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Today we launched www.NCRecovery.gov to ensure that North Carolina’s handling of the federal recovery funds is accountable, transparent and efficient.  That’s what Governor Perdue charged me to do when she put me in charge of the Office of Economic Recovery and Investment.

On the website you can find information about the recovery legislation and how it affects North Carolina.  And you will be getting the most up-to-date information on how that money is being spent in North Carolina. 

As federal agencies release their guidelines for the distribution of funds and accountability requirements, we will be updating the NCrecovery.gov so you can see the latest information.  Eventually you will be able to suggest projects for funding, find out how to apply for grants or contracts and you can track how North Carolina is spending its recovery dollars.

The recovery plan offers a great opportunity for us create jobs, stabilize our budget and rebuild and expand our infrastructure – but only we spend the money wisely – and the best way to ensure that is to be accountable, transparent and efficient.

Last week, I met one-on-one with two Cumberland County probation officers -- not in my office or theirs, but on the streets at night while they worked, checking on the whereabouts of probationers.

From my observations, they did their jobs well.

We met in Fayetteville, where I live. My ride-along with them was somewhat eye-opening, and it held a surprise, too.

They had me in the front seat as they entered one neighborhood with unpaved, ungraded streets and little or no lighting. The officer had to use a spotlight to find most house numbers, where darkness veiled whatever might have been going on. And in that setting, where I imagined that a state car shining a light was drawing a lot of nervous attention, the officer had to pound a door to verify that a probationer was where he said he would be at that hour of the night.

I followed as they approached homes where the porch was dark, the house was dimly lit inside, and no one answered after numerous knocks on the door. All the while, we didn’t know what might be about to happen.

The last stop of the night hit close to home, literally. The probationer lived two blocks from my house. It was a telling turn of events, driving home to me the point that our justice system almost always returns offenders to their homes – be they probationers or inmates released from prison. It is their homes, their families, their neighbors - and as I saw, all of us are neighbors - who need to join the Department of Correction as we try to break the cycle of crime.

The community must work harder to prevent crime and my department must work harder to change the offenders’ mindset. And when offenders go back to the community, all of us must be committed to doing whatever we can to give each one of them a chance to become a productive citizen.

Following my road construction announcements yesterday, I made another unannounced, surprise visit.  This time I went to the Children’s and Adolescent Unit at John Umstead Hospital in Butner. 

I wanted to see the facility for myself.  During a 75-minute visit I talked with hospital administrators, the medical and nursing staff, and many of the children.  I have pledged to be a hands-on governor and I’m committed to working with Sec. Cansler to ensure that all of our patients in mental health facilities are getting proper care in suitable and safe conditions.

Today was an important day as I traveled with Transportation Secretary Gene Conti to Lenoir and Mecklenburg counties and to the Guilford/Alamance border to announce the first round of road and bridge projects that will quickly get under way as part of the federal economic stimulus.  These are just three of the 70 “shovel ready” infrastructure projects that will go to contract in the next 120 days.   These projects will get our economy moving and they will move people into jobs. 

While a primary focus is getting our people to work quickly, and this first round of $466 million will create about 14,000 jobs, I will stress accountability, transparency, and efficiency when it comes to stimulus funding.   The second half of the stimulus-related road and bridge funding is expected to be announced in the next 45 days. We’ll soon be launching a new website to provide the latest stimulus news and information.

Click here for a list of the 70 projects.

Governor Perdue was in Washington, DC this weekend for the meeting of the National Governors Association.  Most of the weekend was dedicated to discussing the federal stimulus package, the policies surrounding the management of those federal funds and the impact of the stimulus plan on the 50 states.

In addition to meeting with the 50 state governors, Governor Perdue went to two events at the White House with President Obama.  They discussed the economic stimulus package, and President Obama assured Governor Perdue that the money would begin to come to North Carolina as soon as this week.

It was good to hear the President and Gov. Perdue stressing the same themes: transparency, accountability and efficiency.

I traveled with the Governor and met with Chiefs of Staff from around the country.  We discussed the economic and budget issues in our states, how we’re managing the stimulus dollars, and disaster preparedness, among other things.

ABC11 has the story of Governor Perdue at the White House:

I was reminded recently of the importance to so many of us of North Carolina’s abundant natural resources upon learning that a leader in my agency was named by the Raleigh News and Observer as its “Tar Heel of the Week.” Lewis Ledford, director of the state parks system, was honored in this manner in part because of his efforts through partnerships to preserve and protect several of North Carolina’s unique and outstanding natural resources, including Chimney Rock and Grandfather Mountain.  

Bills to formally authorize Grandfather Mountain State Park, setting the stage for creation of North Carolina’s newest state park alongside the famous attraction, have been introduced in both houses of the N.C. General Assembly. An agreement for the state to purchase the undeveloped, backcountry portion of Grandfather Mountain was announced last fall.

Conservation and protection of natural resources such as these are always critical to maintain the quality of our air and water, sustaining our quality of life. However, especially in these times of economic uncertainty, we must also remember that our state's economy depends greatly on our natural resources.

