, at both the McDowell County Administration building (60 E Court St, Marion, NC 28752) and the McDowell County Public Library (90 W Court St, Marion, NC 28752).  Applications will be taken until […]

Shelby Housing Office Relocation

Effective Monday, July 20, 2020, the Shelby Housing Office will be relocating to the Main Office at Isothermal Planning and Development Commission located in Rutherfordton, NC. The Shelby Housing Office will still be open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Housing Counselor for Contracts/Movers, 704-702-1813, Sharanda Brown, [email protected]  Housing Counselor for Re certification, 704-702-1810, Tomika […]

Changes to IPDC Housing Choice Voucher Program Offices

Starting Monday, June 8th, IPDC’s Housing Choice Voucher Program will begin in-person client interactions by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Rutherfordton office, located at 111 West Court Street, and the Shelby Office located at 127 W. Graham Street, Shelby. The Marion Office will operative via mail only until further notice. Click here to learn more about […]

IPDC Enters Phase 2 and Modifies Service Operations at the Commission

May 22, 2020- The Isothermal Regional Commission (IPDC) will be revising its Service Operations in response to the Governors most recent order [see order here].  From May 22, 2020 at 5pm onward, IPDC will still operate as an essential operation.  As such, our offices will be staffed on a limited staff staggered schedule with updated cleaning […]