A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate additional funds to support the operations of the nc military business center.
Whereas, the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a component of the North Carolina Community College System operating as a statewide economic business development organization that helps companies win federal defense contracts and focuses on job growth in North Carolina; and
Whereas, NCMBC opened in 2005 to address the "opportunity gap" between North Carolina's high military presence and low capture rate (1%) of defense contracts; and
Whereas, NCMBC has directly assisted businesses in winning over 3,093 contracts representing a minimum value of $10.3 billion, which has resulted in generating over $476.5 million in State corporate income taxes and the employment of 345,975 people since NCMBC's opening in 2005; and
Whereas, in 2018, federal agencies awarded $6.1 billion in prime contracts to companies in 95 of 100 North Carolina counties; and
Whereas, NCMBC's return on State investment equals 31:1; and
Whereas, NCMBC operates the following programs as part of its work activities:
(1)	Business development, training, and assistance.
(2)	Solicitation and proposal support.
(3)	Strategic initiatives.
(4)	Technology resources, such as MatchForce.org, which matches businesses to federal opportunities and individuals to jobs in North Carolina.
(5)	Employment support for the military workforce.
(6)	Communication and outreach activities; and
Whereas, NCMBC intends to expand defense‑related economic development statewide and increase its services in underserved areas of the State, particularly in Western North Carolina and in 10 to 15 counties, but requires additional State funds to do so; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission supports an increase in State funding to NCMBC of an additional $1 million each fiscal year; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year and the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year in additional State funds to support the operations of the North Carolina Military Business Center.
SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds allocated to the North Carolina Military Business Center shall not be reduced in order to meet any portion of a management flexibility reduction.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019.