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Congratulations to the Appalachian State University students whose work on a solar house was voted the "People's Choice" in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2011 Solar Decathlon.

I visited the students' Solar Homestead house in July. ASU is one of 20 competitors in the decathlon in which collegiate teams design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive.

During my summer visit, I saw the energy and enthusiasm from the ASU students that resonated with voters in the "People's Choice" award.

"The team’s passion and enthusiasm were contagious," said Terri Jones, Solar Decathlon Communications Contest official. "The People’s Choice Award is a popular vote, and I believe the Solar Homestead house and team appealed to people on many levels."

The ASU students also won second place in the Communications Contest and third place in the Architecture Contest.

The project was funded through private donations.

Help me congratulate our ASU team. We are proud of them.

You can help students from Appalachian State win for their work on a solar-powered house.

Students from Appalachian State are competing against 20 teams from around the world in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon.

The competition challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. The team from ASU is in the running for the contest's "People's Choice" award and voting will continue until Sept. 28.

Gov. Perdue and First Gentleman Bob Eaves visited the school's project in Boone in July.

Funding for ASU’s entry in the Solar Decathlon has come entirely from private donations from corporate sponsors and individuals. 

By NCDOT Deputy Secretary of Internal and External Affairs Ted Vaden

In the past year, @NCDOT, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s main Twitter feed, has grown from about 800 followers to more than 4,000. NCDOT uses this free tool to connect directly with citizens to share real-time travel information, important safety messages and transportation news. Hitting this benchmark is exciting, because it shows people value the information we’re providing in 140 characters or less.

Gov. Perdue has made transparency and accountability a priority in her administration and social media tools offer taxpayers more ways to connect with their state government.

We use Twitter to let citizens know about opportunities to get involved in transportation planning,  explain when construction projects may affect traffic, and offer ways to make travel by bike, plane, bus, ferry, or train more efficient and fun. We also used Twitter to connect with citizens after the destructive tornadoes ravaged parts of North Carolina this spring. With Twitter, we quickly passed on critical information on road conditions and closures.  We were, in effect, the public’s eyes on the interstates.  Twitter gave our citizens a simple way to “know before you go.” The strong increase in the number of people following us is due, in part, to the critical role Twitter played in those kinds of emergency response efforts. 

But, Twitter is more than just a way to send information. It is a conduit for conversation between the department and the public. It’s an easy way for citizens to ask questions and get answers. For instance, we’ve been able to better explain why we handle snow and ice the way we do as a direct result of those conversations. Our Twitter dialogue has led to improvements on our DMV website, and it even helped keep a group of pigs loose on I-540 in Durham from causing big traffic problems!

Connecting with NCDOT on Twitter is easy. Visit www.ncdot.gov/travel/twitter/ and click on the link for one of the department’s 21 different accounts, which include specific interstate routes, regional areas and the ferry division. You can also follow Gov. Perdue on Twitter. 

Gov. Bev Perdue continues to fight for education despite the devastating cuts included in the Republican-backed budget.

“We must have a highly trained workforce for our state to be globally competitive, and that education begins in preschool classrooms and continues all the way through our community colleges and universities,” Gov. Perdue said. “They may have cut our pre-k programs and turned our education system backwards. But tomorrow, the citizens of North Carolina and I will resume the fight for what we believe in -- that education must be the one priority we never turn our backs on.”

When she vetoed the budget bill, Gov. Perdue said the budget would force local school systems to lay off educators. Since the General Assembly’s override of the budget veto, news headlines have confirmed this fear.

“To think that those cuts will not negatively impact our students, that’s not true,” Gaston County Schools Superintendent Reeves McGlohon told the Gaston Gazette. “The cuts will hurt. There will be individuals in our school system who have jobs this year that will not have jobs next year.”

Other systems have begun delivering pink slips.

Cumberland County: 179 teacher assistant jobs, 130 teachers, nine assistant principals

New Hanover County: 191 jobs

Harnett County: 88 jobs (mostly teacher assistants)

Union County: 100 jobs

Robeson County: 235 jobs

Statewide: Eliminating funding for Governor's school shuts out 600 students

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County: Considering a plan to eliminate 221 jobs, including 118 teaching positions

Wake County: Teacher Assistants pay is slashed

Columbus County: Layoffs have started

Johnston County: 123 positions, including 73 teacher assistants

Beaufort County: 110 jobs lost

Lee County: 50 teacher jobs, dozens of teacher assistants

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools County: 460 jobs lost

Statewide: Gap between rich and poor schools growing

The General Assembly's budget is the "riskiest gamble ever perpetrated on the citizens of North Carolina," said Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dale Ellis. "What's getting ready to happen should be a crime."

