October 2022

Latest Announcements
The annual event, held the first Friday in October, showcases the advances of modern manufacturing and celebrates the diverse careers that make up this industry. This year, Cumberland County Schools collaborated with FCEDC and local manufacturers to conduct tours for high school students. Blue Ridge Power, the leading company for renewable energy projects, hosted students from Alger B. Wilkins High School. Students from Gray’s Creek High School toured Kuraray, the global leader in specialty chemical, fiber, and resin production. Pine Forest High School students visited chemical manufacturer DuPont. Read more. 
Local and National Manufacturing Facts
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FCEDC Welcomes Two New Members in the CORE Innovation Center
The CORE Innovation Center, co-located with FCEDC offices, will house the first office space for the Fort Bragg Research Institute, a research program of The Geneva Foundation delivering human performance solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD). Dedicated solely to research that supports the capability of soldiers, FBRI focuses on world-class medical research with a mission to enhance human performance through scientific innovation. Formed in 2018 as a collaborative effort between Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, and Geneva, FBRI links research infrastructure to meet the needs of operational readiness on Fort Bragg. Read more. 
This week FCEDC announced that the Plateau Group is the Core Innovation Center’s newest member. Plateau has partnered with defense and civilian federal agencies for more than 20 years to provide IT solution consultation, innovation, and thought leadership. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Plateau has successfully designed and deployed complex information systems, cloud-based applications, and data management for its clients such as the Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. In the approximate 1,240 projects and 1,380 business solutions that Plateau has completed so far, Plateau has employed more than 35 veteran employees. Read more.
FCEDC By The Numbers
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Van Geons Attended International Economic Development Conference in Oklahoma
FCEDC President & CEO Robert Van Geons, CEcD, represented the community on a national level at the annual meeting for the International Economic Development Council, held September 18-21 in Oklahoma City, OK. This was the world’s largest gathering of economic developers, and an unparalleled opportunity for FCEDC to connect with other economic developers from cities and counties across our nation and from around the world.

IEDC is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers and economic development organizations. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. 

At the event, Van Geons was the emcee for an economic development session "ED Talks" (a play on the popular TED Talks series) where exceptional speakers shared their solutions to the most pressing problems. Van Geons also received an appreciation award for serving as the Chair of the IEDC Public Policy Advisory Council for two consecutive years, in 2021 and 2022. This committee monitors and reviews the organization’s legislative affairs and federal relations by establishing a list of key legislative issues, recommending strategic and policy actions, and providing guidance on the content of the annual Economic Development Summit.
FCEDC’s Executive Vice President, Rob Patton, attended a "Hose Uncoupling" ceremony for the new Fayetteville Technical Community College-Cumberland County Regional Fire & Rescue Training complex, which is located at 775 Tom Starling Road in Fayetteville, NC. The facility is designed to provide training for fire and emergency personnel from Cumberland County and beyond. In addition, a Groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Swift Water Rescue Training Center, scheduled to be completed in 2023. This specially equipped facility will house an 88,000-gallon tank with pumps that can blast water at a flow of up to 7 knots, allowing first responders and others to train year-round for water rescues. Read more. 
Check out the latest available, quality jobs in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, NC. We encourage you to share these opportunities with anyone who is looking for a new career.
#DidYouKnow?
Fayetteville ranks number 2 in the nation for military families (Filterby, 2022)

A Message from FCEDC President & CEO
Thank you for reading FCEDC's newsletter. In this issue, we share the latest news from FCEDC and highlight a few important happenings in our community. We are grateful to Cumberland County, the City of Fayetteville, and our private-sector partners for their unwavering support, as we continue to support existing industry, attract new businesses, and promote our outstanding quality of life.

Sincerely,
Robert M. Van Geons, CEcD