Today, Gov. Bev Perdue announced plans to honor communities across the state for the creative, innovative ways they help small businesses bring jobs to North Carolina. Two-thirds of all new jobs are created by small businesses, making them critical economic drivers for communities across the state.
“Small businesses are the backbone of North Carolina’s economy and one of the reasons we are in the top ten states to improve our unemployment rate, which has dropped by nearly one-and-a-half points compared to where we were last February,” said Gov. Perdue. “My goal for North Carolina is basic. We’re going to continue to be the best place in the world to turn big dreams into jobs through innovation and by growing our small businesses.”
The nomination period for the inaugural Governor’s Innovative Small Business Community Awards is now open. Local governments are invited to submit nominations for efforts that reflect excellence in community economic development, small business and entrepreneurship and sustainability. Successful entries will reflect a vision or creative solution to improve the quality of life and well-being for all North Carolinians through job creation and job sustaining activities.
Up to four winners will be selected in each of the following award categories:
· Community Economic Development: demonstrated success in the use of federal resources like Community Development Block Grants, Main Street Solutions or Energy Efficient Conservation Block Grants, among others. Projects must include the implementation of comprehensive plans, demonstrate robust public/private partnerships, and engage citizens, non-profits, businesses and other parties.
· Small Business and Entrepreneurship: local government projects that increased the number of jobs created by small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as enhanced the market need or niche for those efforts.
· Sustainability: projects that support community involvement, innovation and agility to respond to changing economic conditions that created conditions for and led to job creation.
Local governments must have played a key role in the development, implementation or success of the project. Projects that initiated or completed a major milestone between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010 will be considered in population categories of up to 5,000; 5,000 to 20,000; and 20,000 to 50,000. An at-large category will consider those projects in communities of 50,000 or more, or projects implemented by multiple jurisdictions.
Nominations must be received by 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2011. Projects will be judged on impact, innovation, replication and use of local resources. Final selection of winning entries will be made by a panel of statewide leaders in community economic development.
For a complete description of submission requirements, and to nominate a project on-line, please visit www.nccommerce.com/GovernorAward. Questions may be directed to Vickie Miller at 919-571-4900 or vmiller@nccommerce.com.