Governor Perdue vetoes Senate Bill 13. On Tuesday, February 22, 2011 Governor Perdue used her veto power to overturn S.13 saying those funds were needed to attract companies to North Carolina.
S.13 was designed by Senate Republicans to save money that was already appropriated to several state accounts but has not yet been spent in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which ends July 1. The entire package saves the state $400 million, but takes money away from job creating, economic development incentives.
It is not clear whether Republicans will attempt to override the Governor’s veto. North Carolina’s Constitution requires a 3/5 majority to overcome the veto. Republicans have this majority in the Senate but lack votes in the House.
The Chamber will keep you updated as events continue to unfold at the General Assembly
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Public Policy Update: North Carolina General Assembly, S. 13, and State Budget
The third week of the General Assembly’s session saw nonstop action. Both the House and Senate are ramping up as legislatures get comfortable with committee assignments, procedure, and the way things work at the Capitol.
The hot topic this week was Senate Bill 13, which passed the Senate on Monday, February 7.
S. 13 then went to the House Appropriations Committee and spent the week being debated on the House floor. The bill was designed by Senate Republicans to save money that was already appropriated to several state accounts but has not yet been spent in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which ends July 1. The entire package saves the state $400 million, but takes money away from job creating, economic development incentives.
Find Information on S.13 below
.
Two very concerning items that are a part of this reversion are funds for two extremely significant job recruitment programs, the Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program and the One North Carolina Fund. The total reversion for these two accounts is $8.2 million. These programs are valuable tools that economic developers at the Charlotte Chamber and across the state use regularly to incent companies to create jobs by relocating or expanding their operations. If these tools are taken, Charlotte in particular will mostly likely feel significant backlash, and the state will have no choice but to pass on some worthwhile projects we would otherwise be able to land because they will have more limitations on where they can pick and choose to use these tools. With unemployment rates as high as they are, now is not the time to be cutting back on incentive programs, especially when many of our surrounding states and competition are ratcheting up what they are willing to do.
Several amendments were made in the House to save the economic development funding the bill would take away. Representative Ray Rapp of district 118 (Haywood, Madison, Yancey) made the amendment to save the Golden Leaf funding. This funding is valuable to rural counties in helping to provide jobs and improve quality of life. The Chamber thanks Representative Rapp for the work he does and his work to preserve this funding.
S. 13 passed the House on Thursday, February 10 and are headed to the Governor’s desk on Monday for approval. There has been Rumor that the Governor may veto the bill. The Chamber will watch the legislation closely.
Governor Perdue also announced on Thursday that North Carolina’s budget deficit has been whittled down by $1 billion to a total of $2.7 billion. You can see her announcement here. The Governor will give her State of the State address on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 7 p.m. in the House Chamber, and her 2011-2012 fiscal year budget is supposed to be released next week.
The Chamber will be watching these developments and working for the businesses and people of
Western North Carolina.
Please contact Jeff Joyce at 828-258-6122 with any questions or needs.
The hot topic this week was Senate Bill 13, which passed the Senate on Monday, February 7.
S. 13 then went to the House Appropriations Committee and spent the week being debated on the House floor. The bill was designed by Senate Republicans to save money that was already appropriated to several state accounts but has not yet been spent in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which ends July 1. The entire package saves the state $400 million, but takes money away from job creating, economic development incentives.
Find Information on S.13 below
.
Two very concerning items that are a part of this reversion are funds for two extremely significant job recruitment programs, the Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program and the One North Carolina Fund. The total reversion for these two accounts is $8.2 million. These programs are valuable tools that economic developers at the Charlotte Chamber and across the state use regularly to incent companies to create jobs by relocating or expanding their operations. If these tools are taken, Charlotte in particular will mostly likely feel significant backlash, and the state will have no choice but to pass on some worthwhile projects we would otherwise be able to land because they will have more limitations on where they can pick and choose to use these tools. With unemployment rates as high as they are, now is not the time to be cutting back on incentive programs, especially when many of our surrounding states and competition are ratcheting up what they are willing to do.
Several amendments were made in the House to save the economic development funding the bill would take away. Representative Ray Rapp of district 118 (Haywood, Madison, Yancey) made the amendment to save the Golden Leaf funding. This funding is valuable to rural counties in helping to provide jobs and improve quality of life. The Chamber thanks Representative Rapp for the work he does and his work to preserve this funding.
