Senator Bill Cook - February 1 Legislative Update | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

2017 Economic Success for North Carolina

    Since I and other Republicans gained control of the General Assembly in 2011, the Assembly has championed the philosophy of cutting taxes - thus a lower sales tax rate, personal income tax rate and corporate tax rate on North Carolina families and businesses, while raising the standard deduction for low-income earners. Nonpartisan analysis shows these reforms provided a tax cut to North Carolina households in every income category. Nonetheless, the rankings below confirms once again that North Carolina is an outstanding place to do business. As a result of enacting conservative policies and responsible financial management, North Carolina continues to offer companies a favorable economic climate that they need to be successful.

• North Carolina #1 Best State for Business in Forbes' 2017 Rankings
• North Carolina wins 2017 Prosperity Cup by Site Selection Magazine
• North Carolina among 16 states prepared for economic recession
• North Carolina passes 30 states in 3 years of Tax Foundation rankings
• North Carolina top-5 for wage growth, says U.S. Census Bureau
• North Carolina No. 5 for business climate, corporate execs say
• North Carolina is best state for business startups in study
• North Carolina 5th best state for business in 2017 CNBC rankings
• North Carolina ranked #1 for tech job growth in N.C.T.A. study
• North Carolina 5th best balanced budget in Mercatus Center study
• North Carolina 1 of 12 states with unanimous 'AAA' bond rating
• North Carolina has two cities in top-five for tech job growth
• North Carolina unemployment lowest in 17 years
• North Carolina had no layoffs in September for first time in 7 years

Visitation at North Carolina State Parks Jumps to Record 19.4 Million Visitors in 2017

    North Carolina's parks and recreation areas experienced all-time-high visitation rates during 2017. Our 39 state parks topped 19.4 million visitors, a 3.4 percent increase over the 18.8 million who came in 2016. The most popular site was Jockey's Ridge State Park in Dare County recording 1.56 million visitors, a 19 percent increase compared to last year - and is one of six state park units achieving more than a million visitors. Last year, Jockey's Ridge ranked fourth in visitation among the state parks at 1.31 million following William B. Umstead's 1.84 million, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area's 1.47 million, and Fort Macon's 1.32 million visitors. As of November 2017, Dare County tourism was up nearly 5.3 percent compared to the previous year based on the occupancy and meals collections. See data below. These are examples of how North Carolina continues to be a global destination - despite the public boycotts last year by the anti-business far-left radicals responding to legislation that protected basic expectations of privacy in the most private and intimate settings.

Dare County Occupancy Receipts
Jan. - Nov. of 2017: $474,504,058
Jan. - Nov. of 2016: $449,385,780
Variance 2016-17: $25,119,278
Percent Change: 5.3%

Dare County Food and Beverage Receipts
Jan. - Nov. of 2017: $246,912,946
Jan. - Nov. of 2016: $233,786,094
Variance 2016-17: $13,126,852
Percent Change: 5.3%

Career and Technical Education Grant Awarded to Currituck County Schools

    Embracing new pathways of learning, we in the General Assembly established a new initiative during the 2017 session by enacting the Sixth and Seventh Grade Career and Technical Education (CTE) Grant Program. The state budget we enacted provides $4.2 million in FY 2017-18 for this program to award competitive grants to school districts over a seven-year grant period to expand CTE programs to sixth and seventh grade students. Last month, the State Board of Education approved individual grants up to $50,000 in 14 districts, including Currituck County Schools. Preparing and developing career and technical skills for our students in trade and vocational programs plays a vital role in providing a skilled labor force to businesses.

Congratulations to Jason Griffin (Principal of the Year) & Kaley Kiffner (regional Teacher of the Year)

    North Carolina's 2017 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year Jason Griffin, Perquimans County, is also the 2017 National Distinguished Principal. The National Association of Elementary School Principals' National Distinguished Principals program honors outstanding elementary and middle-level principals who ensure that America's children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement. Recently, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction announced the nine regional Teachers of the Year for 2018. Kaley Kiffner, a science teacher at Perquimans County Middle School, is the 2018 Northeast Teacher of the Year. We are blessed beyond measure in North Carolina with educators who pour themselves into our students. Congratulations to Jason and Kaley - thank you both for your dedication, innovation and ability to inspire students to achieve.

• Contact: Bill Cook
•     bill.cook@ncleg.net