16 UCW OCTOBER 21-27, 2009
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Chairman
The
n
speaks speaks
This just in from our "Good News Bureau..."
With the annexation of Fort Bragg, our Fayette-
ville population is now more than 207,000. Our
per capita income is above the state average and
has grown faster than any other municipality in
our state.
Our homes have shown a 13.4 percent appre-
ciation, the highest in the country. Unemploy-
ment is now at 7.5 percent while the state sets at
11.1 percent.
We are already seeing an economic lift from
the coming BRAC realignment. The number of defense contractors
with offices in our area has just about doubled in the last two years.
The recession is not totally over, but Fayetteville and Cumber-
land County are certainly ahead of most other areas with our eco-
nomic indicators. A very "green" company (VGB) has signed a letter
of intent to put a dinnerware company in our shell building in the
industrial park. They make biodegradable plates and cups out of
plant starch. Developers are looking at us on a daily basis.
We have much to give thanks for as we enter the Thanksgiving
and holiday season.
Dan Dederick
Good News Keeps Coming
Business
The
ss
Spotlight Spotlight
Positive Economic News
Your Chamber had a busy first quar ter,
bringing in a total of $60,450,000 in new
investments.
With a total of three located projects,
and the creation of 100 new jobs in the
community, the Chamber has worked hard
and steady in their effor ts to build the
community and lift the local economy.
As strategies are implemented for the
second quar ter, the Chamber is reaching
out to national companies specializing
in various sectors of aero-defense, bio/
health and phar maceuticals, manufacturing
and distribution, and technolog y and
communications. The goal is to make
contact with a minimum of 37 companies
each quar ter. The first quar ter ended with
82 contacts made. A great head star t for
their annual goal of 150 new initiated
recruited contacts.
As BRAC 2005 continues to come into
fruition, the requests for infor mation and
community visits are growing. There have
been fifty-seven inquiries since the fiscal
year star ted and the Chamber is expecting
that number will close to double before
the second quar ter is over. Each inquiry is
answered with specialized repor ts focused
on how the assets of the community will
increase business for the industry. Your
Chamber is also now providing these
repor ts in Spanish, to help market our
bi-lingual labor force.
Do you have questions about
economic development? Feel free to call
us at 483-8133.
