Blog

Historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) across North Carolina have a reason to celebrate. Effective Wednesday, July 1, they can participate in the state HUB Office’s new one-stop shop for official HUB certification.

The new Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC) program eliminates the need for HUBs to be certified by multiple agencies in order to compete for state and local government contracts. Developed in collaboration with local Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) offices, it will streamline the certification process and reduce the redundancy in certifying minority- and women-owned businesses.

In addition to increasing efficiency and service to the HUB community, SWUC will establish a centralized database for state agencies, local municipalities and contractors looking to identify and utilize HUB vendors and sub-contractors.  In doing so, SWUC also allows local M/WBE offices – which were instrumental in fine-tuning this program – to focus on providing resources and business development services.

I would like to recognize the N.C. M/WBE Coordinators’ Network as a major collaborator in advocating for SWUC. It was the vision of two of its pioneers, the late John Mills and Dr. Elizabeth Mills, who in the late 1980s planted the seed for the vision of moving North Carolina towards statewide or uniform certification.  

The HUB Certification Specialists are available to help HUB firms register. For information, visit our website or email huboffice.doa@doa.nc.gov.

The Fourth of July is a time to remember our freedoms and how they were won.  History comes alive in the places that it happened.  All 27 North Carolina State Historic Sites are open on July 4, and many have special events to mark Independence Day. 

The State Capitol in Raleigh will host a free family Independence Day celebration called the “Old-Fashioned 4th" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  See how people in North Carolina celebrated the nation’s birthday in days gone by, and enjoy a patriotic concert.  Don’t forget to bring a picnic basket, and plan to visit the North Carolina Museum of History, too!

In Wilmington, the Battleship North Carolina will hold its annual free Battleship Blast on July 4 at 9:05 p.m.  You’ll be able to see the show, which is the largest choreographed fireworks display in the state, all over historic downtown Wilmington.  The Battleship will close at 6 p.m. that day.

Fourth of July festivities at Tryon Palace Historic Site and Gardens in New Bern will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  You’ll hear performances by the Fife and Drum Corps and enjoy crafts and children’s games, all for free.  Don’t miss the annual dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence at 11 a.m.

Historic Halifax is presenting a day of free patriotic and family-friendly activities at both the state historic site and throughout the colonial-era town on July 4. From 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., visitors can tour historic buildings, check out colonial toys and games, see a parachute jump, listen to music, and ooh and ah at the traditional fireworks display.

Roanoke Island Festival Park is partnering with the Town of Manteo and students from Western Carolina University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts to present “America Celebrates” at 8 p.m. on July 4.  The free performance, along with fireworks provided by the Town of Manteo, will be held at the park’s Outdoor Pavilion.

Find out more about N.C. Historic Sites and other cultural activities at www.ncculture.com.

Today is "Take Your Dog To Work Day."  The day was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage pet adoptions.  I was happy to participate.

 
Today North Carolina's First Dogs, Dosie and Zipper, accompanied me to work.  You can read more about these two Tibetan Terriers on their own webpage.

The governor has called on North Carolina’s most valuable resource, its people, to serve in their communities over the next 11 weeks as part of the United We Serve campaign launched by President and Mrs. Obama

On June 22, the governor announced her support for the national initiative and encouraged all North Carolinians to volunteer in some way.  The United We Serve campaign encourages citizens to better the lives of those around them and aims to make service a way of life for all Americans.

The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is the leading agency in the Governor’s Office in promoting people, communities and enterprises to grow North Carolina’s service opportunities.  The commission is committed to the campaign and to connecting North Carolinians with volunteer opportunities throughout the state by collaborating with local volunteer organizations and agencies.

Volunteering not only inspires those who are helped, but it inspires those who give as well.  No matter your age, there are many ways to support community needs, whether it is mentoring a child who needs encouragement and guidance, delivering food to the elderly, serving at a soup kitchen or cleaning up a community park.

Today, as you reflect on that person or situation that has made you who you are, think of how you can answer this call to service and make a difference.  I encourage you to go to the national Web site, www.serve.gov, and find an organization that you would like to give your time and energy.  Or, create your own volunteer project to undertake, register it at www.serve.gov and have your family, neighbors and co-workers sign up to support you.   The NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service would benefit from your service in the community by volunteering to support the Volunteer Center efforts.

The recent economic downturn has provided considerable challenges for the Department of Administration and all of state government. But it also has created opportunities to take a fresh look at the way we do business, including how we communicate and provide services.

Gov. Perdue has set high standards for accountability and efficiency in state government. Executive Order No. 3 requires Cabinet agencies to establish formal performance management plans. This week, DOA officially launched a new strategic planning initiative designed to streamline functions, increase transparency and improve customer services.