"5 Reasonable People": A Superintendent’s Response to the State Budget Crisis from Lindsay Whitley on Vimeo.

Gov. Bev Perdue sent a letter to House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate leader Phil Berger outlining objections to legislative budget proposals.

She called on the chambers to work toward a compromise that protects the state's legacy of investing in education. 

Read the letter below.

Tillis-Berger-5-27-11-Budget.pdf (1.67 mb)

Remember when you were in high school, unsure of what you wanted to do with your life?

Choosing a career path is not easy, especially in the current economy. That’s why we sponsor Construction Career Days. It’s an opportunity for high school students across North Carolina to get a first-hand look at the benefits of working in the construction industry. From trying their hand at maneuvering a motor grader to hammering nails, the teenagers get to experience what jobs in this field entail.  

We launched this year’s Construction Career Days in Winston-Salem in April. More than 1,600 local students attended the three-day event. Some of them were from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville. The teacher of their Transportation Systems class, Nancy Harris, felt the experience would help her students determine if a career in construction would be a good fit for them. Based on the letters they wrote describing their experiences, that’s exactly what they got out of it. You can read some of them below.

EFHS Student Kenyon Janus

I enjoyed having the opportunity to weld, solder and work on all the things they offered. It was nice to hear about all the great opportunities that are out there for me. I like that they reassured some ideas I had, and it’s always good to have something like that as a backup. 

EFHS Student Steven Harpster 

At Construction Career Days, I saw many interesting things and learned a lot. Many of the things were hands on, which is good, because we got to experience what that job was about and what those people do on a daily basis.  This allows you to truly see if you would want to go down that career path. 

I didn’t see anything I did not like about Construction Career Days. It was an overall great experience for everyone, and it made me think about my career path and also respect what people do day to day. 

EFHS Student Dylan Pless

I went to the Construction Career Day event and had a good time. I learned what and how the guys do the surveying. I sat in the dump truck, and compared to the ones I have ridden in, it was nice. I drove a lawn mower that had two wheels and leans to mow hills. That was cool. When I was inside, I visited all of the stations. I got to use different tools to build things and lay bricks. It was fun… 

Now entering its 10th year, Construction Career Days has held 29 events statewide, reaching more than 34,000 students. These annual events are held in cities in every region of North Carolina with the support of NCDOT, as well as leading construction companies and universities. We look forward this year to reaching even more teens and introducing them to the possibilities that jobs in the construction field offer.

The aftermath of recent tornados created an unanticipated contracting opportunity for many vendors in North Carolina who provide storm recovery services.

Given the urgency of the situation, arrangements needed to be managed quickly, efficiently and in accordance with the sometimes complicated rules and codes. 

According to an officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Division of Purchase & Contract performed its role with distinction. 

In a recent email to partner agencies, DHS Regional Contracting Officer Annette R. Wright said she “wanted to share a great success story of the federal contracting staff partnering with the state purchasing staff.”

Noting that disaster declarations were issues for 18 North Carolina counties, Wright wrote that FEMA worked closely with State Purchasing Manager Jim Westbrook and Rebecca Barbour of Commerce’s SBTDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center  “to make sure 90 percent of federal contracting dollars were awarded to local businesses in North Carolina.  

“Jim helped FEMA source local vendors for all types of commercial buys. The support of the local businesses in North Carolina was awesome. They partnered with the federal team to help in the recovery and response efforts.  

“It was quite refreshing for me as a Contracting Officer/Purchasing professional to see my tax dollars awarded to economically uplift and rebuild the community after such a major event,” Wright continued.  “This was the first time that FEMA and our state counterpart partnered to host a vendor outreach session set aside for small businesses in the affected area.  What a great success it was to see state and federal come together for the common good of the survivors/state.” 

Gov. Perdue received the following email yesterday, just as the House was finishing up work on a budget proposal that threatens the largest layoff of educators in North Carolina history.

"Please find attached a letter from my daughter, Amelia...regarding your efforts to save public education. Amelia is 6 years old, and a 1st grader at Mary Scroggs Elementary School in Chapel Hill."

Needless to say, Gov. Perdue agrees with Amelia:

Karlie Justus is only 25, but she’s already had two jobs as a communicator in state government and one in public relations before joining Yep Roc Music Group of Haw River, which represents several big-name recording artists. She’s now its social media project coordinator, a career that didn’t even exist when the State Government Internship Program was created in 1970. 

“My parents really don’t know quite what I do or why I get paid to be online all the time,” said the 2007 State Government Intern with a laugh. “Sometimes I just can’t believe how lucky I am to have this job.”

Luck had little to do with it.  Justus had several internships throughout college, but none that allowed her to build such an impressive resume as the State Government Internship Program. 

