A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the continued operation of the military business center.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Colleges System the sum of two million seven hundred thousand dollars ($2,700,000) in each year of the 2005‑2007 fiscal biennium for the Military Business Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College.  Funds appropriated under this act shall be used for the following:
(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.	Identifying and developing military business opportunities nationwide and at installations located in North Carolina.
b.	Identifying and recruiting North Carolina companies to compete for military business opportunities.
c.	Providing direct, one‑on‑one assistance to North Carolina companies to compete for military business opportunities.
d.	Training and mentoring eligible businesses on effectively marketing their products and services to military clients and contracting offices.
e.	Assisting eligible businesses with any required accreditations and qualifications for government contracting.
f.	Teaching eligible businesses about federal set‑aside programs and how to take advantage of these programs directly or through partnering with other eligible businesses.
g.	Training and assisting clients with the registration, proposal development, and bidding processes related to military contracts.
h.	Training eligible businesses on legal and regulatory compliance.
i.	Designing and implementing mentoring programs to facilitate the development of interrelationships between eligible businesses.
j.	Forecasting the need for and assisting eligible businesses in obtaining advanced certifications and accreditations and advanced manufacturing skills and technologies.
k.	Assisting eligible businesses in advising military clients on retaining project funding.
l.	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 and to match North Carolina businesses to military business opportunities.
(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.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.