A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the state's seven regional partnerships to implement the partnerships' vision plans.
Whereas, North Carolina's seven regional economic development partnerships are successfully pursuing their mandated goals of attracting new industries, encouraging existing industries, encouraging agricultural development, effecting regional workforce solutions, and encouraging new business and industrial ventures by local and foreign capital; and
Whereas, the partnerships work successfully with local and State economic development professionals, county and municipal government leaders, universities and community colleges, and businesses by providing research assistance, technical support, strategic planning, marketing and promotional support, and product development guidance that facilitate the arrival and creation of businesses and industrial investment; and 
Whereas, the partnerships foster regionalism in economic development that assures every community in the State, regardless of its location or financial resources, has access to high quality strategic planning, marketing, project management, and technical assistance; and
Whereas, the partnerships serve as catalysts to economic development in some of the State's most distressed regions by helping to grow existing small businesses, bringing new kinds of businesses into rural communities and regions, stimulating and supporting entrepreneurship, and creating new jobs; and
Whereas, through the partnerships, the State gives all of its counties, including the poorest and the most remote, an opportunity to be successful in the global economy; and 
Whereas, each of the partnerships has invested significant time and energy in developing cluster‑based vision plans and establishing strategies to implement the plans; and
Whereas, the vision plans developed and implemented by the partnerships have proven effective as a means for readying the State's communities for success in a knowledge‑driven global economy;  Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of two million one hundred thousand dollars ($2,100,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year to be allocated to the seven regional economic development partnerships to increase the current budget for the partnerships to implement the partnerships' vision plans.  Each of the seven partnerships shall be allocated three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000).
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.