Decker Announces Broadband Survey
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Invite a Friend [email protected] Oct. 15, 2013 Decker Announces Broadband Survey N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker invites all North (Left-right) GE's Industrial Solutions General Carolina households and businesses to participate in a new Manager of Power Components Norm Sowards, broadband survey. NC Broadband is launching a statewide Governor McCrory's Senior Advisor on Jobs and survey and scorecard project during the month of October to the Economy Tony Almeida, GE's Industrial help households and businesses throughout the state increase Solutions General Manager of Power Equipment their economic vitality by better utilizing broadband Stuart Thompson, and state Senator Josh Stein technologies. "The vision of NC Broadband is to improve the GE Opens New Product competitiveness of North Carolina's businesses and workforce Development Facility in Cary by promoting the use of information technology in education, health care, economic development and all levels of Governor Pat McCrory congratulated GE government," said Decker. "By utilizing this opportunity, our Energy Management for opening its new residents and business leaders can provide valuable feedback office in Cary. The new Cary office co-locates and, as a state, North Carolina can leverage its strength as a GE's engineering and product management leader in the digital economy." with other critical functions under one roof. In addition, it creates a global headquarters for During October, households and organizations will be asked GE's Power Components and Power to conduct an online assessment of their use of broadband Equipment businesses. technologies. The survey results will provide valuable information on broadband usage by North Carolina residents, "GE recognizes North Carolina's educated and commercial and nonprofit organizations, and will allow for workforce and great quality of life," said a comparison of broadband usage and economic impacts with McCrory. "This new Energy Management peer organizations nationwide. office strengthens GE's presence in the Raleigh-Durham area as well as the entire To benefit North Carolina businesses, up to 500 of them will state. It's great to see existing businesses receive a uniquely-tailored scorecard based on their survey expand and reinvest in North Carolina." responses that will summarize the financial impacts that broadband currently has on their business. The scorecard will Located just miles from GE's Mebane facility, also compare individual businesses with industry peers in which manufactures products such as lighting similar communities around the country, and will suggest panels, power panels, low- and medium- broadband-enabled tools that could increase competitiveness, voltage motor control equipment, switchgear efficiencies and revenues. and electrical vehicle charging stations, the Cary facility allows GE to streamline Broadband technology is a foundation for economic development and production processes. development and innovation, education and government efficiency. NC Broadband works with national, state and local GE celebrated the grand opening of its new partners towards solutions for increased broadband availability office on Oct. 9 by hosting employees, local and adoption across North Carolina. As the needs for media and other industry leaders at an official ubiquitous access and digital literacy, higher speeds and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Tony Almeida, the capacity continue to grow quickly, NC Broadband works to governor's senior advisor on jobs and the further leverage North Carolina's broadband infrastructure and economy, also participated in the event. After utilization through public private partnerships. With strong the ceremony, attendees were able to view private sector broadband providers, unique middle-mile GE's Odyssey Tour, a mobile truck display of file:////nccomFP13/...Buckets%20for%202013/[SYNC]%20October%2015,%202013_Decker%20Announces%20Broadband%20Survey.htm[12/23/2014 4:45:41 PM] assets, state and local partners, and focus on economic GE's innovative products and services, which competitiveness, North Carolina is well positioned to continue made a special stop in Cary during its six- to move forward in the broadband arena. NC Broadband is month tour across North America. part of the Rural Economic Development Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce. The Cary office will serve as a field office for GE's Oil & Gas, Digital Energy, Power & Water and Capital Americas businesses. The site also will include a new product introduction design center for GE's Intelligent Platforms business. The NPI design center team develops industrial software, control systems, operator interface and embedded computing platforms for use by customers in manufacturing and defense industries. Read more. GE opens new Cary office with 60 people; more hires expected (Triangle Business Journal, Oct. 9) Commerce Wins Gold Medal as Highest Performing Economic Development Organization (Left-right) Ricky Chatha of Waste to Green, Rick Hill of the N.C. The N.C. Department of Commerce has been Department of Commerce's International Trade Division, Tom named the gold winner in the High Fahrland of Bace LLC, John and Lauren Paparone of Performance Economic Development category Environmental Solutions Inc., Laura Camberos of the State of North serving cmmunities over 2.5 million in a Carolina Mexico Office, and Patrice Bertrand of Roll-Tech Molding benchmarking study conducted by Atlas Products LLC Advertising, a national marketing agency specializing in economic development. The award was announced at the International N.C. Companies Showcase Environmental Economic Development Council's Annual Technology Products in Mexico City Conference held last week. With support from the N.C. Department of Commerce's "The economic development organizations we International Trade Division, five North Carolina companies recognized and honored are the best of the recently attended the 21st Green Expo in Mexico City. The best in their category," said Ben Wright, CEO venue provided an opportunity for the companies to meet with of Atlas Advertising. "As such, they are the potential distributors, retailers and joint venture partners. The models for our industry." Green Expo was held Sept. 25-27. Hosting more than 250 exhibitors from 25 countries and showcasing a wide range of The High Performance Economic new products and technologies, the event brought together Development winners were selected based on buyers and sellers to discuss sustainable solution results over a one-year period for website opportunities in the field of environmental technology. Areas of visits, inquiries received, jobs announced and focus included clean energy, sustainable water use and green capital investment announced in their cities. With more than 8,500 visitors attending the show, it has communities. Atlas analysts then tabulated the become the largest environmental trade show in Latin and numbers for all respondents to rank the South America. highest performers. The North Carolina companies in attendance included For a full list of gold, silver and bronze Progress Solar Solutions Inc. of Apex, Bace Corporation from winners in High Performance Economic Charlotte, Roll-Tech of Hickory, Environmental Solutions Inc. Development Awards, click here. of Wake Forest, and Waste to Green Inc. of Durham. N.C. Commerce Business Development Manager Rick Hill and Mexico Trade Director Laura Camberos led the effort to facilitate North Carolina exports and to assist the companies in forging new partnerships in the environmental technology market. More than 1,600 New Employers Register with NCWorks Online N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced on Oct. 10 that more than 1,600 new businesses have registered to find qualified workers with NCWorks Online since the site was International Home Furnishings Center in High launched on Aug. 5. Point (photo courtesy of the High Point Market file:////nccomFP13/...Buckets%20for%202013/[SYNC]%20October%2015,%202013_Decker%20Announces%20Broadband%20Survey.htm[12/23/2014 4:45:41 PM] More than 13,000 new job orders and more than 16,000 new Authority) resumes have also been posted to NCWorks Online, which is operated by the N.C. Division of Workforce Solutions. The Economic Impact of the High integrated workforce system has registered more than 16,000 new job seekers who are now able to take advantage of the Point Market Released system's job-matching tools and career exploration services. The High Point Market Authority on Oct. 2 released the overall findings of a Duke "NCWorks Online is an essential tool that can help improve the University study of the Economic Impact of the state's economy by identifying employment opportunities High Point Market. The HPMA engaged the across North Carolina," said Decker. "This one-stop system is Center on Globalization, Governance & a wonderful way to connect job seekers to businesses at no Competitiveness at Duke to conduct a extra cost to our customers." comprehensive economic and fiscal impact of the twice yearly High Point Market, the largest Job seekers and employers can use NCWorks Online to study home furnishings market in the world. real-time labor market information, including wages and future employment prospects. Job seekers can also see how well In broad strokes, the market contributes $5.4 their current set of skills match with those required by an billion in economic impact to the overall employer, as well as find relevant training opportunities. The regional economy, more