Leland town officials are considering moving forward with plans to make the town a “Certified Retirement Community” through a state-sponsored program.

The program, which state lawmakers approved in 2008, was designed to encourage retirees and people who are thinking about retiring to relocate to North Carolina.

Glenda Browning, executive director of the Leland Tourism Development Authority (TDA), is one strong supporter of Leland moving forward with obtaining the certification.

“New residents require services, which attracts businesses and younger workers,” Browning said. “Then, you have families moving in. We already know that Brunswick County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. We need to keep moving in that direction.”

Browning and Leland town manager David Hollis plan to approach Leland developers to see if they will help cover the $10,000 application fee required for the program.

A decision will not be made on whether or not to pursue the certification until the funds can be secured, but Browning said she hopes to have the application in by July or January 2016. The state accepts applications twice a year, and, once submitted, a committee reviews the application and makes a decision within 120 days. Once a community becomes certified through the state’s program, they retain that status for five years.

Not all cities and towns in North Carolina can become Certified Retirement Communities – there are conditions that must be met to quality.

One of the requirements is that the community must establish a retiree attraction committee whose responsibilities include raising funds, organizing special events and establishing a community image. The town’s plan for marketing and public relations must be submitted to the state along with the application.

If approved as a Certified Retirement Community, the Town of Leland will be promoted through the state’s marketing efforts via RetireNC, which falls under Visit North Carolina, a part of the public-private group Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina that now oversees the state’s tourism efforts.

Marketing and promotion efforts include exposure on the RetireNC website, as well as inclusion in social media and print marketing.

According to Andre Nabors, partner relations manager for VisitNC, certified retirement communities receive other benefits including opportunities to attend some of the Ideal Living and AARP retirement expos with VisitNC.

“They have to pay for their own travel expenses,” Nabors said, “but VisitNC covers the cost of the booth.”

Certified Retirement Communities also receive all of the marketing leads gathered from the expos.

The state program also offers Certified Retirement Communities public relations opportunities like the ability to take part in  “media missions” in which publications are contacted and pitched story ideas. In addition, the communities receive preferences on cooperative advertising opportunities and discounted pricing for advertisements. Other cities and towns that are currently participating in the state’s Certified Retirement Community program include Asheboro, Edenton and Mount Airy.

Regardless of the town’s decision, Browning said she plans to push relocation as part of her marketing efforts for this year and beyond.

“If nothing happens with this, I’m moving forward to promote the town as a place to live,” she said.

She put together relocation packages that she shared at golf shows this winter. 

“We have so much to offer retirees,” Browning said. “We have everything people need right here … If we can get people to visit and see what a great place this is to live, then they want to move and they bring their families with them.”