Cabarrus Today

Nearly 800 individuals participated in a community survey organized by the City of Concord and Barber-Scotia College. The survey aimed to gather input on revitalizing the historically black college and its campus. Conducted throughout May, the initiative included an online presentation and video detailing the project's scope and historical importance.

The Barber-Scotia Community Task Force, responsible for crafting a development plan for the campus, analyzed the data. They expressed satisfaction with the results, which comprised 12,516 responses and 2,245 comments from 797 participants. Key findings revealed that 72.5% of respondents emphasized education as crucial to revitalization efforts, while 79.8% highlighted culture and history's significance. Furthermore, 91.2% believed community impact should be central to any plans.

"The survey results show our community recognizes how important education is to the future of Barber-Scotia College," stated JC McKenzie, Concord City Council Member. He added that preserving the college's history and ensuring positive impacts on Concord are essential components of any revitalization strategy.

Dr. Melvin Douglass, President of Barber-Scotia College, noted alignment between community interests and existing plans: "In addition to our 4-year degree program, the Barber-Scotia College Board of Trustees and I are exploring various entrepreneurial, vocational, and technical programs." He expressed gratitude for feedback from citizens, alumni, friends, and family: "The input of the community will help us formulate a viable plan for Barber-Scotia’s path forward."

Barber-Scotia College continues its collaboration with Concord city officials to explore redevelopment opportunities for this iconic institution. Recent progress includes nearly $12 million in debt forgiveness through a U.S. Department of Education HBCU Capital Financing loan forgiveness program.