S. 13 passed the House on Thursday, February 10 and are headed to the Governor’s desk on Monday for approval. There has been Rumor that the Governor may veto the bill. The Chamber will watch the legislation closely.
Governor Perdue also announced on Thursday that North Carolina’s budget deficit has been whittled down by $1 billion to a total of $2.7 billion. You can see her announcement here. The Governor will give her State of the State address on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 7 p.m. in the House Chamber, and her 2011-2012 fiscal year budget is supposed to be released next week.
The Chamber will be watching these developments and working for the businesses and people of
Western North Carolina.
Please contact Jeff Joyce at 828-258-6122 with any questions or needs.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Asheville Chamber in Raleigh: North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly convened Wednesday, January 26, 2010 for the 112th Biennium and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, represented by Jeff Joyce, was there advocating on behalf of Western North Carolina business.
Wednesday marked a historic day for the General Assembly as Republicans control both Houses for the first time in over 100 years and face a $3.7 billion dollar budget deficit. However, the gloom of the impending cuts was set aside as legislator’s family and friends crowded the building to watch the session convene.
The Senate voted Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, as Senate president pro tempore and the House voted Thom Thillis, R-Mecklenburg, as speaker of the house.
Legislation is expected to move fast this session and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce will keep you informed. Please contact the Chamber with any questions or concerns. I look forward to serving the Asheville community in Raleigh.
For updated information on the legislative session follow me on twitter @avlbizvoice or email me at jjoyce@ashevillechamber.org.
Wednesday marked a historic day for the General Assembly as Republicans control both Houses for the first time in over 100 years and face a $3.7 billion dollar budget deficit. However, the gloom of the impending cuts was set aside as legislator’s family and friends crowded the building to watch the session convene.
The Senate voted Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, as Senate president pro tempore and the House voted Thom Thillis, R-Mecklenburg, as speaker of the house.
Legislation is expected to move fast this session and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce will keep you informed. Please contact the Chamber with any questions or concerns. I look forward to serving the Asheville community in Raleigh.
For updated information on the legislative session follow me on twitter @avlbizvoice or email me at jjoyce@ashevillechamber.org.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Legislative Luncheon
Over 160 people attended the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Legislative Luncheon presented by King Bio, Inc. making the event a huge success.
The Annual Legislative Luncheon allows the Chamber to present its legislative priorities to the Western North Carolina Delegation before the start of the legislative session on January 26, 2011. The event also allowed the delegation to remark on their priorities and what they hope to accomplish in the coming months
The Annual Legislative Luncheon allows the Chamber to present its legislative priorities to the Western North Carolina Delegation before the start of the legislative session on January 26, 2011. The event also allowed the delegation to remark on their priorities and what they hope to accomplish in the coming months
The Western North Carolina Delegation was represented by Senator Martin Nesbitt, Representative Susan Fisher, Representative Patsy Keever, Representative Tim Moffitt, Representative Chuck McGrady, and Representative Ray Rapp.
The priority of the General Assembly will be working to balance North Carolina’s budget, which currently has an estimated $3.7 billion deficit. The delegation told those in attendance to be prepared for cuts. The Chamber will work hard to represent the people and businesses of Western North Carolina throughout the session.
If you want to be more involved with public policy with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, consider joining the Governmental Affairs Task Force. The Task Force works to set the Chamber’s legislative agenda and top priorities each year. They meet and discuss issues that will affect the businesses of Western North Carolina. To find out more contact Jeff Joyce at jjoyce@ashevillechamber.org.
Thank you to King Bio, Inc., Four Seasons, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, AT&T, FASTSIGNS, and Mountain Express for sponsoring the event.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Celebrate Asheville's Food Scene at The Culinary AffAIR
Tickets are now on sale for The Culinary AffAIR - Asheville's premier food event coming up February 3, 2011 at The Venue.
For a sneak peek, check out this video slideshow produced by Stone Digital Media.
For a sneak peek, check out this video slideshow produced by Stone Digital Media.
