• Bioengineering program at NCSU - $2 million
• BRITE (Biomanufacturing Research & Technology Enterprise) - $1 million
• Research Competitiveness Fund for the University system - $3 million
• Defense & Security Technology Center - $1.5 million
• Biofuels Center of NC - $5 million
• Community College equipment funding received a $5 million boost

Partial list of capital projects for the region include (region received almost $400 million in capital building projects in the budget):

• State Visitors Center - $2.6 million
• NCSU Engineering Complex - $14.4 million
• Centennial Campus Library - $109 million
• Green Square/Dept. of Environment Natural Resources project - $150 million project

The Chamber also advocated on behalf of several key initiatives to the business community. First, we joined with a coalition of employers to bottle up legislation that would have granted public employees the right to collective bargaining. The coalition successfully lobbied Appropriations Committee to oppose House Bill 1583, which fell only one vote shy of passage. Due to our narrow margin of victory, we expect the bill will be introduced early in the next session. The Chamber also advocated for the repeal of the state gift tax. The gift tax repeal was included in the budget, which will help small business owners who wish to transfer assets to future generations and bring North Carolina in line with many other states.

The state also included $2 million to extend the R&D tax credit through 2014. The General Assembly included tax credit for small business owners who provide health insurance to their employees, saving small business owners in North Carolina $18 million through 2014.

On the transportation front, we've had some great successes.

Gap Funding for the Triangle Expressway was included in budget signed into law by the governor. The $25 million appropriation was supported by a reduction in the Highway Trust Fund transfer to the General Fund (another long-term goal of the Chamber). Before this session, the Highway Trust Fund transferred $172 million of transportation-related fees/taxes to the General Fund. With the transportation challenges facing our state and region, we have long sought to have this transfer eliminated.

• Gap Funding for the Triangle Expressway is a huge victory for our region, which is currently estimated to cost roughly $1 billion. The RTA and Chamber significantly helped the NC Turnpike Authority make this happen. This is the state's first commitment to toll roads in decades and the Chamber, along with the RTA, played a major role in securing funds for this project.

Turnpike Enforcement Authority legislation passed (S 1697). NC Turnpike Authority needed this legislation in order to get a stronger rating by bond agencies. With expiring environmental studies on the Triangle Expressway, we could not wait until next year to get this legislation passed.

• Through the combined efforts of the Chamber and the RTA, we were successful in speeding up the progress of the bill.
• The legislation passed the Senate and was sent to the governor one day before the General Assembly adjourned.