North Carolina

5/21/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today announced her energy reform package to attract businesses, create jobs and promote a strong and sustainable green economy in North Carolina. She made the announcement at the SAS Solar Farm in Cary, which provides solar-generated power to Progress Energy.

“Developing our green economy is a cornerstone of my vision for North Carolina’s economic future,” Gov. Perdue said. “Creating green jobs and businesses is a key part of my JobsNOW initiative, and the energy reforms I am implementing will lay the foundation for North Carolina to lead the nation in green energy.”    » read more »

Statement of Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO

5/19/2009 -- Like bell bottoms and pet rocks, smoking in public places and workplaces is quickly going the way of the dinosaur—simply another component of American culture near extinction. Today, America’s fast growing smokefree air trend reached the largest tobacco producing state in the nation. North Carolina has adopted a law prohibiting smoking in bars and restaurants.

The American Lung Association applauds this historic move made by North Carolina’s Governor Beverly Perdue and the state legislature. We celebrate this new law as a tremendous public health victory that finally opens the doorway to ending Big Tobacco’s chokehold on Southern states.    » read more »

5/19/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today signed House Bill 2, which prohibits smoking in public bars and restaurants. Rep. Hugh Holliman and Sen. Bill Purcell led the efforts to pass this landmark legislation. The smoking ban will go into effect on Jan. 2, 2010, and will be enforced by local health directors.

“This is a historic day for North Carolina,” said Perdue. “But more important than the history that we are making is the positive impact we are having on public health. By banning smoking in our restaurants and bars, we will greatly reduce the dangers of secondhand smoke and lower health care costs for families.”    » read more »

State NAACP Calls for Board Member to Resign and Full Investigation to be Conducted

May 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC—The NAACP announced today a letter sent by the North Carolina State Conference demanding the resignation of Burke County School Board member Rob Hairfield.

From September 2008 to as recent as February 2009, Hairfield sent expletive laden and racist emails from his personal email account.    » read more »

State Grant Helps Siemens Energy Expand in Charlotte

5/14/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today announced that Siemens Energy Inc., an international supplier of products and services for the generation, transmission and distribution of power, will expand its operations in Mecklenburg County. The company plans to invest nearly $50 million and create 226 jobs in Charlotte during the next five years.

“North Carolina is an international leader in innovative power and energy production, research and design,” Gov. Perdue said. “Our state continues to be attractive to leading-edge global companies looking to invest and expand here, thanks to our top-rated business climate, world-class research facilities, and skill and knowledge-based workforce.”    » read more »

5/14/2009 -- Raleigh -- "Today is an important and historic day for North Carolina – a day to applaud Rep. Hugh Holliman and Sen. William Purcell for protecting the health of North Carolinians.

I have vigorously supported efforts to reduce and eliminate smoking and this bill will help more North Carolina citizens avoid the dangers of secondhand smoke."

Source: North Carolina Governor

5/12/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that domestic visitors to and within North Carolina spent a record $16.9 billion in 2008, an increase of 2.1 percent from 2007 and higher than the previous record of $16.5 billion, set in 2007.

The visitor spending figures are the preliminary results of an annual study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association for the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development. The study uses sales and tax revenue data and employment figures to determine the overall impact of visitor spending in North Carolina.    » read more »

5/11/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today announced 16 community and regional Western North Carolina projects she will recommend to receive a total of $4 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission. She made the announcement in Brevard at Transylvania Vocational Services Inc., a company participating in one of the projects.

“These 16 community and regional projects represent Western North Carolina’s creativity and innovation,” said Gov. Perdue. “They will bring needed jobs, education and training programs, housing and infrastructure improvements to this part of our state.”    » read more »

5/8/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today announced that nearly $40.5 million will be awarded to 35 communities in 28 counties for public water supply projects from the first-round distribution of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“These projects will create jobs, boost the economy and improve public water supply infrastructure in all parts of North Carolina,” said Gov. Perdue.

Project awards made by the Division of Environmental Health totaled approximately $40,381,153. Towns from Kill Devil Hills – for tank mixers to improve water quality – to Andrews – for storage lagoon replacement – to Green Level for an elevated storage tank – will benefit from the program.    » read more »

5/6/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Perdue today announced that the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service received $891,387 in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding to expand the capacity of four of its existing AmeriCorps programs.

“This funding makes sure that our AmeriCorps programs and the important services they provide will continue to benefit the people of North Carolina,” said Gov. Perdue. “Through these programs, at-risk children and families in need will continue receiving the services they need.”

The following N.C. AmeriCorps programs received funding:    » read more »

4/24/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today announced that nearly $46 million will be awarded to 36 communities in 30 counties for wastewater and stormwater projects from the first-round distribution of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Aging wastewater infrastructure from one end of the state to the other will now begin to see the benefit of the economic recovery funds,” said Gov. Perdue. “Not only will these projects help improve public health and the environment, but they’ll create jobs and boost the local economy.”    » read more »

Projects Expected to Help Create or Sustain More Than 6,000 Jobs

4/17/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today an additional 64 highway and bridge projects totaling about $209 million that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects identified to date total $679 million, more than 90 percent of the $735 million in recovery money North Carolina has received for highway and bridge improvements.    » read more »

Washington, DC, April 6, 2009 -- Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will travel to Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Wednesday, April 8th to welcome home the XVIII Airborne Corps back from Iraq. This is the XVIII Airborne Corps’ second deployment to Iraq since 2006. Vice President Biden will deliver remarks at the Welcome Home Ceremony.    » read more »

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary Tom Vilsack to Focus on Rural Healthcare Clinics, Fire Stations and Funding for Housing

Washington, DC, March 30, 2009 – Vice President Joe Biden and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday, April 1st to highlight how the Recovery Act is helping rural America.    » read more »

Raleigh Project Gets $41.5 Million In Federal Funds; Will Provide Up To 4,200 Jobs

3/25/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that work will begin shortly on a $56 million new North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters facility that will also house offices of the state Division of Emergency Management, the State Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation in Raleigh. The project, which is expected to create up to 4,200 jobs, will be open to bids next week with work to start as soon as early summer and to be finished within two years.    » read more »