The Culinary Affair from Stone Digital Media on Vimeo.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Arvato Digital Services Expands to Create Over 400 New Jobs in Weaverville
Contact: Ben Teague, Executive Director
Economic Development Coalition for Asheville - Buncombe County (828) 258-6130– bteague@ashevillechamber.org
Economic Development Coalition for Asheville - Buncombe County (828) 258-6130– bteague@ashevillechamber.org
Arvato Digital Services Expands to Create Over 400 New Jobs in Weaverville
Asheville, NC - Arvato Digital Services, in Weaverville, plans to invest $1.8 million in capital improvements to assist in the creation of 408 net new jobs over the next three years as it positions itself for future business opportunities. The firm, in conjunction with the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County (EDC), announced that the Weaverville plant expansion will incorporate new customer care operations, one of several such operations throughout the U.S.
Arvato Digital Services is a replicator and distributor for intellectual property such as music, movies, software, and video games in CD and DVD formats. Its extensive client list includes leading firms in entertainment, music, and software industries. The organization has grown to dominate market share in its industry through its expertise and innovation of services. In recent years, Arvato and the former Sonopress merged to combine end-to end customer service operations, further diversifying its business.
A division of Arvato AG, a global media and communication firm headquartered in Gutersloh, Germany, Arvato Digital Services serves 18 countries on five continents. The Weaverville plant, currently specializing in media replication and fulfillment, was established in 1984, and is among seven Arvato locations in the U.S. Arvato management’s decision to expand its growing call center operations will strengthen the future of Arvato in Western North Carolina.
“While it is always difficult to predict the evolving demands of businesses and consumers, our company has succeeded by recognizing trends and adapting to fit the times,” said Bob Fletcher, EVP North American Customer Service at Arvato Digital Services. “There is no better example of this willingness to innovate than our new customer care operation in Weaverville. We are grateful to our friends, neighbors, and partners in the County for their continued support of Arvato Digital Services and we look forward to many more years of success.”
Buncombe County Commission Chairman David Gantt commented “We are grateful to Arvato management for their dedication to Buncombe County. The company has served for more than 25 years as an economic anchor in the northern part of our county. We wish them much success as the company begins this new chapter.”
“Arvato’s continued investment in our community is a win for Buncombe County,” stated EDC Chairman K. Ray Bailey. “The EDC applauds the forethought of the local management team for pursuing additional avenues to serve their customer base. We expect this investment will open doors to employment for hundreds of Buncombe County residents.”
For more information on this expansion, visit Arvato’s website at www.arvatodigitalservices.com. Applications for employment will be collected online at recruiting@adisna.com , and also at the Homecoming Job Fair at Biltmore Square Mall on December 28.
The EDC for Asheville-Buncombe County is a public-private partnership committed to: creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions. The EDC accomplishes this mission through its four core services: business retention and expansion, small business and entrepreneurship, research, and marketing and recruitment. The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Advantage Asheville Campaign.
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a 2,000+ member organization representing 86,000 employees. Chamber members collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the community and each other with the mission of increasing the region’s livability by advancing its economic vitality. The Asheville Chamber works diligently to ensure that Asheville continues to prosper while also protecting the natural beauty of the area. In 2006, the Chamber moved to a new location and is now home to the 4,000 square foot Visitor Center which welcomes 200,000 visitors per year.
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Thursday, December 9, 2010
Public Policy Update: EPA and Collective Bargaining
EPA Delays Decision on 8 Hour Ozone Standard
In January of 2010 the EPA announced they would set a stricter 8 Hour Ozone Standard. The Chamber became involved with Land of Sky Regional Council and worked to create a policy position that protected the people and businesses of Western North Carolina. The Chamber desired the stricter regulation to come from Congress, which is accountable to voting constituents instead of from the EPA. The Chamber has been monitoring the situation and waiting for the EPA to announce the new standard. Yesterday the EPA announced that it will once again delay the decision until July of 2011. You can see the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s statement below and the EPA’s press release.
Asheville Chamber Position Statement
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes that climate change is an important issue which must be addressed by Congress. We strongly support efforts by Congress to craft comprehensive environmental legislation which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and protects our economic competitiveness and quality of life. The Chamber appreciates the role the Environmental Protection Agency plays in protecting the American people, but we do not support the recent efforts of the EPA to move towards regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. We urge Congress to develop this important environmental protection legislation within the next two years to continue the system of checks and balances necessary for issues that impact jobs, our economy, and environment. The Chamber recognizes that members of Congress are held accountable to constituents for decisions on cost and impacts and federal agencies do not have the same accountability for economic consequences.
