Governor McCrory Discusses Connect NC Projects At North Carolina A&T State University | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory visited North Carolina A&T State University today to discuss Connect NC bond projects planned for the school and to tour the NC A&T College of Engineering. The Governor, Transportation Secretary Tony Tata, Budget Director Lee Roberts, and Education Advisor Eric Guckian joined Chancellor Harold Martin and other leaders from NC A&T to also discuss the bonds overall impact on the region and state.

    "Connect NC invests in our higher education system to ensure our students graduate with the skills and abilities needed to become productive members of the workforce," Governor McCrory said. "In turn, our trained and talented workers attract businesses to North Carolina."

    The Connect NC bond package includes a new College of Engineering Facility on NC A&T State University's campus, which will cost approximately $99.1 million. The university's youngest existing College of Engineering Facility is nearly thirty years old. Present day research and instructional activities have advanced over the last thirty years and the student engineering population is driving demand for this new facility.

    Connect NC is targeted investments in North Carolina's roads, education, public health, parks and military. From small farming towns to large cities, Connect NC projects will benefit every community across the state while creating thousands of jobs along the way.

    The proposal includes two bonds of approximately $1.5 billion each — one for roads, the other for infrastructure — which would go before the voters for approval either in October or November. The proposed transportation bond would pay for 27 permit-ready highway projects throughout North Carolina that have completed environmental documents.

    In addition, the bond would fund the paving of 176 unpaved secondary roads totaling 113 miles. Because of the state's fiscal strength and strong balance sheet, no tax increase is needed to fund the bonds and the state's AAA bond rating would be preserved.

    To learn more about Connect NC, visit http://www.connect.nc.gov

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov