Letter from Phil Kirk

We Are Changing the Way We Do Business

The title of North Carolina’s 2002 Economic Development Strategic plan developed by the state Economic Development Board is “We Are Changing the Way We do Business.”

Again NCCBI provided the leadership for this major state initiative. NCCBI’s immediate past chair Gordon Myers headed the Economic Development Board until recently and the new leader is Robert Stolz, a member of our board of directors. More than three-fourths of the 37-member board also are members of NCCBI. I chair the Workforce Development and Education Committee.

The board worked diligently for more than a year to develop this plan. It is more than another well-meaning report. With the Department of Commerce playing the key leadership role in developing the report with the volunteer board members and many advisers from both the public and private sector, the progress will be tracked, specific action steps and timelines have been established, and clear lines of responsibility have been outlined. The plan can be labeled “a work in progress” because it will be updated as economic changes occur, as they surely will.

North Carolina’s economy is undergoing a transition from traditional industries to new economy jobs. That does not mean manufacturing is dead; however, it does mean that we must do everything humanly possible to assist this valuable part of the economy. The same is true of agribusiness, which will continue to be extremely important — now and in the future.

The report speaks to the need to continue to improve our complex economic development delivery system and to make sure our tax structure, regulatory climate and specific incentives keep us competitive with other states. Regionalism — instead of 100 counties doing “their own thing” is very important. There must be enhanced co-operation and collaboration among all the public and private groups in North Carolina, which are concerned with jobs and quality of life. Performance and results by all these groups must be monitored and reported.

There is an urgent tone and calls for concerted action throughout this report, and specific steps need to be taken immediately in order to turn around one of our worst recessions ever. Strong, forceful action must be led by Gov. Easley, our chief executive and No. 1 cheerleader. He and all the other players in this field, led by Commerce Secretary Jim Fain, must respond to this report.

Support by legislators, city and county officials also is crucial for North Carolina to return to its traditional position as “the best place to do business” in the U.S.A. We still rank high in most surveys, but there is a perception that we are not on the “cutting edge” as we are accustomed to being.

The report urges a continued emphasis and investment in education, which will produce a highly qualified workforce — the key to a successful economic development program. It contains yet another call for a change in the governance and accountability structure of the workforce delivery system. I have appointed Mac Everett, Wachovia official and chair emeritus of NCCBI, to ensure that this finally happens!

Specific steps are called for to make sure that our investments in science, technology and university outreach yield greater results for our citizens.

A heavy emphasis is placed on the development of the Existing Industry Service Center, a one-stop resource center that will assist existing industries with any of their business needs. Since they provide at least 70 percent of new jobs and investments, this is very important.

The strengthening of our metropolitan areas and local governments’ ability to help with economic development is also advocated, along with helping to develop thriving rural areas.

The far-reaching report also recognizes the need to do a more effective job of promoting our state’s cultural, natural and heritage assets. Our state’s travel, tourism, films and sports industries hold a lot of promise in our job growth opportunities.

This is a report we cannot afford to ignore or our future will not be bright and our great quality of life in North Carolina will suffer.

For more information on this report, visit www.nccommerce.com.

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