A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to establish a comprehensive MILITARY resource CENTER at FAYETTEVILLE technical community college.
Whereas, Department of Defense procurement is estimated at $390,000,000,000 for the 2003 fiscal year; and
Whereas, despite the fact that North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation in military population and that State and local governments in North Carolina have strong relationships with the military, only .25% of the military procurement budget is spent in North Carolina; and
Whereas, as a result of the significant, long‑term military presence in the State, North Carolina has well‑qualified executive, management, and clerical workers who have the knowledge and expertise necessary to understand and meet the procurement needs of the military; and
Whereas, with education and assistance in the complexities of military procurement procedures, businesses in North Carolina could dramatically increase the amount of military procurement spending in the State; 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 nine hundred eighty‑nine thousand dollars ($989,000) for the 2003‑2004 fiscal year and the sum of four hundred eighty‑five thousand dollars ($485,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year to establish a comprehensive military resource center at Fayetteville Technical Community College. The purpose of the center is to enhance the ability of the North Carolina business community to successfully coordinate and market the State's capacity to supply a wide range of products and services to the Department of Defense. Fayetteville Technical Community College shall administer the establishment and implementation of the center in cooperation with the community colleges serving Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Pope Air Force Base, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, and Cherry Point Naval Aviation Depot.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2003.