On February 2, I attended an Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight committee meeting where my colleagues and I were briefed on the status of North Carolina’s commerce. Janet Cowell, North Carolina state treasurer, as well as directors of the International Trade Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce, spoke with us about the importance of stimulating international business with our state. Over the last ten years, international investment and job creation in North Carolina brought more than $9 billion in investments and 40,000 jobs to our state.
While we could certainly stand to gain more international business, we could also stimulate our state economy by overriding Governor Perdue’s veto of Bill 709, the Energy Jobs Act. The bill would allow North Carolina to drill its natural gas deposits, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions in revenue. The bill also sets aside the first $500 million in revenue to an emergency response fund to pay for any damages that could be caused by drilling. In the upcoming short session, we must make it our priority to continue to improve our economy, create jobs, and stimulate growth.
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