​​Join the Chamber  |  Member Login  |  Subscribe
Menu
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Events Overview
    • Event Calendar & Registration
    • Subscribe
  • Programs
    • Emerging Leaders
    • Government Affairs
    • Leadership Raleigh
    • Member Services and Small Business
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Regional Transportation Alliance
    • Triangle Inclusivity Alliance
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Young Professionals Network
  • Directory
    • Search
    • New Members
    • Categories
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Meet the Chamber Staff
    • Chamber Leadership
    • Raleigh Chamber Foundation
  • Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • My Account
    • Member Resources
    • Board of Advisors
    • Member News
    • Coupons
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
  • Live & Work
    • Overview
    • Relocation Resources
    • Work in the Triangle
    • Board of Advisors Job Page
  • Do Business
    • Overview
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Rankings
    • Small Business
  • Media
    • Media
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Events Overview
    • Event Calendar & Registration
    • Subscribe
  • Programs
    • Emerging Leaders
    • Government Affairs
    • Leadership Raleigh
    • Member Services and Small Business
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Regional Transportation Alliance
    • Triangle Inclusivity Alliance
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Young Professionals Network
  • Directory
    • Search
    • New Members
    • Categories
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Meet the Chamber Staff
    • Chamber Leadership
    • Raleigh Chamber Foundation
  • Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • My Account
    • Member Resources
    • Board of Advisors
    • Member News
    • Coupons
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
  • Live & Work
    • Overview
    • Relocation Resources
    • Work in the Triangle
    • Board of Advisors Job Page
  • Do Business
    • Overview
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Rankings
    • Small Business
  • Media
    • Media
    • Blog

Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog

Vote “Yes” for Connect NC Bond

1/6/2016

0 Comments

 
The $2 billion Connect NC bond will provide much-needed funds for education, agriculture, recreation, public safety, and water and sewer—without raising taxes.
 
On Tuesday, Gov. Pat McCrory, Speaker of the House Tim Moore, and Senate Leader Dan Blue Jr. gathered with local education and business leaders to kick off the Connect NC Bond Campaign.
 
North Carolina is the ninth most populated state in the U.S. Since 2000—the last time the state held a bond referendum—North Carolina has grown by more than 2 million people. McCrory emphasized the need to prepare for the future.
 
“Do we prepare for the future or do we want the leaders of the future to have to react for what we didn’t do?” he asked the room of more than 500 people.
 
On the March 15 ballot, voters will have the opportunity to support the $2 billion bond that received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. The bond language allows the state to pay for 50-year assets with 20-year financing, and it does not require any tax increases for residents.
 
The Chamber fully supports the Connect NC bond and urges residents to learn more and vote “yes” in March.
 
The Connect NC website breaks down how the $2 billion bond would be divided:
 
Education: $1 Billion
Despite the state’s extraordinary higher education system, a skills gap truly exists. In 2020, there will be 4.2 million new jobs in computing and IT in the United States. To mitigate future workforce shortages, it’s critical that we ensure our universities and community colleges have the capacity to attain the degrees and skills these jobs require.
 
With major investments in local community colleges and universities across North Carolina, the Connect NC bond will help produce a highly-skilled workforce for today’s—and tomorrow’s—competitive and technological world. It provides state-of-the-art science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) facilities on campuses across North Carolina.
 
Ann Goodnight with SAS said the bond demonstrates a commitment to improving our education system, thereby attracting talent and business to the state and allowing us to compete successfully in a global economy.
 
Find out more about the investment in our universities and community colleges here.
 
Agriculture and Family Farms: $179 Million
Agriculture is North Carolina’s largest economic driver at $76 billion dollars annually, employing more than 16 percent of our state. The Connect NC investment keeps agribusiness and family farms growing. These investments include $85 million for the NC State Plant Sciences Initiative at NC State University and $94 million for a new collocated laboratory facility for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
 
Learn more about specific projects here.
 
State Parks and Zoo: $75 Million
The bond provides $75 million to build new state park facilities, hiking trails, and campgrounds, as well support environmental education. It includes funds for major expansions and renovations at the North Carolina Zoo, needed maintenance of North Carolina State Parks, and completion of the 1000-mile Mountains-to-Sea State Trail.
 
See which parks will benefit from the bond here.

National Guard and Public Safety: $70 million
The North Carolina National Guard is the state’s first defense and saving grace in times of natural disasters and state emergencies. The bond provides $70 million designated for building regional training centers across North Carolina that will help to keep us safe and bolster our state’s National Guard.
 
Water and Sewer: $300 Million
More than $300 million will go to North Carolina municipalities to modernize water and sewer systems. This will help them ensure water quality, economic competitiveness, quality of life, and preparation for the future.
 
Explore the details here.
Picture

Get Informed and Vote "Yes" on March 15

View a livestream of the kickoff event here thanks to WRAL. Get a detailed breakdown of where the funds will go and how you can show your support on the official Connect NC website.
 
Make sure North Carolina is prepared for the future. Vote “yes” for Connect NC on March 15.
0 Comments

Bond Connects State to 21st Century

11/17/2015

0 Comments

 
It’s been 15 years since North Carolina last passed a general obligation bond to upgrade the state’s infrastructure. During that time, the population grew by more than 2 million.
 
On March 15, 2016, the primary ballot will include a $2 billion bond referendum—known as Connect NC. The bonds will benefit 76 counties and include significant funding for the:
  •  UNC System (49 percent or $980 million)
  • North Carolina Community College System (17 percent or $350 million)
  • Other investments for water/sewer and local parks, the National Guard and public safety, agriculture, and parks and the North Carolina Zoo
The bond language allows the state to pay for 50-year assets with 20-year financing, and does not require any tax increases for residents. It received bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate and is supported by Gov. Pat McCrory and his administration.

The Chamber’s Executive Committee recently passed a resolution in support of this bond. 

To learn more, click here to visit the official Connect NC campaign website.
0 Comments

    Author

    Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

    Archives

    March 2025
    January 2025
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    Categories

    All
    Arts
    Chamber
    Communication
    Community
    Connect NC
    Economic Development
    Economy
    ED Recap
    Education
    Emerging Leaders
    Entrepreneurship
    Export Import
    Export-Import
    Government Affairs
    Growth
    Innovate Raleigh
    Jobs
    Leadership
    Leadership Message
    Leadership Raleigh
    Media
    Networking
    News
    Professional Development
    Quality Of Life
    Raleigh
    Rankings
    Regional Transportation Alliance
    Small Business
    Technology
    Transit
    Transportation
    Wake County
    Weekly Recap
    Women's Programs
    Young Professionals Network

    RSS Feed

Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
800 S. Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
CONTACT US
Phone:  919.664.7000
Email:  [email protected]
Events
Programs
Directory
Membership
Live & Work
Do Business
Media
About Us
My Account
Join the Chamber
Event Calendar
Subscribe
© Copyright 2024 - Terms  |  Privacy Policy  |  Sitemap