As one of the top cities in the United States for Black-owned businesses, we are proud to celebrate their contributions and achievements this Black History Month.
Latest Announcements
Booz Allen Announces New Joint Tech Acceleration Facility
On January 29, Booz Allen Hamilton announced the expansion of its Fayetteville presence with the opening of its new Joint Tech Acceleration Facility, which was developed to create and field operationally relevant capabilities for the U.S. Military and its warfighters. Read more about this unique 8,000- square-foot facility, and about Booz Allen's commitment to STEM education in Cumberland County.
Early Voting Begins Ahead of March 5th Primary
One-stop early voting began on Thursday, February 15th. Eight locations around the County will be open for one-stop voting, same-day voter registration, and updating current voter registrations. Don’t forget to grab your ID - photo identification is now required to receive a ballot. One-stop early voting runs through March 2, 2024. Election day is Tuesday, March 5th.

Early voting information and locations are available here.
Leaping Forward with Dr. Gerald Cohen

The FCEDC is excited to host featured speaker Dr. Gerald Cohen at the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal's Power Breakfast on February 29th. Dr. Cohen is the chief economist at the Kenan Institute of Private Research at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Dr. Cohen will provide unique insights on local, regional, and national economic trends and forecasts.

Tickets are selling fast. Learn more and reserve your seat here.
FCEDC By the Numbers
In the Spotlight: Sand Hill Road 159 acre site
Clearing and grading on the 159-acre Sand Hill Road site is nearly complete. Located in the heart of the Cumberland Industrial Park, this property is shovel-ready and available now. Click here for more.

For a searchable database of commercial and industrial buildings available in Cumberland County, visit https://fcedc.com/sites-buildings/.

"In the spotlight" is a monthly rotating feature. If you have any questions about the property or would like to learn how to have your building or site "in the spotlight," reach out to us at (910)-500-6464.
In the Community
FTCC's Water/Utility Line Construction Training Program
Fayetteville Technical Community College now offers a Water/Utility Line Construction School. The 254-hour, 6-week course is designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to enter the water/sewer line installation field. Course instruction includes OSHA 10 for Construction, Commercial Driver’s License Prep, Flagger Training, First Aid/AED/CPR Training, Confided Space/Trenching/Shoring Training, Erosion Control, Equipment Operation, and Water and Sewer Distribution System Basics.

Courses are scheduled from February 20 – April 11, 2024 and June 18 – August 8, 2024. Potential employers like Fayetteville PWC, TA Loving, and Sanford Contractors will be visiting the classroom to share their career opportunities. HOPE Scholarships are available for eligible candidates. Learn more.
STARward STEM Experiment Returns from Space
The 2023 STARward STEM Expo Design Challenge winners, Gary Dixon, Brielle McCoy, and Princeton Scott, recently unpacked their Swiss Chard Project at W.H. Owen Elementary. The project, which was sent aboard SpaceX-29 to the International Space Station, included post-flight experiments aimed at gaining insights into space travel. North Carolina State University's plant and microbial biologist, Aurora Toennisson, led the Swiss Chard Project. Read more on the Cumberland County Schools website.
FCEDC is on the move!
It has been a busy month! We have hosted multiple project visits, attended industry events around the state and country, visited the CCS Career Fair, enjoyed an evening at the Carolina Barn for the Greater Fayetteville Chamber's Annual Awards Dinner, and hosted a Commercial Realtors Broker Breakfast, just to name a few.

The photo above is from the NC Carolina Core. Ten economic developers, including our own Robert Van Geons, traveled to Greenville, SC earlier this month. They met with representatives from five site selection firms, discussing the region's economic development momentum, assets, and why their client companies should consider expanding in our area.
Brittany Tschida and Jennifer Hammond headed to Greensboro for the NCEDA's Emerging Executives Forum, and Rob Patton spent time in Raleigh at the Defense Alliance of North Carolina's Round Table.
#DidYouKnow?
North Carolina was ranked as the #1 State for Business in the country for the second year in a row by CNBC!
A Message from FCEDC President & CEO
Thank you for reading this issue of Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation’s newsletter.

We are excited to bring you the latest announcements and highlights from FCEDC and the community. Our team works daily to enhance job growth and prosperity across our region by attracting new businesses and expanding existing industry. We are grateful for the ongoing support of the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and community partners. 

Sincerely,
Robert M. Van Geons, CEcD