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USA Today recently posted Moody’s Economic projections that show North Carolina is anticipated to outpace the national average in job growth over the next year. North Carolina is projected to see job growth of 1.3 percent as compared to 0.9 percent for the nation. 

In addition, the most recent statistics for the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics show that North Carolina is still one of the top states in unemployment rate decline compared to the previous year.  While those are positive trends, the unemployment rate is still too high and the Department of Commerce will continue its fight to create jobs across the state.

Over the last two years, the Department of Commerce has helped recruit 32,000 jobs and $6 billion in investments. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

The Governor and Department’s aggressive approach to economic development is why USA Today recently recognized North Carolina as one of the state’s leading the country out of the recession.

Another business-related accolade today, one week after Site Selection magazine named North Carolina as the Top Business Climate for the ninth time in ten years. Today, Newsweek included Raleigh-Durham in its list of the top 10 places in America poised for recovery.

The magazine likens the area to a New Silicon Valley “with high-paying high-tech jobs with housing prices well below those in coastal California.” It says the population of Raleigh-Durham grew faster than any major U.S. metropolitan area during the recession and that Raleigh-Durham ranked third on Newsweek’s list in terms of job growth over the last decade.

This news also follows the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that shows the hard work of Governor Perdue and her Administration is paying off by North Carolina ranking second in America in employment gains over the last year.  Already, USA Today named North Carolina is one of the state’s leading the nation out of the recovery.

Over the weekend, the Southern Governors’ Association met in Alabama and had a productive conversation focused on increased trade opportunities with other countries, specifically China.  In addition to outlining North Carolina’s many strengths as a place to do business, Gov. Perdue and her peers will continue to brand the American South as an attractive place for international companies to locate.   The governors also held an excellent roundtable with those leading the Gulf Coast recovery efforts after the Deepwater Horizon incident, and had an hour-long discussion with Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President.  

On Monday, Gov. Perdue accepted the gavel as chair the Southern Governors’ Association over the next year.  She will continue to build on SGA’s strong work around energy and China, by focusing our attention on innovation.  In the 21st century, innovation means jobs.   I know Gov. Perdue looks forward to leading this distinguished group of governors over the next year, and North Carolina looks forward to hosting the SGA’s annual meeting in Asheville next summer. 

This week I had the chance to accompany Gov. Perdue on her visit to Sparta Elementary School in Alleghany County.   Superintendent Cox, Principal Barnes, the students, teachers and community leaders gave us a warm welcome.  The governor had the chance to talk to teachers about how technology is making a difference in their classrooms and about diagnostic testing. 

As part of the President Obama’s “United We Serve” campaign for public service and volunteerism the governor spokes with students about the responsibility of giving back to their communities and she read the book “I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off A Little Self-Esteem” by actress Jaime Lee Curtis to first graders at the school. 

The NC Museum of History re-enacted the historic duel between former Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight and former Congressman John Stanly on the Capitol Grounds today.  The event was part of the Tar Heel Junior Historian annual conference and the unusual sound of gunfire caused a bit of a stir in the Capitol Building.

The two men dueled on August 8, 1802 in New Bern after a series of public letters criticizing each other’s political allegiances.  Stanly had also defeated Spaight in a campaign for Congress just two years earlier.  In the duel Spaight was injured and died a day later.

Richard Dobbs Spaight was one of three governors from New Bern, including his son, Richard Spaight, Jr. and Bev Perdue.  Spaight was also one of three North Carolinians to sign the U.S. Constitution.

John Stanly served in Congress from 1801-1803 and from 1809-1811, and served many terms in the State Legislature.  Stanly County was named for him in 1841.

Speaking at a Charlotte energy summit today, Gov. Perdue reiterated her view that North Carolina is poised to lead the nation’s green economy.  As she said in her speech: “The state that gets green right will own the next 50 years – and North Carolina must be that state.”  For the full text of the speech click the link below.

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/eTownhall/library/pdf/EnergySummitForWeb.pdf

Governor Perdue delivered an honest and compelling speech tonight focused on the challenges we face as a state and she articulated a path to move our state forward in spite of these tough times.  She said we’re going to have to make painful cuts to our state budget, but we won’t “eat our seed corn” and “we will increase per-pupil spending in our public schools.”

Click here to read the full text of the speech.

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.

Governor Perdue has kept a busy schedule today despite the snowfall that has blanketed the state. This morning she declared a state of emergency as a precaution. The state of emergency activates the state's Emergency Operations Center and allows the Governor to call on the National Guard if necessary.

Also, this morning Governor Perdue, along with Transportation Secretary Conti, greeted DOT crews that had been working to clear roads all night long.

She continues to urge residents to use caution if they must leave their homes. Driving this evening and overnight may be treacherous as snow potentially turns to ice and we all should try to do a little traveling as possible.

Here was my view walking to work this morning...