For example, I’ve learned that North Carolina’s state parks potentially contribute $289 million to local economies annually as well as $120 million to local residents’ income, according to an intensive study researchers at N.C. State University conducted for the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

Fourteen state parks examined in the yearlong study contributed at least $139 million annually when spending by tourists was combined with direct spending in the local communities by the parks. In addition, the parks’ impact on local residents’ income was estimated to be $56 million annually.

Outdoor and wildlife-related recreation, such as hunting, fishing and kayaking, brings an estimated annual economic benefit of $4.3 billion, while North Carolina’s agriculture and forestry resources have an estimated $70.8 billion economic impact.

Parks, greenways and trails, and other open space such as our working farms and forests, all contribute to a clean and healthy environment, which attracts business and industry to our state for relocation or expansion. And this “green infrastructure” provides us all a source of quality, inexpensive, close-to-home recreation and reconnects us with nature.

North Carolina is indeed fortunate for the work of the private and public entities who work together to ensure that open space – for work and play – will be around for this and future generations to enjoy. I encourage you to get out and enjoy our state parks – find the one nearest you at http://www.ncparks.gov.

The U.S. State Department has asked the Governor’s Office to help educate North Carolina citizens about upcoming changes to passport requirements.  Beginning June 1, passports will be required to re-enter the United State from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. 

As a result the State Department expects demand for passports to increase as June 1 approaches.  To plan ahead and avoid any delays, you should visit travel.state.gov or call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 for more information or to locate one of 152 passport acceptance facilities in North Carolina.

As President Barack Obama today signed into law the federal stimulus bill, we are preparing to receive those funds and I am determined to put that money to use as quickly and as effectively as possible.

To aid the effort, I am creating the Office of Economic Recovery & Investment which will coordinate and track North Carolina’s handling of the stimulus funds.  I am also naming Dempsey Benton to head this office.

Dempsey is a well respected manager and civic leader.  He is a former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and was the City Manager of Raleigh for 17 years.  Dempsey’s service at DHHS is particularly notable for his efforts to restore stability and organization to the department and his leadership of the troubled state mental health system. 

The federal stimulus package provides about $6.1 billion in direct aid to North Carolina, with other money coming in the form of grants, tax cuts and other funding.  That will create jobs and help rebuild and expand the state’s critical infrastructure at the same time.

I will ensure strict accountability in how the money is spent.  Dempsey Benton will lead this temporary office, and will be assisted by my staff, as well as designated representatives from various state agencies.

The Governor’s Economic Recovery and Investment Office will have the following duties:

•    Track all federal dollars flowing into state and local governments as well as to private businesses and non-profit organizations.

•    Maximize the state’s use of available federal stimulus funds.

•    Identify the most rapid ways to move the stimulus money into the economy and remove regulatory and other impediments.

•    Establish open and effective lines of communication with federal and state agencies, local governments and North Carolina’s Congressional delegation to assist in efforts to effectively and rapidly use the federal stimulus funds.

•    Develop a communications network, using a variety of tools including the Internet, to keep the public informed about the status and progress of the recovery effort, along with funding opportunities.

•    Report to the General Assembly and the citizens on a regular basis about the status of the use of the stimulus funds, including federal, state and other non-federal money.

•    Measure progress of the recovery effort by tracking the state’s economic condition.

It's no surprise that the State Government Internship Program draws applications from hundreds of top college students annually. The program, established in 1969, has a stellar reputation for providing North Carolina students with real-world experience in a wide range of state government workplaces. Most years, about 500 students apply for the opportunity to take part.

But when I met with the State Internship Council last week, I was surprised to see more than 700 applications for the 100 spots that will be available this summer. While the jump may relate to anticipated summer job shortages, there is ample evidence that this highly competitive program is a well-known incubator for future leaders.

Among those who used a State Government Internship as a springboard to future accomplishment is Wayne Goodwin, a former state legislator who now serves as Commissioner of Insurance. Wake County District Court Judge Craig Croom was both an intern and a former member of the State Internship Council. Countless others have enjoyed careers in public service or achieved success in the private sector.

We look forward to the arrival of this summer’s interns, who will learn in March that     they have earned one of the coveted 10-week positions. These internships will integrate education, career development and public service in numerous recognized fields of study, from architecture to zoology.

The annual interns’ reception held at the Executive Mansion is one of the highlights of my own summer. The chance to chat with these bright young students, to thank them for their hard work and to encourage them to consider a rewarding career in public service, is a reward in itself.

One of my initial goals as secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety is to talk with our employees to learn more about the challenges they face every day.  Last week I traveled to Greenville and Fayetteville to recognize and honor several of our state troopers who put service and sacrifice above themselves.

In August, Troopers L. Crumpler and M. Bunn performed the Heimlich maneuver on a choking passenger who was traveling on U.S. 70 in Carteret County. In October, Trooper R.E. Cannaday rendered first aid to a lady whose vehicle had overturned and was submerged in a creek.

Our troopers put their lives on the line every day to keep motorists safe. At a time when our nation struggles with difficult economic times, leaving many of us longing for better days, recognizing the heroic acts of troopers like these gives us hope and promise that the American spirit will prevail. It’s not significant just because it saved a life, but because it’s a reflection of their character and commitment to service.