Pathways to Progress Hatteras Village, nestled on the southern tip of Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks, has a lot to offer. Access between Pamlico Sound and the deep waters off the continental shelf make it ideal for charter and commercial fishing. Its pristine beaches are great for shelling. And the black-and-white striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country. But there’s one thing the community has been lacking: a safe, dedicated means for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel around town. “In all of our community meetings over the last 15 years, Hatteras Village sidewalks have been the top priority for everybody in this community,” says Dennis Robinson, Hatteras Village Community Center District chairperson. “They’ve always wanted safety for their children, they’ve
wanted people to come to their business safely and leave safely.” Funding the project had been a significant hurdle, but between local partnerships — including funding from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (CHEC) — and legislation to free up local tax dollars, the project was completed this past summer. “Hatteras Village finally has its pathway,” Robinson says. “Cape
Hatteras Electric Cooperative was an invaluable partner in making that happen.” The project is one example of how electric cooperatives are finding new and creative ways to support communities and economic development in parts of North Carolina where resources may otherwise be stretched thin. “Driving economic growth and job creation is one way our cooperative
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