A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the development of a Statewide military business center and a homeland security business incubator.
Whereas, North Carolina is home to five major military installations, two of which are among the three largest in the nation; and
Whereas, these five military installations directly employ over 113,000 people in North Carolina and have an annual payroll in excess of three billion three hundred million dollars; and
Whereas, the military has a direct annual economic impact in the State of over seven billion four hundred million dollars; and
Whereas, North Carolina has the third largest active‑duty military population in the nation; and
Whereas, although the State is home to huge military presence, it obtains fewer military procurement contracts than the vast majority of states; and
Whereas, the military is undergoing its largest realignment in over a decade and is looking to streamline operations; Now, therefore;
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to Fayetteville Technical Community College the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year for the development and operation of a Military Business Center.  The Military Business Center shall provide services to residents and businesses throughout the State.  Moneys appropriated under this section shall be used for the following activities:
(1)	The development and operation of a statewide business assistance center. The purpose of the business assistance center is to serve as a coordinator and facilitator for small- and medium-sized businesses throughout the State seeking to win and complete military contracts. Activities of the business assistance center shall include:
a.	Training and mentoring eligible businesses on effectively marketing their products and services to military clients and contracting offices.
b.	Assisting eligible businesses with any required accreditations and qualifications for government contracting.
c.	Teaching eligible businesses about federal set-aside programs and how to take advantage of these programs directly or through partnering with other eligible businesses.
d.	Training and assisting clients with the registration, proposal development and bidding processes related to military contracts.
e.	Training eligible businesses on legal and regulatory compliance.
f.	Designing and implementing mentoring programs to facilitate the development of interrelationships between eligible businesses.
g.	Forecasting the need for and assisting eligible businesses in obtaining advanced certifications and accreditations and advanced manufacturing skills and technologies.
h.	Assisting eligible businesses in advising military clients on retaining project funding.
i.	Working with Small Business Centers throughout the State to carry out these activities on a statewide basis.
(2)	The development and maintenance of an 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.
(3)	The study of community resources and existing business capacity to meet the current and future needs of the military and the development of proposals for further developing community resources and developing or recruiting new businesses to meet those needs.
(4)	The marketing of the services provided by the Military Business Center.
(5)	The planning and implementation of the development of an industrial park to house military contractors.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Electronics and Information Technologies Association the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year to develop, in conjunction with MCNC, a proposal for the development and operation of a homeland security business incubator.  The North Carolina Electronics and Information Technologies Association shall make a report on this proposal to the 2005 General Assembly no later than February 28, 2005.
SECTION 3.  G.S. 66‑58(c)(3a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(3b)	The operation of a military business center by a community college. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term 'military business center' means a facility that serves to coordinate and facilitate interactions between the United States Armed Forces; military personnel, veterans, and their families; and private businesses."
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.