A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the fayetteville business and Professional league to establish a minority business resource center.
Whereas, the Fayetteville Business and Professional League is a nonprofit association whose mission is to promote opportunities for minority‑owned and managed businesses to participate in the free enterprise system; and
Whereas, the Fayetteville Business and Professional League was established in 1967, and is currently formulating plans to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a focus on expanding its outreach to minority groups in Cumberland County and the surrounding area, including Scotland, Robeson, Harnett, Hoke, and Bladen Counties, where there is evidence of economic development disparity; and
Whereas, one of the goals of the Fayetteville Business and Professional League is to help the minority community increase its income, a problem that needs addressing because the per capita income in the minority community continues to lag behind the State average; and
Whereas, the Fayetteville Business and Professional League seeks to establish a minority business resource center in downtown Fayetteville to serve Cumberland County and the surrounding area; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Fayetteville Business and Professional League, a nonprofit association, the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year for the purpose of developing a minority business resource center to serve Cumberland County and the surrounding area.  Some of the center's goals will include assisting potential minority business owners with business planning, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) opportunities, and identifying federal and State business opportunities.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.