Dire needs: Former Gov. Jim Hunt says talk of a domestic Marshall Plan to rebuild Eastern North Carolina's economy is warranted.

• Author: Murray, Arthur O.
• Position: Outlook - An interview with former governor Jim Hunt - Interview

Few Tar Heels have worked as hard--and probably none so successfully--to bring jobs to Eastern North Carolina and the rest of the state as Jim Hunt during his four terms as governor (1977-85, 1993-2001). Though born in Greensboro, he grew up on a farm in Wilson County, where he and his wife raise beef cattle. Now a partner in the Raleigh office of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice law firm, he discusses the problems--and the promise--of the East.

What's the main problem the region faces?

It's hard to identify just one. Eastern North Carolina, historically, has been an area for great agriculture. It has been under a lot of price pressures globally in recent years, but it is still an important industry. Industrialization came later because we did not have the infrastructure that a lot of other parts of the state had. But I would say the things that are holding us back are, one, our people do not have the education and skills training that business and industry need and, two, we do not have the infrastructure.

Aren't major road projects under way?

We're building major highways throughout the East fairly rapidly, but there's still a lot of work to be done. We still do not have natural-gas availability in many parts. We do not have the air service we need. East Carolina University. in particular, needs far better air service.

What else?

Though many attempts have been made, there still is not enough pulling together in the eastern part of the state to impress on the legislature and the rest of North Carolina how dire the needs are. We hear talk of a Marshall Plan for Eastern North Carolina. One is needed. The western part of the state had a good bit of that when President John F. Kennedy put in the Appalachian Regional Commission. Eastern North Carolina still has not received the big boost.

Why not?

It's in large measure due to the fact that most of the leadership of the state, and most of the people with the resources, have lived in the Piedmont and have not seen the need. From my farm in Eastern North Carolina, I see rural poverty. I see people working in low-paying jobs. I know about the lack of infrastructure and the need to dramatically improve the schools.

What has been the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement?

NAFTA has probably had a greater harmful impact on Eastern North Carolina and rural areas across the state because they have had more of the low-wage industry, the kind that has been most likely to pick up and go to Mexico...