The North Carolina Legislature recognized that the national focus on Homeland Security and the immense presence of military installations in the state were generating many economic opportunities for North Carolina businesses.  They also realized that these businesses would need help matching up with the specific military opportunities that were relevant to them.

 
The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), headquartered in Fayetteville, was created in 2005 to serve all of North Carolina as a bridging entity between businesses and the military.  The NCMBC’s goals are:

• To increase federal and military business for existing North Carolina companies;
• To integrate transitioning military personnel and family members into the workforce;
• To support recruitment and development of defense-related businesses in North Carolina.

 
The NCMBC accomplishes these goals by identifying the most lucrative federal and military contract opportunities and then helping companies to submit winning proposals.  The Center administers the state’s web portal MatchForce, the online vehicle for matching companies with specific contract opportunities.  The NCMBC also offers numerous workshops, participates in trade shows, and conducts employment programs to assist both companies and the military.

The Center has offices at 11 Community Colleges across the state, including one at Sandhills Community College in Moore County.

At Sandhills Community College, Linn Owen, an NCMBC Business Development Specialist, is available to counsel local businesses on how to use the NCMBC’s services and to tap into the military market.  All of the NCMBC’s services are free.  Linn can be reached at 910-728-5122 or owenl@ncmbc.us. 

>> For more information on the NCMBC, visit www.ncmbc.us.

MatchForce and the Defense Ventures Fund are tools established to help North Carolina companies take advantage of military business opportunities and are indispensable resources for Moore County businesses.

 
MATCHFORCE
The web-based tool MatchForce, at www.matchforce.org, is maintained by the NC Military Business Center (NCMBC) and directly matches North Carolina businesses to government contracts, government purchasers to NC suppliers, and job seekers to North Carolina jobs.

Local businesses, government agencies, and individuals must register at MatchForce before participating in any of its services.  Registration is free, and this is the first step for companies to receive information on federal job opportunities that match their respective profiles.  Government contracting representatives can access MatchForce to easily find those companies offering the products and services needed.

 
» Read about the O’Connor Company of N.C., Inc.,  a Moore County construction company registered at MatchForce, who won a $3.2 million contract at Fort Bragg in October 2006 to construct a 70,000 square-foot indoor shooting range.  To read the story, click here.

 
>> For assistance with MatchForce, contact Linn Owen, NCMBC Business Development Specialist, at Sandhills Community College, 910-728-5122 or by email:  owenl@ncmbc.us.

 
DEFENSE VENTURES FUND
The Defense Ventures Fund is a loan fund program for North Carolina companies interested in expanding or entering into defense-related manufacturing.  The Neuse River Development Authority established the fund based on a grant received from the Golden LEAF Foundation.

Start-up or existing manufacturers and service businesses located in or relocating to North Carolina can apply for subordinated loans ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.  These loans offer deferred principal and interest payments, 10-20 year terms, and rates subject to market conditions.

Loan funds can be used for facility expansion, machinery & equipment, real estate, or working capital.

>> For more information, contact Guy Williams, President of Neuse River Development Authority, at 252-638-6724, or email:  gwilliams@nrda.org.

The Defense & Security Technology Accelerator (DSTA) is yet another resource to help North Carolina companies and entrepreneurs take advantage of business opportunities with the military.

The DSTA, located in Fayetteville (Cumberland County), is a business incubator / accelerator focusing on defense, security & intelligence technology:  locating entrepreneurs and innovators in technology, matching their technology with specific and immediate military needs and/or private business demands, and providing the resources to bring these technology innovations to fruition.  DSTA focuses on the rapid development, usually an 8 to 18-month timeline, of dual-use solutions — technologies with both military and commercial applications — to spur new job creation.

To provide resources and guidance to entrepreneurs and early-stage technology companies, DSTA works closely with the military, private industry, universities, and particularly technological and scientific companies, researchers and experts in Research Triangle Park.

To accomplish its goals, DSTA’s key components are:

• A 15,000 square-foot facility with Class A office space of different sizes, state-of-the-art laboratory space, and shared conference rooms for approximately 12-15 companies that can stay for a maximum of 2 years;
• Space within the facility where engineers and other experts can assist entrepreneurs and businesses in developing and testing prototypes, and where military can view and evaluate these prototypes;
• An affiliate program to assist North Carolina companies not physically located at DSTA;
• Fusion Grants providing $10,000 – $50,000 per company to member companies demonstrating financial need.  The grants can be used for the development or refinement of defense-related products and technology that also have commercial potential.

 
Counties located along this corridor between Fayetteville and the Research Triangle Park stand to greatly benefit from many new business opportunities.  As one of these counties, Moore County will be able to encourage and support technological entrepreneurs and innovators and offer resources, through DSTA, to accelerate technology development and job creation.

