JOED Newsletter March 2016

Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development

March 2016 Newsletter

Please excuse the delay in this newsletter due to IT issues.

Senator Harry Brown received

Legislator of the Year Award from NCEDA!

Dennis Wicker, Rep. Jason Saine, Sheila Knight, Sen. Harry Brown, Ernest Pearson

Senator Harry Brown (R-Jones, Onslow) and Representative Jason Saine (R-Lincoln) were announced as Legislators of the Year at the 2016 NCEDA MidWinter Conference held March 8-9 in Pinehurst, N.C. The awards are given to a member of the N.C House of Representative and N.C. Senate who demonstrate outstanding leadership and support of economic development in the North Carolina

"Senator Brown and Representative Saine are tireless champions for a competitive North Carolina," said NCEDA President Ernest Pearson. "Their support of economic development legislation, including the extension of the Job Development Investment Grant Program (JDIG), has been critical to keeping North Carolina competitive.

Senator Brown is the co-chair of the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee and vice chairman of the Senate's Commerce and Redistricting committees. He has served six terms in the Senate, representing District 6.

JOED Meets with

Congressman Walter Jones!

Congressman Walter Jones visited with staff at the JOED office in February. The state of the economy and our military were among the topics discussed.

JOED joins EDPNC at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show

Sheila Pierce Knight, JOED, joins representatives Kelly Dawson and Evan Stone of EDPNC, and Steve Googe of Davidson County to work the North Carolina booth at the 2016 Miami Boat Show. They were joined by John Chaffee of NC East Alliance, Eddie Miller of NC Electric Membership Cooperatives, and Stuart Litvin of Vance County to promote doing business in North Carolina and to recruit supply chain vendors that do business with our extensive existing Marine Trades industry.

Onslow County's Armstrong Marine, Inc. also exhibited, offering a unique addition to the show that boasted 1200 exhibitors and more than 500 international buyers from over 26 countries. Josh Armstrong declared a successful show and is making plans to return next year.

Southeast Prosperity Zone Co-location

at JOED office

JOED is pleased to announce the opening of the Southeast P rosperity Zone Co-location site in the JOED office at the Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Onslow County. The NC agencies represented are the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ, formerly know as NCDENR). JOED welcomes the opportunity to facilitate this co-location partnership and enhance the convenience of these agencies to the public. Please contact us for office hours of the agency representative or to schedule an appointment.

JOED attends NCDBA Defense Industry Celebration at Governor's Mansion

Sheila Knight, Executive Director, and her husband Vic exchanged greetings with Secretary Cornell Wilson, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at the annual North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA) Defense Industry Celebration. NCDBA provides information, legislative advocacy, and networking opportunities to promote defense related business within the state of North Carolina. Sheila serves as a Director for NCDBA and has facilitated the establishment of an eastern chapter of NCDBA in Onslow County.

JOED Hosts NC Legislators

JOED was pleased to host Senator Harry Brown, Representative George Cleveland, and Representative Phil Shepard, in addition to many JOED Investors, at a Board of Directors meeting for a review of the 2015 Legislative session and a preview of 2016 short session. The Board expressed appreciation for their continued service to Onslow County, and their support of legislation that continues to strengthen North Carolina in the competitive economic development process.

JOED Team on the Road Prospecting

JOED participated with an NCEast Alliance (NCEA) trade show team at the International Boat Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. The show is not open to the public. IBEX was attended due to the recent positive growth experienced by boat building manufacturers and suppliers to the industry as well as projections for this industry to experience sustained growth through 2019. The show exhibitors ranged from pontoon boat to luxury sportfish yacht manufacturers, and manufacturers and distributors of a wide range of equipment to outfit any watercraft. The 545 exhibitors represented 42 countries with the USA, Italy and Asian countries most visible. The NCEA team met with boat builders and equipment manufacturers as well as distribution supply companies, and identified a few quality leads which are actively considering future locations. www.ibexshow.com

JOED recently attended the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) Forum in Cleveland and partnered with the EDPNC in co-hosting a VIP dinner for targeted national real estate professionals and site selection consultants. IAMC is the leading association of industrial asset management and corporate real estate executives, service providers, site selectors and economic developers. NC Department of Commerce Secretary Skvarla and Chris Chung, CEO of EDPNC, welcomed approximately 25 VIP guests that included real estate decision makers from Corning, Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo., Hanesbrand, McCallum Sweeney and others. The purpose of the dinner was to create an opportunity to develop relationships with site consultants and corporate executives that are actively considering projects that could locate in NC. www.IAMC.org

New North Carolina Brand

Capturing the Essence of North Carolina

With its scenic beauty and welcoming spirit, North Carolina has a special place in the hearts of residents, visitors and business leaders alike. Conversations with the people who know and love North Carolina helped us define the qualities that make the state so inspiring, and create the new expression of the North Carolina brand. The logo symbolizes the brand by focusing on the longleaf and other pine trees, a reflection of North Carolina's strong roots and continued growth. The colors move from green to blue, mirroring the diverse landscape from the mountains to the sea. The tagline Nothing Compares captures the excitement of being connected to a place rich in ideas and opportunities.

View the Brand video and see how Nothing Compares.

Tech Bites!

Accessible to the public starting today, illumination.duke-energy.com is a new online destination for feature stories about Duke Energy employees, expert energy advice and insights about the energy industry.

The website features content produced by Corporate Communications and showcases stories about remarkable people, innovations, and community and environmental issues. It also offers glimpses into the past and perspectives on the future of energy.

We hope you enjoyed your edition of the JOED Newsletter!