News Release
October 13, 2004
For Immediate Release
March 30, 2005
Contact: Beau Mills
(919) 715.7895 Mobile (919) 637.0873
www.ncmetros.org
NORTH CAROLINA MAYORS GATHER IN
DURHAM FOR ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE
Mayors working together for strong economy in North Carolina
Durham, N.C. – At a time when cities are competing to create jobs and improve their economies, North Carolina mayors from across the state came together in Durham over the last two days to learn from each other, state officials and private sector experts in the ongoing effort to create a strong economy in the state.
The mayors were joined at their “Roundtable for Economic Prosperity” by a number of local, regional and state economic development experts, including state Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain. The two day session focused on innovative partnerships, practices and policies that can help make North Carolina’s cities competitive in a global economy. The mayors, members of the NC Metropolitan Coalition, were hosted in Durham by Mayor Bill Bell and led by Metropolitan Coalition chair, Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday.
“We no longer can see each other as competition, instead we are all partners in helping to create and bring high quality jobs to our communities, said Mayor Holliday. “We are working together make our cities, our regions and our state competitive in an increasingly tough global economic environment.”
“We are fighting every day to create the right atmosphere and environment to create jobs and opportunities for our citizens in our cities and state,” said Coalition Vice-Chair, Mayor Allen Joines of Winston-Salem, “and we will continue to work creatively with all our state, local and regional partners.”
“I really came away from this roundtable with a clear understanding of how important it is to work together,” said Mayor Stephen Ross of Burlington, who joined 15 other mayors at the roundtable. “If Burlington is successful, North Carolina is successful. As part of an important metropolitan region in North Carolina, Burlington must continue to work together with our neighbors because our citizens live, work and play in a region. I remain committed to creating the right environment for our businesses to expand and grow– that means good roads, strong neighborhoods and schools and a positive business environment. The only way to accomplish that is to work together – local and state governments working together with our business community and citizens to make sure we are investing time, effort and money in the things that are important.”
The NC Metropolitan Coalition was established in 2000 and is comprised of 23 of the largest cities in North Carolina. It was formed by the mayors to encourage the continued development of the urban areas in North Carolina as livable, environmentally sound and economically viable centers. More details on the Coalition, including its priorities can be found at www.ncmetros.org.