Southeastern North Carolina offers a business-friendly environment that a variety of industry sectors such as food processing, metal working, marine/boat manufacturing, advanced technical textiles, warehouse/distribution, and building and wood products have chosen to call home. Companies like Campbell Soup, Progress Energy, International Paper, Dupont, GE Nuclear, and Corning are just a few examples of the businesses that have chosen to take advantage of the talented workforce, outstanding quality of life, and favorable incentives offered by our state and local governments. The Port of Wilmington provides convenient and affordable access to commercial sea routes. Existing businesses enjoy close proximity to Interstate 95, Interstate 40, and the future Interstate 74 , further increasing their competitive advantage within the national and global economic market.
Addressing the Needs of Our Rural Communities
With a high poverty rate in many of our rural areas, economic development remains a top priority for Southeastern North Carolina. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have worked hard to create job opportunities and attract new business to our region. In order to compete in the 21st century, our region must have an economy that is both diverse and dynamic. As Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops, and Foreign Agriculture, I am working to bring valuable resources to our region and increase our competitiveness in the global economy.
Establishing the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
In an effort to create jobs and improve our communities, I am working to establish the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC). Modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission, SCRC would participate in a local-regional-federal partnership in an effort to create jobs and break the cycle of poverty in which many of our citizens are trapped. Although the Southeastern United States has some of the highest levels of unemployment and poverty in the country, our region is the only area without a federal authority dedicated completely to economic development.
As part of the 2008 Farm Bill, I was successful in including authorizing language to establish the Commission. This law authorizes federal funding to be administered through the Commission to assist distressed regions for the development of community revitalization programs. This initiative is critical to relieving some of the most poverty-stricken areas in the nation, and will assist every county in the Seventh District of North Carolina. In addition, I was also successful in securing funding to get the Commission up and running. I will continue to work with all stakeholders in the southeast to make the SCRC as strong as it can be.
Investing in the Jobs of the Future
I have been a strong supporter of the development of alternative energy and the cultivation of green jobs. I have visited the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado and met with officials committed to seeing additional biorefineries deployed across this country. I also hosted an Alternative Energy Summit to bring a focus to the idea of renewable fuels in Southeastern North Carolina and a Green Jobs Summit to highlight opportunities and advancements in this innovative job sector. I have been a strong supporter of tax credits, tax incentives, and dedicated research dollars for development and deployment of the next generation of biofuels.