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EDUCATIONAL RESPONSE

Significant Challenges Simple Response:
A High Probability of Success
The Patrick County Education Foundation

By Gerald L. Hughes, Jr.
historically been dependent upon timber, textiles, and tobacco.  Per capita income in Patrick is $15,574, or 65% of that of Virginia ($23,973) and 72% of the national average ($21,587) [Source: 2000 US Census].  Patrick’s 2002 annual average unemployment rate was 12.1 percent, 295% higher than the rate for Virginia  (4.1%) and 209% higher than that of the nation (5.8%) during the same period. [Source: Virginia Employment Commission; 2003 Virginia Employment Commission data are not yet available, but Patrick County’s unemployment for 2003 will be even higher.] Like many of Virginia’s rural counties, 45% of the county’s workforce commutes out of county to find work.
 Although few Virginians are familiar with Patrick County, many are familiar with the astronomical unemployment in recent years as the result of textile and furniture plant closures.  The loss of these jobs to foreign workers has been compounded by the reductions in tobacco production allotments.
 Former Virginia Governor Gerald L. Baliles was well aware of these threats to his native Patrick County’s hopes for a prosperous economic future.  Governor Baliles has maintained a residence in Patrick County for many years, as well as
G Hughes Photo.jpg

The author is the executive director of the Patrick County Education Foundation.  He was formerly with Longwood College as the executive director of the Longwood Small Business Development Centers located in Farmville, South Boston, Martinsville and Petersburg.
atrick County, Virginia, is not a high profile community in the consciousness of most Virginians.  However, Patrick is much like many rural counties in Virginia and the United States.
 Patrick encompasses 483 square miles along Virginia’s border with North Carolina and is the home to 19,000 people.  The county serves as a gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway traverses most of the county’s western border.  The economy has