A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the state's seven regional economic development partnerships to facilitate economic development.
Whereas, North Carolina's seven regional economic development partnerships are successfully pursuing their mandated goals of attracting new industries, encouraging existing industries, encouraging agricultural development, effecting regional workforce solutions, and encouraging new business and industrial ventures by local as well as foreign capital; and
Whereas, the seven regional economic development partnerships work successfully with local and State economic development professionals, county and municipal government leaders, universities and community colleges, and businesses by providing research assistance, technical support, strategic planning, marketing and promotional support, and product development guidance that facilitate the arrival and creation of businesses and industrial investment; and
Whereas, the regional economic development partnerships foster regionalism in economic development that assures that every North Carolina community, regardless of its location or financial resources, has access to high‑quality strategic planning, marketing, project management, and technical assistance; and
Whereas, through its regional economic development partnerships, the State gives all 100 of its counties, including its poorest and most remote counties, an opportunity to succeed in the global economy; and
Whereas, the seven regional economic development partnerships serve as catalysts to economic development in some of North Carolina's most distressed regions by helping to grow existing small businesses, bringing new kinds of businesses into rural communities and regions, stimulating and supporting entrepreneurship, and creating new jobs; and
Whereas, each of the seven regional economic development partnerships has invested significant time and energy to develop cluster‑based vision plans and to establish strategies for implementing these plans; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year to be allocated to the seven Regional Economic Development Commissions for their regional economic development partnerships.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2010.