Senator Norman Sanderson will be leading Secretary of Commerce, Sharon Decker on a tour of several eastern NC communities in the coming weeks. Decker will visit Morehead City on August 18th and is expected to comment on progress relating to the Economic Development Partnership of NC
Eastern NC– August 1, 2014 –Senator Norman Sanderson will be leading Secretary of Commerce, Sharon Decker on a tour of several eastern NC communities in the coming weeks. Decker will visit Morehead City on August 18th and is expected to comment on progress relating to the Economic Development Partnership of NC, a new public-private economic development agency slated to handle business recruitment for the state. The luncheon will take place at the Morehead City Civic Center at 11:30 am for a private gathering of Carteret County elected officials, business and community leaders and economic development professionals.
“As a Senator from down east, sitting on the economic development committee, I really appreciate Secretary Decker coming to eastern NC. I know she values rural NC and I look forward to her seeing our communities firsthand – our difficulties and our successes. We will have the opportunity to visit several places where business are succeeding and have an open discussion on how to strengthen the regional economy,” said Senator Sanderson.
Decker also plans to spend time in other eastern NC communities, including a stop in Craven County, home to MCAS Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center – East.
Decker also recently visited eastern NC to meet with the board of directors of the NCEast Alliance. During her meeting Decker praised regional workforce development efforts which are focusing on providing a pipeline of qualified talent for the area’s biggest industries. Decker went on further to emphasize the importance of partnerships as a means of collaboration to accomplish more meaningful results than going at it alone. Decker followed up her meeting with the Alliance board by speaking with a group of local economic developers from around the region.
“Our county, towns and businesses are looking forward to learning more about the progress being made as the North Carolina Department of Commerce transitions to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina,” said Myles Stempin, Executive Director of the Carteret Economic Development Council. “Partnerships, like we have with the NCEast Alliance, are critical in the current economic development climate. Companies expect state, regional and local entities to act in a seamless manner as they search for new locations or expand their existing operations in the state. In addition, marketing to attract new investment is a very expensive proposition, one that demands a ‘team’ approach that must include the pooling of financial and talent resources,” Stempin added.
The NCEast Alliance, which is the lead business recruitment and marketing agency for eastern NC will work closely with both local economic development organizations and the new statewide public-private partnership to grow the region’s economy.
“The secretary brings a good message about all the elements that are important to succeed economically, namely her ‘five pillars’ necessary to support the growth of communities and regions,” said John D. Chaffee, President & CEO of the NCEast Alliance. “And we greatly appreciate the efforts of Sen. Sanderson in facilitating the Secretary’s visit deep in eastern North Carolina,” continued Chaffee.
Decker quickly outlined her 5 tenets for growth after her appointment by Governor McCrory and has made each a focus over the past couple of years: health care, education, economic development, quality of life and environment and arts, culture and tourism.
The NCEast Alliance is a regional, not-for-profit, economic development corporation serving approximately 1 million residents within several small metropolitan and micropolitan areas from the fringe of the Research Triangle to the Atlantic Coast. The Alliance provides community capacity building and assists companies with site location and expansion evaluations. For more information on the NCEast Alliance, visit us at www.nceast.org or call 1-800-474-8499.