Gov. Perdue Announces Economic Recovery Workshop for Local Representatives, Businesses and Citizens in Wilmington

Press Release

Gov. Perdue Announces Economic Recovery Workshop for Local Representatives, Businesses and Citizens in Wilmington

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that the N.C. Office of Economic Recovery and Investment (OERI) will hold the fifth in a series of workshops across the state providing information and guidance to local municipalities, businesses and interested citizens on how the federal recovery funds will be administered. Gov. Perdue will speak at the Wilmington workshop on June 5, at 10 a.m. in UNC-Wilmington's Burney Center.

Workshop attendees will have an opportunity to hear from representatives of state and federal agencies administering the recovery funds. These representatives will discuss the current status of funds in their agencies, detail upcoming opportunities and explain the mechanisms for participation in the process.

"North Carolina is set to receive more than $8 billion in federal recovery money, and I intend for our state to not only be prepared to use this money to put our people back to work, but also to spend the money with the utmost accountability and transparency," said Gov. Perdue. "These workshops will build the bridges between state, local and county governments - and anyone else interested in utilizing recovery funds - to ensure this money is used to benefit all of North Carolina and our people."

OERI Director Dempsey Benton will lead the two-hour workshop. "The economic recovery funds are purpose-driven, rather than place-driven," he said. "It's important that attendees understand the funded programs, so they may actively participate. It's also important for participants to understand the expectations for efficiency, transparency and accountability in the investment of funds."

The OERI Web site, www.NCRecovery.gov, details the role of the OERI as the official coordinator, monitor and clearinghouse for federal economic recovery funds designated for the state. Workshop details are available at the site.

An additional workshop will be held in Charlotte on June 18. Workshops recently have been held in Winston-Salem, Clyde (western NC), Kinston (eastern NC) and Raleigh.

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