Interested defense and security-oriented technology companies must apply to join DSTA.  >> For more information, contact Scott Perry, Executive Director, at 910-864-3782 or email at scottperry@dstanc.org.  Visit the DSTA website at www.dstanc.org.

Between 2008 and 2013, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) move of Fort McPherson, Georgia to Fort Bragg, North Carolina will have a tremendous impact on Moore County and other counties surrounding the base.  Fort McPherson, the current home of the US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and the Army Reserve Command (USARC), will be closing as part of the BRAC initiative. 
 
 
Estimated Economic Impact of BRAC move on Fort Bragg:

• More than $2.8 billion in military construction over a 5-year period is scheduled at Fort Bragg.

• By 2013, the BRAC move will have brought 4,024 active-duty military jobs; 2,146 military civilian jobs; 1,972 embedded contractor jobs and 1,000 private defense contractors to the Fort Bragg area.  This does not include the number of employees’ family members who will be relocating.

• The economic impact is projected to be in excess of $32.5 billion by 2013. 

• Personal income is projected to grow to $44.95 billion by 2013.  This includes $1.28 billion from planned military growth.

• Disposable income (personal income less taxes) is expected to be $39.35 billion by 2013.  This includes $1.09 billion from planned military growth.

Source:  4/15/11 issue of Sentinel, Volume 41, No. 14

WELCOME TO MOORE COUNTY

Moore County is an excellent location for relocating families AND companies that need or want to be near Fort Bragg (but don’t want to live the military lifestyle!).

The County is adjacent to the base’s western boundary and is just 35 minutes from the main post area.

Moore County offers easy access to Fort Bragg.

Relocating families looking for a safe, family-friendly environment to call home, apart from the military lifestyle at Fort Bragg, can look to Moore County for a variety of living options, as well as a wealth of family-oriented amenities.  Moore County has an excellent public school system, in addition to 2 charter schools and 8 private schools.  Healthcare services are exceptional with a hospital (Moore Regional Hospital) nationally-recognized for clinical excellence, as well as service providers locally who accept Tricare.

When considering a place to settle, Moore County compares favorably to the other 10 counties in the Fort Bragg region (Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties).  Consider these statistics:

• Moore County Public Schools has the highest 2010 SAT score at 1542 (out of maximum 2400), compared to the next highest score of 1461.
• Moore County has the highest 2009 Median Household Income at $53,031, compared to the next highest at $50,583.  For 2014, Moore County’s MHI is projected to be $54,432 compared to the next highest at $52,919.
• Moore County has the lowest 2008 crime index number (using U.S. average of 100) at 82, compared to the next lowest at 83.
• Per 10,000 residents, Moore County has the highest number of physicians at 31.3, compared to the next highest at only 17.6.
• Moore County has the highest 2009 average value of owner-occupied housing at $227,692, compared to the next highest at $177,256.

(County comparisons made using AccessNC, N.C. Department of Commerce.)

Moore County is a great place to live (and raise a family!), work and play!

FORT BRAGG REGIONAL ALLIANCE
Moore County is a member of the Fort Bragg Regional Alliance composed of the 11 counties surrounding the base that will be most impacted by the BRAC move.  The Alliance (formerly called BRAC Regional Task Force) was organized not only to help these surrounding counties prepare for the move’s impact, but also to provide support resources and ease the transition for those who will be relocated.

Moore County is part of the 11-county region, known as the All-American Defense Corridor, surrounding Fort Bragg.

The 11-county region around Fort Bragg is the “All-American Defense Corridor“, which is descriptive of the region’s suitability as the location for a regional defense / homeland security industry cluster in North Carolina.  To view the brochure for the All-American Defense Corridor, click here.

The Fort Bragg Regional Alliance has its own website including a page devoted to showcasing Moore County’s assets and exceptional quality of life. 

> The Alliance’s website is:  www.bracrtf.com.     > To access Moore County’s page, click here.

>>  The Alliance hosted its 4th Relocation Fair at Fort McPherson in September 2009 at Fort McPherson.  The Fair highlighted the Fort Bragg region’s educational, recreational, residential and healthcare amenities, among others, for the FORSCOM and USARC employees who will be eventually relocating to Fort Bragg. 

• The 1st Relocation Fair was held in September 2006 at Fort McPherson.  To view the press release about the Fair, click here.

WWW.BUILDBRAGG.COM
The Fort Bragg Regional Alliance and other partners have collaborated to create the www.buildbragg.com website, a central web portal for access to all information related to the construction of the combined FORSCOM / USARC headquarters at Fort Bragg.  Job opportunities, subcontracting information, and a profile on Hensel Phelps, Inc., the prime contractor for the project, are available at the new website.  To view the February 2009 press release about the site, click here.