Governor McCrory Highlights Economic Improvement at Durham Chamber Event | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Durham, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory joined local business leaders and state and local officials for the RTP Series Event hosted by the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce today to highlight economic improvements in Durham, and the state as a whole.

    "Durham and the Research Triangle Park have contributed a great deal to North Carolina's position as one of the fastest growing economies in the nation adding more than 300,000 new jobs since 2013," Governor McCrory said. "We have enacted pro-growth economic reforms providing $4.7 billion of tax relief for the middle class and businesses, while also preparing our state for future growth through the Connect NC bond investments."


    Bob Geolas, President and CEO of the Research Tringle Park and Geoff Durham, President and CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, also provided remarks at today's event.

    Governor McCrory noted that unemployment in North Carolina has now dropped below the national average to 4.7 percent. Unemployment in Durham County was 7.9 percent in January 2013 and today is below the state average at 4.5 percent.

    The governor also mentioned that Durham stands to benefit from the $2 billion Connect NC bond initiative with $30 million slated for a new business school at NC Central University and a $4.4 million investment in Durham Technical Community College. The Connect NC bond, introduce by Governor McCrory and overwhelmingly passed by the voters in March, invests in our state's education, state parks, National Guard facilities and local water and sewer infrastructure.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov