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| 07/29/04 |
Contact Information: |
| FTCC and CCBC Announce $2 Million for Statewide Initiative to Create a Military Business Center in Fayetteville, NC |
Kristie Lozano |
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(910) 484-4242 ext. 240 |
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klozano@ccbusinesscouncil.org |
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Fayetteville, NC- Today the Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) in conjunction with the Cumberland County Business Council (CCBC) announced state funding of $2 million to create a statewide Military Business Center based in Fayetteville, NC. The legislation providing the funding was sponsored by Senator Tony Rand and members of the Cumberland County delegation, and passed as part of the North Carolina state budget on July 23.
?I am delighted that the State of North Carolina will now be able to have an enterprise that will facilitate the interaction between our business community and our military,? said Senator Rand. ?These are two of North Carolina?s great treasures, and I am pleased that we have put them together in this way.?
The money is allocated through FTCC?s General Fund for fiscal year 2004-2005 and will provide for a Military Business Center (MBC) that will serve residents and businesses throughout the state. Specifically, the Center will provide assistance and mentoring for eligible businesses on marketing, contracting, registrations and certifications required, proposal development and the bidding process related to military contracts. It will also work to forecast the needs of local military installations.
?Fayetteville Technical Community College is pleased to receive funding from the North Carolina General Assembly for the establishment of a Military Business Center to serve the State. Our goal is to assist firms with doing business with the military and to recruit to our State and region companies that serve the military bases,? says Larry Norris, President of FTCC. ?We believe this Center will have a major positive impact on the economic development of the State and will allow us to better serve our military personnel."
In addition to contracting assistance, the legislation will fund three other initiatives. It mandates the development and maintenance of an existing Internet-based system to match the knowledge, skills and abilities of active-duty military personnel, veterans and their families throughout the State with the needs of North Carolina businesses. It will also fund a study to examine existing North Carolina business capacity to meet the current and future needs of the military and identify resources to recruit businesses to meet those needs. It will also fund the planning and implementation of a business park to house military contractors.
?We appreciate the wisdom and support of the Legislature in enabling this effort,? said Tony Chavonne, Chair, CCBC. ?This will impact not only Cumberland County, but the entire state.?
The CCBC is a community initiative that evolved from Greater Fayetteville Futures, a community wide planning process. The purpose of the CCBC is to coordinate the efforts of the Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Corporation of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Area Economic Development Corporation.
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