Each of our divisions will set performance goals that are directly linked to their missions. Taking into account our current challenges, as well as the considerable resources we are fortunate to have (namely, our people), we will plan changes to our business processes to enhance our service to our customers and make our operations more efficient.

On our public-facing website, we will post our strategic plan and update our performance measures periodically for maximum transparency. Additionally, we will revise our performance management system to ensure that every employee’s talents and experience are focused on contributing to our divisions’ performance.

The citizens and state agencies of North Carolina deserve nothing less than our best. By directing our unified efforts on tough but smart and achievable goals, we will make DOA an even more focused and effective agency.

Gov. Perdue has declared June 19 Coastal Reserve Day in North Carolina in honor of the N.C. Coastal Reserve Program’s 20th anniversary.

In June 1989, the N.C. General Assembly created the Coastal Reserve Program to acquire, improve and maintain undeveloped coastal land and water areas in a natural state.  Twenty years later, that seemingly simple act of legislation has led to the preservation of more than 40,000 acres of unique environments on 10 coastal reserve sites along the entire length of our coast. Four of the sites are also part of NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRs), a federal program designed to improve coastal management and scientific understanding of the nation’s estuarine and coastal habitats. 

From Currituck Banks in the north, to Bird Island on our southern border, North Carolina’s coastal reserve system has become an unparalleled resource for education, research and stewardship of these precious and irreplaceable habitats.

Help us celebrate the reserve program’s 20th anniversary by getting to know some of North Carolina’s most beautiful and unspoiled places—visit one (or more!) of our 10 reserve sites and discover some of our coastal treasures.

The four components that are designated as NCNERR sites are Currituck Banks, Rachel Carson, Masonboro Island, and Zeke’s Island. The state supported coastal reserve sites are Kitty Hawk Woods, Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge, Buxton Woods, Permuda Island, Bald Head Woods, and Bird Island.

For more information on North Carolina’s Coastal Reserve Program, please visit www.nccoastalreserve.net.

When paramedics, fire fighters, and police respond to an emergency, the need to communicate with each other is vital. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. VIPER radio technology fixes this problem by allowing all of these agencies to communicate over one radio system. This capacity for multiple agencies to communicate on one system was deemed of great importance by the 9/11 Commission in its final report.

The Governor’s Crime Commission awarded the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety $5 million to increase VIPER bandwidth capacity. That way, local agencies will not have to re-invest in newer radio technology as frequently. Their equipment will work longer with VIPER, saving money in the long run. The NC Department of Insurance and the Town of Swansboro Police Department will also receive funding to help acquire VIPER-compatible technology.

The Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Data Warehouse also received funding from the commission. The warehouse will allow agencies to aggregate and exchange data in order to make better decisions. The project also contributes to further integration of data between law enforcement agencies, which leads to increased public safety. In combination with advancements in VIPER technology, law enforcement will be able to work smarter and faster.

Gov. Bev Perdue is working to make North Carolina a leader in building a green economy and some students at East Burke High School are helping the state get a head start.  With the help of other North Carolinians who can vote online, their know-how and entrepreneurial spirit could help East Burke High capture a $20,000 grant to support the school’s environmental projects.

An independent panel of teachers and environmental experts selected the school as one of 20 finalists around the nation, and the only one from North Carolina, in the “Earth Day Every Day School Challenge” sponsored by Walmart.  East Burke will receive a $500 grant to promote environmental-friendly activities for being a finalist.  But voting on the Internet will decide just which of the 20 schools will get the $20,000 grant.  Go to the school’s web site, www.burke.k12.nc.us/EBHS and there is a link to cast a ballot for the school’s project.

The students at East Burke, who call themselves the “Magic Fuel Bus Team, “worked after school in a chemistry lab and produced about 90 gallons of biodiesel fuel from waste vegetable oil that was donated from local restaurants.  The biodiesel was mixed with standard diesel fuel on school buses.  The buses ran for three months using the blended fuels, saving money on the cost of just running on standard diesel and also cutting the carbon dioxide emissions and other polluting elements from the buses.

Teacher Bob Smith said the students made a presentation of their findings to the Burke County Public School system.  Since the presentation the students have put together an economic study showing how the school system can save money by producing its own biodiesel.

June 19 is the last day to vote, so don’t forget to go to www.burke.k12.nc.us/EBHS to cast a ballot.

Governor Perdue yesterday kicked off a series of rallies across North Carolina to protect public schools in the state budget. First she held a rally in Raleigh at the State Capitol, then she went to Greensboro.  Click on the picture for a photo gallery from the Greensboro News & Record.

Additional rallies will be held in Charlotte, Asheville, Greenville and Wilmington.  Click here for excerpts from Governor Perdue's speech.