A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the western north carolina regional economic development commission to establish a comprehensive marketing and brand awareness initiative to promote, attract, and develop new businesses in western north carolina.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to allocate to the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission to establish a comprehensive marketing and brand awareness initiative to leverage private and federal funds for the purpose of promoting the business climate in Western North Carolina and creating and growing new jobs.
SECTION 2.  The funds will be used to build national and international awareness of the quality of the business climate in Western North Carolina for the purpose of attracting new economy jobs through the 10 clusters of innovations identified in the region's Five‑Year Vision Plan, a collaboration between three State universities, 11 community colleges, six private colleges, local economic development commissions, and tourism leaders.
SECTION 3.  These funds will be matched by the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission through private investments, federal allocations for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (designated by the United States Congress in 2003 as the nation's 24th national heritage area), and local government.
SECTION 4.  The funds shall be used by the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission to achieve the objectives of this act, with oversight by the Department of Commerce.
SECTION 5.  The Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission and the Department of Commerce shall report on the use of these funds to the Joint Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources to the 2007 General Assembly.
SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.