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Stein holds impromptu news conference during Edenton visit.Josh Stein visits Edenton’s Cupola House to review the ongoing work to reinstall the home’s original woodwork, lost for more than a century while it was on display at a museum in New York.Josh Stein visits Edenton’s Cupola House to review the ongoing work to reinstall the home’s original woodwork, lost for more than a century while it was on display at a museum in New York.Submitted photo Gov.Josh Stein meets with Edenton Mayor Hackney High in Edenton’s Historic 1767 Courthouse.EDENTON — Customers at Edenton’s Kraken Coffeehouse got a surprise when Gov.Josh Stein and several reporters visited the downtown coffeeshop Wednesday, May 12.The governor used the visit to hold an impromptu press conference to discuss infrastructure, broadband, health care, schools, the economy, transportation and coastal erosion.Stein was in Edenton this week to attend a Council of State meeting at Edenton’s Historic 1767 Courthouse.The meeting, which included members of the governor’s cabinet, was one of a series of planned regional Council of State meetings.Stein also visited economic development projects, such as the Provalus IT firm, which is set to create 61 jobs.The company is using $6.84 million in state and other funding to renovate a former department store to use for its location.The centerpiece of the governor’s visit was the $850,000 state Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant the town is using to make improvements to downtown street lighting.The grant is part of a broader package of 12 Rural Infrastructure Authority grants totaling more than $5.8 million, with commitments to create 277 jobs and more than $43 million in expected public and private investment.Stein said the lighting project is an example of a larger strategy designed to help small towns build their existing assets.“I’m proud of my team at the Department of Commerce,” Stein said.“They’re making an investment of nearly $1 million here to redo all of the street lights.That will help make this town more beautiful, safer and a better place for commerce to happen.” Stein seemed to enjoy his visit, as he called Edenton, “one of the prettiest towns in all of North Carolina.” He said North Carolina has more rural residents than any state except Texas, with more than 3 million people living in small towns.“What I want for them is to be able to have choice,” Stein said.“Do they want to move to Raleigh?Do they want to move to Charlotte, or do they want to stay in their hometown?” Asked what does rural North Carolina need to attract residents and businesses, Stein pointed to infrastructure, broadband, health care, schools and a diversified economy.Stein said rural communities need both strong small downtown businesses and larger-scale industrial recruitment.He also cited teacher pay, noting that teachers can cross into Virginia and earn thousands more than in North Carolina.The governor also fielded questions about transportation and coastal policy in eastern North Carolina.Asked about a long-discussed bridge project farther east, Stein said transportation decisions are locally driven and based on state prioritization formulas.“Clearly, we don’t have enough money to build everything that needs to be built,” Stein said.“And so we have to prioritize.” Regarding the Outer Banks, Stein said he would consult geologists and marine scientists on questions about hardened shoreline structures, noting that such structures may protect one area while worsening conditions elsewhere.He also addressed storm damage and oceanfront homes at risk of collapse, saying Congress should allow the National Flood Insurance Program to buy out or compensate homeowners before houses fall into the ocean, creating greater cleanup expenses and environmental headaches.“The challenge is we can’t stop the ocean,” Stein said, before saying the state can pursue beach nourishment and help move threatened properties.The state cannot handle the issue alone and must work with the federal government, he said.