A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT for the promotion and development of and attraction to western north carolina of new businesses through clusters of innovation pursuant to the region's five‑year vision plan.
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 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 appropriated under this act shall be used to build national and international awareness of the quality of the business climate in Western North Carolina for the purposes of attracting new‑economy jobs through the 10 clusters of innovation 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.  The funds appropriated under this act shall 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 Congress in 2003 as the nation's 24th national heritage area), and local governments.
SECTION 4.  The funds shall be used expressly by the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission with oversight from the Department of Commerce.
SECTION 5.  The Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission and the Department of Commerce shall report during the 2007 General Assembly to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources and the House of Representative Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources on the use of funds appropriated under this act.
SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.