A 10-year job plan unfolded by state leaders recently recommends changes to some state economic incentive programs, including film incentives, and the creation of a special “closing fund” for Gov. Pat McCrory to help get new business here.
The closing fund would be a “nimble” pool of money for the executive branch to use to “aggressively compete” with other states to attract companies, according to the broad “North Carolina Jobs Plan” adopted by the N.C. Economic Development Board at a luncheon at the Executive Mansion.
John Lassiter, Economic Development Board chair, said some of the most competitive states — South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Florida — have closing funds. He said such funds for North Carolina would give the state greater ability to close deals, including those involving mega sites or corporate headquarters.
The 37-member Economic Development Board advises the General Assembly and the governor on economic issues. The board described its plan as a 10-year road map for state’s economic development efforts. The plan has been under development for about six months and is the first of its kind in about a decade.