“When I started interviewing for jobs, people were amazed that I did so much and brought so many skills to the table,” she said. “I was hired at the NC Department of Agriculture, where I got tons of great experience and later was contacted and hired for my next job when I wasn’t even looking for one.”

The Hendersonville native, who participated in the program when she was a junior at NC State University, is among nearly 4,000 North Carolina college students who have participated in the highly competitive program, which will welcome its new class on May 23. Other alumni include numerous elected officials and government leaders, as well as business and community leaders.

“The timing of the internship proved extremely valuable in that I was considering what career path to take,” said Wayne Goodwin, State Insurance Commissioner and former four-term state Representative from Hamlet who interned for the State Bureau of Investigations in 1989. “I attribute a lot of my later public service and professional accomplishments to my experiences that summer.”

Indeed, Goodwin said his career has come full circle from his start as a research analyst who ventured into the field with SBI agents. 

“Who would have dreamed then that I’d become the head of a law enforcement agency that works with the SBI?” he said. “Every day I experienced something new and educational and rewarding. There’s no doubt in my mind that internship led me to law school and my eventual work as a legislator.”

The Internship Program formerly offered at least 100 positions each summer but was reduced in the last two years due to budget constraints. This year, more than 900 students competed for just 50 spots.

“We had to turn away students with 4.5 GPAs and amazing resumes,” said Stephanie Nantz, Executive Director of the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Program. “On one hand, it’s become an even more prestigious thing to be selected, but on the other we hate to not take advantage of the extraordinary talent by exposing these students to public service careers.”

Dr. Ronald Penny, Chair of the N.C Central University Department of Public Administration, was a 1975 intern and later served as Director of the N.C. Office of State Personnel. Given the competitive job market and the relatively low pay of government jobs, he said, “The Internship Program is the best to way attract and keep young, talented people in state government.

“It leads to a network that allows students to both better compete and understand many of the issues in their related fields,” Penny said. “Especially, at a time when baby boomers are retiring, the program is vital to enticing the next generation into state government careers.”

Brian Long, Public Affairs Director at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said his office counts on the Internship Program each year to help promote the State Fair.

“It takes someone with a lot of energy, enthusiasm and the ability to think on their feet,” said Long, whose internship is among the most sought after. “We give them a lot of responsibility to market the Fair, which is the state’s largest event, and they leave with the kind of experience employers look for.”

Long knows this with personal experience. Karlie Justus advanced quickly from 2007 State Government Intern to State Fair Intern that fall, and then a full-time Ag employee in 2008. She was enticed away by a Raleigh public relations firm in 2010 before joining Yep Roc three months ago. 

“We felt fortunate to hire her and hated to lose her, but her skills were so obvious,” Long said.  “That’s what happens when you give really bright students an opportunity to grow and achieve.”

When state government agencies determine they have equipment that is obsolete or no longer meets its mission, they call on the State Surplus Property Agency to dispose of it.

By dispose, of course, we don’t mean merely haul to the dump. While State Surplus does sometimes sell bulk lots for scrap, its managers often disagree with those who are convinced that goods have little value.

In fact, we were pretty sure that one item might return nearly a half-million dollars to state coffers – even though it was not in, shall we say, top-flight condition.

A case in point was a 1969 Canadair CL215 fire suppression airplane formerly used by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It had been grounded since May 2008 because there was no funding for an estimated $1.5 million needed for repair and FAA-required maintenance. 

A May 2010 report from the Program Evaluation Division concluded its sale was “unlikely to provide any proceeds because there is a limited market for this aircraft.” State Surplus disagreed.

The agency tends to find greater exposure within niche markets by placing high-ticket items on eBay, where the plane was posted with a minimum bid of $250,000. Stan Black, manager for Special Sales & Contracts, worked closely with DENR to collect pictures, maintenance logs, operational data, parts information, and the aircraft history.  Armed with these and other technical resources, Black both created the eBay posting and marketed it directly with aviation companies, nationally and internationally.

Bidding began on March 20 with a $250,000 offer then inched up to $285,000. Thirty-five of the total 43 bids were placed in the last 25 minutes on March 30, with the winning bid of $445,099 coming from Buffalo Airways of Yellowknife, Northwest Territory, Canada.

Thanks to Black’s exhaustive upfront work and DENR’s cooperation, the buyer purchased the plane sight unseen. They will fly a team to Hickory to perform necessary maintenance and repairs, then fly it 5,000 miles to its new home.  

Black, meanwhile, is busy researching his next online project. Thanks to his creativity and dedication, he has sold more than $813,635 in state surplus goods via eBay in the last 60 days while also creating several recycling contracts that are projected to return more than $1 million to the state each year.