The Economic Development Standing Committee assists with military related economic retention and recruitment efforts.

The objective of this committee is to develop and strengthen relationships between the Commission, the NC Department of Commerce, and other local and regional economic development organizations to assist them with identifying defense and homeland security related opportunities to retain and expand the State’s economy. Those organizations include, but are not limited to:

• NC Military Foundation

• NC Military Business Center

• NC Defense Business Association

• Fort Bragg Regional Alliance

• Military Growth Task Force – Eastern Region

• Regional Economic Development organizations and Chambers of Commerce

Supporting actions:

• Advising the Secretary of the DMVA and the Secretary of Commerce on actions that the State can take to support initiatives and programs that leverage military and homeland security programs to create jobs, increase the tax base and expand the state’s economy.

• Enhancing the state’s capacity for expanding and relocating industry by supporting workforce initiatives, programs, organizations, and legislation intended to retain transitioning military personnel and family members in the state.

• Encouraging installations, military services, and the Department of Defense (DoD) to allow installations to buy local and to buy North Carolina products and consumables for use on NC’s military installations. Support programs that establish direct links and purchasing agreements between NC farmers and producers.

• Supporting compatible land use development and dual-use initiatives to maintain working lands in working land status that grows the economy while producing consumables for the installations.

• Supporting the long-term goal of a viable and prosperous military presence in the State, which shall include development of comprehensive economic impact studies of military activities in North Carolina, updated every two years with recommendations for initiatives to support this goal.

• Identify and publicize “best practices” from other states for policies and actions that promote job creation and expansion of defense and homeland security related economic development.