EPA Statement
Under Administrator Jackson's leadership, in January the Environmental Protection Agency proposed stricter standards for smog - standards that would help prevent up to 12,000 premature deaths, 58,000 cases of aggravated asthma and save up to $100 billion dollars in health costs.
The proposed standard would replace an existing standard set during the previous Administration, which many - including the Agency's independent team of expert scientists known as Clean Air Science Advisory Committee (CASAC) - believed did not go far enough to protect public health.
Administrator Jackson proposed that EPA select a standard in the range that CASAC indicated would be protective of Americans' health. As part of EPA's extensive review of the science, Administrator Jackson will ask CASAC for further interpretation of the epidemiological and clinical studies they used to make their recommendation. To ensure EPA's decision is grounded in the best science, EPA will review the input CASAC provides before the new standard is selected. Given this ongoing scientific review, a final standard - which will be in the range recommended by the CASAC - will be set by the end of July, 2011.
In addition to this standard, EPA is moving forward with a number of national rules that will significantly reduce pollution and improve public health for all Americans. These include rules designed to reduce harmful emissions from cars, power plants and other industrial facilities that contribute to ozone formation. Taking additional time to complete the scientific review of the ozone standard will not delay the public health benefits of these rules.
Collective Bargaining Update
The revised collective bargaining mandate bill (S. 3911) that would have forced all states and local government to allow certain government employees to collectively bargain was REJECTED by the U.S. Senate yesterday (12/8). The cloture vote, allowing the bill to move forward for a full Senate floor vote FAILED by a vote of 55-43 (60 votes were needed) with U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D) voting NO and U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R) voting NO.
In January of 2010 the EPA announced they would set a stricter 8 Hour Ozone Standard. The Chamber became involved with Land of Sky Regional Council and worked to create a policy position that protected the people and businesses of Western North Carolina. The Chamber desired the stricter regulation to come from Congress, which is accountable to voting constituents instead of from the EPA. The Chamber has been monitoring the situation and waiting for the EPA to announce the new standard. Yesterday the EPA announced that it will once again delay the decision until July of 2011. You can see the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s statement below and the EPA’s press release.
Asheville Chamber Position Statement
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes that climate change is an important issue which must be addressed by Congress. We strongly support efforts by Congress to craft comprehensive environmental legislation which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and protects our economic competitiveness and quality of life. The Chamber appreciates the role the Environmental Protection Agency plays in protecting the American people, but we do not support the recent efforts of the EPA to move towards regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. We urge Congress to develop this important environmental protection legislation within the next two years to continue the system of checks and balances necessary for issues that impact jobs, our economy, and environment. The Chamber recognizes that members of Congress are held accountable to constituents for decisions on cost and impacts and federal agencies do not have the same accountability for economic consequences.
EPA Statement
Under Administrator Jackson's leadership, in January the Environmental Protection Agency proposed stricter standards for smog - standards that would help prevent up to 12,000 premature deaths, 58,000 cases of aggravated asthma and save up to $100 billion dollars in health costs.
The proposed standard would replace an existing standard set during the previous Administration, which many - including the Agency's independent team of expert scientists known as Clean Air Science Advisory Committee (CASAC) - believed did not go far enough to protect public health.
Administrator Jackson proposed that EPA select a standard in the range that CASAC indicated would be protective of Americans' health. As part of EPA's extensive review of the science, Administrator Jackson will ask CASAC for further interpretation of the epidemiological and clinical studies they used to make their recommendation. To ensure EPA's decision is grounded in the best science, EPA will review the input CASAC provides before the new standard is selected. Given this ongoing scientific review, a final standard - which will be in the range recommended by the CASAC - will be set by the end of July, 2011.
In addition to this standard, EPA is moving forward with a number of national rules that will significantly reduce pollution and improve public health for all Americans. These include rules designed to reduce harmful emissions from cars, power plants and other industrial facilities that contribute to ozone formation. Taking additional time to complete the scientific review of the ozone standard will not delay the public health benefits of these rules.
Collective Bargaining Update
The revised collective bargaining mandate bill (S. 3911) that would have forced all states and local government to allow certain government employees to collectively bargain was REJECTED by the U.S. Senate yesterday (12/8). The cloture vote, allowing the bill to move forward for a full Senate floor vote FAILED by a vote of 55-43 (60 votes were needed) with U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D) voting NO and U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R) voting NO.
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